Chapter 1

"What?! Are you insane?!" Cleina, my best friend, exaggerated. Sinabi ko sa kanya ang napag-usapan naming dalawa ni Daddy noong isang linggo at hindi na 'ko nagulat sa naging reaksyon niya.

"Renesmee, you're talking about marriage here. Marriage! Your life will be pretty miserable because of that stupid choice of yours! God! Why are you so reckless?!"

"I just don't want to disappoint my parents, Cleina," I sighed.

"You don't always have to think of how your parents would react to something, Renesmee!" May iilang mga costumer ang napatingin sa aming dalawa dahil halos sigawan niya na 'ko. Parang gusto ko tuloy na lumubog sa kinauupuan ko. Nakakahiya. 

"Renesmee, marriage is a big thing! It's not just something you can enter and get yourself out whenever you feel like! And let me remind you, hindi pwede ang divorce rito sa Pilipinas!" Mahabang litanya niya pa. Napainom ako sa juice ko na nasa lamesa. 

"Annulment," I shrugged. Cleina gaped at me. She looked at me like I was the most stupid person in the world.

"My god, nababaliw ka na," she shook her head. "I couldn't believe that you just shrugged your shoulder on this kind of matter."

"Yeah, maybe I am going crazy."

She stared at me, "God, you're so reckless. You know, sometimes, I just really want to hit your head with something. My god, I've never met someone so prone to such big idiocy my whole life!"

Yeah, I guess I'm an idiot.

"Please don't tell anyone about this yet, Clein," I said. I'm not even sure myself what I'm getting myself into. My impulsiveness sure brings me to tight situations most of the time.

She looked at me, "Of course I won't. This is not my story to tell. I just hope that this marriage will not hurt you, Renesmee. This is just plain stupid," she massaged her temple as she shook her head.

"Thank you for your time, Clein," I smiled.

"No biggie," she smiled. "Just call me when you need anything, okay? Kapag sinaktan ka ng mapapangasawa mo, sabihin mo lang at sasabunutan ko 'yan," she laughed.

"He wouldn't. It will be, after all, a loveless marriage, and it will always remain that way," I said. I was sure of that. Whatever that'll happen after this marriage, I'm sure that it wouldn't hurt me. No one could. Not this marriage, nor the one who I will marry. I just needed to refrain myself from investing any kind of affection towards him and I'm all good.

"Do I look okay?" I asked one of our maids. My parents informed me that the Levine's invited us for dinner.  I was shocked, of course. Imagine going home from a tiresome day and receive a sudden invitation to eat with them.

The maid smiled at me, "Opo naman, ma'am. Bagay na bagay po sa inyo ang ayos niyo," she said.

"Thank you," I smiled.

"Walang anuman ho, ma'am. Babalik na po ako sa ginagawa ko," paalam niya kaya tinanguan ko na lang siya. I faced the full-length mirror and breathed out. This is it. I'm going to meet him. My future husband.

My parents called and said that we had to go. Napahinga ako ng malalim bago ko sinipat ulit ang sarili ko sa salamin at inayos ang mga hibla ng buhok na kumawala mula sa pagkakaipit.

The drive to the Levine's mansion wasn't that long. It probably took us 10 to 15 minutes just to arrive there. My mouth almost parted in awe when I saw the mansion in full view. It was damn big, alright. Halatang mayaman talaga ang may ari.

The mansion was built with the combination of modern black granite walls and board formed walls that added more accent to the mansion. It was also made with glass kaya kitang-kita ang nasa loob. There was a pool just beside the house and I could already tell how luxurious their life were with the facade of their mansion.

Na-intimidate ako bigla. Hindi rin naman kami papaawat kung palakihan lang naman ng bahay pero parang ibang level kasi 'tong sa kanila. Our house was also as luxurious as theirs but there's just something that makes their place a little bit more... intimidating?

"Hi! Pasok kayo," sinalubong kami ng isang ginang na kaedad lang siguro ni Mommy. A few grey hairs were already visible but it didn't lessen the elegance of the woman who was smiling in front of me.

"Pasensiya na at late kami," Mom apologized.

Nakita ko naman ang pagngiti ng babae kasabay ng pag-iling nito.

"Oh, no, it's okay. We just finished setting the table anyway," sabi nito. May isang may edad na lalaki naman ang biglang dumating ang nakita ko agad ang malawak na pagngiti ng Tatay ko.

"Reinold!" They did a man hug.

"Steven!" The man greeted my father. Binalingan din nito si Mommy bago ito niyakap. Dumapo ang tingin nito sa akin at nakita ko ang paglambot ng mga mata niya. "Ito na ba si Nesmee? Ang laki niya na, ah?"

"Ah, oo. That's my daughter. Grew up so fine."

"It's nice to see you again, Renesmee!" He hugged me so I greeted him with a smile and hugged him back. "Ang laki mo na! The last time I saw you, you were just a toddler! I can still remember how Brooke played with you when he was little!"

They all laughed. I had the urge to crease my forehead because of confusion but I stopped myself and plastered a smile. Pumasok na kami sa bahay at nakasunod lang ako sa likod nila habang sila naman ay masayang nagtatawanan. They were actually close.

Pinaglalaruan ko ang mga daliri ko habang nakaupo sa harap ng pamilya ng mapapangasawa ko. I was freaking nervous! I can feel my palm being sweaty.

His mom smiled at me, "So, Renesmee, how old are you?"

I breathed deeply, "I'm 25 years old, ma'am," I replied.

"Oh, so Brooke is just two years older than you," she smiled. She seems nice so my nervousness lessen up a bit. "What degree did you take, Renesmee?"

"Uhm, I took fashion designing but I manage the business as of the moment," I answered. I wanted to be a fashion designer since I was a kid. Hindi naman ako pinigilan ng mga magulang ko sa pagkuha ng degree na 'yon, pero dahil na rin sa kalagayan ni Daddy, I have to manage the business for the meantime. Good thing Rosie was there to manage the boutique.

"Oh, other than fashion designing, what else can you do? Can you cook?" She asked. Somehow, this talk felt like an interview.

I was about to answer but my dad already did it for me, "Of course, she can! She cooks delicious food and pastries. Sometimes, I couldn't stop myself from eating and she always scolds me about it because she doesn't want me to go back to the hospital." They all chuckled in unison.

I smiled before giving dad a subtle glare but he didn't seem to care.

I turned to mom when she held my hand from under the table, smiling at me. I smiled back at her. We continued the dinner talking about things and stuff. The whole dining room was filled with laughter. I enjoyed the dinner, though my future husband was missing in action the whole time.

"Sorry, I'm late," our heads turned to the dining room's door when we heard a voice. There, stood a man with the most amazing features I've ever seen. He has this beguiling charcoal eyes, aristocrat nose, and beautiful lips. He has a stubborn jaw and a very manly body built that every woman would adore.

I stiffened when our gaze met. He just stared at me for a long minute before he looked away.

"I want you to meet my son, Brooke Levine. Son, I want you to meet the Hades family," his father looked at me, "And that, is your future wife, Renesmee Hades," our gaze met for the second time. My heart was beating faster because of the way he stared at me.

"Can we talk?" He asked and my heart beated faster, I was almost panting. Kita ko ang pagkaseryoso ng mga mata niya kaya medyo nakaramdam ako ng kaba. He looked intimidating for some reason.

"O-okay," I stood up from my seat before I followed him with a heart beating erratically. He walked to their house's garden and I just followed him from behind. His back looked impossibly beautiful from where I was. It looked so broad and manly that I cannot stop admiring his very manly built.

I cleared my throat before walking closer to him, he looked back but he turned his back again.

"What do you want to talk about?" I asked.

"I just want to make your facts straight," he faced me so I did the same. His eyes looked so serious as he looked down at me. "I don't want to marry you, woman. And I'm just doing this for my sister. I hope this won't be a problem in the future," he said, intently staring at me.

I breathed out, "Same here. I'm just doing this for my dad."

"Why would you agree on a loveless marriage anyway? Is it because you're too desperate to get yourself a man?"

Aba't... Di ko gusto ang tabas ng dila ne'to, ah.

Nakaramdam ako ng inis dahil sa sinabi niya pero pinigilan ko ang sarili. It hasn't even been ten minutes since we first met each other but I could already tell that he has the attitude.

I breathed out to calm myself down, "Look, whatever my reason is, it's none of your business, mister," I rolled my eyes before walking away.

Naiinis ako. Argh

"He's a jerk," Cleina said while nodding. We were out on a lunch together nang maikwento ko sa kanya ang nangyari no'ng dinner kasama ang mga Levine. "I told you. Agreeing to this marriage is plain stupid. See? Hindi pa kayo kinakasal niyan, ah?"

Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. She's right. But I just couldn't take back what I said. I already agreed to the marriage. And the only way out of this arrangement is Brooke, turning his back on our marriage.

"Wala na 'kong magagawa, Cleina," I sighed.

"You shouldn't have agreed on this in the first place," she said. Napailing na lang ako. Wala na akong magagawa. Nakaayos na ang lahat. It's too late to take my words back. Nagkwentuhan na lang din kami bago namin napagdesisyunang magpunta sa mall para mag-shopping.

We just got out of a boutique when my gaze met a set of familiar charcoal eyes. He is wearing a maroon dress shirt paired with jeans. His hair was also fixed with a little touch of messiness. 

And he's with a girl.

"Oh? Is that Mystique and Brooke?" Cleina said so I turned to her.

"You know them?" I asked. I was actually talking about Brooke. I didn't know that Cleina knows him.

"Yes," she answered. "Mystique is one of my closest friends, too, while Brooke is her best friend and that's the reason why I met him. You? Do you know them?" She asked me back and I shook my head.

"No," I looked at the both of them. They were laughing about something, "Not really.."

"Mystique!" My eyes subtly widened when Cleina called the both of them. Oh, god, this isn't really a good time for that.

The woman smiled before waving and walking to our direction.

"Hey! Anong ginagawa niyo dito?" The woman asked.

"You don't own the mall, you know," Brooke sarcastically said, rolling his eyes.

"And I'm not talking to you, youknow, " she smiled before glaring at Brooke who just rolled his eyes. They seem close. Like, really close.

"By the way, this is Renesmee, my friend," Cleina introduced me.

The woman smiled, "Hi, I'm Mystique, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you, too," I showed her a smile.

I saw how Mystique nudged Brooke so the guy offered his hand. "I'm Brooke, nice to meet you, Renesmee," he said, intently staring at me.

"Likewise," sabi ko lang habang tinatanggap ang kamay niya. Cleina and Mystique talked about something while the two of us were silent, avoiding each other's gazes.

I tried to look at him and he suddenly turned his sight to me before raising his brow when he caught me looking at him. I shook my head before looking away.

Hindi rin naman nagtagal nang magpaalam sila dahil may kailangan pa daw silang gawin. While Cleina and I are roaming around, I couldn't help but to ask, is that why he doesn't want to marry me? Because he got himself a girl?

Huh.