Chapter 2

Chapter Two

I heaved out a heavy breath as I stared at the woman who was hopelessly staring back at me in the mirror. The heavy makeup designed for this occasion and the crystal beads that adorned my hair was not enough to hide the sparkle of sadness in my eyes. Kung buhay pa ang kapatid ko ay sana hindi ako ang nasa sitwasyon na ito. It should be her who’s sitting now in this hotel room. She should be the one who’s dressed up for this occasion and not me. But what can I do?

 Another sigh escaped my lips, I signed for this one and I should be responsible for this. I forced out a smile kahit na sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kakaisip. My practiced smile, whenever I’m in front of the crowd, is plastered in the mirror. The smile everyone thought was genuine, but it was the opposite. I can do this.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa pinto nang may kumatok doon at pumasok ang isa sa mga pinsan ko, si Evany. Alanganin siyang ngumiti sa akin.

“Okay ka lang ba? Pinapatanong ni tita kung ready ka na?” she asked me.

Her eyes told me a thousand unspoken words. Lumapit siya at inayos ang tiara na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at tinitigan niya ako mula sa salamin. She squeezed my exposed shoulder and leaned on the side of my head.

“You know you can always say no. Hindi mo kailangang sundin ang lahat ng sinasabi nila.” She stared at me like urging me to do things my parents won’t like. Sa lahat ng pinsan ko, si Evany ang pinaka mature mag-isip. It’s like she always has the right words to say sa lahat ng mga sitwasyon. Situations like this.

Tumango ako sa pahayag niya. Alam kong puwedeng-puwede akong huwag sumunod sa mga utos at gusto ng mga magulang ko pero mas pinili ko na sundin sila. I don’t have any choices, anyway. Either way, they still got hold of me even if I defy them.

Mapait akong ngumuti sa kanya at hindi pinansin ang mga pahayag niya. “I’ll be out in a minute.”

She squeezed my exposed shoulder lightly before she let out a sigh. “Okay, nasa labas lang ako.”

Hindi ko na hinintay ang pag-alis niya. Binaling ko ang tingin pabalik sa salamin. I guess this is my fate. Ito ang ibinigay ng tadhana sa akin, maybe I should just suck this up and move on. I can still live a life even if I’m married, Niu isn’t that bad. Uubusin ko na lang ang pera niya sa pagsho-shopping para naman makaganti ako kahit papaano.

Nang lumabas ako sa kwarto ay nasa labas na ang mama at papa ko. My dad is a very strict businessman who has no room for mistakes and my mom just follows whatever my dad wants. I guess I’m just like my mom, walang boses at dapat nakasunod lang sa lahat ng ipaguutos niya.

I saw unshed tears at the corner of my mother’s eyes. Mapait ang ngiti niya para sa akin, it’s like she knew what I was going through right now. Ginagap niya ang mga kamay ko at malambing na hinaplos ng kaliwang kamay niya ang pisngi ko.

“My princess is going to be someone else’s queen now. You’re going to leave me already,” may pagmamaktol sa kanyang boses. My adorable mother. Mahina akong natawa sa tinuran niya.

“Ma, ikakasal lang ako. Kung maka react ka parang pupunta akong pluto,” I joked.

This is what I do best, hide all my emotions. This is what my father always told me when I was young. Never let anyone see through my eyes. The eyes are the only part of the body where weakness can be seen. It is the eyes that cry when one is sad and happy. And I’ve mastered the art of hiding everything that can be seen through my eyes. I let them see what I wanted them to see. And this is me, showing the world that I’m happy with this marriage.

My father cleared his throat which brought my attention back to the present. He was standing tall and dominant beside my mother. Nabaling ang tingin ko sa kanya, his eyes were sharp and intense. Gaya ng palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang nasa isip niya. His face was blank and empty like he does not care for anyone in this world. Mahina akong natawa sa loob ko, I don’t know if I should be thankful to have a father like him but it seems like I should feel the opposite.

“Don’t keep your groom waiting.” Iyon ang saad niya bago kami tinalikuran at naunang umalis.

“It’s okay, dear. Your father is happy that you agreed to marry Niu. He’s a good man, he’ll take good care of you.” Mahina nitong tinapik ang magkabilang pisngi ko na ikinatango ko.

I guess this is for the best. Isang mabigat na hininga ang pinakawalan ko bago ngumiti sa kanya.

“Let’s go, Ma.”

“Congratulation, hija. You look so lovely. Ang ganda talaga ng manugang ko,” bati sa akin ni Amalia Altamirano. My mother-in-law.

“Thank you po,” magalang akong ngumiti sa kanya. This lady never aged. She just looked so regal and classy despite her age and she handled herself well. Isa siya sa mga naging inspirasyon ko noong mga panahong nagsusumikap akong maabot ang pangarap ko.

“Hijo, bigyan mo agad kami ng maraming apo. Aba, ang tanda ko hindi mo pa kami binibigyan ng apo niyang kapatid mo,” si Don Manuelo Altamirano. The hotel magnate, ang ama ng asawa ko.

Asawa. Natawa ako sa naisip. Why does it sound so empty hearing that word? Tiningnan ko si Niu na nasa gilid ko at nakaakbay ang isang braso sa balikat ko. I must admit that he is a very good-looking man. With his family background and achievement, I’m sure hundreds of women throw their bodies at his feet and worship him. Should I consider myself lucky now?

“Dad, it’s too early to talk about pregnancy and babies. Kakakasal lang naming ni Claire, baka tatakbo ito after the reception,” sagot ni Niu. This time I felt him circled his arms around my waist. Napakunot ang noo ko sa inakto niya.

Malakas na tumawa ang Don, tila tuwang-tuwa sa sinabi ng anak.

“Basta, I want grandchildren by next year” pinal na saad nito. Parang isang bata na nagmamaktol para lang pagbigyan sa gusto nito.

Mahina itong siniko ng asawa. “Ano ka ba, let them enjoy their marriage first.” She looked at me. “Hija, ‘wag kang ma-pressure dito sa asawa ko. Matagal na kasi nitong gusting magka-apo kaso itong panganay nami ayaw pa mag-asawa. And take note he’s already in his forties!” She rolled her eyes like her son is some kind of a loser. “Niu, nasaan na nga ba iyong kuya mo? I didn’t saw him in the church.”

Napalinga ako sa paligid. She’s right, I did not see any traces of his brother in the ceremony a while ago. Hindi pa man din ito napakilala sa amin dahil ngayon lamang ito umuwi para sa kasal naming ni Niu. His older brother lived in the U.S. since he was the CEO in the chains of a hotel business he built himself.

“Ma, ‘wag mo ng hanapin si kuya. I’m sure nandiyan lang iyan sa tabi-tabi. You know him.” Niu gave his mother a knowing look.

Her mother looked scandalized at what Niu said at alam ko na kaagad kung ano ang ibig sabihin nito. Napailing ako, men and their escapades.

Agad na naagaw ang atensyon namin nang umingay ang mga kababaihan. I turned my head to see the commotion only to be greeted with the most enigmatic pair of orbs I have ever seen. Napatitig ako sa taong nagmamay-ari ng mga matang tila namumungay pero may kislap ng kapilyuhan. His presence exudes authority and power. The crowd gave way as he made his way in our direction.

I swallowed the lump stuck in my truth. Parang nauhaw ako bigla. His masculinity is so overwhelming that my throat went dry, and it made my heart run the race when I saw him staring directly at me with his intense eyes. Parang natulos ako sa kinatatayuan nang magtama ang mga mata namin. It seems like everything stood still and the noise became whispers from a blurry dream.

Huminto ito sa harapan namin. Agad na umatake sa ilong ko ang mabango nitong amoy. His scent makes me wanna think of inappropriate thoughts. A combination of wild seduction and warmth.

My train of thought was cut when his mother lightly slapped his broad shoulders. Mahina lang itong natawa at kinuha ang kamay ng ginang.

“Missed you too, ma.” He kissed her hand and pulled his mother for a hug.

Hinampas ng ginang ang likod nito na siyang lalong nagpatawa dito. I guess Mrs. Altamirano did miss her firstborn since she was speechless upon seeing him.

“Dad,” he hugged his father before he turned to us.

“Congratulations, brother. Sakal ka na sa wakas.” Nag fist bump sila ni Niu.

“And you must be Claire, the beautiful bride.” Bumaling ito ng tingin sa akin. He offered his hand for a shake.

Tinitigan ko ang kamay niyang nakalahad. His hands were huge and look rough. For a second, I hesitated, but that would be so weird if I refused to take it,so I have no choice but to take it.

The moment our skin touched; a surge of electricity traveled my whole body. A tingling kind of electricity poking every nerve of my body sending a different kind of sensation. One that I should not feel. A forbidden kind of feeling.

Dinala niya ang kamay ko sa kanyang mga labi at hinalikan ito. Nahigit ko ang aking hininga. His kiss in my hand promised a thousand things. Nakatitig siya sa akin habang nakalapat ang mga labi sa likod na palad ko. His warm breath assaulted my raging nerves making my knees wobble.

“Lovely. Such a lucky bastard,” he whispered. Binalingan nito si Niu at nakakalokong ngumisi. Namula ang mukha ko sa sinabi niya.

“Gago,” natawa si Niu sa sinabi nito at mahinang sinuntok ang balikat.

I composed myself and smiled at him. Hindi ko pinakita kung gaano nito ginulo ang sistema ko.

“Glad to finally meet you, Sebastian,” I smiled at him.

“Welcome to the family, Mrs. Altamirano.” He smiled seductively at me and I know I’m doomed.