Chapter 3.1:

Sheya's POV: 

The next morning, my eyes were red and swollen, revealing dark circles under my eyes, so I had to apply more concealer to hide my awkward eyes. I also had to cover my face with my hair. I just feel so conscious and weary today.

I don't feel like going to school too. I just wanna sleep all day. Nahirapan akong matulog ng maaga kagabi kaya kulang ako sa tulog. I feel so sleepy. But I don't want to miss the lessons today. First day of subject discussion namin ngayon. I don't want to miss a lesson.

So I will have to suck this up and continue to live like nothing happened.

I walked down to the dinning area and found Ate and Mom. They stared at me silently. It seems like Dad and Kuya Lourde had left already. Mas mabuti na yun. I don't feel like eating breakfast with them after what happened. 

"Good morning," matamlay kong sabi.

Mom felt relieved and slightly smiled. 

"Bakit bumangon ka pa? You should have stayed on the bed. Alam kong puyat ka," Mom said concerned.

Umiling ako and sat to eat my breakfast. Mom served me food for me. Then I ate it silently. I spend the whole night crying. I even refused to eat dinner last night kaya gutom na gutom ako ngayon. 

 Nararamdaman kong nakatingin si Mom at Ate saakin. But I am not in the mood to speak all the time during meals like before. My brain is so freakin' preoccupied. It does not sinked in yet.

"Bunso, I'm so sorry," Ate Loureen spoke.

I stared at her in a questioning look.

"Hindi kita naipagtanggol kay Dad. We are very sorry, we really are. We tried to find another ways to pay our depts. Pero hindi namin mabali ang kasunduan. But we are still trying. It's not too late," she said.

I held her hands and squeezes it, assuring her that I am fine.

"Wala kang kasalanan Ate. And you don't have to worry about me. I will be fine. Pagiisipan ko ang gusto ni Dad. Kung makakatulong yung sa family business natin, pag-iisipan ko yun ng mabuti," I said.

"Mabuti naman kung ganun anak," Mom said and I just smiled.

Pag-iisipan ko naman talaga kung paano matatapos to.

Inaamin ko, nagtatampo parin ako. I don't know why but I felt betrayed. They are my family but they're doing this to me. But I will wait and trust them. They said that they are still looking for ways to cancel the engagement. 

I never see this coming. I never dreamed about this. This is not what I want. I wanted to live a normal life. 

How could I live normally when I have to marry someone early. This is absurd. Crazy and funny. Everyone would laugh if they found out about this. 

I couldn't live a life being the laughingstock of other people. 

---

Habang hinihintay ko si Kuya Roly na nag aayus ng kotse sa garahe ay dinala ko si Ate Loureen sa garden. 

"What do you want to say? Bakit dito pa?" Ate asked.

I put my point finger on my lips, "Shhh. Gagawa ako ng paraan para umatras ang Nathaniel na 'yun sa kasal. Do you know him? Saan ko siya makikita?"  I asked, almost whispering.

Well, kaya lang naman ako mapuyat ay dahil kagabi ko pa iniisip kung paano matatapos ang kabaliwang ito. I was thinking of a way to talk to Nathaniel, the guy my Mom said I was marrying. Kung hindi ko mababago ang desisyon ni Dad, kailangan si Nathaniel mismo ang umatras. Then I'll just play victim of all these bullshits. 

Maybe talking with Nathaniel will change his mind. Kailangan ko lang malaman kung saan ko siya makikita. 

"Are you crazy? Do you really want to go against Dad? Mapapatay ka nun," she said.

"Relax. Hindi niya naman kailangang malaman. I'll do this carefully," I said.

"I never met him. But I know his big brother, we went to the same school during college," Ate said. My frown lifted into a small smile. Bigla akong nabuhayan. I still have a chance.

"I really need to talk to Nathaniel. Can you contact his brother? And asked where is Nathaniel?" I pleaded Ate.

She shook her head, "No, Darius is working with Lourde and Dad these past few months. Baka malaman ni Dad ang plano mo," she said. So bumagsak ang balikat ko and pouted. 

"Isa pa, I just can't talk to Darius," Ate Loureen said like she was very shy.

"Why not? You went to the same school. Baka maalala ka niya," I said. Hindi ako matitiis ni Ate. 

To my surprise, Ate Loureen smiled and blushed. "Do you think so?" she asked.

What is she really thinking?

"You do not just know him, don't you?" I asked suspiciously. Then Ate nodded.

"I had a huge crush on him," she said. Nahigit ko ang huminga ko. 

Sabi ko na eh! 

"Yun naman pala eh, why not ask him for me? Please Ate. Please. I beg you, please help me. Don't you think it's a win-win situation. You'll get to speak with your long time crush and I'll get to run away with these marriage thing," I said while holding on to Ate Loureen's hands.

"No Sheya. I don't have to talk to him.  And in fact it's too risky. Baka malaman ni Dad ang plano mo. Tsaka hindi ka rin naman sigurado na aatras si Nathaniel sa kasal gaya ng gusto mo." She holding back again. I feel bad for her.

"Alam kong magagawa ko yun. No one doesn't want to marry at this age. I'm sure ayaw niya rin sa planong it. Please Ate. Please help me. I don't want this marriage thingy," I said.

She sighed and looked at me. Kaya nagpacute pa ako sakanya para lang pumayag siya. Alam kong hindi niya ako matitiis. She loves me that much. But in the end, napapayag ko rin naman siya.

"Okay fine. I'll try to contact his brother once. Pero kung hindi siya sasagot hindi ko na uulitin yun. Okay?" she said.

"If he doesn't answer, try calling again for once please," I said.

"Fine. Fine. I'll tell you later."

And I just smiled while nodding.