Chapter 1: Contract

SHAWN

“What’s the meaning of this, attorney?!” I exclaimed after reading what was included in my grandfather’s will; molten anger rolled through me as my brows furrowed. “I leave all of my property to my grandchild, Shawn Dawn, if and only if he will marry Ami Real…what the hell?!” 

“I am so sorry, Shawn but this has been signed by your grandfather free and voluntary—under no constraint or undue influence. We can’t do anything to counterfeit this document,” sabi nito. I gritted my teeth as I scratched my temple. 

This can’t be happening! Of all people, why Ami? Why her?! 

Ami is my ex-girlfriend. I first met her when my grandfather hosted a party in our mansion due to a very successful closed deal in our business and Ami went to the party with her family. I remember how she was so perfect that night, wearing a long black backless dress that perfectly embraced the curves of her body, her wavy chocolate hair, and how her glossy chestnut eyes glimmer. I remember how I made the first move to talk to her and how she made that night as one of the best nights of my life. In a short moment, she made me want more of her in my life. 

I was so ready to give her everything—including the rest of my life. I was so ready to settle down with her, build our own family. I was so ready to turn our dreams into reality. I was so ready…yet she chose to break me on the day that I am going to propose to her. 

“What if…” I looked at our personal attorney, “What if I won’t marry her?”

“It was also stated in those papers that if you won’t marry Ms. Real, all of the properties, including but not limited to what was given to you by your grandfather and the mansion you’re currently living in, can be legally taken away from you,” he said and sighed. “I did a background research on your past with Ms. Real—” I cut him off. 

“My personal life is no longer part of your work, attorney,” I stated with authority as I gave him a cold stare. 

“But your grandfather made it clear to me that whatever happens, I must use my power to its full extent to make you sign the deal, even if it means breaking my limits and crossing your boundary, Mr. Dawn” he said. “Just one year, Shawn. Kung kaya mong pakisamahan siya sa loob ng isang taon, then I’ll work everything from there after that.” 

Just one year…I smiled bitterly because he’s making it sound as if a year is only a short period of time when clearly, it is not. A year with Ami means a year living with a person who broke my trust, who cheated on me…a year with someone who broke me. 

“Shawn, do this for your grandfather. Kahit siya na lang ang isipin mo sa magiging desisyon mo.” 

I sighed in defeat as I picked up the pen situated at the top of the table. With one deep breath, I signed the documents containing the condition of my late grandfather’s last will. 

“I’ll get back to you as soon as possible when I have the decision of Real family regarding this matter,” he said as we shake our hands. “For now, prepare yourself Shawn. You’ll be getting married soon.” 

I hissed. “You’re not sure of that,” sabi ko. 

A playful grin flashed through his face. “Let’s see.” 

He left me thinking about what he just said. That was Attorney Levi Santillan, Rage’s brother. Rage was a friend of mine so when he stated that he did a research about my past with Ami, I am sure as hell that Rage was the one who gave him the idea. That fucker really knew how to pin me in places I am not ready to be in. 

I got my phone and dialed Rage’s number. After few rings, he picked it up.

“’Sup?” he asked from the other line. “Did my brother suck on his job?”

I hissed. “You’re one dead meat, Santillan! Ikaw ang nagbigay sa kapatid mo ng idea tungkol sa amin ni Ami, ano?!”

I heard him chuckled. “A little,” he said, and I cussed. “Come on, Shawn! You’re acting as if you don’t want it when clearly, you’re still in love with Ami!” panunukso pa nito. 

“Shut up, Santillan,” I said with authority. “Matagal na akong tapos kay Ami.”  

“And you expect me to believe that?” he asked, and I couldn’t answer. “Meet me at my bar in an hour. I’ll call Zayne.” He ended the call. 

I took off my shirt and crashed my back to my bed, thinking about how sudden things are happening. I spent a year of my life doing my best to avoid crossing paths with her again after the incident between the both of us but here I am, torn in a situation I never imagined to be into. 

I got up and took a quick shower. Wearing a casual long sleeve button ups with two buttons left open, a chino pants and a leather shoe, I left my house and drove to Rage’s bar. When I got there, I saw him and Zayne drinking at the bar’s VIP lounge on the upper floor. When my eyes meet Rage’s, I glared at him. 

“Here comes our groom to be—aw!” d***g ni Rage. Tinawanan lang naman ito ni Zayne dahil sa naging reaksyon niya.

“How was it?” Zane asked as he gave me a glass of vodka. “Rage told me that you’re going to marry Ami.” 

I sighed. “Unfortunately, I am,” I said. “Yon ang nakalagay na kondisyon sa last will ni lolo kaya whether I liked it or not, kailangan kong pakasalan si Ami.” 

Rage placed his arm on my shoulder. “Don’t you think that maybe this is fate’s way of telling you that you’re not done yet with Ami? Besides, you’ve got one full year to make her feel how she made you feel when she chose Jared over you.” 

Mas sumama naman ang mukha ko dahil sa huling sinabi nito. 

“Rage,” Zayne warned. 

“What? I was just telling the truth,” Rage said. “Heard about the game of love? It’s my favorite game and maybe now’s the time for you to indulge in that game too, Shawn.”

“Rage—”

“Come on, Zayne! There must be some reason why this is happening,” Rage said as he cut Zayne’s words off. “What do you think, Shawn?” 

I drank the glass of vodka I am holding straight up. “Game.” Rage howled because of my answer and offered a toast. 

“Love is not a game, Shawn,” pagtutol naman agad ni Zayne na naiiling-iling pa. “I hope alam mo ang pinapasok mo.” 

“I’ll make her life a living hell this time, Zayne,” I said with finality. “It’s time to make her pay.”

**

AMI

“You have to marry Shawn, Ami…” 

Those words played in my ears in a loop like an echo. I steady my breath, trying to calm the panic building up inside me. “W-What?! I have to marry who?!” 

“Shawn Dawn, Ms. Real,” Levi clarified. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali ay siya ang personal lawyer ng pamilya ni Shawn and also Rage’s brother. 

Agad na napunta sa gawi nina mommy at daddy ang tingin ko but they remained silent. “You’re not going to do something to stop this madness?!” I asked them, nanlalaki ang mga mata pero parang wala lamang iyon sa kanila.

“Unfortunately, this will’s preventing them to do something, Ms. Real,” Levi said. “As for your information, your parents borrowed a total of fifty thousand dollars from Shawn’s grandfather. If they won’t agree and sign the deal, they’ll end up in jail. If they will sign the deal, a partnership between the late Dawn’s company and your company will be made, not to mention that you will be pardoned to all of your debts including your family’s debt in the World Bank and their debt to Mr. Dawn himself.” He looked at my parents’ direction. “I am assuming you need this partnership more than anything, Mr. and Mrs. Real. I did a background check and after what happened in your latest business transaction, I must say that your company’s in a very rough road right now.” 

“He hates me…” I uttered out of nowhere at saka matamang tinignan si Levi. “Knowing that you already did a research about my family, I assume that you know how much Shawn hates me after what happened between the two of us.”  

He shrugged his shoulders. “Then, maybe now’s the time that you’ll make it up to him,” Levi uttered. “One more thing…” He scanned the leather bag he’s carrying and handed me a white envelope, “Shawn’s grandfather left this for you. He also made it clear that you can’t, in any way, tell Shawn about it.”

“Would you mind giving us a moment, please?” I heard my mom’s voice. 

Levi stood up and excused himself. I opened the envelope and it was a letter for me from Shawn’s grandfather. 

“We’re very sorry for not telling you about the debt of our family, Ami but after hearing what the lawyer of the Swanson family told us, I am very much hoping that you’ll consider marrying Shawn, hija—”

I looked at them in disbelief. Seryoso ba talaga sila rito? “I don’t want to do it, mom,” I said, almost pleading. “Things about me and Shawn changed when we broke up. He hates me so damn much, that’s for sure, and I deserved that after breaking his trust. But I don’t deserve this because this is not how I envisioned myself to be married!” 

“Ami!” my father’s warning tone. “Marriage is not something that you should take seriously at your age! Masyado ka pang bata para magseryoso sa mga ganyang bagay! Isa pa, after a year, you can file a divorce! If you won’t do it, then prepare yourself in seeing us in jail!”

I saw how my mom placed her hand on my father’s shoulder, trying to calm him down. “Ami, maybe you can still patch things up with Shawn,” sabi nito. “He’s a good guy, you know that of all people. Huwag mo rin sanang iisipin na nagiging masamang magulang kami sa ‘yo. We only want what’s best for our family.” 

“I am not a collateral, mom…” I helplessly mumbled. 

“We’ll sign the agreement,” my father said with finality. I looked at my mother, giving her a pleading look but she looked away. “You’ll marry Shawn for the sake of our family whether you liked it or not and that’s final.”

Mabilis akong nagmartsa palabas ng bahay at inis na napasabunot sa buhok ko.

This can't be happening. Hindi ako papakasalan ni Shawn. He hates me. Kahit ang makita ako ay sigurado akong ayaw niya, and seeing me again will hurt him for sure. Tama na ang ilang beses ko siyang nasaktan. I can't afford to hurt him again this time.

Kinagat ko ang ibaba kong labi at napahawak sa dibdib ko. Napakabilis ng pintig nang pagtibok nito, at si Shawn lang ang tanging nakakagawa nito sa akin.

Am I ready to see him again?