Chapter 3

"It was an accident... Yes. They didn't mean to be scandalous. Someone obviously bumped on my niece and the young Laurier, as the gentleman he is, was only trying save her... Yes. It was all a misunderstanding. Thank you." Binaba ni Auntie yung telepono niya at napatingin sa akin.

"I'm sorry," Sambit ko.

Hindi ako yung tipo na nanghihingi ng pasensya but this time, I felt like it was entirely my fault. After what happened earlier, when Lev and I kissed, a lot have been calling my Aunt, asking if there has been something going on between us. Sinasabi ng iba na ang bastos raw namin para maglaplapan sa harap ng lahat. Idagdag mo pa na magkasabay kaming pumasok. Well, it wasn't laplapan naman. It took a few seconds at tamang dampi lang naman at halatang hindi namin inaasahan. People tend exaggerate things.

"Where have you been?" She asked, disappointed. "Bakit magkasabay kayong pumasok kasama si Laurier?"

Kumunot yung noo ko. "Sinabi na naman namin kanina, diba?"

"I know that it wasn't just a coincidence na magkasabay kayong pumasok, Kaia. What were you doing outside, and alone?" She asked accusingly.

I sighed. "Auntie it was a coincidence. Lumabas lang ako saglit para magpahangin. Coincidence na lumabas din si Lev para magpahangin. We talked about random things at yun na yun! Wala kaming ginawang kababoyan kung 'yun man ang iniisip mo."

"You shouldn't have been there. Sana pumasok ka nalang nung nakita mo siyang lumabas. It was better for everyone," Pigil-galit niyang sabi.

Mas lalong kumunot yung noo ko. Now this is all nonsense.

"Why does is bother you if I'm with him alone, outside? Auntie nasa public place kami at hinding-hindi ko magagawang gumawa ng bastos, especially I am bringing our name," I paused. "And besides, isn't all of this is all about? You encouraged me to attend the ball para makahanap ng partner. Shouldn't you be glad that I am entertaining someone?"

Ito ang gusto ng lahat, ang makahanap ng kapares. Pero bakit mali kapag ako ang nakahanap? I mean, hindi naman literal ako nakahanap. Lev and I are totally just acquiantances. Pero ang big deal para sa lahat. Ngayon pa talaga na unang pagkakataon kong um-attend.

"Yes it wasn't wrong of you to talk to him. Pero bawal na bawal sa Marriage Season na lumabas kasama ang isang lalaki sa gabi. Hindi mo maiintindihan kasi unang pagkakataon mo pa lang," Sabi niya.

I rolled my eyes. "How would I know? Hindi mo nga ako in-orient kung ano gagawin at kung ano ang bawal. Tapos kasalanan ko pa ngayon?"

"Don't roll your eyes on me, young lady," Madiin niyang suway. "And are you saying na kasalanan ko?"

Umiling ako. "Wala akong sinabing ganun."

"It seems like it," She sighed. "Pumasok ka na silid mo. Nanggigigil akong makita yung pagmumukha mo. Why can't you be like your sister?"

Here we again with the comparison. Sanay na ako nito at hindi na ako nagulat of why she brought this up again.

"Well, if you had only given me the freedom, edi sana I'm like my sister now," I stated in the matter of fact tone

"Kahit pa bigyan pa kita ng kung ano ang gusto mo, hinding hindi ka matutulad sa kakambal mo. She is way better than you," She said that struck me in the heart.

Alam ko naman na ayaw niya ako and she have always been this frank and mean to me. Pero kapag sinabi na niyang walang-wala ako kompara sa kapatid ko, it hurts me everytime. When we were younger, I tried so hard to prove to them that I am more than just the black sheep of the family. Pero parang hindi ko na talaga mababago ang pananaw ni Auntie sa akin. So I accepted it and gave up.

I worked not for her validation, but for myself. Maganda records ko sa school, even I'm very much respected at work. Pero para sa mga mata niya, black sheep pa rin ako. Bahala na siya kung ano ang isipin niya.

I only glared at him, pain reflected on my eyes. Alam ko namang walang-wala talaga ako sa kapatid ko. Does she have to spit that on my face? Tumayo ako at tinalikuran siya, walang sabing iniwan siya. Pumasok ako sa silid ko at doon na tumulo ang luha ko na agad ko ding pinahiran. Humiga ako sa kama at napatitig sa kisame. Looks like there is no way out of here in this prison cell.

Bigla nalang tumunog yung phone ko at tiningnan ko yung caller ID. It was unregistered number. Kumunot yung noo ko at in-end yung call. Baka prank caller na naman. Maya-maya at tumawag ulit yung numero pero gaya kanina ay hindi ko ito pinansin hanggang sa nagtext yung tumawag.

Unregistered number:

It's Lev. Answer the phone.

Tumaas yung magkabila kong kilay. Paano niya nakuha number ko? I don't recall giving him my number.

My rang again for the third time and this time, I answered it. "Hello?"

"Kaia," He said on the other line then I heard him took a deep breath. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier."

I nodded as if he can see me. Alam ko kung ano yung ibig niyang sabihin.

"It's fine. We both know that it was an accident," Sabi ko.

"Still. I kissed you without your permission. I know how precious women are and their dignity which deserves the utmost respect. Kaya I still need to be sorry," He insisted.

I smiled unknowingly. Lev is quite a walking green flag. Ako nga parang wala lang sa akin kasi aksidente nga yung nangyari. Mas inaalala ko pa yung issue na ang bastos daw namin.

"I'm okay now, Lev," I replied. "Nga pala. How are you?"

"I'm not okay to be honest," Tumawa siya nang mahina. "Nang dahil sa nangyari, my sisters are telling me to marry you para mawala na nang tuluyan ang issue. But I know better."

Napahinto ako. That left me thinking. I want to be married to this season as well as he is. I've mentioned a lot of time that we are definitely on the same boat.

Oh my gosh! Bakit hindi ko ito naisip agad? Gusto niyang magpakasal kasi gusto niya masilayan ng ina niya itong kasalan bago siya iwan nito. At the same time, I would want to get married para makawala na ako kay Auntie. If we would get married, we could both benefit from it. It's convenient for us!

"Do you want to meet tomorrow?" I asked.

"What for?"

"May gusto lang sana akong sabihin. I mean kung libre ka bukas. If not pwede naman nating iresched," I replied.

"No. It's okay. I'm free tomorrow," He replied. "Now I'm curious."

Narinig ko siyang tumawa nang mahina. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako napangiti.

"Great. I'll text you the time and address. I'll see you then," Paalam ko.

"See you tomorrow, Kaia."

And with that, the call ended. I stared at my phone at saka ko lang napansin na nakangiti na pala ako. Pinilig ko ang aking ulo. Ano bang nangyayari sa akin?

The next day, I met Lev in a restaurant. Ewan ko sa kanya. I told him that we can just meet at a park or in a cafe. He insisted that we should go to a restaurant. Although it's not a date, he said that a fine woman like me deserves to be treated in a fine restaurant. His words, not mine.

"I want to make a proposal," I directly told him after we both seated.

"Hep! Teka muna. Let's order first. Mamaya na muna. Is that okay?" He halted me.

I sighed. "Fine."

Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at tinawag 'yung waiter. Lev asked me kung ano yung order ko.

"Prime ribs," sagot ko.

I received a puzzled look from Lev and the waiter. Tinaasan ko sila ng kilay. "What?"

"You sure you can finish it?" He asked.

I nodded. "I can finish it, Lev. Don't worry."

He smiled amusingly and then nodded. Sinabi na din niya sa waiter yung order niya at humayo na din. I squinted my eyes at him at nung nagtagpo ang aming mga mata ay tumaas ang magkabila niyang kilay.

"You don't think a lady like me could finish prime ribs in a date like this, do you?" I asked.

"It's not that," Depensa niya sa sarili. "I thought girls would eat a less messy food in a restaurant like this. I'm sorry if I offended you in any way."

"I'm not like the others, Lev. I'm not prim and proper," iling ko.

"But you are to me," Sabi niya.

Napahinto ako. I didn't know what to react so I quickly dismiss the thought in my head of how he complimented me before facing him again.

"I'm not. Kaya kong makipagsabunutan, Lev." I'm the black sheep of the family anyways.

"Hindi ka ganun para sa akin, Kaia. I think all the guys think the same. You are well-mannered and sophisticated." Ngumiti siya sa akin.

Why is he like this? Does he compliment every girl he dated?

"Are you always like this, Lev?" I asked. "If I'm like any other girls, baka nahulog na ang loob ko sayo."

He chuckled. "I'm just stating facts!"

"Okay." I nodded.

Huwag mo nalang lagyan nang malisya ang mga sinasabi ni Lev, Kaia. He's like that because he's raised like that. He is surrounded with females in his family kaya alam na alam niya kung ano yung mga dapat sinasabi at hindi dapat sinasabi sa babae.

"Anyway, what were you trying to propose again?" He asked.

"Shall we take it outside? It's kind of private."

Tumango siya sa akin at nagpaalam kami sa staff na lalabas lang kami saglit. Babayad naman kami at hindi kami tatakbo so they let us. Nang makalabas na kami ay dumiretso kami sa may eskinita kung saan walang makakarinig sa amin. Huminga ako nang malalim bago siya hinarap.

I cleared my throat. "I hope you see it the way that I do. It's related to the marriage season."

Puno ng kuryosidad ang kanyang mga mata. "What about it?" He asked.

"Let's get married," I bluntly said.

"What?!" Gulat niyang tanong.

"Please hear me out." I tried to explain. "You said you needed to get married this season, right? At yun din ang gusto ko. That way, we can get what we want."

He scoffed. "Listen, Kaia. I know that my reason is urgent, pero ayoko namang magpakasal sa ganitong paraan."

"That is why we'll pretend!" I exclaimed.

Kumunot yung noo niya. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm saying to make a ruse," I paused. "Isipin mo. If we pretend that we are in love and get married, I could finally be free from my aunt, and you will not disappoint your Mom before she... you know what I mean."

"That's absurb. We couldn't pretend love," He argued.

"We can! If we just fake everything then it wouldn't be so hard. No feelings attached."

"Paano natin 'yan masasabi? How can we say that feelings would never be involved?" He asked.

"Pagkatapos nating magpakasal, we'll still do the charades. We'll just wait for a few months or years and then we'll get divorce," I replied.

"Ayoko," He said firmly.

I kept on arguing, trying to make him see my point. Akala ko madali lang siyang kausap. Nakalimutan ko na napapaligiran pala siya ng mga babae sa bahay. Of course he won't take advantage of me, no matter how much we want it.

I felt the futility of the argument so I gave up. Ayaw niya talaga. Gusto niyang makasal na totoo. He didn't want his mother to die believing what is not true. I understand him. He truly is a man with principles.

"I'm sorry," is all I could say.

Babalik na sana kami sa loob nang biglang tumunog yung phone niya. He fished his phone from his pocket and answered it.

"Ate?" He answered. "What?! Saang ospital? I'll be there!"

Nataranta ko siyang nilapitan. Base sa tono ng boses niya, mukhang emergency. May masama kayang nangyari? He only mentioned how weak his mom is. Ina niya ba ang naisugod sa ospital?

"Anong nangyari?"

He bit his lower lip and stared at me in the eyes. He looks troubled and confused. I don't know the exact words to describe him. He's looking at my eyes intently as if I was the only person that could help him.

"Kaia," He started as tears started blinding him. "I'm in."