Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

Nanatili akong nakatayo roon habang nakatulala. Nang maalala si Laurel ay kagad akong umakyat sa kwarto para tawagan siya pero nagulat nalang ako nang makita ang isang bodyguard na hawak na ang cellphone at laptop ko. I ran to him and tried to get my belongings but he was too tall and bulky. Wala akong kalaban-laban.

“Ibigay mo sa akin ‘yan!” Sinubukan kong kunin sakaniya pero hindi ko rin nagawa. “No! Laurel!” I yelled, almost crying while thinking of Laurel who’s probably waiting for me to come. My shoulders shook as I looked at the bodyguard’s back. Pumasok ako sa kwarto at naghanap ng kung anong gadget na magagamit para matawagan o matext si Laurel. Nanlumo ako at napa-upo nalang nang walang nakita kahit na halos halughugin ko ang buong kwarto. Even my old phones weren’t there anymore!

Parang talagang plinano na ito!

I cried helplessly while trying to open the door. The bodyguards were too strong, hindi ko man lang mahawakan ang handle. “Let me go! Let me go! I need to see Laurel!” I cried in so much pain.

Laurel is waiting for me! Damn it!

The bodyguards forced me to stand up and then they brought me to my room. Kahit na ayaw nila akong hawakan ay ginawa nila dahil utos ni Mommy. Sapilitan akong pinasok sa kwarto at pagkatapos ay lumabas na. They want me to change clothes pero hindi ko kaya. Itong suot ko ay paborito ni Laurel…

I was crying silently as I sat on the couch of our living room. The De Leon’s are on their way and I just want to run away and be with the man I really love. Para akong nakakulong sa bahay na ito sa mga oras na ‘to… I just… Hindi ako makahinga sa thought na pakakasal ako sa iba! I’m still a student, marami pa akong gustong gawin at kung may isang lalaki akong pakakasalan ay si Laurel lang at wala ng iba pa.

“You act nice to them.” Biglang lumapit sa’kin si Mommy at binigyan ako ng isang nagbabantang tingin. I looked at her with anger and disappointment. Alam kong ayaw niya sa amin ni Laurel pero hindi ko alam na aabot pa sa ganitong punto. “They are here,” she announced.

I just stayed there and froze when I heard our main door open. My eyes glistened with tears as I looked outside desperately.

Kaya ko bang takbuhin ‘to? Makakatakas ba ako?

My heartbeat raced when a bunch of people came in. Nanginig ang tuhod ko nang talagang makita ang mga nakatatandang De Leon. I was about to look away when a tall, young man, entered. Para akong sinampal sa nakita, I even blinked so many times just to make sure that the man who’s coldly standing just a few meters away from me is Laurel’s cousin.

Mabilis akong umiling sa naisip. This couldn’t be true!

Nakangiting lumapit sa amin ang mga De Leon, maging si Mommy at Daddy ay ganoon. When Mommy saw my face, she eyed me warningly. Nang ibalik niya ang tingin sa pamilyang nasa harapan ay ginawaran niya ito ng ngiti.

“This is my daughter Archella Harriet Zamora…”

“And soon-to-be De Leon, right?” Mr. De Leon said and they all laughed but I stayed emotionless. I don’t think I can smile when Laurel’s family is just in front of me.

My eyes observed them and when it landed on Laurel’s cousin, I gritted my teeth. Our eyes locked when her mother introduced him to us. “This is my son Idan Raven De Leon.”

Wala akong emosyon ngayon pero sirang-sira na ako sa loob. Si Laurel lang ang natakbo sa isip ko at ang posibleng iniisip niya sa mga oras na ‘to. Dapat kanina pa kami nagkita pero heto ako, nakakulong at walang takas sa isang bagay na kailanman ay hindi ko hiniling.

“Should we discuss the engagement?” si Mrs. De Leon. Kagad akong napatingin kay Mommy, umaasang uurong siya rito pero nabigo lang ako nang makitang nakangiti ito at tumatango. Naghanda silang lahat sa pagpunta sa dining area pero natigilan nang magsalita ako.

“Excuse me, can I talk to my fiancé alone?” I said, emphasizing the word fiancé so that they wouldn’t notice that I don’t really like this.

Ngumisi ang mag-asawang De Leon samantalang ibang tingin ang ibinigay sa akin ni Mommy. I looked away from her and just turned to Raven who was looking at me with coldness and confusion in his eyes. Sumunod din naman siya nang mauna na akong umalis. Nagtungo kami sa may garden.

I didn’t look at him because I still couldn’t process everything. This is too much. Nung una, I was told to marry someone I don’t know and then… Laurel’s cousin… his brother.

“I know you know that I am in a relationship,” I started off and he didn’t give me any reaction dahil parang alam niya na ‘yon.

“Don’t worry, I don’t mind. I’m also in love with someone.”

I let out a sigh. “Then why are you marrying me? You should marry—“

“Do I look like I have a choice? I wouldn’t be here if I had one,” he cut me off harshly. I rolled my eyes at him. Does he know that I’m in a relationship with Laurel?

Lumapit ako sakaniya at hinawakan ang braso niya. This is the only chance I have. I need to get out of here. He looked at my hold on his arm and then he raised his brow. He was about to talk when I cut him off.

“Help me run away. I don’t want to be married to you. He’s waiting for me… Laurel is waiting for me.” I cried and I felt him stiffen.

“L-Laurel?” His jaw dropped with the mention of his beloved cousin. He looked at me with angry eyes and then he suddenly walked out, halatang-halata ang galit.

Tears didn’t stop from falling when Raven suddenly left. Nang dahil sa ginawa niyang pag-alis, alam ko na kagad na wala na akong kawala rito. I shut my eyes with tears streaming down my face. Mabilis ko lang ‘yon pinunasan ng tawagan ako ng isang kasambahay.

When I went to the dining area, Raven wasn’t there. I was about to ask when I saw him walking towards me. With his brows furrowed and jaw clenched, he pulled a chair for me. Ngiting-ngiti naman ang mga matatanda, maybe they’re thinking that we’re in good terms.

“After the signing of papers today, we want you two to check the house we bought and stay there!” excited na sabi ng ginang habang isang hilaw na ngiti naman ang nabigay ko. I turned to Raven to see his reaction but I got disappointed when I saw him nodding with a freaking smile plastered on his lips! Natutuwa siya rito? Akala ko ba may mahal siyang iba?

“T-That’s a good idea,” I answered uninterestedly.

“Perfect! I’m so excited about the wedding. Gusto ko na makasal itong anak ko at mabigyan na ako ng apo!” Mrs. De Leon giggled. Biglang gusto kong masuka nang dahil sa narinig. First, they want us to be wedded and then children?! What if I don’t want to have a baby? Kailangan ba pati ‘yon ay gawan ng kasunduan, huh?!

“Don’t pressure my fiancée, Ma.” I clenched my fist when Raven spoke.

“Oh, sorry! I was just excited!” Tumawa ang ginang. Nag-iba ang usapan nila at napunta iyon sa kumpanya. Nakikinig lamang ako at hindi masyadong kumikibo.

Papaano ako napunta sa sitwasyong ito? Anong nagawa ko para mangyari ito sa ‘kin?

Hindi ko mapigilan na maging emosyonal. Hindi mawala sa isipan ko si Laurel. Malamang ay nagtataka na iyon at nag-aalala kung bakit hanggang ngayon ay wala pa rin ako. The thought of Laurel is hurting me bigtime. Gusto ko na lamang maglaho rito at sumama sakaniya. 

“Hija? Hija, are you okay?” I went back to reality when I heard Mrs. De Leon.

I swallowed the bile on my throat before letting out a fake smile. “Uh, yes? Sorry, I was just thinking of something.”

“Alam kong excited ka na sa kasal na ito, hija…” Tumango-tango pa ang ginang na para bang sigurado siya roon gayong wala naman akong nasabi na ganoon. I am not excited! Over my dead body!

I glanced at Mommy and I caught her looking away guiltily, na parang alam niyang may nagawa siyang mali. Maybe she told Mrs. De Leon that I’m so excited for this wedding when I only found out about this shit just today. 

I was crying so bad inside and hurting when we finished eating. I saw a man in our living room with a briefcase and just by that, I knew I was trapped. I stiffened when I felt an arm wrapping around my waist and when I turned, I saw Raven with no emotions. Kasunod niya ay ang mga magulang namin na nag-uusap at halatang excited. 

When we got seated, I looked at my parents for one last time. I want them to look at me and stop this bullshit but that didn’t happen. Mommy just raised her brow at me and then she went talking to Mrs. De Leon again.

The urge to shout was so strong when the man put the papers on the table along with a pen. I swallowed so hard, not knowing what to do anymore. I didn’t move and just stared at the papers waving at me. Natigil naman ang tawanan ng mga magulang namin.

“You two should sign the papers already. I know you’re sad that this is too sudden but we’re going to plan for your church wedding,” Mr. De Leon said, na para bang ‘yon ang rason kung bakit hindi ako makagalaw ngayon. 

I was about to give him a smile when Raven, who’s just beside me, moved to get the pen. He really gave me it and asked me to sign the papers along with him. I looked at his eyes with definite anger.

 How could he stomach this? Alam niyang may relasyon kami ng pinsan niya!

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