CHAPTER 3

A small gasp escaped from my lips as I saw the diamond ring. It's a 3 stone mine cut diamond ring. With a diamond halo surrounding the oval center stone.

Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kanya. "What's that?"

He chuckled. "It's a ring, Zyska."

Umikot ang mata ko dahil sa sagot niya. "Beau, I know it's a ring. What I mean is, why are you holding that and giving it to me?"

"Of course, to make people believe that we're engaged," ramdam ko ang sarkastiko sa sagot niya.

"Okay, fine. Give me that."

Nilahad ko ang kamay at mabilis naman niyang binigay ang singsing sa'kin. I quickly wore it and just smiled when it suited perfectly to my finger.

"Mabuti at sakto lang sa'yo," aniya bago bago tuluyang lumapit sa'kin. "that's from my Mom. Binigay niya sa'kin para kung sakali raw na pumasok na sa isip ko ang pagpapakasal. Mayroon na akong singsing."

"Ngayon lang ba talaga pumasok sa isip mo ang pagpapakasal?" tanong ko at umupo sa buhangin.

And when he sat down beside me, I heard him take a deep sigh. "Nope. I'm planning to give it to Mariana," sagot niya bago bumuntong hininga ulit. "but the day when I propose to her, she broke up with me."

"Bro, that sucks!" I commented.

"Yeah."

"You don't deserve someone like her!"

"Yeah, that's why I'm very thankful that I'm finally free from her," aniya bago bago mahinang tumawa. "you see, I looked like a trash when she broke up with me. Imagine, walong taon kaming dalawa at para sa'kin ng panahon na 'yon, ang hirap bitawan at iwan ng lahat ng pinagsamahan namin. But, when I saw her acted she doesn't even looked bothered of our break up and acted like she doesn't know me at all, that's when I thought, I can't keep being like this because she left me."

I tapped his shoulder. "You made a better decision, Beau."

He smiled at me. "Thank you for listening."

Ngumiti rin ako. "Wala 'yon," sagot ko. "so, anyway. What's our plan now?" pag-iiba ko ng tanong.

"We need to get to know each other first," wika niya bago tumingin sa'kin. "ang pangit naman kung ikakasal tayo na walang alam sa isa't-isa. And I know the media will keep asking something about us."

Tumango-tango ako sa sinabi niya. "And we need to discuss the rules and regulations too. Kailangan may rules tayo once we get married."

"Sure!" he agreed. "ikaw ang bahala. Whatever you say, I'll just respect it."

Kahit papaano ay napangiti ako. Siguro maganda na rin 'tong ginagawa namin. At siguro tama si Mommy. Beau is a well respected man just like his family.

Umayos ako ng upo at inayos ang buhok kong gumugulo dahil sa malakas na hangin.

"Okay," wika ko. "first, I don't want us to share in one room."

His eyebrows furrowed. "Paano tayo magkakaroon ng gusto sa isa't-isa kung hindi tayo magtatabi sa kwarto?" sambit pagkatapos ay ngumisi. "Zyska, the reason why we agree to get married is to give a chance to each other. To love again."

Napakamot ako ng batok. "But, it's kinda weird for me when I share one bed with someone."

"Anong mangyayari sa atin kung ganoon ang gagawin natin?"

"Oh, bakit? Pwede naman tayong ma-in love sa isa't-isa ng hindi nagtatabi sa kama, ah?" I fired back.

"Okay, fine. If that's what you want, then I'll respect your decision." sang-ayon niya. "pero pag nariyan ang mga magulang natin, we have to act like we're in love especially when the media is around."

Ang alam lang ng mga magulang namin ay pumayag kaming magpakasal, pero ang planong paghihiwalay namin ni Beau pag hindi namin minahal ang isa't-isa sa loob ng dalawang taon na pagsasama. 'Yon ang hindi alam ng mga magulang namin.

Napanguso ako. "Fine! But don't be too clingy!"

He furrowed again. "Seriously, Zyska? Paano natin mapapaniwala na nagmamahalan tayo kung hindi tayo clingy sa isa't-isa. We have to show them that were in love."

Sumama ang mukha ko. "Geez! I hate this idea!"

"But, you want to try to be in love again."

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. "Fine!" Pagpayag ako. "basta umayos ka! Pag ikaw na sobrahan sa ka-clingy-han, sasapakin kita!"

Natawa siya pero tumango. "Noted that, Zyska."

"That's good to hear."

Nang gabing 'yon, pinag-usapan namin ang plano sa pagpapakasal. We both decided to get married by the end of the Month. Maganda rin siguro 'yon para matahimik na ang media sa amin.

Ang dami kasi nilang tanong. Minsan 'yong iba nakakairita at sobra na. Talagang gagawan ka ng issue ng iba para lang masiraan ka. Kung hindi pa ako sanay sa ganito ay talagang nakatikim sila sa'kin.

After this work of us in our resort, doon namin aayusin dapat ang kasal. Ang kaso, sila Mommy at Tita Bthyle masyadong excited. Beau and I have no choice when our Mommies decided to prepare everything for our marriage.

Last day ko na sa resort namin dahil may mga kailangan pa akong gawin na trabaho sa Manila. May mga board meetings din ako na kailangan ng daluhan at kailangan kong matapos 'yon bago kami ikasal ni Beau.

While I'm having a lunch here outside the resort. Kung saan kita ang dagat at maraming tao ang nasa beach, nakita ko sila Rison at Mariana na papalapit sa'kin.

At first, I didn't pay attention to them and kept myself busy because in the first place, I didn't care about them. But when the two of them went to me with a smile plastered on their faces, I furrowed a little bit.

"Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Zyska!" Rison greated with a smile on his lips.

Nagtaas ako ng tingin sa kanila bago ngumiti ng marahan. "Thank you!" magalang na sagot ko bago pinagtuunan ulit ng pansin ang kinakain.

"Yeah, it's good to see you happy."

"Yeah," I said, boredly.

"Babe, come on, let's try jet skiing." I hear Mariana say, making my eyes rolled.

Kahit kailan napaka-pabebe ng babaeng 'to! Naalala ko noong ang clingy-clingy niya kay Rison even though she knows that he's my boyfriend. Napailing na lang ako ng maalala 'yon.

"I'm still talking to Zyska, Babe," wika ni Rison. "we can do that later, okay?"

Dahil sa narinig alam kong umirap na ang mata niyan si Mariana. At tama nga ako dahil ng mag-angat ako ulit ng tingin sa dalawa, she raised her eyebrows at me and then rolled her eyes.

Kung mas mataray siya, mas mataray ako. I do the same thing.

Dumako ang tingin ko kay Rison. Na tila naghihintay din ng sasabihin ko. "Don't worry, Rison. You can join your girlfriend because as you can see, I'm having a lunch here." prangkahan na sabi ko.

Rison, then smiled. "Okay, then. Congrats again on your upcoming wedding!"

Ngumiti lang ako bago pinagmasdan ang dalawa na umalis. Nang mawala ang dalawa sa paningin ay napailing na lang ako bago tinuon ulit ang atensyon sa kinakain.

After I ate my lunch, I decided to swim. I went back to my Villa and changed my clothes. Wearing my black two piece and black sarong that wrapped around my lower part of my body, I went outside.

Nasa ganoon ang hitsura ko nang pumunta ako sa pool area ng resort namin. Suot-suot ang black sunglasses and summer hat, pinagtinginan ako ng tao na nasa pool. I smiled even more because I noticed some reporters in Rison and Mariana's area, got my attention too and started taking pictures of me.

Sinong hindi mamamangha sa isang Zyska Veronica Galvez? I mean, I have it all. Beauty, brains, beautiful body and everything.

Halos lahat ng lalaki, nakatingin sa'kin. Pati 'yong mga lalaking may katandaan na.

"Ma'am Zyska, ang ganda-ganda niyo po!" rinig kong sambit ng staff namin na nasa pool area.

Ngumiti lang ako sa kanila at umupo sa sun lounger. Tinanggal ko ang sunglasses at kinuha ang orange juice na pinahanda ko sa tauhan namin.

"Ms. Galvez, may I ask? Where's Mr. Fuentes? I noticed that I didn't see the two of you together."

Gusto kong umikot ng mata ko dahil sa tanong ng reporters. Nandito sila dahil kanila Rison at Mariana dahil hindi pa rin tapos ang photoshoot ng dalawa.

As much as I want to drag them outside the resort because they're invading my privacy too much now, I can't because in the first place. Nandito sila para kanila Rison at Mariana. Nadawit lang kami ni Beau dahil sa kadaldalan ng Mommy ko.

"I'm here now so could you please give us some privacy with my fianceé?"

Napatingin ako sa boriton na boses na narinig ko. Mabilis akong nag-angat ng tingin at nakita si Beau. Look so hot in his denim green short that showing his masculine body. Walang siyang suot na pantaas at kitang-kita ang bruskong katawan niya.

I can't help but to feel proud. Napakalaki ng katawan niya. The muscles in his biceps looks intimidating. And those abs of his? Wow!

"Tumutulo laway mo."

Naputol ang nasa isip ko dahil sa sinabi niya at mabilis na nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Tse!" singhal ko na lang at kinuha ang sunscreen.

"Let me," mahinang wika niya at kinuha ang sunscreen sa kamay ko.

Wala na akong nagawa dahil binuksan na niya 'yon. Nilagay ko sa kabilang balikat ang buhok ko at umayos ng upo. Ramdam ko naman na umupo siya sa likod ko.

"Pwede bang paalisin 'yang mga reporters na 'yan dito?" tanong niya maya-maya habang naglalagay ng sunscreen sa likod ko.

"Kung pwede lang, kaso nandito ang mga 'yan dahil kanila Rison at Mariana," sagot ko. "ang ingay lang talaga ni Mommy kaya nadamay tayo."

He chuckled while his hands were still on my back. "You see, Mariana's eyes are burning with anger."

Dahil sa sinabi niya, wala sa sariling dumako ang tingin ko kay Mariana. And Beau is right. Matalim ang titig niya sa'kin habang nakaupo sa sun lounger at inaayos ang buhok.

"Okay. What's your ex-girlfriend problem with me?" I asked, curiously.

"She already has a problem with her attitude," sagot niya. "iyan ang problema sa kanya noong kami pa. She wants everyone around her to notice her existence. Gusto niya nasa kanya ang atensyon ng mga tao."

Umikot ang mata ko. "Goddess! She's attention seeker pala!"

Bahagyang natawa si Beau sa likod ko. "She's more than that. More than what you think."

"Ngi!" napangiwi ako. "ba't mo pinatulan 'yan?"

"She's my first love, first kiss, first girlfriend. My firsts in everything."

"She's such a pabebe!" kumento ko.

"Ang conyo mo pala, Zyska," natatawang sambit niya.

Sumama ang mukha ko. "Wala kang pakialaman, Beau!"

"Added to my list, Zyska Veronica Galvez, the only daughter of the Galvez family, who is beautiful and smart, but a conyo."

Humarap ako sa kanya at hinampas siya dibdib. "Ikaw nga suplado!"

"How did you know about that?"

"Malamang nakikita kita palagi sa mga event—"

"So, you were staring at me?" he cut me off while smirking.

"Hindi, no!" mabilis na tanggi ko.

He licked his lower lip. "Zyska, hindi ako suplado. If you just knew me, you'll see how sweet I am."

I smile sweetly at him. "Then, let's see about that."

"I'll prove it... lalo na't magiging asawa kita."