3

"This is nonsense! Why would you delay your engagement party? Do you think we have the capacity to demand such a thing, Soliel?" Yumuko na lamang ako. Rinig na rinig sa buong mansyon ang sigaw ni daddy. 

"I-it's too soon, Daddy. I just want to graduate first before announcing my engagement," I tried to reason out but my father just scoffed.

"Do you think you are that special?" He mocked me. I fought my tears from falling. "If Luna was here, she would never disobey me," he said then left. 

I went to my room after our argument. I dropped down the floor the moment I closed my door. Parati nalang ako kinocompare sa ate ko. I don't hate my sister. I just hate the people who keeps on comparing us, who keeps on ranking us.  I stood up and went to the bath room. I washed my face and tinapos ko na din ang skin care routine ko. After finishing my skin care routine I went to my study table to study for my exam tomorrow. 

Getting married, huh? I never imagined myself marrying someone I don't love, well I did expect this. Knowing na business minded ang parents ko and my parents' marriage is purely business, but I never imagine it happening to me. I got curious so I tried stalking if my groom-to-be has any social media accounts. I tried checking F******k, I typed his full name.

Luckily, he has one pero naka private ito. I rolled my eyes. What a snob. I tried checking I*******m. Halos lumaki ang mata ko sa number of followers niya, 30 thousand people are following him? What the hell? And he's following 50 people? Teka sikat ba siya? Bakit parang hindi ko naman siya kilala.

He only has 2 pictures on his feed. One is him wearing a tuxedo, maybe he's at a party or something and the other one is him driving an airplane?! Wait is he a pilot already? I did remember him saying he want to be a pilot. Teka pero he's studying mechanical engineering? Oh gosh, I'm confused now. I turned my phone off at nag focus nalang sa pag aaral. 

I heard someone knocking outside my door kaya tumayo ako at binuksan iyon. "Mommy," I said.  

My mom smiled at me gently.  "Can I come in?" she asked kaya I nodded. She went to my bed and she sat there. She motioned me to sit next to her, so I did. 

"I'm sorry, sweetie. A lot has happened after your sister left. And lahat ng obligasyon niya sayo napunta," mom said, holding her tears. I smiled at her. 

"Mommy, it's not your fault. And hindi din kasalana ni ate. She fell in love, and that is normal," my mom hugged me so I hugged her back. 

"I only wished for the both of you to be happy, pero wala akong nagawa. I'm a failure as your mother. I'm sorry hija."

My eyes started to water as I see my mom in pain. "Dad, dad will push through the meeting with the Legrand tomorrow, won't he?" I asked my mom. That is probably the reason why she's crying right now. I smiled bitterly when I saw my mom nodding. I tried cheering her up.

"Mommy ano ka ba. If ever nga na I get married to him, it is not the end of the world right? I can still come here and visit you. I know how important the Legrand's are to us. I-it may not look like it pero I understand the situation of our company. I'll try my best to save our company mom, in my own ways okay? And if this, marrying him, would mean saving our company. Then I will mommy. Hindi ko ginagawa ito dahil ako ang sumasalo ng responsibilidad ni ate Luna. I'm doing this because I want to save our company," I wiped the tears from my mother's eyes. I'm doing this for my family, my own happiness does not matter right now. 

After a few minutes my mom stopped crying. She still feels guilty kaya naman I keep on reassuring her na everything is okay. Kahit hindi. I just want to help my parents. If marrying him will help them, then so be it. 

***

I wore a simple dress and I applied light make up. I took my Chanel purse at agad na bumaba ng hagdan. I saw my parents waiting for me down stairs. We went inside the car and drove to the restaurant where we will meet with the Legrand's. 

The moment we arrive at the restaurant. The waiter escorted us to the VIP room. As expected, their family is rich so it is normal for them to book the VIP room. Pagpasok namin agad napunta sa kanya ang mata ko. He is indeed handsome. He's wearing a black leather jacket under it is a simple white shirt. I looked at his shoes at halos nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Balenciaga shoes? I'm trying my best na hindi umirap dahil baka makita ito ni Daddy at mapagalitan ako. He has this bad boy aura.  His eyes looked at me at bigla ako natigil sa paglalakad, he is very intimidating! He stood up to shake our hands. I was hesitant at first pero nakipag kamay din ako sa kanya. 

"Well, since we are all here. I guess we can start the meeting for the engagement party while waiting for the food?" Mr. Legrand opened up and my Dad immediately agreed. I remained quiet. Napa tingin ako sa kanya and he was smirking at me. I know damn well he's thinking that I'm being the good girl again. 

"Being the one getting married, I want to delay the engagement party," bale wala na sabi ni Sky na ikinagulat ko. Agad naman ako napa angat ng ulo. I was trying so hard to not look happy.  

"C-can I know the reason hijo?" My dad asked him. He looked at my father with disgust on his face. Ano ba ginawa ni Daddy sa kanya at parang ayaw na ayaw niya dito?

"Obviously I want to graduate first before announcing that I'm getting married to a total stranger-"

"My daughter won't be a stranger hijo-"

"Let me finish speaking," he raised his eyebrows which made my Dad shut up. The nerve of this guy! I know he has a very intimidating aura pero I never imagine na kaya niyang patahimikin si Daddy. 

"I discussed it already with my parents, sir. That is my wish and that is one of the reason why we are having this meeting right now," he finished off and drank his wine after speaking. 

"Sky is graduating this year, Dominque. I think it's okay naman din to celebrate their engagement after they graduate hindi ba?" Mr. Legrand said. I saw my father sighed but he soon agreed. 

"Oh! I heard that you're graduating as well hija," Mrs. Legrand said. I looked at her and nodded.

 "Yes, ma'am," I answered.

"It's a pity she didn't take fine arts, she's good at painting," napanganga ako. I looked at him with confused eyes but he just smirked at me.