Kabanata 5

Patricia's POV

It's monday morning again and it's also a tiring day for me. I felt so weak and drained. Ayaw ko ng mag tagal pa sa loob ng bahay kaya hindi na ako nag abala na mag breakfast at agad akong umalis.

Dumiretso ako sa isang café malapit lang sa school, dito na muna ako dahil maaga pa. I ordered my favorite coffee and a slice of blue berry cheese cake, agad kong kinain 'yon.

Inaliw ko ang sarili ko sa pag stalk sa mga Velasquez online at hindi naman ako binigo ng social media. How ironic that their family is so private but some people can even get access and information about them. It's also true that there's so many girls simping over Callum Velasquez. His pictures is all over online and it's crazy! I also checked their company background. I found out that they still had a lot of business. They owned a large and extensive farm and several hotels. Wow!

While Callum is currently managing the Velasquez Industries and soon, Mr. Velasquez will transfer to him his position. They're really rich. Halos sumakit ang ulo ko sa mga bagay na nalaman tungkol sa kanila. Tumigil na lang ako bago pa ako mabaliw.

I left there and went to school and it was a quick afternoon for me. I was even able to get a perfect score on our quizzes and even praised by my professors.

Until the time I dreaded came.

Nang makuwi ako ay pumili agad ako ng maayos at mas desenteng damit sa closet. After I took a bath, I dressed in a nude strapless knee-length refined frock paired with black sandals. It shows off my shoulders and legs, my whiteness also rises even more. I started to blow dry my hair and after that, I just put light make up on my face.

My waist-length hair became just below the shoulder because I curled the ends of it. I also wear earrings and necklace and lastly, my minimalist bag.

I stared intently at my reflection in the mirror. I really looked good. My cheek bones are even more highlighted now. My lips are red and my hair is pretty. Kinuha ko ang bag ko bago lumabas ng kwarto. Naabutan ko sila mommy at daddy na kapwa bihis na rin at ang kapatid ko na seryosong nakaupo sa sofa.

Wala ng sabi-sabi ay dumiretso agad ako sa sasakyan namin at magkatabi kami ni Jordan sa back seat. Walang kibo ang kapatid ko kaya nabahala ako. Kadalasan ay pinupuri niya ako kapag nakikita akong nakaayos pero ngayon ay hindi. Sigurado ako na alam niya na kung saan kami pupunta.

"So, you were getting married soon.."

"Jordan.." I tapped his shoulder but he didn't look at me.

"Why do you even need to do this? Obviously, you're not yet ready. You don't even know the guy you will marry" pagak siyang tumawa.

"It's my choice-"

"Our parent's choice" pagtatama niya. "They forced you-"

"Of course not, Jordan" agap ko.

"What's happening?" boses ni mommy ang nakapagpatigil samin.

"Nothing, mom..."

Jordan looked away with frown face. He looks mad and I understand because he's been so protective to me. Hindi niya na ako pinansin buong biyahe.

Huminto ang sasakyan at nag park sa harap ng expensive restaurant. Humigpit ang hawak ko sa string ng aking bag nang lumabas na ako ng sasakyan, and the moment we entered the entrance of the restaurant, my chest throbbed rapidly and I seemed to be deafened by its force. My hands was pale and shaking. I'm so nervous.

Sila mommy ang nasa unahan habang nasa likod kami ni Jordan. Nilibot ko ang paligid at napagtanto na halos lahat ng kumakain dito ay mayayaman. Almost everyone was wearing classy clothes. I was busy looking around when I hear someone called our name.

"The Clemente's!"

Nalingunan ko ang isang babaeng mukhang nasa mid 50's na, nakangiti siyang lumapit sa'min. Angat ang ganda niya sa suot na eleganteng damit. I know her. I've seen her pictures before and I can say that she's really pretty in her age. It's no other than Veronica Velasquez, my future Mother in Law.

"Our table is in this way"

Nauna siya at iginiya kami sa mahabang lamesa at halos atakihin ako sa puso. Nakita ko lang naman si Mr. Velasquez na nakaupo sa pinakadulo ng lamesa habang may tatlong lalaki ang nakasuot ng tuxedo na nakaupo rin sa bandang kanan niya. Mas lalo tuloy akong kinabahan kaya itinago ko ang sarili sa likod ni Jordan.

Nakangiti si Mrs. Velasquez at pinaupo kami. Nauna si daddy na umupo sa kabilang dulo ng table habang ako, mommy at Jordan ay nasa kaliwa niya. Kaharap namin ang mga Velasquez. Nanginginig ang tuhod ko dahil sa kaba lalo na ng maramdaman ko ang mariin na titig nila sakin.

"You really have a beautiful daughter, Alondra" nag tama ang mata namin ni Mrs. Velasquez. "It's nice to meet you, Patrica. You're more than pretty in person" she smiled and extended her hand.

Ramdam ko ang lambot ng kamay niya ng tanggapin ko 'yon. Matamis akong ngumiti sa kanya maging kay Mr. Velasquez kahit kinakabahan. Hindi ko naman pwedeng ipahalata na hindi ako komportable sa presensya nila.

"And this is our sons. This is Ramon" itinuro niya ang lalaking kasing edad lang ni Jordan, ngumiti ito sakin. "And this guy beside him is Isaac and in front of you is Callum, your future husband"

Kahit akward ay nagawa kong tignan ang lalaking kaharap ko. Kanina ko pa pinipilit ang sariling wag siya sulyapan pero wala akong choice. Nang tumingin ako sa kanya ay nakatingin rin siya sakin. Tila nagkakarera ang dibdib ko ng makita ng mas malapitan ang mukha niya. Prente siyang nakasandal sa upuan at walang emosyon.

"Introduce yourself to your fiancé, Callum" mariin ang boses ni Mrs. Velasquez.

Hindi nag bago ang reaksyon ng sinasabi nilang fiancé ko. He seems so stubborn.

"I'm Callum Teo Velasquez" he extend his hand. "It's nice to finally meet you"

'Nice to meet you' raw pero hindi man lang niya nagawa na ngumiti sakin. Ganoon na ba siya ka-nice?

"Patricia Ylona Clemente. Nice to meet you" bati ko pabalik at pilit na ngumiti.

I touched his hand and it was very soft. There seemed to be electricity flowing through our hands as we touched each other's. I did everything I could to keep my hand from shaking and not to reveal that I was tense in his presence because it was true. Good thing that I was a good pretender.

Ako ang unang nag bawi ng kamay dahil hindi ko na rin gusto ang atensiyon na ibinibigay nila. Halos lahat sila ay samin ang tingin. Ang kapatid ko naman na si Jordan ay nakasimangot mula ng dumating kami rito. Hindi niya nagugustuhan ang nangyayari.

Nag simula kaming kumain at gusto ko na lang tumahimik buong oras pero patuloy sila sa pagtatanong. Kahit sila mommy ay tinatanong din si Callum ng kung ano-ano at sinasagot niya naman ito ng nakangiti. Halata naman na pilit lang.

"Is it okay for you to get married next month, Patricia?"

I pursed my lips before looking at Mrs. Velasquez. "If that's a better day, it's okay with me"

"How about you, Callum?"

"The sooner the better for us to get married" he said while looking at me straightly.

Huh? Mas gusto niyang mapabilis ang kasal namin pero mukhang hindi naman siya masaya? Another great pretender.

"So, I heard that you were achiever, Patricia. Nasali ka sa mga beauty pageants and you'll go to med school this school year. Such a talented. Hindi kami nagkamali sa pag pili sayo. I'm hoping that you and Callum go out often so you can get to know each other better"

Ngumingiti lamang ako sa mga papuri ng mag asawang Velasquez. They continued eating while the topic was still our wedding until it went about business. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag dahil doon ngunit pansin ko parin na nagtatagal ang titig sakin ng dalawang kapatid ni Callum, isama pa mismo si Callum na parang kanina pa ako hinusgahan sa pag titig niya.

"Uhm, excuse me, comfort room lang po ako"

Lahat sila ay napatingin sakin. Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at kahit nakatalikod ay ramdam ko parin ang titig ni Callum. He's been staring since I arrived and I feel like he was making me feel stunned by his stares. In his dreams! Kahit alam kong pamilya ko ang may malaking pangangailangan mula sa kanila ay hindi ako matatakot sa kanya.

Nang makapasok ako sa rest room ay nanatili akong nakatitig sa sarili ko sa salamin. Sa wakas ay nakahinga na ako ng maayos ngayon.

"Keep fierce, Patricia!"

Halos sampalin ko na ang sarili sa sobrang tuliro. Ilang beses rin akong nag retouch bago nag pasya na lumabas ngunit pagkapihit ko pa lang ng pinto ay may lalaki nakatayo roon.

"Oh my god!" nasapo ko ang dibdib sa sobrang gulat.

Ang walang hiya na si Callum ay prenteng nakatayo sa harap ko. Umangat ang labi niya sa reaksyon ko. Sinusundan niya ba ako?

"A-Anong ginagawa mo rito?"

"I was just checking if you're still breathing"

"Excuse me?" I raised a brows. "What did you say?!"

"Kidding" he laughed a bit. "Nice act, by the way"

My forehead creased. Tama talaga ang hinala ko, pakitang tao siya! Kung alam ko lang na ganito talaga ang ugali niya hindi na sana ako pumayag!

"You were so pretty especially when you're angry. Nice acting that you also want the wedding to happen" naging seryoso ang mukha niya. "I know that you're just as forced as I am and I hope it will not be difficult for the two of us" he said while looking straight into my eyes.

His expression suddenly changed but it seemed that what he was saying was true. And he really need to say this to me? So my suspicion is true that he was just forced like me? I felt sorry for him for a moment.

"Let's continue to pretend until we get married. It's really nice meeting you" he's still emotionless before turning his back and walking back to our table.

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko ng bigla itong kumabog ng mabilis. Did he also just admitted that he's not interested to me? Well, I think we can both get along.