CHAPTER 2.1

I have been so out of myself the past few days, wondering if I made the right decision to marry him. I think it would be better to let my parents go to jail than to tie the knot with the attorney. He can choke you through his gaze! 

I carefully put down the paintbrush on the highstand table and stared lovingly at the wedding bonds that I had just finished. It was a sparkling gold that kept captivating my eyes. I wrote my name on the other one while I am still undecided about what name should be written on the other one. I planned on writing Andres, but I know that can't be.

I sighed as I approached the window. There, I found Andres again pulling grass. Even if I am only seeing his back, I know he looks so muscular with his muscle tee. I felt bad for him. How can he manage to settle for being a gardener if he can always find a high-paying job?

Hays, Andres. Can't you be just the Attorney?

I leant my head against the window and stared deeply at him. But my eyes widened when he looked at me and waved his hand. I felt my heart getting out of its cage when a genuine smile left his lips. But my fantasies were interrupted when Yaya Nenita entered my room.

"Ma'am Sage, Attorney will arrive later."

"Pardon? Has a week already passed?"

I I clenched my teeth. It seems like only yesterday that that sinful man came here, and now he's coming again.

Yaya Nenita nodded slowly and smiled unsurely, "Yes, Ma'am. He asked me to ask you as to where you would like to sign the marriage contract. You can choose between a coffee shop, a restaurant, a condo, a hotel, or a motel—"

"Yaya! Stop! Why do the places get wild as you go on with the choices?"

She blinked and scratched her hair, which was in a ponytail. 

"Those came from Attorney Carancho, Ma'am. And he wanted me to say to you..."

She cleared her throat and tried her best to copy the voice of the man.

"...Savvy, don't forget to wear dark red lipstick. I want a wedding picture with you," she finished.

I almost closed my eyes tightly with the irritation. We only agreed to sign the contract and not to take pictures!

This time, it was the onewho cleared my throat and tried my best to calm down, "I consider the coffee shop. Please, tell him that."

"Noted, Ma'am Sage. Please, prepare yourself for later." She turned her back and went out of the room.

I slapped myself quietly and didn't want to believe that this was really happening in my life. I removed my apron with irritation before I marched out of the room.

My heart was tightening with hatred, but when I reached the garden, all of my sentiments were blown away by the wind when I saw Andres.

I bit my lip as I stared at his muscular arm. Why does he look so young and yummy even if he's one year older than me?

I took my time gazing at him, and mostly at his small dimple that was very visible every time he smiled. 

I walked closer and didn't mind the heat of the sun that was hurting my skin. I stopped immediately in front of him.

"Andres," I called his attention.

He abruptly stopped cutting the grass. He shakes his hand to remove the dirt before standing and facing me.

"Is there a problem, Miss Sage?"

He scratched his brow and completely put his hand above his brows to protect his eyes from the sunlight.

I was stunned and stared more at his manly face. Though he has tanned skin, he still looks like an Adonis, but Attorney Carancho looked more like a mythical God. Yummy, terrifying when angry and looks like someone who can choke you in—

My eyes suddenly widened with what I thought. Why am I praising that ruthless lawyer?! He doesn't deserve any!

I cleared my throat again for nth time, and tried to focus to my agenda.

"Uhm. If possible, is there a chance that you'll agree to the other man, Andres?"

A shock was written on his face as his lips parted.

"What? I don't get it, Miss Sage. Are you asking me to be the other man?" he asked with confusion.

I looked away and laughed awkwardly.

"I'm just kidding, Andres. Don't take it seriously, but if you agree, why not?"

I looked back at him, and maybe he didn't really understand what I was saying when his forehead knotted.

"Uhm. You can go back to work now. Just forget what I said."

I felt my cheeks heat up because of embarrassment. I turned my back immediately and walked quickly to the mansion and ran to my room.

I jumped on the bed and rolled over a lot with what happened, and now my nervousness about seeing Attorney Carancho was added to the fuel.

I stood and removed the cloth from his painting. I glared at it since the man in the painting itself was glaring at me. I have decided that after I sign the marriage contract, I will go straight to Zambales. I don't know what life is waiting for me there, but I don't care anymore for as long as I can escape.

With that thought, I found my motivation to dress up. Yaya Nenita was even in awe after seeing me in that white puffed sleeved square neck dress and golden stilettos. I curled my hair and wore a thin white-gold chain necklace. Suddenly, I felt gloomy as I stared at the painting of white roses.

Sorry for me that I won't be able to hold them as I walk down the aisle. I even dreamt of letting Yaya Nenita catch those after the wedding, wishing her to have a love life.

I sighed and just covered the painting with another white cloth, as well as the wedding gown and wedding band paintings.

I held my sling bag tightly as I went downstairs and looked for my parents, but they were nowhere to be found. I thought they were already in the parking space, but they weren't there either.

"Miss Sage, your parents are at the office, having an important meeting. However, Attorney Santiago will accompany you," Andres informed me.

My shoulder suddenly slumped with that. My chest was tightening and I couldn't accept that the people I wanted to save were the ones who could not attend my so-called wedding. I blinked back my tears and wore my fake smile when I realized that Andres was staring at me.

"Andres, don't you want to come with me?"

"Pardon? Err, Miss Sage, I'm shy. My clothes doesn't look good, and your future husband might get mad if he saw you with a man." Then, he scratched his nape.

"There's nothing wrong with your clothes, and there's nothing wrong if that attorney gets mad. That is even better for him to back out of this wedding," I whispered.

"What, Miss Sage? You want Attorney Delton to get mad at you?"

I automatically pursed my lips and just took a glance at him. But when my eyes caught the entrace of the Montero spory of Attorney Santiago, the rats on my chest became alive again.

"Huh? I didn't say anything like that, Andres. Don't mind me, bye!"

I was tempted to pat his shoulder, but I stopped myself from doing so. Attorney Santigao might put meaning to it and might say it to Delton, so I ended up fisting my hands and walked towards the car.

"Ma'am Sage, Attorney Delton is already at the coffee shop," he informed as I entered the car.