Chapter 3

Hindi naniniwala si Ethan na ganoon kabilis ang pag-move on ko sa kanya. Well, ito ay totoo. Mahal ko pa rin siya, pero kailangan kong maging matatag kung gusto kong makaganti.

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa loob ng bahay, nakaupo si Amanda sa sala habang naka cross arms sa dibdib niya.

Magpapanggap na sana ako na hindi ko siya nakita nang pigilan niya ako. "Natanggap mo na ba ang balita, Amelia?" Mapanuksong tanong niya.

I glanced at her and then raised my brow. "Ano na naman iyon, Amanda?"

I’m tired of getting into an argument with her!

“Well, I will be your boss now,” Amanda replied. She raised her chin up proudly.

I felt like my blood ran down my feet as I heard the news from Amanda. My eyes widened as my heart started to beat faster.

“A-Anong sinasabi mo?" I almost stutter.

“Well, from now on, mas mataas ang posisyon ko sa kumpanya kaysa sa iyo. So you should call me boss now,” she smirked. "Kaawa-awang Amelia, ang posisyon na inaasam mo noon pa man ay akin na ngayon."

“Shut up!" sigaw ko. "You're lying, Amanda!"

My eyes started to welled up with tears when our mother went down the stairs and saw us arguing again.

“Yes, Amelia. I already chose her to be the Senior Executive which is under you.”

Mabilis kong binalingan si mommy at nagprotesta sa kanya. Hindi nila pwedeng alisin sa akin ang posisyon ko na basta na lang. Pinaghirapan ko iyon makuha.

“Mom, mas matanda ako kay Amanda at mas maraming karanasan kaysa sa kanya!”

"Yes, you have more experience, Amelia. But you can’t be in a higher position with that kind of attitude.”

“Mom!" nagpupuyos na ako sa galit ngayon. Parati na lamang ganito, kahit hindi ako ang may kasalanan ay sa akin pa rin nasisisi ang lahat dahil sa dahilan nila na ako ang panganay. "I told you that Amanda had an affair with my fance! Alin ba doon ang mahirap intindihin?! Kasalanan niya kung bakit ko siya nasaktan! Kung hindi siya naging makati ay hindi kami aabot sa ganon!"

“Amelia!” sigaw ni mommy. “How dare you call your sister like that?! Iyan ang dahilan kung bakit hindi ka maaaring maging isang Senior Executive because of your trashy attitude! Ipapahiya mo ang pamilya natin!"

At ako pa ngayon ang magpapahiya ng pamilya namin?

I sobbed and sniffed as tears started to run down my face again. I thought being cheated on by my boyfriend and my own sister will be the hardest thing in my life, but now I realized that it is more painful to have a mother who has favoritism.

"Kapag hindi niyo binawi ang desisyon niyo ay aalis ako sa bahay na ito at hindi na babalik ka," pananatok ko kay mommy. Nagbuntong-hininga lamang siya at napailing sa akin.

"Kung aalis ka ay umalis ka, Amelia. Hindi magbabago ang desisyon na ang kapatid mo na ang uupo bilang Senior Executive."

“Diyan naman kayo magaling. Kapag kay Amanda, pwede pang magbago. Kapag sa akin, hindi." Bitterness welled up my throat.

I shouldn't have hoped that my mother would side with me. After all, Amanda was her favorite while I never ever once received love from her. Pakiramdam ko nga ay isa lang ang anak niya.

Without hesitation, I immediately packed up my luggage and left. I didn’t know where I would stay but as long as I already left that house, I will just think about that later. Ang importante lang sa akin ngayon ay makalayo sa bahay.

I ended up staying at a hotel. Because I don’t have friends to stay with. Kai is living with her boyfriend and I can’t stay there with them.

For three days, I stayed in the hotel and it cost me too much although I don’t have a choice.

Until Sebastian called me.

“I thought you weren’t going to call me," biro ko sa kanya. Sa sobrang devastation ko sa pamilya nakalimutan ko na ang plano ko sa kanya.

“We have to meet right now. Hindi mo ba ako gusto makita?" nunuya niyang tanong. Kahit hindi ako kaharap ay alam kong nakangiti siya.

“Pilitin mo muna ako," pagpapakipot ko. Nadinig ko ang tawa niya mula sa kabilang linya kaya ako naman ang napangiti.

“Remember about what we talked about?"

About marriage...

"Napakarami nating pinag-uusapan, Sebastian. Hindi ko na maalala ang iba." 

"Amelia," malambing niyang tawag sa pangalan ko. Napalunok ako at pinigilan ang sarili na magpadala para patagalin pa ang usapan, nang sa ganon ay mas masabik siya. Pero taraydor ang puso ko at iba ang gusto.

"Alright. Just send me where we are going to meet," sagot ko at hindi na nakayanan na tanggihan pa siya.

Not that long, Sebastian sent me the name of the restaurant where we will meet. Nagpalate ako ng thirty minutes para hindi naman masyado halata na gusto ko siya makita. Pero hindi ko alam kung bakit ganito ang pakiramdam ko. Bago ito sa akin, na kailangan man ay hindi ko nadama kay Ethan.

As soon as I got to the restaurant, I saw Sebastian sitting on one of the tables while sipping on a glass of wine. He was exceptionally, undeniably handsome but well, I can’t marry someone that I didn’t love.

I sat in front of him and then smiled.

“Good evening, I'm sorry I'm late. Medyo traffic. Did you already order food?” I acted casual.

“Yeah, I did. It’s about to be served by now,” he replied. 

“Hmm, about what happened to us that night… can we consider it just a one-night stand?” I bit my lower lip and then sighed. “You know… I didn’t actually mean to marry you. Yes, you are handsome and look like a wealthy guy... but I don’t marry someone if it’s not because of love, Sebastian."

But his reaction remained the same. He narrowed his eyes and then leaned towards me. "Pero pumayag ka na kagabi. Hindi mo na pwede bawiin iyon."

"W-What...?" Napaamang ako sa kanya. Ang gusto ko lang naman ay makita kami ni Ethan na magkasama, malaman na may nangyari sa amin. Pero bakit naman aabot na kami ngayon sa kasalan?

“I was serious when I told you that I want to marry you, Amelia." Yes, sa tono niya ay talagang seryoso siya.

Umiling ako. “But… don’t you think it’s too fast?”

“We will get married. Doon din naman ang punta natin—"

My eyes widened and I quickly stood up from my seat. “No, I won’t marry you!”

Instead of waiting for him to answer, I immediately walked away from the table. It was enough. I’ve already explained my side to a mad man like him. If Ethan was a fool for cheating with me, then his uncle is mad for wanting to marry me just after a one-night stand.

Pero saktong pagkasara ko ng glass door, may humawak sa kamay ko at kinaladkad ako.

“What the heck are you doing to me?!” reklamo ko at pinanlakihan siya ng mga mata.

“You have to marry me,” mariin niyang sagot.

With that, wala na akong nagawa kundi sumama sa kanya.

Sebastian dragged me to the parking lot and shove inside his car. I didn’t like the idea that we will be marrying just after a one-night stand, but thinking about it, I can use him… I have nowhere to live because I left our house.

And I want to get my revenge… so I have decided. I had fun with him. We got married and enjoyed the whole night. I tried to forget all of my problems. I’ll just think of a way to divorce him in the future.

“Saan ang bahay mo? I can give you a lift there,” tanong niya. Pauwi na kami, nang magtanong siya. "Gusto ko rin makilala ang parents mo."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko at saka siya sinulyapan. Abala siya sa pagmamaneho habang nakakuyom ang kanyang panga. Damn this man, he's so hot.

“Well, to be honest I am currently homeless," napangiwi ako. Hindi ako uuwi roon hangga't hindi nila binabalik sa akin ang posisyon na pinaghirapan ko. "Lumayas ako sa bahay. You can drop me to More Hotel, I’m staying there.”

“Then go home with me after we get your luggages in the hotel." Sebastian glanced at me and then smirked. “Since we’re married, we can live together on the same roof, right? Ganon naman talaga ang mag-asawa, hindi ba?"