Chapter 5. Encounter Part II

CHAPTER FIVE

ENCOUNTER PART II (ELISSE)

❥ ELISSE GARCIA ❥

The office is cold and impersonal. No matter how much I adjust the thermostat, the cold doesn't seem to reach the chaos inside me. I stare at my desk, my father’s words echoing relentlessly in my mind.

"Huwag ka nang mag-inarte, Elisse. Magpapakasal ka, sa ayaw at sa gusto mo!"

The thought of marrying one of the Lee twins, Hope Ryker Lee, feels like a cruel joke that just won’t end. Kahit papaano, kilala ko na siya sa pangalan. Paanong hindi? Ang Lee Entertainment ang isa sa nangunguna sa industriya, at hindi lang ito—ang Lee Tower Mall, Lee Company, at ang Lee University ay ilan lamang sa mga sangay ng kanilang negosyo. The Lee name stretches into every corner of our world, and their influence is undeniable.

Kahit na hindi ko pa siya kilala nang husto, his name is synonymous with prestige and respect. Associating with the Lee family seems like a boost of credibility you can’t ignore. Walang sinumang negosyante ang aayaw kapag na-offer-an ng pagkakataong makatambal ang mga Lee, because with every project and business they run, their mark seems etched into history.

I look around at the mess of papers and reports, but they feel so trivial right now. My hands are tapping absentmindedly on the desk, trying to distract myself from the racing thoughts. The computer screen in front of me is filled with documents I can’t even begin to process. My mind is too tangled up in my father’s ultimatum.

He made it clear: this marriage is our last chance to save our company, na siya rin naman ang may kagagawan kung bakit pabagsak na kami. But it’s not just about the business. It feels like my entire future is on the line, dictated by someone else’s vision. The thought of giving up my own dreams and desires for this arranged marriage is suffocating.

Mahal ko ang Mommy ko, pero hindi ko maiwasang magdamdam ngayon sa kaniya. Paano ba naman ay nito ko lang nalaman ang tungkol sa arranged marriage na ‘to. At ang magaling kong ama na puro pambababae ang alam ay hindi man lang ako inorient gayong alam naman pala niya ang tungkol dito noon pang bata ako—noong buhay pa ang Mommy ko.

Itinago niya sa ‘kin ang tungkol doon dahil baka raw ma-pressure ako at maisipang mag-asawa ng iba o magpabuntis nang maaga para makatakas sa arrangement. Pero nitong nakaraang taon, nang nagsimula ang mga iskandalo sa Garcinema dahil sa kaniya, na dahilan ng unti-unting pagbagsak namin ay ‘tsaka niya ako kinausap at ipinaalam ang tungkol sa arranged marriage ko kay Hope Ryker Lee.

Noong una ay hindi ko sineryoso ang sinabi niya, lalo na at noong nakaraang taon na nalaman ko ‘yon ay kasisimula pa lamang din ng relasyon namin ni Miles, kaya isinantabi ko muna ang tungkol sa arrangement. Pero habang lumilipas ang panahon at ang patuloy na problema sa Garcinema ay mas lalo akong pinaaalalahanan ni Daddy sa dapat kong gawin.

Last month, before my engagement to Hope, I mustered up the courage to confront my father, trying to find a way out of this forced arrangement. I wanted to back out, to change the course of my life, dahil unang-una ay hindi ko naman kailangan isugal ang sarili ko alang-alang sa kompanya at pera dahil alam kong kaya naman akong suportahan at buhayin ni Miles dahil isa siyang kilalang engineer. Hindi rin sa pagyayabang, pero may kaya ang pamilya niya. But what happened next was beyond anything I could have imagined.

When I spoke up, expressing my desire to withdraw from the engagement, my father’s anger erupted in a way I had never seen before. For the first time, he raised his hand against me. The slap was heavy and brutal, landing hard on my face na nagpatumba pa sa ‘kin sa sahig. The pain was instantaneous, and the mark it left was both physical and emotional.

The force of the slap caused a deep bruise and a painful wound on my face. The pain lingered far beyond the physical, making it impossible for me to go to work. I had to take nearly two weeks off, working from home to avoid the stares and questions that my injuries would inevitably attract. Mabuti na lamang at bago ang engagement namin ni Hope ay gumaling na ang sugat at pasa ko sa mukha.

Galit na galit si Daddy that time at nakuha pang isakal sa leeg ko ang isa niyang kamay habang pinagdidiinan sa akin na ang kasal lang ang tanging paraan para makabangon kaming muli at ang kompanya. How is a marriage supposed to fix everything? And what about what I want? My hopes and dreams feel like they’re slipping away, buried under the weight of my father’s expectations. It’s like I’m being forced into a life I never chose, and I don’t know how to escape it.

I keep wondering if there’s another way, if there’s a path where I don’t have to give up everything for this. Pero wala akong maisip. Hindi ko alam kung dahil sa pressure kaya hindi gumagana ang utak ko, o sadyang wala lang talagang ibang paraan.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa cell phone ko nang tumunog ‘yon. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Miles’ name flashing on the screen. Tumatawag siya. It used to be that whenever he called, I felt a surge of joy and excitement. But now, my chest tightens with anxiety, weighed down by the pressure from my father to end things with him.

Yes. Hindi totoo ang inilabas sa article noong nakaraang buwan na nakipaghiwalay na ‘ko sa kaniya. Sinabi ko lang ‘yon para hindi na madagdagan pa ang init ng ulo sa ‘kin ni Dad at isipin niyang sumusunod ako sa kaniya. Miles being busy with his work and not much into social media, doesn’t know about the article or the news that I’m now engaged to someone else.

It’s hard for me to figure out how to break this to him, especially today, our first anniversary as a couple. I’m torn between the love I still have for him and the reality I’m forced into. The thought of having to explain everything to Miles today, when we should be celebrating our time together, fills me with dread.

Humugot ako ng malalim na hangin bago ko naisipang sagutin ang tawag niya. “Hey, beautiful,” masaya niyang bati sa ‘kin. “Happy anniversary. I know your work should be wrapping up about now. Are you free to go on a date with me and celebrate?” Kahit hindi ko siya nakikita, nai-imagine ko ang ngiti niya at ang isa niyang dimple sa kaliwang pisngi.

Kahit mabigat ang loob ko at masakit ang dibdib sa nangyayari, napilitan akong gawing masaya ang boses ko. “Oo. Free na ‘ko ngayon. Uh… kita tayo sa M-Power Hotel?”

Saglit na katahimikan ang namagitan sa ‘min. Anuman ang tumatakbo sa isip niya ay tama siya. Sa isang taon naming magkarelasyon, ni minsan ay wala pang nangyari sa ‘min. Hindi niya ‘ko pinwersa at ‘yon ang isa sa nagustuhan ko sa kaniya. He’s been patient and respectful, willing to wait for me to be ready.

We had discussed this before. He told me that when I was ready, he wouldn’t just take me to his condo. Deserve ko raw sa isang five-star hotel tulad nga ng M-Power Hotel. He wanted to make sure that when the time came, it would be unforgettable for both of us.

The thought of being forced into marriage with someone else I don’t love while still a virgin feels like a terrible deal. I don't want to give Hope Ryker Lee the satisfaction of being the first to have me. That would be unbearable. My virginity is mine to give, and I want to give it to someone who truly cares for me—not as part of a deal or a way to please someone else. At si Miles lang ang kaisa-isang naiisip ko para doon. Magalit man siya sa ‘kin sa pakikipaghiwalay ko at sa arranged marriage na kinasasangkutan ko, at least ay mapatunayan ko sa kaniya na mahal ko siya sa pamamagitan na sa kaniya ko unang isinuko ang sarili ko.

“A-Are you sure?” Humina ang boses niya mula sa kabilang linya. “Babe, you know, I can wait.”

“I can’t,” maagap kong sagot sa kaniya. “It's about time, Miles. Masyado na tayong matagal naghihintay.” Bahagya pa akong natawa kahit kabado, kasunod ng pagtayo ko sa upuan. Inipit ko muna ang cell phone ko sa pagitan ng balikat ko at tainga para mailigpit ang mga papeles sa mesa ko. ‘Tsaka ko na binitbit ang bag ko palabas sa opisina.

“Saan tayo magkikita?” tanong ni Miles noong palabas na ako sa building. Pero hindi pa man siya nakakasagot ay muli ko ‘yon sinundan ng sarili kong ideya. “Um, how ‘bout mauna ka na sa M-Power at susunod na lang ako?”

“S-Sige.” Hindi ko naiwasang mapangiti habang ini-imagine ang mukha niyang siguradong namumula na ngayon. “See you, love.”

“See you, my love,” ganti ko rin sa kaniya habang may ngiti sa labi.