CHAPTER TWO

She was so nervous while waiting for his response. She couldn't read his mind. His face was void of emotions and he seemed to be thinking of other things while they were talking. Well, she knows what he's thinking. That’s why she used the word "sex" instead of "making love."

She thought he was no different from others. She was used to a man offering her indecent proposals so that they could take her to their beds.

She knew she was beautiful, but she never thought she would use it to make a truce with her future husband.

Minutes have passed at hindi pa rin ito nagsasalita. Nanghina siya sa paraan ng pagtitig nito sa kanya. Matiim itong nakatingin sa kanya, na para bang isa siyang specie na kailangan nitong pag-aralan.

Hindi niya inakalang ganito ito kagwapo, kaya bahagya siyang natigilan ng umangat ang mukha nito kanina.

He was not bad himself. She looked at him closely. He looked ruggedly handsome in his three-piece Giorgio Armani suit while confidently sitting in his chair behind his CEO's desk table. He was full of authority and was very intimidating.

His beauty was beyond perfection. He has a perfect jawline, a pointed nose, and mysterious gray eyes. He was the perfect example of a tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man.

"Come again?" Pagpapaulit nito sa sinabi niya.

Natigilan siya sa lamig ng boses nito.

Kailangan nga pala niyang sabihin dito ang gusto niyang mangyari pagkatapos ng kasal nilang dalawa.

"I want us to have sex now, then after two years, you have to set me free by annulling our marriage."

He had a cruel smirk on his face when she looked at him again.

"You should forget it because my answer is no. Hindi ako pumapayag." Walang pagdadalawang-isiip na sinabi nito.

"But why not?"

"Because I said so. Bakit ako magse-settle sa one night stand, kung pwede ko naman na sipingan ang asawa ko kada-gabi." 

Napasinghap siya sa pagiging bulgar nito magsalita. Akala pa naman niya ay maiisahan niya ito pero mukhang siya yata ang naisahan ng lalaki.

"We both know the real reason we are going to get married. So why are you still insisting that we should be together after this unwanted marriage? For what? Sex? I'm sure you can get it to any woman you want. So why not agree with me then? We will both benefit in the end." Pangungumbinsi niya dito.

"Let me get things straight, honey. I will be the one to decide what will happen in our marriage, not you. You're the one who needed me, not the other way around. Para sa isang babaeng pambayad-utang lang ng mga magulang niya sa kasalanan ng ama niya ay masyado ka naman yatang mayabang at demanding. Ano bang kaya mong ibigay na wala pa sa akin? Hindi pa ba sapat ang nalalapit na magarbong kasal natin, at ang pera na ninakaw ng ama mo sa amin para mag-demand ka pa ng kalayaan?"

Kulang ang salitang nasaktan siya sa mga sinabi nito. 

She felt humiliated and insulted by the way this man was treating her. Never in her entire life had she felt so little. She had only met him now, but he could make her show all the insecurities she had inside.

"How rude! Ganyan ka ba talaga kabastos sa mga taong nakakausap mo? Wala kang galang sa babae!"

Bored na tumingin ito sa kanya, na para bang isa siyang bata na nagta-tantrums lang sa harapan nito, and it doesn't help her at all. It only makes her feel worse.

"Respect? It's such a big word from a woman who had just barged into my office, offering her body to me in exchange for her freedom not an hour ago."

"Mukhang mali nga talaga ako sa paglapit sayo. Dahil hindi ka madadaan sa mabuting usapan. Hindi ka lang mayabang, napakasama pa ng ugali mo! You're a monster!"

He just shrugged it off, like he was used to being called by it. He seemed bored with her. "Whether you like it or not, this monster will be your husband in a week's time. So get used to it. Because you will have to be with me for the rest of your life, "

There's no use talking to this man now. Tapos na ang isinadya niya dito. Pag-iisipan nalang niya kung papaano tatakas sa kasal at maghanap ng perang ipambabayad sa ninakaw ng ama niya sa pamilya nito. There's no way in hell na magpapakasal siya sa hambog na ito. Kahit pa sabihin na saksakan ito ng gwapo at mayaman, hindi bale nalang. Mas importante pa rin sa kanya ang ugali ng isang lalaki.

Tinalikuran na niya ito at akmang lalabas na ng opisina ng muli itong magsalita sa likuran niya.

"One more thing. Don't ever think of running away, sweetheart. Because you can't escape me. Sa oras na tumakas ka ay ipapahuli ko agad ang ama mo sa mga pulis, at kakasuhan siya ng fraud. Knowing our connections, kahit saan ka magpunta ay masusundan kita. So you better think twice. Because I am not a good enemy."

Nanlamig siya sa banta nito. Maisip palang niya na nasa kulungan ang ama ay hindi na niya kayang isipin. Paano pa kaya kung totohanin nito ang banta nito? Paano nalang ang ina niyang di kayang mawala ang ama niya? Paano na ang pamilya niya? 

"Don't worry, I'll keep my end of the bargain." Sabi niya dito bago tuluyang lumabas ng opisina nito.

Maybe this is really my destiny... To be miserable my whole life.

Hindi maintindihan ni Hellios ang sarili. Kung tutuusin ay pabor nga sa kanya sa inaalok ng babae, pero ayaw niyang pumayag. Nagpoprotesta ang kalooban niya habang iniisip na malalayo sa kanya ang dalaga, at hindi na makikita pa. Bakit? Hindi naman siguro dahil sa napakaganda nitong babae kaya ayaw niya, hindi ba? Hindi dahil sa ayaw niyang mapunta ito sa iba. At lalong hindi dahil sa nagseselos siya isipin palang na may ibang lalaking aangkin dito balang-araw. Wala pang tatlong oras pero ginulo na nito ang mundo niya. Hindi man niya alam ang dahilan ngayon kung bakit hindi siya pumayag ay malalaman rin niya balang-araw.

Today is the day that everyone has been waiting for. After one week of preparation ay mangyayari na rin sa wakas ang pinakaaabangan na Madriaga and Hermosa nuptials. Mabilis na natapos ang paghahanda sa kasal dahil na rin sa yaman ng mga pamilya nila. Isama pa ang mga connections ng mommy ni Santina, ay naging madali nalang ang lahat. For many women, they dream of this kind of wedding. Pero para lay Santina na ngayon ikakasal ay isa yung bangungot na gusto niyang takasan. Gustuhin man niyang umiyak ay hindi niya magawa. Ayaw niyang mapahiya ang mga magulang sa harap ng maraming tao.

"Smile, anak. Sayang naman ang make up mo kung hindi ka ngingiti." Tumingin siya sa katabi at nakita ang amang ilang araw din niyang hindi nakasama.

Malungkot na tumingin sa kanya ang kanyang ama.

"Anak, a-alam kong napipilitan ka lang. Pasensya kana kung kailangang humantong sa ganito ang lahat. Kasalanan ko kung bakit ka napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon. I'm sorry, I am a failure as a father, and I am sorry you have to do this for our family. Anak, if you want, pwede kapang magback-out." Ani nito na para bang ganon lang kadaling takasan ang sitwasyon niya ngayon.

Ayaw man niyang sisihin ang ama ay iyon talaga ang nararamdaman niya. Masakit isipin, pero kailangan na rin siguro niyang tanggapin ang sitwasyon nang pamilya niya ngayon.

It's not about her, anymore. It's about their family's future. At hindi niya maatim na iwanan ang mga magulang niya sa ganitong sitwasyon. Kahit pa nga sila ang dahilan kung bakit siya makukulong sa isang loveless marriage.

"Ano naman pong mangyayare kapag nag backout ako ngayon? Makukulong kayo, hindi po ba?"

She couldn't hide the bitterness in her voice, and she knew he could feel it.

"Sa tingin niyo ba talaga, makakaya ng konsensya kong makita kayong nakakulong?" She smiled slightly at him. It's her way of telling her father that everything was gonna be okay.

Masama man ang loob niya ay ayaw na niyang bigyan pa ng alalahanin ang ama. Marami na itong sinakripisyo para sa kanila. 

"Don't blame yourself, Pa. Tapos na po yun. Bukal naman sa loob ko ang desisyon ko kaya wag na po kayong mag-alala." Liar! She silently told herself.

"I love you, Papa. No matter what happened ay mahal na mahal ko kayo ni Mama. Please, don't make this hard for me, pwede po ba iyon?"

Magsasalita pa sana ang ama ng biglang sumilip sa kotse ang organizer at pinalalabas na silang dalawa. 

"Ma'am, ready na po ang lahat. Kayo nalang po ang hinihintay."

She stepped out of the car and looked at the big door in front of her. She was nervous and sweating. When the door finally opened and when she started to walk down the aisle. The music started playing. It was forevermore by Side A.

Mula sa kinaroroonan niya ay kitang-kita niya ang mapapangasawa na matiyagang naghihintay sa kanya sa altar. Her heart started beating so fast. When she looked at him. She couldn't read his mind, for he had no emotion on his face while he's staring at her. But his eyes say otherwise. There's something in his eyes that she saw. Is it anger or desire? She wasn't really sure what she saw until she was close to him. It was a desire.

Ayaw na niyang bigyan ng kahulugan ang mga tingin nito dahil baka nagkamali lamang siya ng interpretation dito.

"Please take care of my daughter, Hellios." Narinig niyang sabi ama habang binibigay nito ang kamay niya sa mapapangasawa.

"I will." Hinawakan nito ng mariin ang kamay niya at dinala siya sa harapan ng altar.

He leaned to her and said,

"You're so beautiful, honey. I can't wait to consummate our marriage tonight."

Pinamulahan siya ng mukha dahil sa sinabi nito at pinandilatan ito ng mata. She saw him smiling widely. A genuine smile, na ikinalaglag ng panga niya.