The Beginning

Avyanna Cabrera Pov

I have always been a good daughter.

Never did I drink nor smoke. I don't go to parties except if I am with my parents.

When everyone else is busy having their first experience in everything, I was there busy luring myself from studying.

I never complain to my parent's. Sinusunod ko lahat ng gusto nila, but this time, I think, they've already gone too far.

"Dad! Please! I don't want to marry him." Kulang na lang lumuhod ako para magmakaawa sa kanya.

I will marry anyone, but not that good for nothing spoiled brat Rowan.

"Avyanna, I know, you wanted to curse me right now, but I can't take back what I have already said. The Dela Cruz are the only one who can help us." Pilit na pagpapa-intindi niya pero hindi ko talaga maintindihan.

Hindi lang naman ang mga Dela Cruz ang makapangyarihang angkan dito sa Davao City.

Nandiyan ang angkan ng mga Villanueva, Fajardo, Salazar at Fuentes. Magkaka-ibigan ang mga pamilya namin.

My parent's can convince them to help us without resulting into a marriage of convenience, pero ang mga Dela Cruz lang ang nakikita nila.

I never dared curse my parent's, but I feel like I want to do it right now.

"But why Rowan dad? You knew his reputation."

Rowan is a playboy. Parang damit lang kung magpalit ito ng babae. Wala din itong alam gawin kong hindi ang ubusin ang kayamanan nila. Pulos sarap buhay ang alam nito. Huwag niyang irason na maaga siyang naulila sa mga magulang kaya walang gumabay sa kanya.

Doña Fina raised him at alam kong ginawa ng matanda ang lahat para mapabuti siya, pero sadyang matigas ang ulo ni Rowan. Palibhasa nakukuha niya lahat ang gusto niya sa isang kumpas lang ng kanyang kamay.

"Don't worry. Doña Fina and I have already talked about it. We will not hold a wedding ceremony so no one will know. All you need to do is to sign the marriage contract. You also don't need to move in with Rowan. Dito ka parin sa bahay titira. You can still do the things that you want to do. Dalawang taon lang naman, and after that you can already file for an annulment."

Natigilan ako. It seems like they planned my marriage very well.

"Please? Just do it honey. Just this once and I promise, after this, I will let you live the way you wanted. Hindi na kita pagbabawalan sa mga bagay na gusto mo. J-just-----p-please."

Nakaramdam ako ng habag ng marinig na gumaralgal ang boses ni daddy.

Nag-iisa lang akong anak nila kaya napaka overprotective nila saakin. Alam kong hindi rin nila gugustuhing sa ganitong paraan maikakasal ang kanilang anak. Wala lang talaga silang choice.

Our business is doing good, but for some reasons it suddenly goes bankcrupt. Someone stole from our company and until now, they can't still trace who did it.

Yumuko ako at huminga ng malalim. Pilit na kinakalma ang sarili.

Naiiyak ako. Hindi ko pinangarap na sa ganitong paraan maikasal, pero mukhang wala akong pagpipilian.

"D-did R-rowan agreed with this kind of set-up?"

"Yes. Infact, he already signed the marriage contract. Ikaw na lang ang hinihintay."

I didn't hid my surprise. Nakapagtatakang hindi man lang tumutol ang lalake. Ano ang iniisip nito at pumayag agad-agad? Hindi ba at mahal na mahal nito ang kalayaan nito kaya walang tumatagal na babae dito?

Ang huling ngang na link sa kanya ay si Lirica Villegas at ang alam ko ay sila pa ng babae.

Napakuyom ang mga kamao ko nang mapagtanto kong gaano kagago si Rowan. That fucking ashole. Napapamura talaga ako kapag ang lalaking iyon ang pinag-uusapan.

Ano ang iniisip nito? Bakit hindi si Lirica ang niyaya niyang pakasalan?

Hindi hamak namang mas mayaman ang mga Villegas saamin.They own the second largest shipping line and second largest fuel company in the Philippines at ang mga Dela Cruz ang nangunguna.

Last year, the two families are featured in Forbes Magazine as the most richest and most influencial family all over the Philippines.

If they want to merge their company to us, ano naman ang mapapala nila? Napakalayo ng line of business nila saamin.

Our family may own a chains of hotels located in different parts of the Philippines, pero walang wala parin kami sa yaman ng mga Villegas.

Kaya bakit? Bakit siya pumerma?

Is he planning to hide his marriage to Lirica? Kapag nalaman ito ng babae, I am sure she will go berseck. Hindi man kami close ng babae ay parang kilala ko na din siya dahil minsan ay palaging siya ang laman ng mga tsismis ng aking bestfriend na si Mira.

Selosa daw at eskandalosa ang babae. Nanabunot daw ng mga babaeng humahaliparot kay Rowan. Paano na lang kapag nalaman niyang ikinasal kami ng boyfriend niya sa papel? Baka hindi lang sabunot at sampal ang aabutin ko. Baka ipakaladkad niya din ako sa mga daang-daang mga kabayo nila.

Sumakit ang ulo ko bigla. Ano ngayon ang gagawin ko? Papayag ba ako?

Tinignan ko si dad. He was looking at me with his hopeful eyes.

Ngayon ko lang napansin ang mga linyang nakaguhit sa kanyang nuo. Wala naman iyan noon. May mangilan-ngilan na din palang mga puti ang kanyang buhok.

He was just fifty years old, pero parang tumanda siya ng sampung taon. Sobrang stress na ba talaga siya?

What should I do now? My mind is in chaos. I still have so many what if's.

Hindi ko talaga maatim na magpakasal sa kanya kahit sa papel lang, pero hindi ko rin kayang biguin ang mga magulang ko.

Our hotels is all they have. Minana pa nila ito sa mga ninuno namin. Kung hindi ako papayag, malulubog kami sa utang at ang pinaka-malala pa ay baka tuluyang mawala saamin ang nag-iisang pinagkukunan ng pera ng mga magulang ko.

Kung peperma ako ngayon parang hindi naman ako ikinasal dahil hindi naman kami titira ni Rowan sa iisang bahay. We can still go on with our lives without bothering each other. Wala naman akong alam na sasabihin sa kanya. Wala din naman akong alam na sasabihin niya saakin dahil hindi naman kami nag-uusap. Kung nagkikita man kami sa mga pagtitipon ay hindi naman kami nagpapansinan. His circle of friends is different from mine. Hindi nila malalaman na ikinasal kami kong walang magsasabi saamin.

I wouldn't dare say anything, and I know Rowan wouldn't dare too. Subukan lang niya at maghahalo talaga ang balat sa tinalupan.

Nagpakawala ako ng isang buntunghininga.

After thinking my situation for a hundred times finally, I convince myself.

So, on that same day, in my father's office; I signed the marrige contract and officially became Mrs. Avyanna Dela Cruz in papers.

My father's face lit up in happiness.

He hugged me tight."Thank you honey." He whispered.

I hugged him back. My parents happiness is my happiness too. I will do everything for them even if my happiness is at stake.

***************

Rowan dela Cruz Pov

"Rowan, what is the meaning of this?"

Inilapag ni Lucas ang nakabukas nang brown envelope sa harapan ko.

Tamad na binulatlat ko ito. Nang mabasa ko ang nakasulat sa taas ay agad ko din itong ibinalik sa loob ng envelope.

"As you see, it was a marriage certificate." I answered nonchantly.

Umupo sa kabilang sofa si Lucas at nagtatanong ang mga matang tumingin saakin.

"Why did you agree to marry her? Alam mong hindi mo siya dapat pakasalan."

"Grandma forced me to do it. Nakukulili na ang tainga ko sa pangungulit niya kaya pumayag na ako. Don't worry. Dalawang taon lang naman. After that, I can already divorce her."

Napailing si Lucas. Kilala niya ang aming lola, mas makulit pa ito sa pinaka kulit, pero kahit na ganoon, mahal na mahal namin siya.

Ang lola namin ang nagpalaki saamin magmula nang sabay-sabay na mamatay ang mga magulang namin.

I witnessed how my parent's died that is why even if it's been fifteen years since their tragic death, the incident happened was still fresh in my mind.

Justice over their death haven't been served yet because of the lack of evidence.

I will never be at peace knowing that the criminals are freely roaming around the city.

Bata pa ako noon kaya wala akong magawa at ngayong isa na akong makapangyarihang mafia boss, ipinapangako kong hahanapin ko ang mga pumatay sa kanila.

"Now that you already found Lurice, what is your plan? Are you going to reveal her to the organization?" Pag-iiba nito ng usapan.

Hearing her name made me feel at ease. Finally, after searching for her for how many years, I already found her. I owed my life to her father that is why I promised to take care of her as long as I am breathing.

"Not yet. I will give her time to accept who she really is. For the meantime, let her enjoy the privileges of being a Rousso."

"Then, how about Avyanna? What are you planning to do to her?"

Natigilan ako sa kanyang tanong. Avyanna is not included in my plans that is why I gave conditions to my grandmother before I agree to sign the marriage contract.

I don't want anything to do with her. As long as she knew her limitations then I am okay with it.

"In the eyes of her friends, she is single. As long as she won't tell anyone our relationship, I will let her do anything she wants."