CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 2

“Head Mistress Marthana called me earlier, Mauveine.”

Nanlumo ako sa sinabing iyon ni dad. Yumuko at ipinikit ko na lamang nang mariin ang aking mga mata. Mas lalong bumigat ang paghinga ko dahil roon.

Agad kong naalala ang sinabi sa akin ni Head Mistress na hindi raw ito makararating kay dad. And here we are, Head Mistress was a liar after all. Isinantabi ko muna iyon dahil mayroon pa akong dapat problemahin. Dad is now disappointed at me.

“You had a fight with… someone named Anastasia?” he slammed his hands against the table.

I almost jumped out of what dad did. I did not expect that. I curled my fingers immediately because it was already trembling.

“I just defended my best friend Shaia, dad…” halos hindi ko na maibuka nang maayos ang aking bibig.

“I don’t care! You shouldn’t have yourself involved in that situation!” hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niyang iyon. He knows that I’ve been good friends with Shaia since we were seven. Hearing that from him feels like he doesn’t care about our friendship, and it hurts.

Pinilipit kong hindi na muling magsalita at baka may masabi pa akong hindi maganda. That is the elast I could do to preserve my respect towards him.

“Who is Anastasia? What is her family name?” the way dad asked me this time is a lot calmer.

“Pascual. She’s Anastasia Pascual.” Iniangat ko ang aking tingin sa kanya. He looked bothered and somewhat uncomfortable.

“Pascual…” he said under his breath.

I could tell that dad is lost in his thoughts. Kilala ba niya si Anastasia? Hindi ko naiwasang magtaka.

Dad drifted from the topic as fast as he could. I couldn’t help but to be more suspicious by that.

“I’ve already discussed that with your Head Mistress. The punishment that she gave you is now lifted.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Talaga?! Halos hindi ako makapaniwala roon.

“Thank you, dad.” I said to him sincerely.

“Just don’t get yourself on any trouble again, okay?” I nodded at him as a smile crept out of my lips.

“There’s one more thing that needs to be discussed.”

I don’t know but the way he said it feels off that made my smile fade.

“Our branch in Europe had been under fire for false accusations, Mauveine.” Si Dad iyon na ikinagulat ko naman. Our company barely face that kind of issue, it must be a big one. Lalo na’t mag-iisang buwan na rin itong naging international topic sa mga balita. Bakas din kasi sa boses ni Dad ang pangamba.

Agad ko iyong sinabi sa kanya. Sa laki ba naman ng kompanya namin ay gagawa at gagawa talaga ‘yon ng ingay sa mga madla.

Bakit nga ba ako ang kinakausap niya sa tungkol rito? Dad should have discussed this with Auntie Thamara or Uncle Manuel, his siblings.

“Dad, have you called Auntie Thamara or Uncle Manuel about this?” I asked him, he shook his head as an answer.

Imbis na magtanong muli kung bakit ay binigyan ko na lamang si Dad ng suhestyon.

“Dad, as far as I know. Money could simply fix the problems of such companies, so I think---” He waved his hand to stop me from speaking.

“It takes more than money to resolve this issue, Mauveine.” Marahan ngunit ma-otoridad niyang sagot sa akin.

I was shocked even more. Kung gayon ay napakalaki nga talaga ang problema ng kompanya namin abroad. And I was too dumb to throw that suggestion to my father, he’s one of the finest businessmen in the country after all.

“Then, what does it take Dad?”

He answered me right away.

“A marriage.”

Marriage?! Kailan pa naging solusyon ang pagpapakasal sa problema ng kompanya ang pagpapakasal?

“I don’t understand, Dad.”

“You know Jarius Lionnel Valiente, right? The CEO and owner of the Valiente Empire.”

I only know a little information about him. But from what I heard he’s a ruthless multi-billionaire businessman like dad.

“He offered me help.” Pagpapatuloy niya.

“As an exchange for the help he’s about to give me is…” he pauses for an effect, it worked.

“The exchange is what, Dad?”

“The exchange is the marriage of you and his son, Mikael Jarren Valiente.”

What?!

N-no! This can’t be happening! And that guy, Mikael?! His dad is Jarius Leonel Valiente? Ngayon ko lang nalaman iyon!

Napatayo ako sa kina-uupuan ko dala ng sobrang pagkagulat.

Did my dad lose his sanity?!

My liberty for the sake of our company?

“Did mom know about this whole marriage thing?!” For sure mom would disagree with his idea. She’s my only hope now.

                                                                                                                                                                               

“Yes, your mom knows Mauveine.” I felt so betrayed by my dad’s answer.

This can’t be happening.

Those words that came out from his mouth just keep on playing on my head like a broken record. How I wish that I’ve never heard those from him.

I stormed out of his office, wanting to be all these just a nightmare and I wish to wake up soon.

It has been weeks since my dad declared the wedding between me and Mikael but until now, I couldn’t absorb it.

Kahit na wala ng bisa ang parusa ni Head Mistress na tutoring sessions ay hindi ko pa rin iyon na enjoy. At habang si Mikael naman ay madalang ko lang kung makita sa loob ng school campus. I think that he is just pressured as me. Hindi ko nga inasahan ang pagbisita niya sa bahay noong nakaraang araw at kasama pa niya ang parents niya. I must say, Mikael’s parents were so nice to me,

At kahit anong gawin ko para mapigilan ang napipintong kasal, hinding-hindi ko na talaga iyon mapipigilan. My father’s words never fail. Kung anong gusto niyang mangyari ay mangyayari talaga at walang sinuman ang makapipigil sa kanya, maging ako, ang kanyang kaisa-isang anak.

Nakapanlulumo mang isipin pero ganoon na talaga si dad mula pa noon, mula pa no’ng bata pa ako. He was the one who chose my playmates on the playground when I was five, he was also the one who chose of which school I should attend, he forbids me to hang out with my friends during weekends up until I was thirteen, he never let me go outside of our home unless I’m with him, mom, with my two best friends which is Shaia and Deanne or one of our bodyguards. It was always on his terms, yet I didn’t argue. I knew that dad only did all of those because it was the best for me, and I was grateful for all of those.

Not until now.

He wants me to marry Mikael for the sake of our company. As selfish as it sounds, I could either whine and sulk about it or just be silent, doing either of those won’t make any change, it would always be on his decision, it would always be.

Nanatili ako sa pwesto ko habang nakatingin sa labas mula sa bintana ng aking silid. Huminga ako ng malalim nang mapagtanto kong papalubog na ang araw. Siguro ay isasabay ko na rin sa paglubog nito ang mga bagay na kakailanganin ko isantabi lalo na’t ikakasal na ako bukas.

Sana tama ang desisyon ni dad at…

Sana tama rin ang desisyon na pipiliin ko bukas.