CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 3

I was dead silent as the woman helped me to wear this dress.

I can’t believe I’m wearing this.

Nang tignan ko ang sarili kong repleksyon sa salamin ay doon ko napansin ang desenyo nito. I’m currently wearing a long-sleeve lace dress with pearl accents. I traced the intricate design of the gown with my fingers, and I could tell this must have cost much.

At kahit anong iginanda ng wedding dress na ito ay hindi-hindi maikukubli nito ang pagtutol ko sa kasal.

“It looks so good on you! You’ll have my best wishes to your wedding, Madame.” The woman said cheerfully to me.

“Thank you.” Mahinang sagot ko sa kanya. Only if this woman knew, I’m marrying a jerk. But I can’t. I can’t tell everybody that this was just an arranged marriage for convenience. Iyon kasi ang sabi ni dad sa akin. It would cause another scandal if the mass would know that we’re marrying for the sake of our company.

Pero alam to ng malapit kong kaibigan na sina Shaia at Deanne. They were so shocked too. The two even suggested that I should run away but I turned it down. Kahit na ayaw kong pakasalan si Mikael pero pinakiusapan na ako ni Mom at Dad patungkol rito.

I couldn’t just turn my back from my parents with that fiasco going on. I’ve made up my mind. I am willing to do anything that they would ask me, even though it’s against my will. And if that would be marrying Mikael, I’ll do it.

Maging si Mikael nga ay naiipit rin sa desisyon ng mga magulang namin. Mom explained it to me. Talagang isinusugal kami ng mga ama namin para sa kompanya.

Nasa tapat ng simbahan ang sasakyang kinalalagyan ko ngayon. Makailang beses na rin akong napabuntong-hininga at hindi ko talaga maiwasang hindi kabahan. Mom preferred for us to have a traditional wedding so, here we are.

They even bothered to have the blessings and the presence of the Lord when all of this is just fake. That made me want to cuss.

“Mauveine. Are you sure about this?” tanong ng kaibigan mong si Shaia.

Binigyan ko siya ng pilit na ngiti at marahang tumango. Wala na ‘tong atrasan.

“I could really drive this car, far, far away from here, you know?” si Deanne naman iyon.

Hinampas siya sa braso ni Shaia. And I knew why.

“Then, you’re gonna get us killed first?! You’re a certified bad driver, Deane.” Si Shaia.

“Hindi naman ako ganoon kasamang magmaneho! I’m still learning!” Giit ni Deanne.

Natapos ang kulitan namin sa loob ng sasakyan ng may tumawag na sa akin mula sa labas. Kailangan ko na raw bumaba ng sasakyan.

This is it.

“Mauveine, snap your fingers twice kung gusto mong ipa-run-away scene kita kay Ream.” Suhestyon ni Shaia.

This girl is unbelievable. Dinamay pa talaga niya si Ream. And speaking of Ream, Dad invited him to come at my wedding. Bukod sa magkaibigan ang Dad ni Ream at si Dad ay magkasosyo rin sila sa negosyo. And on the top of that, Ream and I are some sort of friends too.

When I finally stepped out form the car. Bumungad sa akin ang napakagandang palamuti dito sa labas ng simbahan. Napakaraming bulaklak. Of which symbolizes everything, that there will be a wedding to happen. Everything was on mint-green and white. It is my favorite color after all.

Nang inilibot ko ang paningin ko ay nakita ko ang mga naglalakihang camera ng mga media. Ang dami nila. It’s a good thing that dad’s security was ready for this.

Pumwesto na ako sa tapat ng nakasaradong entrada ng simbahan, gaya ng sinabi sa akin ng wedding organizer. Bago pa man tuluyang humiwalay sa akin sina Deanne at Shaia ay niyakap nila ako ng mahigpit.

“It is not too late to run away, Mauveine.” Si Deanne iyon. Matapos niya iyong sabihin ay agad na siyang naglakad papalayo sa akin.

I’m sorry, Deanne. I’ve made up my mind already.

“Goodluck, Mauveine!” Si Shaia naman iyon at kahit papaano ay gumaan ng kaonti ang pakiramdam ko. Nginitian ko na lamang siya at gaya ni Deanne ay naglakad na rin siya papalayo sa akin at nagtungo sa may gilid.

Ipinikit ko ang mga mata ko. Pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko pero hindi ko magawa. Kinakabahan ako.

Kasabay ng pagbukas ng aking mga mata ay siya ring pagbukas ng pintuan ng simbahan.

Everyone’s eyes were on me. I could tell that many of them were delighted with my presence. They all wore formal dresses with anything mint green on it. Ang elegante nilang tignan lahat. Base pa lang sa isinuot nila ay halata na may sinasabi na sila sa buhay. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin at nahagilap ko ang mga, Vallera, Villareal, Castellano, at ang mga Madrigal, mga malalaking pangalan sa larangan ng business industry.

At dahil doon ay mas kinabahan ako.

I let out a heavy sigh then I force myself to move forward. Halos hindi ko na kasi maihakbang pa ang aking mga paa. Slow music invaded my ears.

Matapos ang limang hakbang ay tumigil ako sa paglalakad.

Mom and Dad approached me.

Nasa kanan ko si dad habang si mom naman ay nasa kaliwa ko. They escorted me to the altar. Ni hindi ko kayang tumingin ng diretso roon.

“Anak, I’m so sorry.” Wika ni Dad. As you should be.

“Don’t be, Dad.” Sagot ko na lamang.

“Mauveine, please understand us.”

“I’m trying my best, Mom.” Mahina kong tugon sa kanya.

Sa totoo lang, I’ve never imagined myself that I’m walking down the aisle with my parents beside me, escorting me to the altar where the groom of whom I don’t love, waits for my arrival.

Pero, ito ako ngayon. Nandidito ako sa sitwasyong hindi ko inakala. Gusto ko ngang gisingin ang sarili ko sa kahibangang ito pero hindi maari. I’m wide awake and this wedding is really happening.

Nang makarating na kami sa altar, nakita ko na ang kabuuan ni Mikael. He looked at me intently, of which made me tremble even more. He looked very handsome and neat in his black tuxedo. He got himself a clean haircut, kaya medyo naninibago ako sa kanya. He used to have a mullet hairstyle, days ago.

He smiled at me, genuinely. Sa ginawa niyang iyon ay mas lalong umikli ang pagitan ng paghinga ko. Hindi ko na namalayan na naka-upo na pala sila mom at dad sa upuang nasa likuran namin.

Mikael offered his hand to me, and I accepted it. Napa-upo kami sa harapan ng pari.

The mass went on. Cheers were everywhere. The choir sang. While I did nothing but to stare at the floor.

Why am I even here?

Nilamon na naman ako ng pagsisi. Should I just take Deanne’s suggestion earlier? Would that make this situation much more manageable? Or it would just make everything out of hand?

Napatayo na lamang kaming dalawa ni Mikael ng kunin ng pari ang atensyon naming dalawa.

“Mikael Jarren Valiente, do you take Mauveine Zelliana Arellano as your lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do you apart?” the priest asked Mikael.

“I do.” He answered right after. I really don’t know how to react.

Parang wala lang sa kanya iyon, pero ramdam ko pa rin ang sinseridad niya. That just added to the guilt I’m feeling right now.

Papano niya nagawang sabihin iyon nang walang halong pag-aanlinlangan? Lalo na’t nakasalalay sa sagot niya ang kahihinatnan ng lahat? His freedom is on line yet he still manage to cross it.

I shivered as I heard my name called by the priest.

“Mauveine Zelliana Arellano, do you take Mikael Jarren Valiente as your lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, ‘till death do you apart?”

“I-I do…” I said almost hesitantly. It was almost a whisper, but it was enough for the priest and Mikael to hear it.

 After the vows have been said, we exchanged rings.

It took a while for me to put the ring on his finger because my hands were literally shaking.

Then, the priest once again spoke.

“You may now kiss the bride.”

The crowd cheered as Mikael flipped my veil, revealing my bare face, he smiled. Just like few moments ago, his smile was genuine.

He closed the gap between us but before he could even do that, he whispered something to me.

“You’re so beautiful, Mauveine.”

With that my heart pounded even more.

Then, he claimed my lips, with that I closed my eyes.

It’s official. The wedding is over, and I couldn’t run away anymore.

I just knew that the tears that I’ve been holding back, started to escape.

Everyone seems happy and that excludes me.