S7VEN (La Familia Kingpin Series #1)

Simula

SANTY

What if I tell you that I know when and where I'm going to die, would you believe me? That slowly and agonizingly, I saw my life slip from my hands right before my very eyes. Yes, I know that I'm dying and why.

I should have run to safety and hidden from the claws of death but no, I did the exact opposite any sane person would do. Call it pure stupidity, but for me, it's a sacrifice a daughter should make for her family. A duty to fulfill.

I welcome death with my arms open and walked to it willingly with my Louboutin-clad feet and expensive white Vera Wang dress as armor. Who would have thought that death would be this extravagant?

I closed my eyes as I gripped the handle of the small bouquet the lady gave me earlier. I guess she's the organizer of this eulogy.

My wedding.

In an hour or so, I will be exchanging 'I do with the man whose family has more riches than the GDP of a small country. The man whom the press dubbed as dangerously beautiful and equally ruthless, the female population bows down to him whenever he's around. The man my father owed a huge amount of money, fifty million pesos to be exact.

Seven Torrevillas.

I huffed and stared at my reflection in the thick glass window of the office I was in.

Kung sa iba'y heto ang araw na pinakahihintay nila't pinapangrap, hindi ako. Right now, all I wanted to do is be the ordinary Santy Vidal with a mundane schedule- aral, library, bahay. Last week, I was that girl. A 20-year old  BA Communication Arts student who's busy with her upcoming exams and term papers. But fate has a funny way for everything, it'll throw you to the things or situation wherein wala kang alam at sa kaso ko, 'di ko gusto.

"I'll wring his neck, Sixto. Que barbabaridad! Saan ka nakakita na ang bride ang naghihintay sa groom? Nakakahiya."

Bahagya akong lumingon sa kaliwa at nakitang masinsinang nag uusap sina Don Sixto at Doña Laarni Torrevillas. They are my soon-to-be in-laws.

"Relax, darling. Katatapos ko lang makausap si Bob, na-traffic lang sila from NAIA but they're on their way here," anang Don at pinisil ang braso ng ginang.

"Ayusin mo lang na hindi lalayas 'yang panganay mo. I know Seven, Sixto. He wouldn't agree with this madness."

"Darling, we're through with this right? Relax."

The regal matriarch raised both her hands that were clad with designer white gloves just like mine. "Fine. Fine. Kung bakit kasi madalian ang kasal ng mga bata? Alam mong pag-uusapan tayo ng mga Amigas ko. They will think that Seven got Santy pregnant. Dios Mio!"

"Laarni..."

Natigilan ang ginang at tumingin sa pwesto ko. Napansin na pala ng mabait na Don ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa ng asawa.

Alanganing ngumiti sa 'kin ang ginang habang hinahawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumabing sa mukha nito."S-santy, hija. Parating na sila. Na-traffic lang."

"Okay lang ho," I nod and gave them a reassuring smile. At least, may dalawang taong alam kong bukas palad akong tanggap sa pamilya nila, sa kabia ng rason ng kasalang ito.

Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa pinto ng bumukas iyon at iluwa ang isa sa mga hottest bachelor ng Reino. Otto Torrevillas in a three-piece dark gray suit armed with nothing but oozing charms.

"Hello. I'm not late, am I?"

"No. The groom is not yet here, so you're still on time," ani Don Sixto sa pangalawang anak.