Chapter 37: The Taking
Advertisement: Love on a Balance Sheet is a story written by my ever supportive friend, ginagin07. Completed na po ang story niyang ‘to!
LARA’s POV
“I told you Kev, a day after heart’s day.”
Lara, this is important. Hindi mo ba nakaisip bakit gustong-gusto nila tayong ipakasal? Hindi mo ba naisip kung anong proposal ang pinapermahan ng daddy mo? Hindi mo ba naisip bakit ikaw ang ginawang bait?”
“Kev… I don’t want to think of it. All I want for now is to survive another year without getting married.”
Hindi mo ba talaga ako naiintindihan? You have to be here! Diba tinawagan ka na ng daddy mo na pumunta ka dito? We need to talk in private. Not in calls, in private.
“Sheeze! Can’t you guys give me a break? Bakit? Magkano ba ang proposal na yun? Fifty million? A hundred? I don’t care Kev. I just did that dahil alam ng daddy kong makakalabas ako sa deal na ‘to.”
“Okay! Sige nga? Tell me what’s you plan. Your final plan! How can you escape this forced marriage?”
“Fine! I only have one choice left! And that is to walk down the aisle with you.”
“So does that mean you’ll lose?”
“That means I looked like as if I’m losing but I’m not. Sometimes you need to trick your opponent to win the game. And I trust you to help me win it.”
“Okay! I don’t get you for now but you still have to come.”
“Good night Kev!”
“Okay, good night….. and wait! Be careful!”
At last natapos din ang nightmare dressed like a day dream. Every time kausap ko si Kevin, I felt like I’m struggling to wake up and escape an ugly nightmare.
He doesn’t get me? All I’m saying is to give up trying to cancel the wedding and give them satisfaction by walking down the aisle. Wala na akong ibang magagawa but to conform with them. I still have my last move. I have contacted a minister and I already told them na hindi ako magpapakasal kung hindi siya ang officiating minister. It may look like a selfish and stupid demand but it’s the best thing I can do.
In that way, I can make the wedding invalid. Kapag expired ang license ng minister, the wedding is not valid at all. Kaya humanap ako ng ministro nga malapit ng maexpire ang license. I was lucky to find one and I was luckier when they accepted my demand.
I woke up 4 in the morning at dali-dali akong nag half bath. I wore my sports bra, my fit shorts and pulled my red jacket from my dresser. I wore my white rubber shoes and grabbed my headset before leaving.
I needed to jog dahil medyo naparami na ang carbs ko these past few days. Actually simula pa nga noong December panay na ang pagkain ko ng carbs kaya I felt like I gained weight. Konti lang naman but I still needed to go an extra mile for my body.
Marami ang nagjojogging kapag ganitong oras sa UAR. Karamihan, mga dorm mates ko sa Athena. Yung iba, mga P.E students. Ilang kanta narin ang natapos sa playlist ko when I decided to buy a coffee. I pulled up my big curls and closed my jacket bago pumasok.
“Iha?”
“Hi po Tita Lillian!” bati ko sa kanya. She is sitting near the glass window of the coffee shop kung saan makikita ang administration building at ang UAR fountain.
