Dear Future Ex-Husband

Chapter Two

Before Marriage

"PLEASE hold!" sigaw ni Daena habang tumatakbo para makaabot bago magsara ang elevator ng hotel na kinaroroonan niya ngayon. Laking pasasalamat niya nang hindi iyon tuluyang nagsara dahil late na late na siya sa lunch date nila ng kanyang ama. "Thanks," nakangiting pasasalamat niya sa taong nasa loob ng elevator.

Only, she was dumb-founded by who she found inside. Tall, buff and incredibly handsome. She was almost dwarfed by how tall this guy is. It's ridiculous how prominent his jaw is. He was hard-looking in all the right places. He's all man. His facial features, guys. Not...on anything else, okay?

Nakasuot ito ng light blue button-down shirt na pinatungan nito ng cream-colored coat at tinernuhan ng black pants and loafers. No tie. But that only added to his sex appeal. He was rugged-looking and Daena's totally digging his looks.

If handsome men had saints, he would surely be one of them.

Nakatingin ito sa kanya na para bang...kakilala siya nito. Pero sigurado si Daena na ngayon niya lang nakita ang lalaking ito sa buong buhay niya. Sigurado siya dahil hindi niya maaaring kalimutan ang ganitong mukha.

"What floor are you going?" anang malalim na tinig nito. Daena almost swooned. Fetish niya ang malalagong at malalalim na boses.

"Ninth," sagot niya rito dahil naroon ang restaurant na sinabi sa kanya ng papa niya.

Daena noted that he's also a gentleman. Hindi naman sa naghahanap ng boyfriend si Daena kaya parang ina-analyze niya ang lalaking ito. Nope. Marunong lang siyang mag-appreciate ng isang tao.

"Same floor as me. Date?" tanong pa ng lalaki.

"Something like that. You?" tanong niya rin dito.

He chuckled at her. "Same."

Nginitian itong muli ni Daena. Pero muling bumalik ang kabang kanina pa niya isinasantabi. Seryosong-seryoso kasi ang tinig ng papa niya kanina nang tawagan siya nito para mag-demand na samahan niya itong mag-lunch ngayon. Daena's father doesn't ask, he demands. Always. And Daena's always making sure to give him what he wants. Dahil hindi pwedeng hindi.

Another wave of guilt crawled up her heart trying to eat her whole being. She didn't fight it. Because she deserved it.

"You know, it wouldn't hurt for you to say 'no'," makahulugang sabi ng lalaki kay Daena. Kailangan pa niyang siguruhing wala itong kinakausap sa phone para malamang siya talaga ang kinakausap nito.

Bago pa siya makasagot ay tumigil ang elevator sa ninth floor at naunang lumabas ang lalaki. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit nito nasabi ang mga katagang iyon kaya hinabol ito ni Daena palabas.

"Wait," pigil niya rito. She dared to touch his arm to stop him. "Bakit mo nasabi 'yon?" kunot-noong tanong niya rito.

Sa halip na sagutin siya ay may tiningnan ito sa gawing kanan nila. At nang sinundan ni Daena ang tingin nito'y napakunot-noo siya ng makitang naroon ang papa niya at may kasama itong isang babaeng nasa mukhang nasa fifties na.

"Seems like we're set-up."

NAKATITIG lang si Daena kay Tyler Fontanilla—ang lalaking nakasabay niya sa elevator kanina—matapos silang iwan doon ng kanilang mga magulang. Her father and his mother—Mrs. Carmen Fontanilla—had really set them up.

            "Don't do anything that would shame me, Daena. Get to know Tyler," utos kay Daena ng papa niya. As usual, his voice was stern and demanding. Kaya walang nagawa si Daena kundi ang mapatango na lang.