Jerico's POV
Nag iikot ako sa hotel ng masalubong ko si Tito Edgardo. "Hey! Mabuti at nakita kita, can we talk?" He asked and put his arm on my shoulder.
"Why Tito?"
"It's about Aika." Okay! We go into the private place. "Alam mo Jerico. Kailangan mo nang pakasalan ang Anak ko."
"Eh Tito I think hindi ganun kadaling ligawan si Aika."
"You don't need to court her."
"Why?"
"There's a thing that we have to do without force. Though I forced her."
"What are you emphasized for?"
"What I wanna say, you have to be ready to marry my daughter."
"I know it's been a while when you asked that. I like her. Not because you are rich Tito. She's beautiful. Masasabi kong napakaswerte ng mapapang-asawa niya. Pero I tried once, ayaw niya sakin dahil alam niyang ikaw ang nag utos. A psychological thing na hindi ko matanggap."
"Malapit na. You just need to talk with her again."
"Eh Tito, hindi po ganun kadali eh. Sabi niya sakin, hindi kailangang pilitin na mahalin namin ang isa't isa. She believes in destiny."
"Basta as for now, you should be ready."
"I can't Tito!"
"Why you can't?"
"Hindi siya tulad ng iba Tito. Hindi ko kayang pakasalan ang ayaw naman sakin!"
"Your Dad knows about this and even the people surround us. You are sorounded by people who know about the arranged marriage."
"I know Tito, but Aika is different."
"Ikaw ang gusto ko kay Aika. All you have to do is talk to her and just wait. Very simple. Call her right now and you don't need to court her, just talk and explain why we do the arranged mirriage."
"I'll try again and hindi ko kasalanan kung ayaw niya."
"Wag nang matigas ang ulo Jerico. I shouldn't say that someday you will be the one of the owners who has a bigger responsibility, bigger share and whatever things you will get. I know you are not interested in that things and I know you are good in this company and that exactly what I want for Aika to be her husband. I don't want a people who can love my daughter just because of money."
"I know I'm the one who deserves to be. But hindi ako katulad ng iba. Pareho lang kami ni Aika."
"But you badly like Aika, don't you?"
"Absolutely!"
"Just call her." Umalis siya at hindi ko siya kailangang suwayin. Gusto ko kasing ako mismo sana ang manliligaw kaso ang mahirap, kahit gawin ko 'yun, iisipin parin ni Aika na Daddy niya ang nag force. Sayang. Alam kong walang babaeng tumatanggi sakin at maraming babae na gusto akong mapang-asawa pero kahit si Aika ang gusto ko, ayaw naman ni Aika ng sapilitan lang. Nakakainis. Sana hindi nalang ako nakilala ng Pamilya niya. Sana nakilala ko si Aika ng biglaan lang and I know she quickly likes me if it happens. So I called her. Hindi niya sinasagot. Nakasave pa yata ang number ko sa kaniya kaya ayaw niyang sagutin. Oh my god, masasalubong ko siya. Nagtago ako at dumaan siya sa harap ko. Alam ko na! Baka hindi lang niya dala ang phone niya? Nakatingin lang ako and continuing calling her. She stopped and.... She answered it!!
"Hello Jerico!"
"Hi Aika."
"Ano ang kailangan mo?"
"Nothing, I just either wanna talk or eat with you."
"Utos ba ni Daddy 'yan?" Sabi ko na nga ba eh.
"No he didn't. Bakit ba ayaw mong maniwala na gusto kita!"
"Pwede ba! Hindi kita gusto!"
"I knew it from the start. I would talk to you in personal." Nakatingin lang ako sa kaniya at balak niyang pumasok sa office na nasa harap niya and lumingon siya!! Nagtama ang mata namin. Shit!! Binaba niya ang tawag and walked towards me. Patay, natotorpe ako. Pagdating niya ay napakamot lang ako sa ulo and seriously stairing at her.
"Jerico! I have a boyfriend." Bungad niya.
"Aika, I don't matter if you have. I just wanted to talk. I just wanna say something."
"Say it now 'cause I don't have time to listen." Ang hirap naman.
"Okay, ah 'wag nalang. You shall go." Ganun din naman ang mangyayari. Magpapagod lang ako. May boyfriend na pala siya. So, tatagos lang sa kabilang tenga niya ang sasabihin kong explanation. Alam na kaya ng Daddy niya 'yun? Sinong lalaki naman ang swerte?!
"I'm gonna talk to you later at lunch, we will eat together with Almira, is it okay to you?"
"Okay!" Umalis na siya at wow! Pumayag siya. What is the meaning of this? Since then I was waiting at her and hindi ako mapakali hanggang umabot ang lunch time.
Nagstart kaming mag-usap. "I know what you'll say for. But Jerico, you are rich and handsome. Why are you wasting your time to a girl who doesn't want you?!" Kasama niya si Almira Maya nakakahiya.
"Ah okay. Aalis muna ako." Sabi ni Almira dahil napatingin ako sa kaniya.
"No no! Almira, don't go, okay?" Tumingin ako kay Aika. "I know na ayaw mo naman ng arranged marriage." Sabi ko sa kaniya.
"Alam mo pala eh. Bakit andito ka at kinakausap ako? Para sabihing gusto mo ako hindi dahil sa arranged marriage? Maganda ako at ako ang tipo mo? Maganda ako at patay na patay ka sakin? Maganda ako at kahit sino swerte sakin?! What else will you have to say?"
"Wala na!! But one thing I have to say. I just wanna make you happy. However, right now I know you have a boyfriend. Hindi mo ba alam na malaking gulo kung hindi papayag ang Dad mo sa boyfriend mo?"
"I know what you're trying to explain. The consequences would be given. Jerico, naiintindihan kita pero kung nahihiya ka sa Daddy ko, 'wag mo nang alalahanin 'yun. Ako ang may kasalanan at hindi ikaw! Nanghihinayang ka dahil napunta ako sa iba? So you've tried again to convince me to marry you and what else?" Alam na alam na niya ang lahat. Hindi ko kaya.
"I hope Aika maging masaya ka! Kaya nga kung sakaling ako ang mapapang-asawa mo, gagawa ako ng paraan para sumaya ka."
"I know my Dad chose you because you're so very kind and unusual person. But I always opposed what they want kaya hindi na tayo dapat nang umasa. I opposed him not because I'd like to fight them, not bitterly opposing them. I was saying those to you. I wanna be free. It seemed like I'm in a country that is not a free. Para saan pa at na sa Pilipinas ako? Daig ko pa ang na sa Saudi eh. Bawal ang pork, bawal ang beef, bawal ang partner, kailangan may kasulatan pa! So, kung pakakasalan kita, sasaya ba ako o masusunod na naman ang gusto nila na kinaiinis ko mula pa noong bata pa ako?!" Hindi na ako magsalita dahil wala na akong magagawa. Imbes na ang magpaliwanag, siya pa ang nagpaliwanag para tapusin na ang tungkol samin. Sana naman walang taong manakit sa kaniya.
___
My English isn't the best. I'm sorry XD
