Almost Cruel

Epilogue

Epilogue

I already asked for his father's blessing, kahit kay Leroy at sa kapatid nitong si Anne. Anne cried and she's so happy for her sister. Her father shed tears pero kalaunan ay nagkwento tungkol sa pagkabata ni Jude.

I already told my mother about it years ago when Jude and I thought we're married to each other. Doon ko rin nalaman na hindi naman pala tinuloy ni Mama even if she's the one who insisted that she wanted to see me marry someone so she could picture it out until her last breath. Ayaw ko ng ideya na 'yon, galit, at nagtatampo sa gusto niyang mangyari. I don't mind getting married for her sake, pero ayaw ko ng dahilan niya.

That was before.

I asked my best friend and we know she would love to marry for love and not for this kind of reason. Magpapakasal pero balak ding maghiwalay? Gusto ko lang talagang pagbigyan si Mama kahit na ayaw ng tumatakbo sa isip niya.

Alyssa rejected my offer. She doesn't want to. Nga naman may pangarap siya, may sariling plano, at hindi ito kasama doon.

I wasn't aware of her age when I married her. Pinaasikaso ko lang matapos ang mangyari saamin at mabilis lang ang naging pangyayari. She clearly told me that she needed my money. Pampaaral. Iyong lang ang hiniling niya saakin. Pinagbigyan ko dahil alam niya naman na may katapusan ito. She just wasn't aware of my reasons.

"Let's continue this in my condo! Minsan lang umuwi itong kaibigan natin!" si Jam. Tapos na sila sa pagpa-party kaya gusto nalang na ituloy ang inuman sa mas private na lugar para kung malasing man ang lahat ay ayos lang.

"Let's go," ang boyfriend nito.

"Tss, maawat niyo ba si Dior? Look at him!" I smirked when I saw him too absorbed with kissing the girl beside him.

"Lois!" mabilis niyang pinutol ang halikan at tumingin sa banda namin.

"Aalis na?" aniya. May ngisi pa sa labi.

"Oo!" si Jam. Sumenyas si Jam na lalabas muna at kanina pa may ka-text. Saglit lang din at bumalik na para ayain kami.

"She got it?" she nodded at her boyfriend.

"Halika na! Malinis na ang condo doon nalang tayo. Lois Mar Dior, stop that already!" iniwan ni Dior ang babae at ako naman ay iniwan na din ang kausap.

Sa tuwing uuwi ako galing Switzerland kung saan ko tinatapos ang pag-aaral at kung saan din magma-masteral, ganito ang ginagawa namin. Well, Jam and her boyfriend, pareho silang mahilig dito. Kami rin naman lalo na si Dior pero hindi pala inom sa ganitong lugar. I'd rather drink in a private place than here.

Nang sumunod na uwi, mas dumami ang kaibigan nilang babae lalo na si Dior.

Nakangisi nitong pinunasan ang labi bago iniwan ang dalawang babae sa mesa. Kadarating ko lang at agad niyang iniwan ang mga babae.

"I heard you have a fiance," he scoffed. Hindi pa ako naniniwala noong una pero nang makita ang front page ng magazine, napagtanto kong totohanan na ito. Hindi lang siya binibiro nila Jam. Totoong pumayag siya sa ganoong set up. Well, it's up to him. Kailanman ay hindi siya nagpa-control sa magulang. Besides, he owns their business.

"Arrange?"

"Business," I nodded.

"She agreed to this?"

"Why not? Sila ang may kailangan saamin." I saw the innocent face of his fiance. Kung ganito siya kagago, hindi ako naniniwalang magtatagal sila. It's either the girl is just pressured by her family to do this, or she likes this guy. Poor her.

"I don't see how you will benefit from this arrangement. Sure you have other plans." nginisian niya lang ako. Malamang ay meron nga. Si Lois ang tipo ng lalaking ayaw mong kalabanin. He looked friendly, yes. Halos kaibigan ang lahat kumpara saakin na limitado lang dahil hindi mabilis magtiwala kung kani-kanino lang. Palagi siyang nakangiti at mukhang maloko pero hindi mo gugustuhin ang laman ng isip niya. You can easily be friends with him but I know him better than anyone else. Better than his parents. He's willing to take revenge even for shallow reasons. And I don't like what he's thinking about this girl. Hindi niya pag-aaksayahan ng panahon kung wala lang.