Hardest to Lose (Villaraza Series #4)

14 | Kaskasera

14 | Kaskasera

I was engaged to marry Xavier then. Bata pa lamang kami, pinaglalapit na talaga kami ng mga magulang namin. He was from a family of exporters. A really good deal. Kung mapapangasawa ko nga naman siya, malaki ang maiaambag noon sa reputasyon ng mga Villaraza. I came from a family with obsession to piling up golds. Hindi nakukuntento at palaging gutom kahit punong-puno ang bibig. So arranged marriage was not new.

Did I ever like the idea of marrying Xavier? Maybe if I was asked that when I was still a naïve little girl, I’d answer it with a resounding ‘yes.’ Hindi dahil attracted ako sa kanya kundi dahil cool siya. He knew what toys I enjoyed and he was always with me to commit shenanigans. I thought we would make a good pair.

Pero siyempre, iba na ngayon. Ibang-iba na.

Xavier had always been flirty with me. It started when we reached our teenage years. Hindi ko kailanman siya minalisyahan dahil akala ko ay barkadahan lang. Paglalambing niya lang. But this time, he was not discreet anymore. He crossed the line where I could no longer ignore what he wanted to tell me all along.

If he was true and I was correct, it would be a sad story.

“Kaya mo ‘to, Ara. Nasa audience lang kami. ‘Pag kinabahan ka, tumingin ka lang sa’min.”

I smiled and dashed a look on them. “Thank you, guys. I’ll bear that in mind.”

Walang pasok ngayon karamihan sa programs sa college namin dahil sa grand rally. Akala ko nga ay hindi papasok ang mga kaklase ko ngayon lalo na’t sangkatutak ang mga kailangang gawin at ipasa. But they did and gave me their support. Nakakatuwa. They always got me.

“Kinakabahan ka ba?” Faye asked and dabbed her pink handkerchief on my forehead. “Pinagpapawisan ka na naman, o.”

Mahina akong tumawa at hinawakan ang palapulsuhan niya. “Para akong aatakihin sa puso.”

I was used to facing people. I had been a student politician my whole life. But this was different from all of my experiences.

May mga sinabi pa si Faye para raw maibsan ko ang nerbyos. Pinagtawanan nga siya ng mga kasama namin dahil para raw siyang nanay ko at mas kabado pa yata sa akin. Of course, she just looked at Fortune sharply, the idea promoter. Matapos noon ay umalis na kami dahil nag-text na si Ate Anya na pumunta na raw sa auditorium.

The place was filled when we came. Medyo maingay at halatang ni-require lang ng mga professor na pumunta rito para sa attendance. Maraming napatingin sa akin kaya nginitian ko sila.

“’Yan ‘yong kapatid ni Iñigo? ‘Yong bokalista?”

“Oo, si Ate Iñara. Kamukha niya, ‘di ba?”

“Girl version, be.”

Oh, of course, they would say that.

“Ano, Iñara? Ready ka na?” nakangiting tanong sa akin ni Ate Anya habang palapit.

“Medyo, ‘Te,” sagot ko. “Ang dami palang tao.”

She chuckled and sat beside me. “Marami kasi ‘yong iba curious sa’yo. ‘Yong iba rin nga d’yan, mga ‘di naman natin ka-college.”