"A fly could enter your mouth at any moment now."
Napatawa ako nang mahina nang agad na isara ni Zye ang bibig niya na kanina pa nakanganga dahil sa gulat. I get the feeling. I was shocked too, you know?!
Bigla na lang pumasok sa kuwarto ko si Dad kanina at sinabing maghanda ako dahil maraming bisita na darating! And from that moment, I never knew I was getting ready of my own engagement party! Kung hindi ko lang nakita ang invitation na hawak ng isang bodyguard, nangangapa pa rin siguro ako sa sitwasyon.
Honestly, when I knew that I was set up in an arranged marriage too, I don't know how I felt. Parang gusto ko tumakas gaya ng ginawa ni Zye pero alam ko na mahahanap din ako ni Dad gaya ng magulang ni Zye. That's why I chose to give up on that idea and go with the flow. Iniisip ko rin na baka malimutan ko na si Zye kung matutunan ko mahalin ang ipapakasal sa akin.
Not until Dad told me the name of my fiancé before the party started.
When I knew that she's my fiancé, I already went outside the mansion to greet them because of excitement. But, I ended up seeing her in the stairs, falling off. However, it doesn't matter. As long as she was the one I'm going to marry, it doesn't matter.
Dahil siya lang ang tatanggapin ko na Mrs. Chavez.
"It looks like our future groom and bride got along so well," Mrs. Aveline told us when she noticed that Zye and I are staring at each other. It stills felt surreal to me that she's already my fiancé. Napaka-bilis ng mga pangyayari.
"Then we should hurry planning the wedding," Dad said, causing them to laugh.
Bigla na lang kumalas si Zye sa tinginan naming dalawa para uminom ng wine. Nanatili pa rin akong nakatingin sa kaniya dahil sobrang ganda niya.
At hindi ako magsasawang sabihin na maganda siya.
"So, guys. How many grandchildren should we expect?"
Walang seremonya na naibuga ni Zye ang iniinom niyang wine nang marinig ang tanong ng Mommy niya, hindi inaasahan ang tanong. Maging ako ay nanlaki ang mata sa tanong niya. We're still studying for pete's sake!
"Mommy . . . Isn't that a little too early?" Zye awkwardly asked back while wiping the wine she spilled on her chin.
"What makes it early?"
"I mean . . . We're still studying though."
Napatango silang lahat sa sinabi niya, thank goodness they got our point for the first time!
"Then, let's talk about the house you'll be staying together after the marriage!"
Or not.
Honestly, the whole marriage itself is too much ahead! I mean, hello?! We're in the modern world, I didn't know arranged marriage is still hoping on the trend!
"Can you please excuse us for a moment?" Napansin ko na mas lalong nailang si Zye sa sitwasyon kaya nagsalita na ako. We need to unwind for a while, really. This is too much to digest for the night.
I didn't even waited for their responses and grabbed Zye's hands immediately and headed to the veranda of the mansion. Dito ako lagi pumupunta kapag pakiramdam ko na susuko na ulit ako. The view gives me strength to go on.
"I'm sure you had many questions going on inside your mind right now." I broke the silence. Magkatabi lang kaming dalawa, nakatayo at pinagmamasdan ang tanawin dito. "Spill it now, there's only the two of us here."
"Are you . . . pretty aware of the situation? Bago pa tayo magkakilala."
Mariin akong umiling. "No. I just knew it today, to be honest," pagsasabi ko ng totoo.
Gulat siyang napaharap sa akin. "HUH?! SERYOSO KA BA?! BAKIT NGAYON LANG?"
That made me laugh for a while. Ang cute niya magulat. "Mom and Dad didn't told me because of the competition. They're afraid I might flunk it." Natalo pa rin naman kami sa huli! Kung sinabi siguro nila kaagad, hindi na siguro ako malulungkot ng isang buwan!
"And, you're okay with that? You didn't ran away like I did?"
"At first, I did think of that. But, Dad is just like your parents . . . They'll find me to death just to do what the hell they want me to do, so I threw that idea immediately."
"I told you we can't do anything about it. It's already our stupid cruel fate," sagot niya saka mapait na ngumiti.
Tiningnan ko siya sa mga mata. "Is marrying you, the woman I like is a stupid cruel fate?" I told myself. Then, I shook my head, still staring at her eyes. "I don't think so."
"And also, why would I run away if I want to marry you?"
BINABASA MO ANG
Cycle Of Love Series #5: Love and Crosses
Ficção AdolescenteAshandria Zye Aveline, a sixteen year old girl who writes poems to express herself. She doesn't have friends due to her social anxiety not until she met Andrius Leo Chavez, a seventeen year old boy dancer who turned out to be fan of her masterpieces.
