My Husband's Rival

CHAPTER 2

EIRLYS

"Just tell me if you're uncomfortable or if you want to back out. My guards are ready to get us, even though Dad will forbid it," Ate Eirene said while fixing my hair.

Today is the day kung kailan ang dinner na gagawin namin together with the family ng lalaking pakakasalan ko. Nag-aalala si Ate, katulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa since then.

"I'm fine..."

She sighed.

"Are you doing this because of me?" she suddenly asked.

"What do you mean?"

Kinakabahan ako sa tuwing malulungkot siya nang ganito.

"You got pressured because of the wrong decisions I made. Mataas ang expectations sa'yo ni Dad dahil halos kaming tatlo, wala kaming ginawang maganda." Nangilid agad ang luha nito. I held her hands to calm her.

"That's not true, Ate. I'm also doing this because this is actually my choice, too," I said.

She rolled her eyes. "Don't fuck around, Eirlys. I'm your sister. I know you better than anyone. Alam kong hindi ka lang makapalag dahil ito ang gusto nina Daddy."

Of course she knows. She's my freaking sister. Lahat ng sikreto ko ay alam niya. But I won't let her meddle with my decision this time. She's pregnant at ayaw kong ma-stress siya.

Kuya Spiro wasn't invited sa aming dinner. Mas kinabahan tuloy ako dahil hindi siya kasama. I want him to go with us because I feel like he's one of my spokespersons when he's here.

"Just smile, anak," Mommy said as she pinched my nose. I just forced myself to smile.

We entered the restaurant kung saan magaganap ang dinner namin. Is this... pamamanhikan? I don't fucking know. Basta ang alam ko, para akong lumulutang somewhere.

I bit my lower lip as I held my sister's hand tighter. Kuya Kyle cleared his throat kaya naman lumingon ako sa kanya. He's watching me with his sharp eyes. Alam kong katulad ng mga kapatid namin ay ayaw niya rin dito. But nang malaman niyang pumayag ako, wala na rin siyang nagawa.

Dito sa high-end restaurant ni Tita Zia. This is her most recent or newly built restaurant. Dito kami makikipagkita sa mga magiging... pangalawang pamilya ko.

"Good afternoon po. The Blancos are waiting inside."

Blanco. That's his surname. That will be my surname probably months from now.

The waitress opened the door for us. Unti-unti kong naaninag ang mga tao na nasa loob. I pressed my lips together nang makita ko ang tatlong tao sa loob.

We walked towards them. Nanatili akong nakahawak kay Ate Eirene. I could slowly feel the rope wrapping around my neck the moment we stepped in the room.

I bit my lower lip hard as I looked at the man beside the old man. Bahagya pang nagsalubong ang mga kilay ko dahil hindi ko alam kung sino rito ang mapapangasawa ko dahil dalawa ang lalaking kasama ng matanda. I really have no idea.

"Mr. Rivera!" The man who's at the age of my dad stood up to greet us. Tumayo rin ang mga anak niya.

Hindi ko nasundan ang mga paunang salita nila dahil malalim ang iniisip ko. Not until Daddy held my arms para iharap ako sa mga taong 'yon.

"This is my daughter, Eirlys Snow," Daddy introduced me to them.

I pinched myself to force myself to smile.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Blanco," bati ko sa matanda.

"You're really a nice woman, hija. Bagay na bagay ka sa anak ko." He laughed habang hindi naman ako makatawa. "Draven, come here."