Shattered Reflections

Kabanata 2

He smirk when he saw my reaction. He probably read what's on my mind. Gosh. Dadating si ate. She should! Fuck. Mas lalo akong nanlumo ng marinig ang usapan nila. Our marriage.

Now, I get it. This man needs to be wedded before the election, he's running for mayor and he needs to get the support of the late mayor of San Jose Buenavista and a far relative support's and unfortunately they are traditional, they believe that a married man is more responsible than a bachelor.

Think Ade! Think.

I cannot run away baka hindi lang si Daddy ang makakapatay sakin baka pati tong mga toh. Ilang buwan lang naman, pagmahanap na si ate babalik sa normal ang buhay ko.  Right?

"Sa Paris ka pala nanirahan hija? No wonder I did not know you, well set aside the fact that you and your family are very private"

Tumango ako "Opo, I stayed their for almost 7 years" Tumango tango ito.

"How's your life in Paris? May mga pinag-aabalahan ka ba dun?" The old lady — Donya Celestina. Ano toh interview if qualified ako?

"Okay naman po, I do ballet at may sariling art gallery din ako roon" Yun nalang ang tanging sinabi ko. I don't want to disclose more.

"Really? You're into arts pala, I'm sure my youngest will like you!" Napangiti ako. Youngest?

Nag usap pa sila tungkol sa business, politiko, at mga plano sa hinaharap. Nang mapansin ko ang pagkawili nila sa kanilang pinag-uusapan ay nagpaalam muna ako mag banyo.

Malaking buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko habang tinitignan ko ang sarili kong repleksyon. Kapag nahanap na si ate before the wedding magiging malaya na ako pero kapag hindi? Papakasalan ko yun? That's better than dying right?

Wala sa choices ko ang tumakas, all the people at that table is obviously powerful and influential, they can kill me if they want. Mahirap sila kalabanin, sigurado ako dun, so I can't run away. And if I marry that...man, I would be safe and I would need to do my part as his wife until ate is back. That will probably take time but that's better than dying.

Matalino ka Ade kaya gamitin mo ang utak mo!

Nag tiim bagang ako sa naging realisasyon. I got used...again. Dad played me again! At nagpagamit naman ako! Now, I need to do my part in this game to survive.

Lumabas ako ng comfort room with a plan in mind. It would be better kung bago ang kasal lumitaw na si ate but that's impossible. If she doesn't want to get tied with this man then she'd probably wait for this man to be tied with another woman and unfortunately that's me.

"You don't know about the marriage?" Natigil ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang baritonong boses na iyon. Nilingon ko ito.

"Whether I am aware or not, the wedding must be done" Tanging nasabi ko. Tumaas ang kilay niya, amusement was all over his face.

"I guess you like me Ms. Paris, huh?" He smirk ako naman ngayon ang nag taas ng kilay at mapaklang tumawa.

"I think it's the other way around Mr. Future Mayor, you wouldn't ask me to tour you if you're not interested to me? Or...baka nung una pa lang alam mo na ako ang papakasalan mo? Were you stalking me?" Hamon ko sa kanya. Of course that's not true, sinabi ko lang yun para may laban sa kanya.

"I don't like you. I also don't need to stalk you, you'd be my wife whatever happens"

"So excited to wife me up? Eh?" Pang-iinis ko.

"So excited to husband me up? That you flew from Paris to here immediately? Kaya ba hindi ka nagpakita sakin that day?" Panghuhula niya.

At dahil ayokong sumagot. "Why? Did you expect? Did I broke your heart?" Inosente akong ngumiti. He gritted his teeth. Talo.

Naging mabilis at matulin ang panahon hanggang sa namalayan ko nalang na engagement party na namin. "Welcome hija" Salubong sakin ng ina ni Mr. Future Mayor. We are at the La Familia Eschieverra. Their home. Dito gaganapin ang engagement party namin, I'm sure may media ring dadalo mamaya.

"Magandang tanghali Tita" Ngiti ko rito.

"Nag lunch ka na ba?" Tanong nito na kina illing ko.

"Tamang tama hindi pa rin ako kumakain, halika't sabay tayo" Ani nito habang ginigiya ako papasok.

"Mom" Isang malambing na boses ang tumawag sa kanya kaya nakuha nito ang atensyon ko. Papasok na kami sa dining at naroon ang isang magandang batang babae at si Donya Celestina.

"Maupo na kayo rito hija" Ngiti ni Donya Celestina. Nasa kabisera siya at sa right side niya ay iyon batang babae, tumabi si Tita sa babae habang nasa harapan ako nung bata.

"Ikaw ang mapapangasawa ni kuya?" Kuryusong tanong nito. Oh. Kuya. So this is her sister? Yung youngest kuno?

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango.

"Dorothy this is Adelaide, your kuya's fiancee. I'm sure magkakasundo kayo apo, she's likes art just like you" Tila napukaw ni Donya Celestina ang interes ng bata.

"Mahilig ka sa art?" Tanong nito sakin.

"I love painting and I'm a ballerina way back in Paris" Tanging nasabi ko.

"Paris? Pumunta din kami ni kuya roon last time! I have a lot of painting here, I can show them to you" Ngumisi siya. Sa tingin ko ay nasa 16 o 17 pa ito. She looks...naive and very sheltered. Naalala ko sa kanya ang batang ako. She's too innocent.

Ngumiti ako. "Sure"

"May mga gawa ka ba na nandito? O nasa Paris lahat?" Tanong nito.

"Nasa Paris but I can ship some of it, baka magkaroon din ako ng exhibition after the wedding"

"Can I go?" She ask cutely.

"Of course you can" Ani ko.