FOR WORSE OR FOR BETTER

Chapter 1

Love is something that everyone wants to experience, but for me, there's no such thing as love in this world; it all revolves around money. If you have no money, then you are nothing but a living person. It was always about money, and whoever tries to deny it is nothing. Look at those people who are begging for food outside the mall or on the street. Pera ang siyang nagpapaikot sa mundong to.

"Yael, baby, come downstairs; you need to meet our friend's son. They will be here.

"Naputol ang pag-iisip ko ng marinig ko ang boses ng aking ina. For my family, it was always about image.

"Be there in a moment, mom." Pag kasabi ko ay agaran akong nag palit ng damit upang bumaba.

Pagkababa ko ay naabutan ko si mommy na may kausap sa sala agad akong pumunta sa tabi ni mommy upang batiin ang aming bisita na isang babae na sa tingin ko mid-forties palang at isang lalaki na sa tingin ko ay kaedaran ko lamang.

"This is my son, Yael. Yael, this is your tia's son, Caspian," Mom said as she looked at me. Inilahad ko ang aking kamay na agaran naman niyang tinanggap.

"Bakit hindi kayo mag libot libot Yael, anak samasahan mo si Caspian at iikot mo sa bahay habang nag uusap kami ng tita mo." Tango lamang ang aking sagot bago tignan si Caspian.

Pamilyar naman ako kay Caspian, hindi kami magkaibigan ngunit kilala namin ang isa't isa tahimik kaming pumunta sa garden ng bahay bago umupo sa gazebo.

"Alam mo ba kung bakit kami nandito at kung ano ang sadya namin dito? "Mahinang boses na tanong niya

"Hindi bakit may problema ba? "Saad ko naman umiling lamang siya. Katahimikan ang siyang nanaig sa amin. Hindi na ako nakatiis at kinausap siya

"I heard that it's your last year of college. What course are you taking? "I asked as I looked at him.

"Business administration major in financial management"

"Were you forced to take courses regarding business? "

"Ikaw din naman diba? "I chuckled at his response.

"In our world, it's all about money and business; no surprise, our family forces us to take courses about it; I think I'll be more surprised if they let us choose our own course. "Nakatinginan kami bago natawa sa katotohanan.

Katotohanan na sa mundong ginagalawan namin ay hindi uso ang salitang kalayaan at pag-ibig. Pag naniwala ka isa kang malaking hangal.

"Sa mundo na kinaiikutan ng pamilya natin, hindi uso ang salitang kalayaan. It was all about money. "Mahina niyang sambit ngunit sapat upang marinig ko. Hindi ko maiwasan na sumang ayon sa kanya.

"Nasabi sakin ni mommy, hindi ka daw masyadong makausap ng mga tao sa university na pinapasukan mo."

"It's not like that; it's just that they are all afraid of my family and the connection they have. I mean, it's no longer surprising that something like this happened," he said while looking down. "You know, sometimes I wish someone would save me from the prophecy that I have," he continued. In the middle of our conversation, we heard our mothers calling us.

At the dining table, I can feel my mom's stare, as if they want to say something but don't know how to say it.

"Mom, is there something you want to say? You keep glancing at me," I said as I dropped my utensil to the table.

"Nothing. By the way, Amelia, you and Caspian should go to my husband's anniversary." Hearing the word 'anniversary' from her as if her marriage were actually full of loving memories, I couldn't help but scoff.