We are already at one of the restaurant owned by our family. Hinihintay namin sila Tita Myrla and her family na dumating for the official declaration of my arranged marriage with Mikha.
"Ma, when you guys said 'family dinner', di mo naman sinabi na some of our employees will be here as well." bulong ko kay Mama, feeling a bit anxious kasi hindi ako sanay sa matataong lugar kahit most of the time nasa kumpanya ako.
"Anak, these people from our company is our second family din naman kaya medyo fit din naman sa term na family dinner diba?" ani ni Mama sabay tawa ng bahagya. My dad is busy talking with his other associates habang patawa tawa from time to time. It's nice seeing him smile and laugh like this kasi bihira si Papa gumanito. Palaging nakabusangot. Parang si Mikhaela lang.
"Myrla, John, over here!" Rinig kong sabi ni Mama at lumingon naman ako kung saan nagawi ang tingin nya. Speak of the devil.
It's the Lim Family. Tito John walked in first with Tita Myrla at his side, followed by Kuya Enzo and Ate Patrice. And then her, the grumpy ass nonchalant soon to be wife of mine. Mikhaela Janna Lim.
"Good evening, Tito." Sabay na bati ng magkakapatid na Lim.
"Good evening, Enzo, Patrice. And as for you, Mikha, don't call me Tito na ha? From now on you should start calling me Papa na." sabi ni Papa dito na sya namang ikina-fluster ni Mikha. Cute.
"A-ah... okay po, Papa." I find her stuttering adorable actually. Oo na, I like Mikha. We have this rivalry since the 1st year of our highschool lives. Paunahan kami palagi sa top spot ng klase when it comes to academics. But I've always known that Mikha does not feel the same way about me. She likes our school's SSG President, Denise who happens to be my friend as well. Pagkaka alam ko nga nililigawan nya si Denise eh kasi yun naman ang kumakalat kalat na usapan sa school.
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The event started and we headed to the top floor of the restaurant to have a private conversation between the Lightwoods and Lims. Naiwan yung mga employees namin sa ground floor where they were having fun, dancing and drinking.
Mikha and I are sitting beside each other while our fathers are seated from across each other with their wives at the right side. Kuya Enzo and Ate Patrice were sitting across me and Mikha.
"So, Y/n, Mikha, I'm pretty sure alam nyo nang pareho why we have this dinner tonight, right?" tanong ni Papa and pareho naman kaming tumango ni Mikha as an answer.
"Yes po, Tito— I mean, P-Papa." I wasn't able to stop myself from letting out a small smile hearing and watching Mikha trying to adjust in calling my parents Mama and Papa.
"Well, I guess there is no more need to explain it further then. Let's just enjoy this evening and for the two of you to get to know each other better since in a few weeks' time, you're getting married which also happens to be Y/n's birthday. And pareng John, I am looking forward to work with the Lim group." My dad raised his glass for a toss and everyone else did the same.
6 months later
The news of me and Mikha being married spread like wildfire almost immediately. Paano ba naman kasi, etong si Jhoanna, kapag may nagtanong kung bakit palagi kaming magkasabay ni Mikha na dumadating at umuuwi eh pinagkakalandakan nya agad agad na Mikha and I are married. Wala naman akong problema dun, honestly. Ewan ko nalang dito sa isa.
Mikha and I moved in together and are staying at my condo na 15 minutes drive lang from school and vice versa. And even though we're married, Mikha and I sleep in different rooms kasi yun naman ang gusto nya. I had to respect that since it was the least I can do for leaving her no choice but to be stuck in this situation with me which actually hurts. I try to be the best wife I can be for her, hoping that at the very least, she'll slowly learn to love me but it never happens.
