Chapter 3: The Dinner
Diana POV
I didn't know how but I just found myself sitting beside Trevor who smirked at me, lumunok ako habang nakatingin sa mga potaheng nasa harap-too busy to bother looking at Trevor, the smell of food is seducing me as if they are begging to be eaten, I felt my stomach grumble as I watch the heavenly sight of dinner. Ok. Maybe this dinner isn't half-bad as what I was expecting it to be.
"Hija, would you like some casserole?" Tita Thania-Mom of Trevor-offered. I smiled at her and nodded, she happily put a food in my plate and the smell of delicious casserole invaded my nose.
"Gusto mo bang subuhan kita?" Trevor smirked as he wiggled his eyebrows, tumawa ng marahan sina Mama at Papa habang ang mag-asawang Montejarre naman ay nagkatinginan.
Tumingin ako kay Trevor, his emerald eyes glinted with the light of the chandelier above the long table filled with foods, "uhm, no thanks. I can manage."
Nagsimula na kaming kumain, ang tanging ingay lang sa silid ay ang tunog ng mga kutsara't tinidor, masyadong nakatuon ang atensyon ko sa mga pagkain para isipin na katabi ko lang si Trevor, "so kumpadre, don't you think now's the perfect time to talk about our son and daughter's marriage?" Tito Theo grinned.
"I agree, ngayong andito na ang dalawang ikakasal." Sagot ni Tita Thania, suminghap ako. Are they serious with the marriage?!
"Oh, the marriage will take place two months from now." Tito Theo announced. What?! Two months from now?!
Tumingin ako kay Mama at Papa, telling them to disapprove of this matter but they looked away, clearly, they also want me to marry this jerk beside me. Speaking of the devil, nasagi ng braso niya ang braso ko habang kumakain kami, the small distance between our chairs is not really helping.
Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga gaya ng paghugot ko ng lakas loob ko, "hija, is there something wrong?" Halata ang malasakit sa boses ni Tita Thania.
Kumuyom ang kamao ko at ngumiti ng pilit, "sorry Tita, Tito... Mom, Dad... pero walang kasal na magaganap."
Suminghap ang mga magulang namin ni Trevor.
The sound of eating utensils stopped and everyone looked at each other, there was a total silence in the dining hall of the Montejarre's mansion, suddenly, the ice cold tension was broken when Trevor faked a cough, "Diana," his voice was cold when he called my name, I gulped. "You will marry me."
"I'm so sorry Trevor but I will not marry you." I declared stubbornly, my parents remained silent but worry was visible on their faces. Matigas ko silang tinignan, I had enough of living with their words, it's now time to live the life I wanted.
"You will." Giit ni Trevor, his knuckles turned white as if he wanted to punch on something, tumingin ako sa mukha ni Trevor, I knew on the spot that I made a mistake of looking at his godly face because my eyes landed on those pair of deep emerald orbs that would make you stare, "marrying me is your responsibility as the daughter of the Derostova, Diana."
Responsibilidad?!
"Hija, we already talked about this..." saad ni Mama, her face was sad and I couldn't help but look away, even Papa's face showed all signs of disappointment, even the parents of Trevor... I suddenly felt my conscience taking over, damn, why am I even guilty?!
"You will marry me, Diana..." matigas na tugon ni Trevor.
"I think I need some fresh air," tumayo ako-it pains me to leave the table with all those delicious drool-worthy food but I just lost my appetite, "please excuse me for a minute." Hindi ko na hinintay ang sagot nila, naglakad na ako palabas ng dining hall, it took me a few seconds before I reached the front exit door of the mansion, the moment I step foot outside the mansion, the cold night wind greeted me, brushing off my shoulders.
Tinignan ko ang paligid at may nakitang patio malapit sa fountain, there was a lamppost beside it so there's a small light that is shining bright, clearly, the Montejarre have some way of showing off their wealth, naglakad na ako papuntang patio, umupo ako sa wooden chair at hinayaan ang malamig na hangin na humaplos sa balat ko.
The sky was clear of clouds so I could see the stars clearly, the moon was crescent but its light is enough to illuminate the beautiful dark garden where I am currently in, pinikit ko ang aking mga mata at huminga ng malalim.
"Diana."
Napamulat ako at tingin sa gilid, "what are you doing here?!" Inis na tanong ko sa kanya.
His lip turned into a playful half-smile, "wala na ba akong karapatan na maglakad sa sarili kong pamamahay?"
"Look Trevor, wala akong oras para sa mga kalokohan mo. Hindi kita papakasalan." Wika ko sa kanya, can't he get it? Sana naman maitatak ko na sa kokote niya na ayaw kong matali sa isang kasal. "Hindi kita papakasalan, as in no, never, no marriage." Pag-ulit ko.
Tumaas ang isang kilay niya, "unfortunately for you, I don't take no, Diana..." naglakad siya papasok ng patio, "either you want it or not, you will marry me."
"Why can't you see I don't want to marry you?!" Singhal ko.
"I can turn a blind eye on everything, Diana." Trevor snarled, "but the moment my eyes laid on you, you became mine..." He said, possessively. I felt my heart thud but shoved the feeling away.
Tumawa ako ng marahan, "huwag ka ngang magpatawa, Mr. Montejarre. Hindi mo ako pagmamay-ari. Hindi ako gamit na inaangkin."
"Ms. Derostova, alam mo naman siguro na may malaking utang na loob ang pamilya mo sa pamilya ko?" Trevor suddenly muttered, I silently cursed under my breath, oh god please don't tell me- "as a sign of gratitude, the Derostova will have their daughter marry the only son of the Montejarre, the Derostova and Montejarre had been good friends, won't a marriage between their heir and heiress seal their friendship and debt, Ms. Derostova?"
Lumunok ako. He just trapped me...
"...or don't tell me walang utang na loob ang mga Derostova at hindi magpapakasal ang kanilang anak sa unico hijo ng mga Montejarre? Ah! Ano na lang ang sasabihin ng mga tao kapag marinig nila ito?"
I bit my lower lip, he is bad mouthing my family! Don't get provoked, Diana... that's what he wants. You can't give him what he want, you can't satisfy this jerk.
"I have one thing to tell you, Mr. Montejarre..." humugot ako ng malalim na hininga, "the Derostova knows how to pay their debt and they don't forget gratitude especially to those who helped them..." I defended, which is true... that's the greatest virtue of my family, I can't let this jerk step on it.
Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Trevor, "oh really?"
"If you want marriage, fine. Papakasalan kita, but I have prepared a condition for you..." Alam kong wala nang talikuran sa sinabi ko... but I have no choice, whether I wanted it or not, papakasalan ko pa rin ang lalakeng ito, when my parents decide, wala nang magbabago at iyon na ang masusunod, I never had the say about this on the first place-maybe all I can do is get mad at them for bringing this crap into me, I just have to take advantage of the moment.
"And what is that?" He asked, he was clearly interested in what I have to offer.
"Prenuptial agreement." Sagot ko, "if our marriage fails-which I am sure of-I would like to protect my rights and ownership."
He grinned, "like hell if I would let a divorce slip through, well I have a condition prepared too to make things fair..."
Lumunok ako, "what is it?"
"From tomorrow onwards, we will be living together so we can prepare for our married life, two months from now."
***
