"So tell me about him, A. About you guys. Uhm how was it?"
Excited na tanong ng bestfriend kong si Carey. Nasa isang coffee shop kami ngayon na malapit lang sa village kung saan ako nakatira.
And she's asking me about my married life.
"We're fine, C. Of course just like any other newly weds, we're adjusting pa but I believe everything's going well..."
Sagot ko sakanya habang nakatingin sa hawak-hawak kong kape. I guess we're fine. I mean, hindi kasi kami normal na mag-asawa so hindi ko masabi kung ayos lang ba talaga ang relasyon namin ngayon or what.
"As you say so. basta ha, ako ang unang makaka-alam kapag magiging ninang na 'ko, alright?"
Sinabi niya yun habang medyo tumatawa. I guess she's really happy for me and excited about having someone to spoil. I sighed. Kung alam lang nitong bestfriend ko ang pinag-gagagawa ng asawa ko.
But of course, I won't let her know. Yet.
I made a promise to my husband's parents and I will keep it.
"Please, America hija, we really need your help."
Nandito kami ngayon sa loob ng library ng mansion nina Tito Arthur at Tita Cordella. Kagagaling ko lang kanina sa bahay and they called para kausapin ako. May jetlag pa nga ako but i pay no mind. It's them anyway.
Kinakausap or pinakiki-usapan nila ako na pumayag na magpakasal sa anak nilang si Yael. Ysrael Vallejo. Kung tutuusin ay wala naman na talaga siyang magagawa kung nakapag-desisyon na ang daddy niya.
It is an arranged marriage na napagkasunduan ng Daddy niya at ng matalik nitong kaibigan na ang Tito Arthur niya.
"Tito, Tita, with all due respect po, bakit po ba ngayon niyo lang sinabi?"
Alam kong naiintindihan nila ang tanong ko dahil noon pa man ay nagkakasama-sama na kaming lahat na mag-lunch. Mom and Dad, Tito Art and Tita Cordy, Me, Yael, and my two Kuyas, London and Paris. Besides, lagi rin kaming present sa mga business gatherings and parties and so are they.
"Hija, I know na naguguluhan ka at hindi pa kayo nakakapag-usap talaga ng Daddy mo about this but your Dad and Tito Arthur's agreement is final."
Tita Cordy said with an almost pleading tone. Hindi ko maintindihan. Kaya ba hinayaan ako ni Daddy sa kagustuhan kong mag-aral sa ibang bansa? Hinayaan niya akong maging kung ano man ang gustuhin ko. Kaya niya 'ko pinauwi nang basta-basta because i am bound to be married to that Yael guy?
Kunot ang noo ko na sinulyapan ang mag-asawa. Tito Art is not saying anything simula pa kanina. He's just there sa likod ni Tita at paminsan-minsang hinahaplos ang balikat ni Tita maybe to calm her down.
That's why I was a little bit shocked when he cleared his throat at magsalita siya. Napatingin ako sakanya.
"Since that first time I saw you, America, I already liked you. And I knew already that you are the perfect girl for my only son."
Nag-iwas lang ako ng tingin dahil hindi ko alam ang dapat kong sabihin. Alam ko naman na gusto nila ako at hindi na ako iba sa kanila because naging sobrang bait sila saakin. Our families were really close.
I turned to him when he speak again.
"I'll leave you two here and I hope na paglabas niyo, matanggap mo na, hija. Ayaw naming may sama ng loob ka saamin."
Hinalikan niya sa ulo si Tita at tumango siya saakin bago tuluyang lumabas ng silid.
Now it's just me and Tita Cordy. Wala kaming imik pareho. Wala naman akong balak na maunang magsalita because honestly, I can't think of any work to speak.
Nagbuntong-hininga si Tita and then said the words that made me say yes to the agreement and to our deal.
"Ano ka ba, C? Two weeks pa lang kaming kasal wala pa sa plano ang baby. He's too busy with work."
I shoved the last spoonful of lasagna into my mouth at saka nagkibit-balikat sakanya.
"Ay sus naman si Mr. CEO. Hmp! O, sige na nga. It's almost five na so kailangan ko ng bumalik sa shop ko. Ihahatid na kita."
Habang nasa sasakyan kami ni Carey, she's talking to her assistant on her phone.
Carey Dixon owns a boutique. Clothes of all kinds, accessories, perfumes, and shoes. At the age of twenty-four ay masasabi kong successful na siya. Actually, she's planning to put up another branch of her boutique. Magkasing-edad lang kami ni Carey and I also want to put up my own art studio. I'm an artist and sa Massachusetts ako naka-base before I went home to Philippines and got married. I already own an art studio there ngunit maliit lang at hindi naman gaano kakilala. But I was so happy and proud about it. That was my own money, and that made it special for me.
I just hope na payagan ako ng asawa ko sa plano ko.
