The Manila Charmers : TROY

27

When she saw me, she stepped backward and parang statwa na hindi makagalaw.

Namutla siya bigla. Nakatingin lang siya sa mga mata ko at halatang hindi makapaniwala sa nakikita niya.

Yes, Roxanne. Ako ang mapapangasawa mo.

Surprise!

" B-bakit ka nandito?", sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin. From her back, my Dad walked towards us.

" Kilala niyo pala isa't isa?", he said while giving us a big smile. He made Roxanne sit right next to her Mom, " Well, mukhang magkakilala nga kayo by the look in your face, hija. Anyway, this is my son, Troy Luis Herrera. Anak, this is Roxanne Salvador, ang babaeng mapapakasalan mo." He gazed at us and to Tita who's smiling widely too.

Ang saya naman nila. Eh kami kamusta? We can't believe na kami pala ang pinagkasunduan ng mga magulang namin.

Well, siya lang pala ang hindi makapaniwala. I know this game all along but I am not going to tell her that. Kapag nalaman niyang may kinalaman ako dito, that would be the end of it.

" Makipag-shakehands ka naman kay Troy, anak.", sabi ni Tita ng medyo mahina pero rinig naman. She did what her Mom told her to do, nakipagshakehands siya sa akin and yes, she is so red right now. Halatang nagpipigil ng kilig at pagkasaya. " Nice to meet you, Troy.", she said.

Hinayaan muna kami nina Tita at Dad para magkausap. Nasa loob sila ng bahay and we were in the veranda, nagpapahangin habang may mga hawak na kape. " Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ikaw pala yung sinasabi ni Mama. Nabadtrip pa nga ako kasi akala ko hindi ka na makakapunta. Napakalate na kaya. Alam mo namang ayaw ko ng late!", she said while flashing her signature pout and puppy eyes.

" Urgent meeting as usual. Sorry talaga babe at hindi ako nakakaalis sa work. Alam mo naman kasi ang ugali ni Dad, gusto niya walang pending work. Mabilis pa naman mag-init ulo nun kapag nalelate ako.", I held her hands and smiled," Para naman sa atin ito, di ba?".

Huminga siya ng malalim at bigla na lang pinisil ang pisngi ko. " Kung hindi lang kita mahal, sinampal na kita ng 100 times! Hmp!"

I looked at her closely, I know she's happy but there was more to it and I can't figure out what it was. Is she just surprised? Disappointed? Nervous? Urgh. I can't say what it is pero may something pa! I held her hands tighter, " Rox, if that guy wasn't me. Papayag ka ba talaga sa arranged marriage na ito?"

She looked at me and pouted, " Of course, hindi! Hah! Swerte naman nya kung agad agad oo ako! Pasalamat na lang ako ikaw pala ang guy. Kung hindi, baka tanders na pala ang inireto sa akin ni Mama! Eh ikaw ba papayag ka? "

" No way. Ikaw lang pakakasalan ko whatever happens." That line made her blush even more. Mas nagiging cute sya pag ganitong nagpipigil ng kilig! Hahaha! Sarap pisilin!

" Sus. Ikaw talaga, bolero ka din ano?"

" Just stating a fact."

Sa sarap ng kulitan namin, we didn't notice na uuwi na siya. My heart skipped a beat when she was already entering the car. I walked faster para maabutan siya bago magsara ng pinto. " Rox!"

" Oh?" , she peeked on the window.

" N-nothing. Stay safe." I tapped the car and didn't let her say anything. Agad itong umalis sa gilid ko.

I smiled foolishly while waving at her. Ang torpe mo talaga, Troy! What a loser. Nang makalayo na ang kotse nila, Dad went beside me habang nakaakbay.

" Troy Herrera? In love? Bago yata ito."

" Tsss."

" It shows, anak. Wag mo nang pigilan ang kasiyahan mo. If you marry her, half of my investments are solely yours and makukuha mo pa siya, for keeps."

For keeps? Well, that made me feel so nervous.