Destined to Love You

Prologue

"Dad, I won't get married sa taong hindi ko kilala!"

Pasigaw na wika ni Kathryn sa kanyang ama. Naikuyom nya ang kanyang mga kamao at halos yata lahat ng dugo niya ay umakyat sa kanyang ulo. Her father just told her that she's going to get married sa anak ng matalik na kaibigan nito. Daniel John Ford ang pangalan ng nakatakda niyang pakasalan.

"Iha, Daniel is a good man. I won't be approving of this if alam kong mapapasama ka." ani ng kanyang ama na bakas sa mukha nito ang pagsusumamo.

No! Protesta nya sa sarili. She won't get married. She still wants to do a lot of things, for christ sake! Getting married is not in her mind just yet. And besides she has a boyfriend  who's name is Aaron James Mendez. The man of her dreams! She won't let anything or anybody ruin her life and worst, decide for her specially on this matter. At kung meron man siyang gustong pakasalan iyon ay ang kanyang nobyo.

She loves her father. There's no doubt about that. Mula noong naulila sya sa kanyang inang di man lang nya nasilayan ay itnaguyod na sya ng kanyang ama. She's his father's princess. He spoils her so much. Kahit  ano pa ang hilingin nya ay ibinibigay nito sa kanya. He showered her love at ipinagpapasalamat naman niya iyon. Sinusunod nya lahat ng gusto ng kanyang ama. She finished her degree in Business Administration at ngayon ay kasalukuyan syang Manager sa kanilang business firm. She knew her farher was a proud man for what she has achieved at the age of 25. She could do anything for him but not this arrange marriage made unknown to her.

"Dad, please. You know that I have a boyfriend. You met him already. I love him." she tried to sound convincing as possible. She doesn't really want na matali sya sa isang marriage sa taong ayaw nya.

She have know Daniel as her father's friend son. For once, ngayon pa lang ay may instinct na siyang he's a player. She remembered reading an article from a magazine which featured the Ford's at isa sa mga nandoon ang interview at maliit na portion laman ang information about the Ford's only heir. She knew he's a player. He's a womanizer coz if not bakit hanggang ngayon ay isa ito sa mga usap-usapan at laging naririnig niyang bukambibig ng mga socialites sa business world dahil kahit ang kaibigan niyang si Franzette na nag tratrabaho sa isang famous na magazine sa bansa ay walang makuhang scoop tungkol sa lovelife nito. If she's going to marry him for sure magiging laughing stock lang siya sa lipunan dahil hindi kaya ni Daniel na mag seryoso sa isang relasyon. And it's marriage that they are talking about. If they marry and decided to call it quits, matagal pa bago tuluyang makalaya siya rito dahil wala namang divorce sa Pilipinas. It's just going to be a headache o di kaya'y nightmare.

Hinawakan ako ni daddy sa kamay. Alam kong I am acting childish and immature right now pero hindi ko talaga kayang pagbigyan ang hinihiling niya.

"Iha, you know that I am old already." sabi nito. Here he goes again, everytime he's going to say this ay talaga namang naapektuhan ako. I don't want to think anything bad this early pero I know that my father is at his age. Medyo naging mahina na din ang pangangatawan nito mula noong biglang tumaas ang presyon nya because of depression. Iniisip ko pa lang na baka may masamang mangyari sa daddy ko ay parang sinasaksak na ang puso ko. "I want you to be in good hands pagdating ng araw na wala na ako."

"Dad! Don't say that.." maagap kong sabi sa kanya.I don't want to talk about this things. I don't know how to live without him. Kung meron mang taong takot na takot akong mawala sa buhay ko, that is my father. I never had the chance with my mother, puro pictures lang niya ang nakita ko simula noong magkamuwang ako. And based on what my father told me about her, I know she's a good woman and I'm proud of her.

"Hindi natin masasabi ang maaaring mangyari bukas anak. I just want to make sure that you're gonna be alright even if I am not here with you anymore. And I know Daniel will take good care of you." ani nito.

"But he doesn't love me dad. And I know for sure I don't love him. I don't know a single thing about him. How sure are you na mag wowork yung marriage namin? Imposibleng mamuhay yung Daniel na yun dito. I bet he prefers staying in a cold place rather than sweat himself in here."

What I told my dad is true. I only met Daniel when I was 11 years old. Naka base kasi ang family nito sa states at bihira lang kung umuwi ang mga ito sa Pilipinas for vacation. Although, I knew na may mga business firms sila rito, ang pagkakaalam ko ay ang ama pa rin nito ang namamahala hanggang ngayon. For all she knew, nagpapakasasa lang yung Daniel na yun sa pinagpapaguran ng ama nito.

"Daniel is going to fly here next week." matipid na wila ni dad.

Napamulagat ako. Out of curiosity ay di ko maiwasanf magtanong.

"Why? I mean, bakit pa?" tanong ko.

"His father is planning to turn over his legacy to him. Since Daniel is his only son and the heir of his businesses nararapat lang na sa kanya mapunta ang pinaghirapang itayo ng kanyang mga magulang."

"Ano namang alam niya sa business nila?" bigla tuloy nabuhay ang pagka classy tsismosa ko dahil sa narinig ko mula kay Dad.

"For your information iha, Daniel finished his degree in one of America's top business school. Kahit hindi pa man naka graduate si Daniel ay may business na itong itinayo kasama ng mga kaibigan nya sa states. If I'm not mistaken ay isa rin siya sa may-ari ng The Steam Room.

Napataas ang kilay niya. Really? That coffee shop where she and her friend usually go to? Paborito pa naman nya ang specialty nitong The Steam Room.

"For sure, since may background na si Daniel about business management, I know it's easy for him to adapt to the nature of their hotel business here in the Philippines." patuloy pa ng ama ko.

Hindi ko maiwasang maimpress. Oh well, impressive nga. Okay, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt about making big and managing his family's business however hindi pa rin nagbabago ang tingin ko sa kanya. He's still going to be a player and I don't want to be one of those girls na paglalaruan lang niya. Never.

"Just give it a try Kathryn." my father looked at me with sadness in his eyes. Alam niyang hindi niya talaga ako mapapapayag this time. I know my father won't force me if I don't want to.

Napabuntong hininga ako.

"Alright Dad, for you I'll think about it." I told him defeatedly. If I continue to be hard, masasaktan ko lang si Daddy. I don't want to feel bad about it.

"Thank you, iha. Please do give it a thought. Tutal one week pa naman bago dumating dito si Daniel." biglang nagliwanang ang mukha ni dad. Gusto ko tuloy bawiin ang sinabi ko kung hindi lang kukutkutin ako ng konsensya.

"But it doesn't mean I am going to marry him  dad." paalala ko sa kanya. I don't want to give false hope to my Dad. Hindi ko siya kayang i-disappoint.

I will think about how I am going to convince Daniel to back out and oppose the marriage. I know the guy is on the same page as me.