Battered Wife

Prologue

"So this is your daughter?"
Napayuko ako nang tignan ako ni Mr. Leo Alcantara mula ulo hanggang paa. Pakiramdam ko, maski kaluluwa ko ay kaniya ng hinusgahan.

"Yes"
Sagot naman ni daddy kay tito Leo.

"Not bad"
Naramdaman ko ulit ang kaniyang mapanghusgang mga titig.

Malaki ang pagkakautang namin sa pamilya Alcantara. Papalubog na ang kompanyang pinalago at inaruga ng aking mga magulang. It's hard for them to let go of it kaya naman ay napilitan silang umutang. I don't know how much pero malaki ito.

I guess the heaven is against us dahil pagkautang na pagkautang ni daddy kay Tito Leo ay kaagad na naningil ang iba pang pinagkakautangan niya. Dad have no choice but to pay up because they threatened him. Hindi man lang kami nakabawi. And here comes Tito Leo, asking for the money that we owe. He gave us an option though. I needed to marry his son. Pumayag ako dahil naawa ako sa aking ama. I never saw him this vulnerable. He was always that strong father figure to me. But when he broke down, begging me, it melted my heart.

"Oh, nandito na pala ang anak ko!"

Sabay-sabay kaming napatingin sa pinto. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Tyler...

"Why did you call me dad? I'm in the middle of an important meeting."
Iritadong sabi niya habang naglalakad palapit sa amin. Sinusundan ko lamang siya ng tingin hanggang sa makaupo siya sa pang-isahang sofa. He never even bother to look at my direction.

"Remember the arrange marriage I've talked to you about last night?"

Dahil nakatitig ako kay Tyler ay kitang-kita ko kung paano kumunot ang noo niya na para bang nainis siya sa sinabi ng kaniyang ama.

"What about it? Sinabi ko ng ayaw ko. Magpapakasal na kami ni Trixie."

May fiancée na siya? Nanlumo ako. Tyler Zach Alcantara is my long time crush. He's my senior in college. Sikat siya noon sa aming Unibersidad, he's the captain of the soccer team. I never knew that the business tycoon Leo Alcantara is his father. Masyado kasing pribado ang kaniyang buhay, for security purposes.

"This is for the better good. Anong mapapala mo kay Trixie? Their business is so small to merge with our company."

Napatingin ako sa aking ina nang hawakan niya ang kamay ko. She smiled at me. Ngumiti rin ako pabalik to assure her I'm okay

"Who gave you the permission to control my life?"

Napasinghap ako sa klase ng pananalita ni Tyler sa kaniyang ama.

"I am your father."

I got goosebumps with his tone.

"That didn't give you a right to control my life. Maliit lang ang business nila Trixie but with right investment, lalago iyon."

Napayuko ako. Pakiramdam ko ay maiiyak ako. What will happen to my dad if Tyler won't marry me?

"Their business is already running for a decade."

Kumunot ang noo ni Tyler.

"Did you run a background check on her?"

Tito Leo smiled.

"Of course."

Tyler didn't answer pero mababakas parin sa kaniyang mukha ang iritasyon.

"Look, son, I only want what's best for our company. Salvador and Alcantara merging is a good investment."

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin nang mapatingin sa gawi ko si Tyler. Mas lalong kumunot ang kaniyang noo. Namukhaan niya kaya ako? Probably not. Even though I was one of his stalker years ago ay hindi naman niya ako gaanong pinagtuunan ng pansin.

"Salvador? Atlas Ventures? How is that good? They're facing bankruptcy."

Napatingin ako kay dad. Mukhang na-offend siya sa naging pahayag ni Tyler ngunit hindi naman siya nagkomento.

"That's why we're merging. Atlas Ventures has so much to offer."

Tyler didn't answer. Nakatingin lamang siya sa akin. Napakagat-labi ako. The anger is evident on his eyes. Kapagkuwan ay huminga siya ng malalim.

"I needed time to think this through."
Mas kalmado na ang kaniyang boses kumpara kanina.

Pakiramdam ko ay nabunutan ako ng tinik. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Nagkatinginan kami ng aking ina. She smiled at me. Napangiti rin ako, wala na kaming poproblemahin. We can finally sleep peacefully at night.