Not-so Arranged Marriage

NSAM 1

Ang mga pangalan, lugar at pangyayari ay hango lamang sa malikot na imahinasyon ng manunulat at walang kinalaman sa tunay na buhay. Pwedeng mag-react ang nakaka-relate ngunit hindi maaaring magreact ng bayolente. Huwag niyo na ring balaking hanapin ang mga tauhan at lugar dahil imbento lamang din po ang mga iyan.

Maraming salamat sa mga naging inspirasyon ko sa paggawa nitong maikling kalokohang ito.

“Love is a matter of choice. But what’s the matter if you can’t choose?”

 

-Peyti Cute 

 

PS: wala lang

++++++++++

 LANCE:

Malayu-layo pang byahe ang aabutin bago makarating sa restaurant na sinabi ni dad. Bakit naman kasi kung kelan may gimik ako ay saka naman siya nag-set ng meeting.

Ano nga bang sabi niya? Ah… “You need to meet your future wife.”

Hmm… Future wife huh. As if I don’t know her. We’ve been engaged ever since we were born and I’ve known her since pre-school.

Ma. Frances Elaine Altamirano: her name is as beautiful as her face. I remember the last time I saw her.

She was wearing a pink dress and white sandals. Her hair was perfectly bun letting her angelic face to show. She was dancing gracefully along with the music until…

.

.

...nadulas siya. Hehe.

Dahil yun sa ice cream na nalaglag ni Peyti, her younger sister. Pasaway talaga yung batang yun. Malikot, makulit, at sa tuwing nagkakamali siya, si Ces ang napapagalitan or napapahamak. It’s not that I hate her or something. In fact, I like that cute girl. Ang sarap niyang asarin kasi nakikipagsabayan siya o minsan naman siya ang nangungunang mangulit lalo na kapag nagde-date kami ni Ces.

Yup!

We’re dating even when we’re seven years old. Sa likod lang ng bahay namin, o kaya sa likod ng school o likod ng simbahan. She was my first girlfriend and maybe, no, surely, the last.

It’s been a while since I saw her. Grade five ako nung huli ko siyang makita. Palipat-lipat kasi kami ng bahay dahil sa negosyo nila dad. At dahil din sa negosyo ni dad at ng parents ni Ces kaya kami engaged. But it’s okay for me since she’s very beautiful then, and I hope she still is.

Although I really don’t think a 22-year old guy should settle down this early. I still want to enjoy!

“Oh, at last!” sabi ni dad nang makita niya ko sa pinto ng restaurant. Tumayo sila ng mga kasama niya. I recognized tito Franco, at may katabi siyang babae.

“What took you so long? Didn’t you know it’s rude to make a lady wait?” sabi ni dad. Alam kong iritado na siya pero nakangiti pa rin dahil may kasamang ibang tao.

The lady turned at me and smiled. “Hi.”

She still has that angelic face and sweet voice. Her hair is curly and shoulder-length. “Hey.”

Umupo na rin ako sa tabi ni dad, katapat si Ces. Nagtitigan muna kami at alam kong nagpapalitan din ng tingin ang mga chismoso naming mga ama. “So, you should order now,” sabi ni dad.

I ordered my favorite Chinese congee and jasmine tea. Hindi pa rin sila tapos kumain so hindi nakakahiya sumabay. Gutom na gutom na rin ako dahil sa layo ng byahe at hindi pa ko nag-aagahan dahil galing ako sa party ng barkada ko kagabi. Nakitulog na nga lang ako sa sobrang kalasingan. But dad doesn’t need to know about this.

“Saan ka ba galing at natagalan ka?” Yan na nga ba ang kinatatakot kong tanong.

Take it easy. Not a lie but not that obvious.

“I went to a friend.”

Yeah! Swabe ang hagod.

“Friend who?”

Oh come on man!

“How are you tito Franco? It’s been a while.”

Palusot na hirit.

I can still feel the burning flame in my dad’s eyes.

“Fine. The business is growing well…” Oh crap the business. Wala na ba kayong ibang alam na topic kundi business? Syempre, habang nagkukwento ng boring business life si tito, na di katagalan ay sila na ni dad ang nag-uusap, sumusulyap ako kay Ces.

Ganun pa rin naman siya: mahinhin, silent-type but oozing with glamour, maganda.

Napansin niya yatang nakatingin ako kaya tumingin din siya. “Kamusta?” she mouthed.

“Okay lang,” I mouthed. And we just mouthed every word we want to say. Tipid sa laway, bawas pa sa air pollution. “Si Peyti?”

“Malaki na,” she mouthed again. Well, obviously. Natural malaki na yun.

“So you’re enjoying that way?” Nagulat naman ako at kami na pala ang kausap ni daddy. Lumingon uli siya kay tito at nagngitian lang kami ni Ces na parang baliw. “Kumpadre, bibisita kami sa inyo this Friday to talk about this again.”

“Oh sure! You’re very welcome.”

“And maybe, dun na rin natin gawin ang Filipino ritual na pamamanhikan ng anak ko.”

“Great!” Lumingon si tito kay Ces. “So you better prepare yourself France.”

France? Nagbabago din pala ang palayaw ng tao habang lumalaki.

“Of course dad.” And once again I saw her perfect smile.

I’m ready to get married.