JEWEL
Chapter Twenty-nine
SHE keeps on pacing back and forth inside their library. The heels of her stilletos been making an irritating sound everytime it collides with the granite floor. Three pairs of eyes has been watching her intently, anticipating the first line she may utter any moment from now on.
She sighed in defeat, crossed her arms in front of her chest and sat at the visitor's chair beside her mother.
"Okay, folks.. Please, please.. Do enlighten me. I don't have any idea about the agreement that you guys been talking about over dinner tonight." she said sounding so lost.
"We're just after your welfare." her father said tenderly.
"My welfare? How could you say that? So, ganun na lang yun? You planned everything about my welfare without me even knowing it? That's not fair! Mama, please, say something! Tell me, you're not really a part of this damn agreement." she held her mother's hand as if it would make a change in her father's decision.
"Princess, I hope you understand.. Iniisip lang talaga ng Papa mo ang kapakanan mo. Pinag-isipan naman nilang mabuti ng kapatid mo ang sitwasyon bago sila pumayag sa agreement na yun."
Ang katiting na pag-asa niya ay unti-unti na naglaho. By the looks of it, mukhang sumasang-ayon din ang ina nila sa usapang ipapakasal siya kay Arnulfo. She looked at her brother. A glint of guilt passes his eyes when she met his gaze.
"But it was just a verbal agreement, right? I mean, there's no formal or any legal agreement. It's not written in the papers?" she hopefully asked. Dahil kung verbal na usapan lang din naman yun, maari yung mabago o hindi ituloy dahil wala namang panghahawakan na papel.
"Yes, it was just a verbal agreement between me and Arnulfo. Your brother was the witness five years ago." sagot ng kanyang ama.
"No papers?"
"No paper or any legal basis on that matter."
She smiled triumphantly. This is her chance. They can just waive off from that stupid agreement.
"But you know me, princess.. I am a man of honor. I always mean what I say. And I don't break promises. When I agreed to Arnulfo, it's like I already seal the agreement. My word is more powerful than of the papers."
Napasandal na lang siya sa pagkakaupo dahil sa sinabi ng ama niya. How could they do that without informing her? Hindi ba't siya muna ang tatanungin kung pumapayag siya sa kasunduang iyon?
"If you just wanted me the get married, I can marry whoever I want. But not that guy." she said in despise.
"And why not, Kaye? Kayang kaya ka namang buhayin ni Arnie." Jigger asked. He seems to be enjoying her situation.
"I don't care kung kaya na niya akong buhayin. I have a life of my own. I don't have to depend on him. And I don't want to depend on him. I am not that weak!"
"Hindi lang naman yung tungkol sa pera ang pinag-uusapan natin dito, anak. I know very well that he can take care of you. He took good care of you before. At napahanga ako sa determinasyon niya at concern sayo. Hindi na kami mangangamba na mapunta ka sa maling tao."
"Paano naman kayo nakakasiguro na hindi siya maling tao? For all I know, he has his selfish reasons for setting up that stupid agreement!"
"Watch your words, honey." pag-aalo sa kanya ng ina.
