Chosen by the Stars [EDITING]

Page 25

(Seth POV)

     I went downstairs after taking a bath, only wearing my boxers. "Mom, is breakfast ready?" I asked, rubbing my hair with a towel.

     "Yes sweetie."

     I immediately sat in the dining room to eat breakfast but after seeing the foods that my mom has prepared, I lost my appetite. "What the — mom?" She is notorious for her kitchen fails. Overcooked bacon! Overcooked omelette! And even the sandwich was overcooked! Si mom na lang kasi ang inaasahan namin ni dad ngayon sa pagluluto because our maid took a day off.

     "Seth, can you please put your shirt on? That's so disrespectful."

     "Sure dad." Sinuot ko ang plain white shirt ko at nagsimula na akong kumain.

     Mom sat beside dad and they were exchanging glances with each other. There's something they want to tell me, "Come on, tell me." I sniffled.

"This is about the," Dad coughed. "Fixed marriage."

And here we go again! When will they stop? Ipapakasal nila ako sa babaeng hindi ko naman kilala? That's just insane! "Please dad, mom, don't force me to marry someone who I never even got to meet!"

"Look Seth! Listen to me! Kung hindi mo pakakasalan ang nag-iisang anak ni Mr. Del Prado, hindi siya papayag na mag merge ang company naming dalawa at kapag nangyari yun, babagsak ang pinaghirapan kong company at maghihirap tayo Seth!" Hinampas niya ang lamesa at napakurap naman ako sa ginawa niya. "How many times do I need to explain this to you?!"

Mom placed her hand at his back to comfort him. "Sige na Seth, pumayag ka na. Don't stress your dad, alam mo na mang may sakit siya sa puso."

Finally dumating na si yaya bitbit ang kanyang backpack. "Sige na choy oy! Pumayag ka na sa kasunduan nila kasi sayang naman yang kagwapuhan mo oy kung hindi mo gagamitin!" Kanina pa pala siya nakikinig sa usapan! "Sayang din yang biceps at six pack abs mo kung hindi mo naman ipapatikim sa kanila! Pumayag ka na lang choy tapos pagkatapos niyong magkasal eh di kalimutan niyo na lang na mag-asawa kayo eh! NGSB ka bitaw!"

Noot noo ko siyang nilingon. "NGSB?"

"No girlfriend since birth oy!" That was unexpected!

"Tama si yaya Fe Ang, Seth. Wala na mang magseselos diba? Ilang years na rin kaming naghihintay ng dad mo na magpakilala ka ng babae sa amin ngunit wala talaga. Kaya gawin mo na lang to anak para sa atin!"

So to escape this arranged marriage, I need to hire someone upang maging girlfriend ko. "Well actually, I'm already in a relationship." Biglang nabilaukan si dad at saka agad itong pinainom ng tubig ni mama.

"MAY GIRLFRIEND KA NA?!" Sabay sigaw nilang tatlo at bigla namang napatalon ang mga balikat ko sa gulat.

I swallowed before answering them. "Yes dad, mom."

     "Invite her to dinner tomorrow anak! Gusto ko siyang makilala!"

     Agad-agad? Hindi pa nga ako nakakaisip kung sino ang iha-hire ko! "T–tomorrow, dad?"

     "Is there a problem?"

"Wala naman, dad." I need to hire someone to be my fake girlfriend ASAP!

     I was on my way to school when I heard the radio talking about the incident that happened in the Gem Hotel and Country Club last week, where a lot of people were massacred by a beast. Policemen didn't believe them of course even though a lot of people had witnessed the crime. Baka lang daw nagsuot lang ng costume ang killer and dahil sa takot nila, hindi na nila napansin yun. Ilang days na silang nag-iinvestigate at wala silang makitang kahit anong proof kasi wala namang cctv sa venue. And Keira defeated the beast and made it disappear at the drop of a hat.

Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala sa mga naganap noong gabi. I saw it with my very own eyes! They weren't ordinary. They had supernatural powers. And to be honest, I wasn't scared at all. Napamangha nga ako dahil sa wakas, nakakita ulit ako ng ganoon.

Noong bata pa lang kasi ako nakakita ng ganoong pangyayari. Yung uncle ko, na nawala na lang sa ere sa isang iglap. Sinabi niya sa akin na isa siyang fata, at noon lagi niyang pinaglalaruan ang mga tao gamit ang mga nalalaman niyang spells. Nasaksihan ko ang lahat ng yun!

As the supreme student council of first year college, marami ang nakakakilala sa akin sa school. Is it easy to look for a fake girlfriend? Of course it is. May maibubuga naman ako. Am I right? I've got everything what girls could ever need. I have the money, looks, body, name it! Girls want me!That's for sure! But it's just that there's only one girl in school na gusto kong i-hire. There's something in her na gustong gusto ko, and I really think she's perfect for the job!

     I'm in the library with some of my friends. Nagbabasa ako ng libro nang mapansin kong hinihila ng Tres Marias si Elysse at parang tinatakot ito. Lalapitan ko na sana sila but then biglang nag-flashback sa akin ang lahat ng nangyari that night. 'They're not ordinary people.' I thought.

"Bro, narinig ko kanina sa radio na pinag-uusapan nila yung tungkol sa nangyari sa debut party ng isang estudyante dito last week! Sino nga ba yun?" tanong ni Lemuel.

"I know right, gusto ko sana siyang makilala at ma-interview!" sabi naman ni Trixie.

"Ikaw Seth? Diba may pinuntahan kang Debut last week?" si Jade.

I quickly made up an alibi. "I wasn't able to go. I was sick— "

"Who's debut party?" Trixie pulled her chair near me.

"It's none of your business. Hindi siya dito nag-aaral."

She pushed back her chair away from me. "Grabe naman siya oh!"

"I have a great idea!" Jade's book fell down onto the table. "Since yun naman ang number one topic ng mga students ng Ezekiel Academy ngayon, let's make a blog about it! Malay mo sumikat tayo, hindi ba?" Nagtinginan sila and all they did was nod. "But we need to find out who was the debutante first and foremost para ma-interview natin!"

     Guguluhin niya ang privacy ni Elysse?

     "NO."

Tinignan ako ng masama ni Jade. "Why?"

"As the supreme student council, I command you not to do it. Don't disgrace yourself."

"Yes sir." I saw her rolling her eyes pero binalewala ko na lang yun.

Nang tignan ko ulit si Elysse, nagkatagpo ang mga mata namin. Mabilis ko namang binalik ang tingin sa libro ko at nagpanggap na parang hindi ko siya nakita. Sinilip ko siya ulit at seryoso na siyang nakikinig sa kanilang tatlo. Hindi lang man siya kinilig!

"Alam niyo ba, may kumakalat na chismis!" Isa pa 'tong si Trixie! Lumalabas ulit ang pagiging chismosa. "May isang student dito na isa rin sa mga umattend ng debut last week at pinagkakalat niya na yung monster daw na nagpakita sa debut, galing daw sa school na ito!"

"Talaga?" si Jade.

Sinapak naman ni Lemuel ang libro ni Trixie dahilan upang mahulog ito. "That's silly!"

Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Elysse, na ngayon ay parang gulat na gulat sa mga naririnig niya kina Devi. "Grabe naman pala yan!" Narinig ko nitong sigaw at pinagalitan pa nga siya ng librarian. Bigla na lang akong napabuhakhak sa kanya. "Sorry po!" She's funny and cute, somehow.

Nang lumabas na siya ay saka naman akong tumayo upang sundan siya. "Bro, where are you going?" Hindi ko na pinansin pa si Lemuel at agad sumunod kay Elysse.

I really think she's the one! She's perfect for the role!

End of chapter 9
#CBTSHappyPill