No Way! Yes Way!

No Way!

"What?! No way!"

Sabay na bigkas ni Alyssa at Dennise at sabay napatayo sa kanilang mga kinauupuan. Different locations nga lang. The Lazaros and the Valdezes have broken the news of the arranged marriage to their children.

At the Lazaro Residence:

"Tell me mom, dad, has the world gone bonkers without me noticing it? Kailan pa? Kailan pa pinagkasundo ng magulang ang isang anak na babae sa kapwa nito babae?!" hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Den sa mga magulang niya.

"Uhm, ngayon?" pilosopong sagot ng tatay ni Den na si Mike.

"Dad, I'm fucking serious here!" sigaw ni Den.

"Watch your words, young lady!" It was Arlene, Den's mom.

Sumagot si Mike, "Anak, kung ako lang masusunod hindi ako papayag e. Ewan ko ba dito sa mga Garcia. Basta para sa negosyo, gagawin lahat kahit kalokohan pa."

"E bakit hindi po kayo ang masunod? Ikaw ang padre de familia, Dad."

Arlene cleared her throat before answering, "Your dad and I have already talked about this. You know your Lolo. Kailangan natin siyang sundin."

"But why me? Bakit hindi yung mga pinsan ko? Bakit hindi si Jus?" tanong ni Den.

Her mom answered, "Because either your cousins already have their own families or their too old for the girl. Ang sister mo naman masyado pang bata. Ikaw lang talaga ang match sa kanya."

"Argh! Dad do something about this!" pagpupumilit ni Den sa Tatay niya.

"Hey, don't worry too much about this. Sorry if we have to put you through this pero your mom and I have thought of a plan. Hindi ka naman namin pababayaan," sabi ni Mike.

"Just go with the flow. Sumunod ka lang. Since sa US naman gagawin ang kasal, it's just easy to file a divorce after," explained Arlene.

"But why do we have to do this?" tanong pa din ni Den.

"Your Lolo promised us that he'll give us the largest share of the company if you do this. But as of the moment, kailangan talaga ng company ang tulong ng kumpanya ng kaibigan ni Papa to stabilize. At ito nga ang hininging kapalit," paliwanag pa din ni Arlene.

Den threw another question, "And what do I get from this? What do I get from being the sacrificial lamb?"

"Anything you want daw sabi ng Lolo mo," sagot ni Mike.

Napangiti dito si Den. Ngunit nawala naman agad ito dahil sa sinabi ng mom niya, "By the way, since mga bata pa din naman kayo, your Lolo wants the wedding to happen after you graduate."

"After graduation? That means --" Den was cut by her dad.

"Yep. In 3 years time," sabi ni Mike.

"And in that 3 years..." Hindi matuloy ni Den ang sasabihin.

"I guess, nakuha mo na. Yes. In 3 years, kailangan mong pakisamahan ang magiging asawa mo," said Arlene.

"No way! Pwede namang after 3 years na lang saka na kami magmeet. Maghihiwalay din naman kami e. I'm not doing this!" nagwawalang sabi ni Den.

"Anak, please? For the family? You know how hard I work for the business." pakiusap ni Arlene.

This is the only time that Den saw her Mom pleading. Tinimbang muna niya ang mga bagay bagay.

Well, I'm not in a relationship naman. Three years then another year for the marriage at tatapusin na din. Girl naman yun so baka maging bestfriends pa kami. Isa pa, they'll give me everything that I want.

Matagal bago siya sumagot ng, "Fine. Who's the girl?"

"Alyssa Caymo Valdez."

--------------------------

"No, no, no, no! Ayoko!" madiing sabi ni Alyssa.

"Apo naman. I'm only thinking about your best interest here," sabi ng Lolo ni Aly.

Huminahon naman si Aly, "Look. Ma, Pa, Lolo, I'm really thankful that you accepted me as I am. Na kahit nakikipagrelasyon ako sa babae hinahayaan niyo lang ako. Pero to choose a girl for me? I can't accept this."

"Anak, ngayon lang naman nakiusap si Lolo mo sayo," said Pablita, Aly's mom.

"Pero Ma, you're asking for my future. Kinabukasan ko ito. This is too much. Anak niyo po ako," Aly said dramatically.

Sumingit naman si Ruel, Aly's dad, "Cut the drama. Wala tayo sa MMK ha."

"I hate you, Pa!" sabi ni Aly dahil nabasa ng Papa niya ang acting niya.

Tinawanan lang siya nito. "Aly, honestly, sa lahat ng pinakilala mong girlfriends, wala kaming nagustuhan. Hindi pa kasama yung hindi mo mga pinakilala ha."

"Kaya nga ito, I'm choosing the right one for you, Apo. After graduating, ikakasal kayo," said Lolo Luis.

"At paano niyo naman po mapapapayag yung isang babae? For sure, nagwawala na din yun ngayon," Aly said.

"They need our company. Pero actually, kailangan din natin ang kumpanya nila. Our business will grow bigger if we tie-up with them. So it's a win-win situation for me. I mean, for us. The business will flourish and my favorite apo will get a good girl," explained Lolo Luis.

"Pero Lo, malay mo naman di ba. Na baka I'll have a change of heart. Na gusto ko ng magpakasal sa lalake. I had a boyfriend remember?" sabi ni Aly.

"At sinong niloko mo? Kami? Mas babaero ka pa sa mga kuya mo," Ruel said.

"Speaking of the devils, bakit hindi na lang sila?" tanong ni Aly.

Pablita guided her only daughter to sit and said, "Hindi pa sana namin sasabihin, but for you to have a sense of responsibility, we'll let you know now. Your Lolo wants you to handle the company someday."

Hindi alam ni Aly kung matutuwa ba siya o matatakot. She's not yet sure of what she wants.

"And for you to be successful, you need a good woman behind you," added Lolo Luis.

Napag isip-isip naman si Aly.

Well, it's hard to find a long term relationship sa situation ko. Maybe they just want someone to be with me till I grow old. Pero kaya ko rin naman pumili at magpaibig ng taong gusto ko. I guess their major concern is the business here. Fine. For the family.

"Fine. Seems to me you have all made the decision without consulting me," said the defeated Aly.

"Good. You can never tell, Anak. Malay mo in 3 years madevelop din kayo," encouraged Ruel.

"Wait. What? Three years?! Akala ko ba after graduating?!" gulat na tanong ni Aly.

"Yes. Three years. You'll start now para matuto ka ng magseryoso," Lolo Luis said stiffly.

"No way! Lolo, I'm still young. It's normal for me to have fun!"

"No buts. You already agreed to this. You will transfer to Ateneo this coming school year. Doon siya nag-aaral," sabi ni Lolo.

"Why do I have to adjust my entire life for this? Nakakainis na!" galit na sabi ni Aly.

Lolo Luis felt his granddaughter's frustration. So, he said, "Don't worry. I'll give you everything you want."

"Then give me my freedom," said the stubborn Aly.

"Just not that. I'm pertaining to material things," mabilis na sabi ni Lolo Luis.

"You guys are unbelievable! Sige na. Opo na. Hindi naman po ako mananalo dito. Who's the girl?" tanong ni Aly.

Mama Pabs answered, "Dennise Michelle Garcia Lazaro."