Beautiful Mistake (Published under Bliss Books)

Chapter 2

Mabigat ang mga paa ko nang bumalik ako papasok sa loob ng kabahayan. Everyone was on their feet when I reached the living room. Lahat sila ay nakatingin na sa akin, including Archer who has nothing but a lazy stare for me. Lihim akong napairap.

Were they leaving? How I wish!

“Hija, ipapatawag na sana kita sa kasambahay. Mabuti at nakabalik ka rin. We’ll have our lunch now. Accompany your fiancé,” papa ordered lively.

Pa, how many times were you going to repeat that word in front of me? How many times were you going to tell me that he’s my fiancé?

Pasimple kong ikinuyom ang mga kamao ko habang may pilit na ngiti sa labi. While I can show the oldies that I was really happy and excited on what’s going on right now, Archer seemed to be aware of my true emotions. Of course, he was! I just asked him a while ago to stop this marriage!

Pero bukod pa roon ay nakita ko ang pagdapo ng mga mata niya sa mga kamao ko. Slowly, his lips rose for a smirk, nang-aasar pa.

Suminghap ako at inalis na ang tingin sa kanya. I walked straight near them and showed our visitors my most genuine smile. Oh fuck, I wanna puke!

“Of course, I’d be glad to have my first lunch with my soon-to-be husband,” sabi ko at ikinawit ang braso ko sa braso ni Archer bago siya muling tiningnan. “Right?”

The bastard didn’t say anything! Mapang-asar lang siyang ngumisi sa akin bago dinala ang mga mata sa matatanda sa harapan namin. But my body immediately stiffened when he removed his arm from my hold and wrapped it around my waist instead.

I wanted to glare at him and ask him what he was doing but I was bothered that the oldies in front of us would notice my inequitable reactions. Madali lang sana kung wala ang mga ito.

But of course, Archer wouldn’t touch me this way if we’re not in front of our families. This bastard knew how to play and act.

When I looked at my father, I saw the happiness in his eyes like he’s extremely delightful to what he’s seeing right now.

You should be grateful, papa, that I was treating this people nicely kahit pa labag na labag sa kalooban ko ang kagustuhan mo. I love you that much, pa. But I was still hoping that you would change your decision along the way.

Impit na kilig at tawa ang pinakawalan ni Mrs. Ravena habang nakamasid sa amin. I stared at her stoically.

“You look good together! I cannot wait to be your mother-in-law, Trinity. Hindi na ako makapaghintay na ipakilala ka sa mga kaibigan ko bilang asawa ng unico hijo ko!”

I was feeling the other way around, madam!

“Ako rin, Ma’am,” pekeng sabi ko.

“Oh, you stop calling me ma’am. It’s tita or mMama for you,” she said energetically.

Natawa ang dalawang matandang lalaki na ikinatingin ko sa kanila.

“You’re too hyper and excited, Evangeline. Let them get to know each other first. Baka nape-pressure na itong si Trinity…” Mr. Ravena said.

“My daughter doesn’t know the word pressure, Tyron. She can control things coolly no matter how pressuring they are,” pagyayabang ni papa. Kung sa ibang sitwasyon lang siguro ay matutuwa ako sa mga bagay na lumalabas sa bibig niya.

Ipinagpatuloy ang naging usapan sa harap ng hapag-kainan. Papa was sitting at the center habang ang mag-asawang Ravena naman ay nasa kaliwang gilid niya. Sa kanan ay kami ni Archer.

No matter how good and delicious these foods were, I can’t seem to find my appetite. Hindi ko magawang matuwa at i-enjoy ang mga pagkain dahil ang katotohanan pa lang na katabi ko ang lalaking ito ay isa ng malaking dahilan para mawalan ako ng gana sa pagkain.

“So, Archer, I hope you won’t mind if I ask you this, hijo. But…are you single? I mean, wala bang relasyon na masasagasaan itong anak ko kung sakaling maikasal na kayo?”

That question from my father stole my attention from staring blankly at the food. Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Archer. Madilim lang itong nakatitig sa plato niya at para bang iniintindi mabuti ang naging tanong na iyon ni papa. Wala sa sariling inilipat ko ang mga mata sa mga magulang niya.

His mother was looking at him. With the facial expression that she’s sporting, I can feel that she didn’t feel comfortable at that sudden question from my father.

“I’m not, Tito. I have a girlfriend but I’m planning to break up with her tonight. Don’t worry,” malamig na sagot ni Archer na nakapagpagulat sa akin.

He has a girlfriend? And he’s planning to break up with her? Obviously, dahil iyon sa mangyayaring fixed marriage sa pagitan namin. But why would he need to end their relationship instead of fighting for it? Mas maganda siguro kung ipaglalaban niya ‘yon. At para na rin makawala ako sa kalokohang ito.

“Hmm, surely, that’s sad on her part,” sagot ni papa.

I removed my stare from Archer and heaved a sigh. Sinubukan kong ibalik ang atensyon ko sa pagkain pero naging mahirap na iyon para sa akin. There’s no way for me to stop this marriage. Hindi ko kayang biguin si papa. Only Archer can halt everything that’s bound to happen pero hindi ako sigurado kung gagawin niya. Based on our conversation a while ago, he’s willing to do this for the sake of their company.

Then maybe he didn’t love his girlfriend that much that’s why he’s willing to let go of her without thinking about it properly.

“That woman is just a hook up. Nothing serious about her for sure. Right, son?” Mrs. Ravena asked.

Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya ay sa anak na siya nakabaling. I simply looked at Archer and I noticed how he’s gripping his utensils tightly while staring lifelessly at his food.

“Of course,” he answered.

“That’s good to know. My Trinity here never got to experience having a serious relationship ever since. At the age of twenty-six, wala pa sa isip niya ang magkaroon ng nobyo. Maraming nagtangkang manligaw pero wala ni isang nagugustuhan. I guess she has high standards for men.” Papa chuckled.

“That’s understandable, Nestor. Kumbaga sa bagay ay high class itong si Trinity. She’s beautiful and talented, and that kind of woman should only settle for best. Dapat lang na maging mapili.”

And what made you think na pasado si Archer sa standards ko pagdating sa isang lalaki? Yes, he may be handsome and rich. Every woman will surely beg for his attention. Pero hindi ako. I didn’t see myself growing old with him. Sigurado akong siya rin ay ganoon sa akin.

“We’ll set your engagement party as soon as possible. Pagkatapos ay ang mismong kasal naman ninyo ang aayusin natin. What type of wedding do you prefer, Trinity?” Mrs. Ravena asked.

Kasal na walang bisa, puwede ba iyon?

Binitawan ko ang kutsara at tinidor ko bago kinuha ang table napkin na nasa gilid ng plato ko. I wiped the side of my lips elegantly before answering her.

“Civil wedding is fine, Tita.”

Umawang ang bibig niya sa naging sagot ko. “C-civil wedding? You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m not. Since you all want to make this marriage happen as soon as possible, then civil marriage is the best choice here.”

“Hija, Archer wants to give you a church wedding. Isa pa ay kailangang maimbitahan lahat ng kakilala. Hindi uubra ang civil wedding. At puwede pa rin namang mapabilis ang kasal kahit engrande. We have people who can work on that. Wala kang kailangan intindihin. What do you think, Archer?”

Huminga ako nang malalim sa naging sagot na iyon ni papa. What’s the use of asking my opinion kung hindi rin naman nila ako susundin?

“Whatever my bride says goes, Tito. Civil wedding is fine,” Archer answered coldly.

See? I was not the only one who didn’t like the idea of a grand wedding here. Sino nga ba naman ang makaka-appreciate ng maganda at magarbong kasalan kung hindi mo naman gusto ang pakakasalan mo? It’s just a waste of time and energy.

“We’ll give you time to think, hija. I’m sure na magbabago pa ang isip mo. We can’t settle for a civil wedding knowing our position in this society. Marami ang magtataka kung bakit civil wedding lang gayong kaya naman natin ang engrandeng kasal.” Those were the last words from Mrs. Ravena that just earned a slight snob from me.

Sino ba ang magpapakasal? Hindi ba at ako naman? Bakit mas marunong pa siya kaysa sa akin?

Natapos ang lunch sa paganoon-ganoon na lang. Kasalukuyan na kaming nasa labas ng bahay para ihatid sila. While Mr. and Mrs. Ravena were already going inside their car, Archer was left here with me as we both watched our parents bid their goodbyes.

Tumigil kami sa paglalakad. Humarap sa akin si Archer at tinitigan ako sa mga mata. The afternoon sun hit his face that illumunated his mini stubbles. I rolled my eyes at him. He chuckled.

Bahagya akong natigilan nang yumuko siya para patakan ako ng halik sa aking noo. I glared at him. Binasa niya ang ibabang parte ng labi niya bago muling ngumisi.

“Stop being so distant. Magiging mag-asawa na tayo sa mga susunod na buwan. Pag-aralan mo na ang maging malapit sa akin,” he said.

“We’re going to have a civil relationship, Archer. Huwag mong asahang magiging malapit tayo kagaya ng inaasahan mo.”

His smirk grew even wider. “We’ll see about that.”

Pagkasabi niya noon ay tumalikod na siya at hinarap si papa. Nakipagkamay siya rito bago tuluyang pumasok sa itim na SUV niya. Nanatili akong nakatayo roon habang busangot ang mukha at magkakrus ang mga braso.

Nakita ko ang paglalakad ni papa pabalik sa akin. Kasabay ng pagkakalapit niya sa akin ay ang pagharurot ng sasakyan ni Archer paalis.

“Thanks for doing this for me, hija. You don’t know how happy I am right now. Alam kong labag ito sa kalooban mo pero naniniwala akong magagawa mo ring mahalin si Archer pagdating ng panahon.”

Bumuntonghininga ako. Yumuko ako at ilang saglit na natiling ganoon. Seconds passed when I lifted my head and stared at my beloved father in his eyes. Pilit akong ngumiti sa kanya.

“I love you, Papa.”

I’ll do everything that can make you happy, pa. Even if it’s hurting me so bad, I’ll still do it.