"Hi," I tried my very best not to stutter. God, he's the most beautiful man I've ever seen. And his voice, that's the most handsome voice I've ever heard. He's so... manly. But his eyes, it looks dull. Yet it's mesmerizing. How can a person with an emotionless face be so beautiful like this?
I mentally hit my head. What are you doing, Bri? It's like you're salivating at him.
"Uhm... mom, where's dad?" I diverted my gaze. Slightly embarrass with the thought that he might think I'm checking him out.
"In his office, honey. He'll be here any moment." I nodded, controlling myself not to look at him again. "There, speaking of your dad." lumingon ako at nakita kong pababa ng hagdan si daddy. He's smiling from ear to ear.
Binati nya sila tito at tita. They talked a little bago kami nagpunta sa dining area para kumain. Tahimik lang akong nakatingin at nakikinig sa kanila. Nakaupo si daddy sa kabisera, my mom sitting on his left kasunod ako at si kuya North. Sa right side sila tito, tita at Liam. They're talking about business at minsang sumasagot sila kuya at Liam.
"What course are you taking, hija?" I lifted up my head, tita Lana's looking at me with a smile on her face. I smiled back.
"I'm taking business administration major in management po." I answered politely. I saw tita's mouth formed a small o.
"Really? That's wonderful! You're into business, too. So you'll help your brother to run your business?"
"Actually, I'm planning on building my own business po." I smiled. Kuya doesn't need my help. I know he can handle our business. He's the very version of dad. He'll be a monster in business, too. He was born for it.
"That'll be great! What business to have in mind, hija?" tita's eyes are sparkling. I laughed softy.
"That's still a secret po." I said. Narinig kong tumawa sila mom and dad.
"Even to us, ayaw nya pa ring sabihin." My mom said. Then she looked at me. "Siguro, balak mong kalabanin ang kuya mo, no?" my eyes widened. What?
"N-No!" I said right away. Then they laugh.
"I'm just kidding, sweetheart."
After that they are back on talking about the business. I'm just listening to them. Hindi ako nabobored. One thing I love about our parents, they never force us to do things we don't like. Yes, except arrange marriage. My brother's the only exemption. They never talked arrange marriage for him. The only reason I knew is that kuya's very interested in business eversince he was a child. He wants to run the business someday. He's very determine. And my parents, especially dad, trust him so much. They knew my brother. They knew how capable and smart he is. How extraordinary he is. They said kuya doesn't need to marry someone to help our family.
I'm not jealous of him. Neither I think it's unfair. Especially now that I found out the story behind the arrange marriage. And yes, I'm not against it.
What? Because your future husband turns out to be the most handsome guy in the whole world except to your brother? My inner self said. Then she continued. What if he's ugly and-- I shut her off.
Holyshit, what's happening to me? I must be crazy!
"Kung ako lang, I want them to get married as soon as possible. Even next month!" I came back to my senses when I heard that. What next month?
"I can't wait for Brianna to be part of our family. I waited for it for so so long years!" I gulped. They want us to get married by next month? As in next month?
I look at him unconsciously. He's expressionless. Then It hit me. I'm not stupid. Even though I don't know what's running inside his head, I think I can guess. Maybe I'm the only one who's not against it. Maybe.. maybe he's not happy about it but can't do nothing. Maybe he's just hiding it. For the sake of his parents. For the sake of the business.
I can be right. Right?
but you can be wrong, too.
"Sweetheart?"
"Uh.. uh, mom? Yes?"
Behave, Brianna!
"Don't worry, baby. You'll finish your studies first before the marriage." Mom smiled at me. Now, I'm relieved. I still have 3 semester to complete. Sila kuya, last semester na nila.
After dinner lumipat na kami sa pool area. All guys will be drinking. As for me, mom and tita Lana, we'll also drink, but juice, of course. When they started drinking, nagvolunteer akong mag grill ng barbeque. Nagsimula na rin silang magkwentuhan pero hindi ko na maintindihan 'yung ilan. Suddenly I felt something. I feel cold. But maybe dahil lang malamig talaga dito kaya binalewala ko nalang. I focus on grilling and after a couple of minutes, I felt a presence behind me.
"Let me do the rest." his deep husky voice send a shiver down my spine. I almost drop the plate I'm holding. Same with my poor heart.
I breathe in, before facing him. Of course with my eyes on his chest.
"Okay. Thank you." I hand him the plate, without looking at his face. At his eyes. I don't want to stumble. Just his presence can make my knees go weak. What more if my eyes met his? I might fall to the ground. Hard.
Hours passed and that's the last conversation we had that night. Or can It even be called a conversation. I settled with stolen glances because I'm a coward. I'm freaking embarrass. I have lots of middle name and clamsiness is one of them. In fact, I'm the queen of clamsiness. Wala akong matinong gagawin maliban sa ipahiya ang sarili ko kaya hindi ko na sinubukan gumawa ng kahit na ano.
Worse, I was spellbound by him. I badly want to sleep because apparently, I have classes tomorrow but he won't let me. I tried changing positions, umikot ikot na ko and my last resort, I counted one to one hundred but all of it didn't work. I'm helpless. Itutuloy ko ba hanggang one thousand? Or two, three, four? Argh!
Ganito ba talaga kapag nagkakagusto? Hindi nakakatulog? Am I still normal? I sighed. You're really helpless, Bri. That's for sure. But how or what time I finally fell asleep, that, I don't know.
---
A/N:
This chapter is still a flashback as well as for the next chapters. Luv ya'll.
xoxo.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Womanizer's Wife
RomanceLoving him is my choice pero hindi kasama don ang masaktan ng paulit-ulit. But what can I do? I fell and I am married to the womanizer. A freaking cold womanizer. She's gorgeous, smart, talented, kind and friendly. She has all the characters that w...