A Thousand Years

Kabanata 1

"Nandito na tayo sa San Pablo, gumising kana." galit na usal ni mom, hindi na ako umangal pa at binuksan nalang ang mata ko. Baka isan-daang cuss pa kasi ang matanggap ko.

Bumaba na kami ng taxi, natanaw ko na ang isang restaurant. Is this the important place that she's pertaining to? Well, sabi niya kasi may importanteng lugar daw kaming pupuntahan dito sa San Pablo. And this? This restau? What's so special about it? Eh common naman to kasi nakikita ko siya sa malls. I shrugged it off at sumunod nalang sa kanila ng kapatid ko na nauunang maglakad papasok.

"Hoy ikaw, umayos ka don. Wag na wag mo akong ipapahiya, para naman sa pagkakataong to magkasilbi ka." seryoso at matalim ang tingin na sabi saakin ni mom. Ouch, am I really worthless? Marami kayang nagreremind sakin sa tiktok na I'm worthy and loved. Guess they're wrong lol.

May nakita akong isang babae na nakaupo malapit sa pintuan pagpasok namin. Nakangiti siya kay mom, at ngumiti rin siya saakin. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. I don't even know her, and I've never seen her before. Don't get me wrong, hindi ako mataray. I just have a bad feeling about this.

"You must be Mrs. Abelardo! Good afternoon ma'am!" bati nung babae. She stood up with a big smile. Mom is smiling too. Wow? She smiled? Lol. Is this mom's friend? Kaya ba kami pumunta dito sa San Pablo para makausap lang ang babaeng to? She must be special. Sana all special.

"Do I know you? You actually look familiar but I can't remember." Sabi ni mom. Oh, so di niya siya kilala? Bakit siya ngiting ngiti? At sino nga ba to? 

"I'm Mr. Panganiban's secretary." she said, so who is Mr. Panganiban? Don't tell me... pinalitan na ni mom si Dad? No, no, no this can't be happening. I don't want a step dad! Ugh, I'd rather get lost in San Pablo! My god!

"Oh, hi!" So ayon nag-usap na sila, that's how the convo started. Nakaupo na kami in the same table where she sat. Di naman ako nakikinig eh at nakatunganga lang dito, at nagp-phone. Pero may biglang nagpapantig sa tenga ko.

"Believe me, ma'am, the Panganiban's are really looking forward to your daughter and their son's incoming wedding but then things just got really messed up. They wanted to tell you that they'll make it up to you and your daughter. They want you to receive their sincere apology." sabi nung babae. Me and the Panganiban's son's wedding?! What?! Arranged marriage? Ano ba to prank? Am I hearing it right?

"I understand, Miss." mom said, smiling at her. I don't even know anything about this! What marriage?! She's going to give me away? Is she gonna get money for this or something?! Is she selling me?!

"I want to congratulate you in advance for your daughter's marriage, Mrs. Abelardo." sabi nung girl, WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?! Bakit wala akong alam sa mga bagay na to? Mom got me arranged to someone? What am I? A toy? Pinamimigay? Wala ba talaga akong halaga sakanya? Binenta niya ba ko?

"Thank you—" I cutted mom off at tumayo mula sa ikinauupuan.

"Wait, my marriage? What does this mean?" Sabi ko, trying so hard to be calm. At nagpapalit ng tingin kay mom at don sa so called secretary. She was smiling awkwardly.

"Haven't your mom told you? Akala ko ba Mrs. Abelardo ay pumayag na siya? Di po ba sabi niyo masaya pa siya sa narinig niya?" Nagtatakang sabi nung babae. WHO THE HELL IS GOING TO BE HAPPY? Ikakasal ako sa taong di ko naman mahal at mas lalo na sa hindi ko kilala! No way! Hinding hindi ako papayag! This is my life!!

"Oh, I haven't told her yet. I want her to be surprised, but then you are happy about that right, anak?" Sabi ni mom, na pinanlalakihan ako ng mata. Parang pinapahiwatig saking um-oo. Is this some kind of joke? Namumuo na ang galit saakin, she's expecting me to say yes?! Argh! I was never wrong on hating my life. Everything's so messed up. If only dad was here...