Wedding Ditcher

THIRTY EIGHT

"How did you become my fiancé?" tanong ko habang naglalakad kami dito sa loob ng Aeon mall.

"Your dad didn't tell you?"

He never mentioned! "I just arrived in Japan this morning Pax." ni hindi nga kami masyado nag-uusap.

Hindi pa nga ako umabot ng 24 hours dito sa Osaka!

"I just met dad not long ago. We haven't even talked or even discussed anything."

"Really? I mean everyone knows his daughter went missing, but I thought he'd bring you here after you've known each other well."

"This is just my 4th day with him Pax." I'm here because I was forced to. "I don't know anything about my dad."

"Why do call your father, Dad and not Otosan?"

I raised a brow. "What's that?"

"It means father."

Hindi ko feel. "I'm okay with dad."

He laughed lightly. "You mentioned you had amnesia right? Did you know you always call your father Otosan, but after you learned the word daddy, you kept using it and eventually that's what you'd always call him."

Napangiti ako ng may naalala. "Kaya pala. Dad said I used to call him daddy. I didn't like the sound of that so I opt for just Dad."

"Lia." his voice became soft. "I know you don't like the thought of me as your betrothed. I hope you won't hate me for that."

"No I don't Pax. It's not your doing. I was just shocked. I just came here and now I'm already engaged? Dad didn't even told me about it or at least listen to what I have to say."

I just hate myself for always getting engaged to someone I don't love.

"You really look disappointed Liangel. I couldn't tell with your face if you're about to cry or get mad."

Because the only thing on my mind when I heard about it, was my Kieffer.

"You don't have to worry about me. Marriage is something that'll never be in my control."

A beautiful dress caught my attention kaya agad ko itong nilapitan. Tiningnan ko yung price tag at 'di ko maintindihan. Ever, baka nakalimutan mong nasa Japan ka.

'Di kaya sinadyang sabihin ni dad na pwede ko bilhin lahat ng gusto ko kasi hindi ko rin naman malalaman ang presyo?

"Do tell." biglang sulpot ni Pax sa likod ko. "You seem to be fine with fixed marriage."

Hindi ko siya naintindihan nung una pero kalaunan nakuha ko ang ibig niyang sabihin. "I've had two ex- fiancé Pax. In my family in the Philippines, arranged marriage is a thing."

"That's why." he nodded. "Did you loved them?"

Is he worried about our marriage? Ang advance naman nitong mag-isip. Hindi pa nga ako sigurado kung papayag ako, gusto kong tumakas na lang.

"Don't worry Pax, our marriage isn't gonna be platonic."

Mukhang nahiya siya sa sinagot ko. Ano? Tama ako no?

"My first fiance, we were introduced to each other then we became friends and then he proposed after our families told us about the fixed marriage. The second was, our families had a dinner first then they said he was going to be my fiance. We got engaged after that, then we became friends and I kinda learned to love him. So as you can see Pax, it's a process, it takes time."