Forlorner: Fill The Space #Wattys2019

Chapter 34

Chapter 34
Escape

Kapag napangakuan na ng kasal ang isang tao, akala ko maaayos na ang lahat. Lalagay na sa mabuti at tama ang mga problema. The world will give up its sturdiness at my feet just so I can live my life the way I wanted it to be. But no, it doesn't work that way.

The next day and the days after that, Admiral didn't call nor message me. Nag-aalala ako dahil baka ano 'yung sinabi niya noong tinulugan ko lamang siya.

Hindi ko sinasadya, okay! Please don't be mad, love!

I left several messages and voice mails to his phone number hoping that he will have the spare time to read it.

I keep telling myself that it's fine. Everything is still fine. Trabaho lang niya ang dahilan kaya hindi na naman siya makatawag. It always happens when you are dating a soldier.

Ang arranged marriage na kinatatakutan kong marinig mula sa grandparents namin ay nakatakdang ipaalam sa mga kasosyo ng negosyo sa susunod na buwan. They have told me about it. They dropped the bomb when we were having a family dinner with the Leventis.

"Ayoko." Hindi napigilang pagtutol ko nang magpalakpakan ang mga Leventis sa balita ni Lola. "I am not marrying anyone that you asked me to marry."

They all stopped rejoicing and stared at me as if I was an unexplainable human being. I saw Madam Karina's sister whispered something to her. Malamang ay pinag-uusapan na nila ang katigasan ng ulo ko.

The Archon looked at me heavily. Nakakatakot siya kung tumingin ngunit alam kong dapat akong sumunod sa prinsipyo ko.

I will not be used for their own gain.

"I am not asking, dear." She slowly said. It was horrifying to hear her calm voice. It was like hearing the calm before the storm. "I am ordering you to be Tyrone's wife."

I pursed my lips. I have to do this. Malintikan man ako mamaya sa bahay ay kailangan kong makaalis at makalabas sa arranged marriage na ito.

Inatras ko ang upuan ko, na nakagawa ng maingay na tunog, at tumayo sa harapan nilang lahat. Ikinangiwi iyon ng mga kasama ko sa lamesa. Mabuti na lamang at nasa pribado kaming restaurant venue kaya hindi kami masyadong nakaaagaw ng pansin.

Archon's eyes were blazing in anger and I know it is because of me.

I swallowed the lump on my throat before I bravely looked into her eyes. I have to admit it to them. "I'm sorry, grandma. But I don't want to marry someone who's not my fiancé."

Walang nakapag-react agad sa sinabi ko. Natahimik ang lahat at nanatiling nakatitig sa akin. Iisang reaksyon lamang ang hinihintay ko. Katakot-takot na pagtaas ng kilay ang tangi niyang ibinigay sa akin. Pinigilan kong ipakita ang kaba ko sa tingin niya ngayon.

She slowly sipped her drink, obviously avoiding my gaze. Kumurap ito nang ilang beses bago tumingin sa kaniyang katabi sa kaliwang banda na si Uncle Vasilios.

"What is the report regarding about the Greece's economic crisis?" She asked her son. I noticed her strong grip on Uncle's cuff. Halos makita ang kaniyang ugat sa maputi niyang balat.

Her son cleared his throat, withdrawing his stare from me back to his mother. "There was an arrear. Greece missed the payment and it was the first time in the history. I'm sorry that it needed to be known globally."

Naramdaman ko ang paghigit ng kung sino sa kamay ko. I looked down and saw Kai signalling me to go back to my seat. Napaawang ang labi ko at tinignan si grandma na nasa anak na ang atensyon. Nakatuon na silang lahat sa usapan ng mag-ina na tila ba hindi ako tumutol sa plano ng Archon kanina.