I have had a lot of experiences conversing with men – I chose a field that's dominated by them and our family's business, before my mom and I got involved, was male-centric. Besides the Albarracin are mostly males and my father is the only one among six brothers who fathered daughters. And let me just say that I might not be fond of all the men that I had crossed paths with but I had never felt like killing them for annoying the sensibleness out of me. Until Castor Saenz.
Ang kapal talaga nito...
"So, you think you are irresistible?" I asked unable to hide my loathing. "You? Irresistible? Why? What's so special about you?"
"Well, a lot of parents actually think that I'm a darn good catch."
"You are?"
"I am a lawyer. I am financially stable. I have the looks—"
I started laughing. "Excuse me, Mr. Saenz, if those are the criteria for being someone's husband you should have been off the market by now. But we women are not as superficial as you think. Mataas na ang standards namin ngayon. And to be honest with you, I hope that what I'm going to say next is not going to shatter your soul, you are so lacking."
"Enlighten me. What do I lack?"
"A plethora of things that we women consider significant. One, you do not have the humility to be someone's partner. Sa sobrang yabang mo, kung hindi lang siguro ako naka-seatbelt ngayon at nilipad na ako ng hanging dala mo. Two, you do not have an ounce of understanding about what women want dahil ang tingin mo ay mababaw lahat ng babae. Lawyer ka? O, tapos? I am an engineer, and I am not impressed. Financially stable ka? Do I look jobless to you? I can afford my lifestyle and more. I don't need a man to spend for me. Third, you think you are so good-looking that when you'd offer me marriage, I'd immediately say yes, pero, saan banda? Sa totoo lang, mas guwapo pa 'yung aso ng kapatid ko."
"Sobra ka naman."
"Masakit?"
"Masarap, galing sa'yo, eh." He grinned. "But, I am a gentleman who's open to criticisms so I am not going to let the unkind words from my soon-to-be-wife put me down."
I frowned.
"Thank you, Ayn, for being forthright with me. Now, I know what I need to improve on so I can be a satisfactory husband to you."
"You should marry yourself, Castor," I scathingly said. "You and yourself seem like a match made in heaven."
He smiled. "But, I would rather marry you."
I gritted my teeth. "Not happening."
"It is so happening. I plan to talk to your parents tonight—"
"I'm so sorry for breaking this to you but my father loves me dearly and my mother and I might not see eye-to-eye most of the time but I am sure she loves me more than she loves her Hermes bags collection. So, how dare you spawn of the devil insinuate that my parents would readily hand me over to you when you'd ask?"
He laughed out loud. "Ang dali mo talagang pikunin."
My frown deepened.
"You don't think that I am a good catch, Ayn?"
"Maybe in another universe but not in mine. To tell you frankly, your only redeeming factor is this car. Everything else about you is just blah."
"Are you sure you're going to take that route?"
"What route?"
"That route where I will be forced to use the full power of my charm on you just to prove a point?"
