Runaway Bride//COMPLETED

Chapter 1

Thank you

Hindi ako nakatulog, something is bugging me. Magpapakasal si Aiden sa akin? Itutuloy niya ang engagement namin? No way.

Nakatulala lang ako sa ceiling habang hawak hawak ang singsing na gawa sa gold, diamond ang pendant at may naka engrave na pangalan ko. This ring has a lot of memories, painful and happy memories.

Kusang tumulo ang luha ko dahil sa sakit na nararamdaman. Ngayong nakamove on na ako, tsaka mo ako ulit paaasahin, Aiden?

Kahit anong pikit ko sa mga mata ko ay hindi ako nakakaramdam ng antok. Lagi kong iniisip ang huling sinabi sa akin ni Aiden bago siya lumabas sa kwarto ko.

"There's no running away this time?"

I didn't run way, Aiden. Ikaw... Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit ko nagawa ko iyon. I needed to do that. I don't have a choice. I needed to leave you. It's for your own sake.

Everyone started to hate me noong tumakbo ako sa araw ng kasal natin, they called me names without knowing what's the real reason why it ended up like that. Even my parents disowned me and treated me like trash dahil lang umalis ako sa wedding. Everyone was disappointed at me.

It was suppose to be a perfect day for me, you and me, infront of the altar, exchanging vows. It was suppose to be a happy ending for me, but the opposite happened.

You are the reason why I ran away. I can't have you, Aiden. And if I would be given another chance to turn back time, I would do that again.

I was born in an elite family. Spoiled, suplada, and a brat, iyan ang tingin ng lahat sa akin, wala naman akong pake sa sinasabi nila since totoo naman iyon. What Kaitlyn wants, Kaitlyn gets, iyon ang motto ko.

My Mom and Dad are married for convenience, and I've been a witness of how devastating marriage is without love. Palagi silang nag aaway, at hindi ko sila nakitang masaya, kahit kailan. That's when I promised myself na papakasalan ko ang taong gusto ko, na dadating ang panahon na ipaglalaban ko ang pag-ibig ko, hadlang man ang buong mundo.

I was 15 when I started to manage our business. Tinuruan nila ako sa lahat ng bagay tungkol sa business namin dahil ako lang ang magmamana ng lahat ng ito. I was happy dahil hindi nila naisipang ipakasal ako sa lalaking may alam sa business. That would only make me miserable, I can deal with our business on my own without having to marry someone.

"Kaitlyn, in order to have a successful business, you need to be competitive enough, kahit anong mangyari, do your best to make your company on top," Iyan ang palaging paalala ni Dad sa akin simula ng mag mamahala ako sa business namin.

Yes, I was too young, too young to focus on our company but they forced me to. I can't remember myself being happy during my childhood, it was always about studying and studying and studying. Hindi ako nakapaglaro ng kahit ano. Sure, I can get whatever I want. I shop, until I drop but that isn't enough for me.

Bata pa lamang ako ay nakatatak na sa utak ko ang mga dapat gawin para mapalago ang negosyo namin and soon enough, our company, The Cervantes' Scapes was on top. And it's because of my hardwork.

I thought that it was the only way to get my freedom but I was wrong. Mas lalong naging mahigpit si Mom at Dad sa akin, mas lalo nila akong prinessure para magtrabaho. Even the slightest problem of the company, pinapagalitan na ako.

Okay lang sa akin ang lahat, kahit sobrang pressure ang nakapatong sa ulo ko, it doesn't matter, as long as the company's doing well. The company is my priority.

Until one day, they told me something that I would never want to hear.

"The de Leon family is on their way, get ready, look presentable, Kaitlyn."

That's the end of everything. Ipapakasal nila ako sa taong ayaw ko. Gusto kong umangal pero wala akong magawa, I became their puppet, not their child.

"I would like you to meet Aiden Amell de Leon, our second son..."

Hindi ko siya nilingon, ni hindi ko siya tinignan simula pa ng dumating sila dito. It's rude, but it's the only way of saying na ayaw ko sa kasalang ito. I'm not vocal when it comes to my feelings, I always have another way of saying it and that's through my actions.

"Hi, Kaitlyn. It was nice to meet you," Naglahad siya ng kamay sa harapan ko. "You look good today."

Doon ko siya nilingon. Seryoso ang mga mata ngunit nakangiti ang mga labi. Mahaba ang pilikmata at matangos ang ilong. Kayumanggi ang kulay ng balat niya at malaki ang pangangatawan. Totally, not my type.

Tinanggap ko ang kanyang mga kamay ngunit nanatiling blanko ang expresyon ko. Hindi ako ngumiti dahil hindi naman ako masaya.

His parents smiled and my mom clapped her hands, they were happy with their decision, they didn't even ask if I was happy. They were selfish.

"Then it's all set, the engagement party will be next month, and the wedding will be on November, during Kaitlyn's 18th birthday!" Excited na sabi ni Dad. I wasn't pleased. I felt so caged with their own decision. I felt miserable.

Umiyak ako ng umiyak habang nakakulong sa kwarto ko. They knew about my situation but they didn't ask me or comfort me. Wala akong makapitan sa mga panahong iyon.

I don't have friends, I can't even consider myself as someone who has a family. I only have myself.

Hindi ako kumakain, hanggang isang araw ay nahimatay ako sa loob ng aking kwarto. I was unconscious for 5 days, that's when my mom spoke to me.

"Kaitlyn, alagaan mo naman ang sarili mo, tignan mo ngayon, no one is looking after our company, our stocks might get affected," Iyan ang bungad niya sa akin pagpasok palang niya sa pinto.

I was expecting it to be, "Anak okay ka lang?" Or "Anak, kumusta ng pakiramdam mo?" O "Anak, may dala ako para sayo."

But what do I expect? These are my parents I am talking about, they don't care for me, they only care for what I can do for the company. I am their investment, not their child.

I didn't replied to my mom, I just closed my eyes and slept. Ayaw kong may masakit na salita akong mabitawan.

Days passed, hindi na din sila bumisita. I busied myself with paperworks, kahit nasa hospital pa ako. I promised myself that someday, I can finally get out of their grasp.

Until one day, an unexpected visitor came knocking at my door. It's Aiden.

"How are you, I heard na na unconcious ka daw? Sorry, ngayon lang ako nakabisita, naging busy kasi ako sa plantation namin sa Cebu, but I got here as soon as I can."

Doon bumuhos ang mga luha ko. Dahil sa lahat ng tao, siya ang pinaka hindi ko inaasahang magtatanong sa akin kung kumusta ako. He was the first one who asked me that, and it was comforting. Knowing that someone is concerned of you.

"Hey, why are you crying? Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?" Tinignan niya ang mga paperworks na nasa side table ko habang lumalapit sa akin. "Maybe, you shold stop working for the mean time, this is not good for you."

He held me by my shoulders and slowly lifted my face. He smiled at me like reassuring me that everything will be alright.

"It's okay. Just cry. I'm here for you."

With those simple words, pakiramdam ko may karamay ako. And I've never felt like this before.

I smiled for the first time and said, "Thank you."

Thank you for coming into my life.