What If's

CHAPTER 20

Kasalukuyan akong nakahiga sa malambot kong kama. Unable to move. Or more like not wanting to move. Nakakapagod. Isang buwan na ang nakalipas simula nung in-announce ang kasal daw namin. Tsk, isang malaking kalokohan. Isang buwan na akong nagti-tiis na 'wag sapakin ang lintek na si Bermundo.

He asked me to give us a chance. And for the last month he's been very persistent in proving to me how much he wanted that 'chance' to happen. Any other girl with half a brain would probably jump into him at any opportunity given, and for me to reject him would probably be a form of crime. As what Andrea describes it.

He's been following me all around, literally. Labas pasok na nga siya dito sa bahay since mom and dad already treats him like their own son. The son-in-law. Walang magawa sina kuya kahit labag sa loob nila kasi nga nakapagdesisyon na ang mga magulang namin. Kaya kahit gaano pa nila ka gustong kaladkarin at bugbugin si Bermundo ay hindi pwede.

I just wanna rest and lay in bed all day. But then, I really can't have everything I wanted.

"Ano ba, Alex! Just wake up already!" Aya's been bugging me for quite some time now, I wanted to sleep but here she is mercilessly bugging me. "C'mon couz, I know you're awake!" she yelled once again.

Marahas akong bumangon at hinarap siya. "Alam mo naman pala bakit hindi ka pa tumigil sa kakahampas sa 'kin ng unan?"

My crazy cousin just giggled as she playfully hid the pillow behind her back.

"Ano bang ginagawa mo dito? It's to early for pestering me, don't you think?" I asked still annoyed. And bless her soul, she didn't even care if I was glaring at her already.

"Oh yeah, 'bout that," she said like she remembered something. "Tita asked me to wake you up. And I believe that you should probably get ready because your etiquette coach will be here any minute now."

Isa pa yang etiquette classes na 'yan. The very day after the announcement, mom signed me up for an etiquette training. Bigla akong na-offend. Imagine, my own mother just shoved it into my face that I act far from being a lady, though indirectly.

"Why do I even have to attend those classes? Mga bata pa lang tayo eh alam na natin 'yan. I just can't see her point."

She didn't answer. Yet she took the space beside me and as she caressed my hair, as if calming me down. A depressed sigh was the only thing I could offer before I snuggled closer to her side.

"The wedding..." she started. "...will be followed by the merging of the companies, whether we like it or not. And since Bryce will lead the company, you my dear cousin as his wife will be the subject to the board and stakeholders criticism. And we can't have them persecute you for being trashy now, can we?"

I hated it how she used the word 'wife' and 'Bryce' in a sentence. But then again, no matter how much I hated the idea, the path we're trekking now leads to that conclusion.

I groaned in frustration which she returned in an amused laugh. "At bakit ba ang arte mo?" saad pa niya habang nakataas ang isang kilay. "Ang gwapo ng future husband mo!"

Napairap na lang ako sa kanya. She's always like that, fangirling over hot dudes. Wait, did you just--

Oh God, no.

"So, what happened last night?" of course she'll be asking, it's a habit of hers. Being nosy.

Then a recollection of last nights event flashed before me.

My etiquette coach has been reviewing me about proper dinning. And honestly, I'm only half-listening because for one, I already know everything there is. And two, I am constantly distracted by the guy sitting across me. He's been goofing around for quite some time now, every time the E.C turns to me he then makes this silly faces and using the table napkin as a prop. I'm trying my best not to laugh, to just ignore him, but he's too silly.