Chapter 1: Apollo's Lyre
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“There are many types of marriage relationships and all of them can work, but none is sadder than the one that doesn't represent peace in your heart.”

—Shannon L. Alder

They say that marriage is like a business. You and your partner will share in everything. Yes, that’s how it works. I will not argue on that. But when it comes to fixed marriage, the words might fall together and works the same but one element is missing on the latter…it is love.

And for someone who never experienced it like me, it’s like a prison that I can’t break free.

“Hey, I thought you’ll visit tomorrow. Isa pa, wala ka bang jetlag? You should rest and catch some sleep.” My best friend nagged as she placed two glasses of frappe at the circular table of their café.

It’s their family business or rather should I say ‘hobby’. They own a conglomerate business like us and have a mansion and same luxuries as we have. But they’re keeping this small café and Alex works here before to help during summer break. She even pursued baking and pastries in college because it was always her passion and she intends to take over.

And now, she already owns it. Siya na ang nagpapatakbo ng negosyong ito. Alam ko pa nga ay may balak pa siyang pumunta ng France sa susunod na taon para mahasa pa ang kakayahan niya.

I somehow envy her. She had the choice in life that I don’t have. Her parents support her no matter what path she chose to take. And now she’s pursuing what she wanted.

I placed my elbows at the table and rested my chin with my palms. “I’ve had enough sleep at the plane already. And I’m dying of boredom staying at my hotel room. I forgot to pack my books with me.”

“You’re staying at a hotel? What about your mom’s mansion? They certainly have enough room for you to stay there.”

“She’s on a business trip. She’ll be back tomorrow evening and you know that I can’t stay there.”

Napakalalim naman ng buntong-hininga nito sa narinig na para bang mas problemado pa ito sa akin, “You and your pride. Don’t tell me you’re planning to stay there for long? You even have a condo unit. I don’t understand why you have to be so stubborn.”

“Mom gave it to me on my 18th birthday and you know that’s the same year I suddenly disappeared.”

Her eyes widen in realization, “Y-you sold it?!”

I remained composed as I took a sip on my frappe and simply nodded my head, “I need money if I plan to flee. So I sold everything that has value.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Yeah, and this crazy girl is your friend.” I answered and we both laughed at my silliness.

I missed having these light conversations with her. Sitting at the corner of their café, chatting for hours with endless random topics we could think of. Alex had been my friend since grade school and ever since then, we could never be apart. We stick with each other like sisters.

“You can live with us if you want, you’re like a family.” Tita Flor suddenly emerged in our table, serving two slices of cake and a plate of colorful macaroons, “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on you two. But I’m serious, Zylie, you can move into our house anytime.” She said and gave us a warm smile before she left probably to serve the other customers.

Kahit na ipinasa na ni Tita Flor ang pamamalakad ng café na ito sa anak niya, tumutulong pa rin ito sa pags-serve sa mga customers. She said that this café was already a part of her and she would rather spend the whole day assisting Alex than being alone at their huge empty mansion.

There are also a few staffs around. Serving around the café with their cute denim uniforms and a brown apron at the lower half of their body with the café’s logo imprinted on it.

Heto ang naging libangan ni Tita Flor na ilang taon na niya ring mina-manage at napalago. Ginigiit kase nito na naiinip lamang ito sa pananatili sa bahay at piniling magtayo ng sariling café. Si Tito Jude naman ang namamahala sa kumpanya nila. It’s a chain of hospitals by the way. Yeah, that’s how rich they are to even run a small café. They don’t even need the revenue from this shop, but Tita Flor insisted on having her own little café where she could spend the whole day while her husband is busily working at the office.

“I agree with mom.” Alex interjected while she swallows a spoonful of strawberry shortcake.

“No way. Where’s my pride then? I can’t leech off of my friend until I get married.”

“So you already accepted your fate, huh?” she said teasingly, a little smile playing on her lips as she wait for my response.

“I don’t know. I’m still looking for an escape.”

“Teka nga pala, ilang taon ka nang engage pero di mo pa nasasabi sakin kung kanino. So, who’s the guy? You just keep on saying how annoying he was for ruining your life, how foolish he was for agreeing to marry you and that he’s a jerk for not showing up six years ago. But, you never mentioned his name.”

I just rolled my eyes in annoyance. Just the thought of talking about my engagement makes my blood boil.

“He’s not worth talking about.”

Mukhang nagtaka naman si Alex sa tanong ko at nagsalubong ang mga kilay nito, “Why? Is he a good-for-nothing rich guy? A sissy?”

Hindi ko naman napigilan ang tawa ko sa huling tanong na lumabas sa bibig niya. If that guy only heard of it, what would be his reaction?

“No,” I answered hardly suppressing my laughter, “He’s a public figure. I’m not allowed to disclose any more information about him until the formal announcement is done. They said it could affect his image and such things.”

“What about his looks? Gwapo ba?”
I just shrugged, “I don’t know. I never met him. Well he’s famous and often at the news and magazines but I never bother to waste my time getting to know him. Marinig pa lang ang pangalan niya nasisira na ang mood ko kaya’t bago ko pa siya mapagmasdan ng maayos inaalis ko na ang mata ko sa pagmumukha niya.”

“Wow ah, ang bitter mo sa buhay mo girl. What if he’s also against the arrangement and just can’t do anything about it. You mentioned that he didn’t show up six years ago.”

“Yeah, and that day made me hate him even more. How dare he ditch me like that.”

Tinawanan lang naman nito ang naging tugon ko, “Just drink. Iba ang klima dito baka tumaas pa blood pressure mo at ipa-ospital pa kita,” she said humorously while shoving the glass of frappe on my frowning face.

“For now, my problem is where I could stay and my clothes. I need to shop, all my clothes are either made of thick fabric or knitted sweaters. I can’t wear them here or I’ll pass out. My God, I don’t want to die from hyperthermia.”

Napailing na lamang ito sa narinig, “Hey, if you’re going to escape again, where are you going to get the money? You already sold everything you possess as an heiress.” Then as if an idea suddenly popped up from her mind, with widened eyes she looked at me as she said those words, “Why don’t you marry that guy and divorced her after a year, you can get money from alimony.”

Muntik akong nasamid sa iniinom ko dahil sa sinasabi niya. “Baliw ka ba?! How could you even suggest that?”

Bigla naman itong humagalpak ng tawa sa nakuhang reaksiyon mula sa akin, “Biro lang. Masyado kang tense sa arrangement na yan eh,” saad nito na tawang-tawa pa rin sa sariling kalokohan.

Napapailing na lamang ako sa aming dalawa. We are both crazy. No wonder we are both no boyfriend since birth.

It was already dark when I left the café. There was just a few people walking on the streets, lights from the stores and buildings lit the road along with passing vehicles of people who are probably on their way home now from their long day at work trying to make a living.

I was just a few blocks away from my apartment when a shop caught my eyes.

A convenience store!

It’s my paradise when I was still in the states. Wala kasi akong talent sa pagluluto kaya naman madalas ay sa mga convenience store, fast food, or small restaurants ako bumibili ng makakain. I’m living by myself and I can’t carelessly spend money on expensive foods and clothes like how I used to. Lalo na at tumakas lamang ako noon at di ako pwedeng makampante dahil anytime pwedeng maisipan ni mom na i-cut ang cards ko.

Nagpakawala na lamang ako ng buntong-hininga sa paggunita ko sa mga nakalipas na taon at nagsimula ng maglakad papasok ng convenience store.

Kokonti na lamang ang mga tao sa loob dahil siguro sa late na rin. Kaagad akong nagtungo sa section ng mga rice meals nila at inabot ito sa counter para ipa-reheat. Yeah, I’m rich and my family earns thousands of money but I lived frugally. I guess this is the consequence of rebelling.

Habang naghihintay ay pumunta muna ako sa corner ng mga chips at dumampot ng dalawang katamtaman ang laki. Balak kong manood ng movies mamaya dahil wala rin naman akong magawa sa room ko.

I was about to turned around when I bumped with someone. Kasabay ng pagkalaglag ng chips na kadarampot ko lamang ay tumama ang ulo ko sa dibdib ng lalaking nasa likod ko. Medyo napaantras pa ako dahil sa impact ng pagbabanggaan namin. Langya naman kasi ang luwang ng store eh ba’t nagbanggaan kami?

“Oops, sorry miss.” Kaagad naman siyang yumuko para damputin yung nalaglag na chips.

“Thanks.” Di ko naiwasang mapatingala sa kanya. Ang tangkad niya pala.

Nakangiti ang kanyang maninipis na labi na tingin ko ay nakaakit na ng maraming kababaihan. Mapupungay ang mga mata nito sa ilalim ng kanyang mahahabang pilik mata. Matangos din ang ilong nito at may natural na mapulang labi. Hindi rin nakatakas sa aking paningin ang kanyang makinis at pangmayamang kutis. Shit! Ang gwapo.

Sinundan lang siya ng mga mata ko habang naglalakad siya papunta sa counter na parang walang nangyari.
Maghunos-dili ka Zylie Romero. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para humanga at matulala. Ayaw mang tanggapin ng sistema mo ngunit ikakasal ka na.

“Oh, Keint.” Narinig kong sambit ng lalaking nakabungguan ko kani- kanina lang.

Nagpanting ang tenga ko sa pangalang binanggit niya.

Keint?

“Yeah, I’m at a convenience store. Reeve won’t stop pestering me to buy him beer. He’s trespassing on my house again…”

Naku, Zylie. Hindi lang siya ang nag-iisang Keint sa mundo. Ipinilig ko na lamang ang aking ulo at binalik ang atensiyon sa paghahanap ng iba pang bibilhin.

Alas otso na nang gabi ng makabalik ako sa hotel room. Pagod na ibinagsak ko ang sariling katawan sa sofa at tamad na pinindot ang remote upang sindihan ang TV habang humahanap ng komportableng pwesto.

Tangkang kakalkalin ko na ang binili kong pagkain nang maalala kong wala nga palang kubyertos.

I was about to enter the kitchen when the doorbell rang. Kaagad namang bumakas ang pagtataka sa mukha ko ng makita ang room service na naghihintay sa tapat ng pinto.

“Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong room. I didn’t order room service.”

“No, ma’am. I was clearly instructed to deliver this to you.” Sagot ng hotel staff na nakangiti pa rin sa akin.

“By who?”

Lumingon lang ang lalaki sa likod nito at mabilis kong sinundan ng tingin kung sino ang tinutukoy niya. A few rooms away stands a man with a smug expression leaning at the wall, staring back at me. Nakita ko kung paano ako nito hinagod ng tingin habang nakapamulsa at ang isang kamay ay may hawak naman ng isang baso ng red wine.

Not again!

Di ko mapigilan ang sarili kong mapabuntong-hininga habang nagtitimping makasapak ng kung sino. Gusto kong dukutin ang mga mata nitong malisyosong nakatingin sa akin.

Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataon na nangyari ito. Even when I was still studying abroad, I was frequently approached by some random strangers trying to impress me.

“I’m sorry for the trouble. But I’ll appreciate it if you throw that away for me.” I tried to sound nice and gave a sweet smile before I slammed the door at his face.

I made my way to the fridge and poured a glass of water, trying to cool my head. What a flirtatious jerk!

I was still at the kitchen when a news report caught my interest.

“Keint Hasegawa showed us another heartwarming and unforgettable concert as he serenades his fans across the globe. Many fans were touched as Keint sang his latest single “Reaching You” while charmingly strumming his guitar. Keint just finished his world tour and was expected to come back tomorrow—”

I was stunned for a moment. Napakaraming mga tanong ang naglalaro sa isip ko.

The arrangement happened six years ago but all along, I thought it was never gonna be pushed through since both of us tried to avoid it. But what’s this? Anong susunod na mangyayari ngayong parehas kaming bumalik ng bansa?

He is also coming back tomorrow. Does that mean that he already agreed? Will the engagement really happen?

My eyes traveled to the flat screen TV at the living room still flashing events of his successful concert last night.

The concert hall was packed with thousands of people who adore him. Their face filled with amusement as they watch him, thousands of voices screaming his name with adoration, their hands waving at the cold night air of Tokyo as they anticipate for his attention while he sits there above the stage, strumming his guitar playing a beautiful melody with his soothing voice and eyes closed as he play music with his heart.

I guess this is the reason why he was adored and praised by many people. His melody was overpowered with passion, he sings with his heart and reaches other people through his songs. He was like the personification of Apollo swiftly playing his lyre before his people. He shines brightly among the stars at the starry night sky. So serene yet captivating.

I still can’t believe that I was bound to be tied with this man. Years may pass but he will always be beyond my reach. Maybe that’s one of the reasons why I was always repelled by the mere mention of his name.

My fiancé is a star who is adored by many.

His name is Keint Ice Hasegawa.

And he could never be exclusively mine…