𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟐𝟏

After the party ended, pinakilala ako ni Eomma sa mga parents ni Blood. Mr. Pemberton looks intimidating and a quiet type of person, yet he looks undeniably handsome. He looks exactly like his son, Blood. Mukhang sa kanya namana ni Blood ang pagiging tahimik. Habang nakangiti naman ang magandang mommy ni Blood sa'kin na sa tingin ko'y ang edad ay nasa early 40's, yet she looks young.

"Hi! I'm Bianca Pemberton, Jared's mom." She gave me a peck on my cheeks.

I glanced at Blood, who was busy fiddling with his phone. His eyebrow furrowed when he felt someone was looking at him, and our gazes met. Mabilis akong nag-iwas ako ng tingin. So, Jared pala ang tawag sa kanya?

I bowed. "I'm Mardux Hillary Ong. Nice to meet you, po!"

"Nice to meet you, too. Ihja, anyway, you are 18 now! Finally, we can now talk about your wedding with Jared..."

My eyebrows creased, and suddenly I felt clueless. Naguguluhan akong nagpabalik-balik ng tingin sa mga magulang ko na ngayon ay hindi makatingin nang diretso sa akin.

I innocently looked at Blake who was behind me. "Ikakasal kana ba, Oppa?" tanong ko.

He shook his head. "It's not me,"

"Eh, sino? Alangan naman ako?" I pointed myself before chuckling at my lame joke.

He didn't answer. He just looked at me with a pitiful look. I laughed sarcastically before glancing at my parents, asking for an answer but instead, they look away. Unti-unting humina ang pagtawa ko hanggang sa maramdaman kong namasa ang magkabilang sulok ng mga mata ko.

"I'm going to marry him?!" I said, pointing at Blood, who was also looking at me.

Hinawakan ko sa magkabilang kamay si Eomma. "Eomma, jebal... Sabihin mong nagbibiro lang kayo. Appa, tell me this not true!"

"Mianhe..."

With just one word from dad, I burst out crying. Tears kept falling from my eyes.

Napahikbi ako. "Ayoko... Ayokong magpakasal! I'm so disappointed in both of you." I glanced at Blake, na tahimik lang pero halatang guilty. "I hate you!"

Mabilis akong tumalikod sa kanila. Narinig ko ang pagtawag sa akin nina Eomma at Appa pero hindi ko sila binigyan pansin. I'm so disappointed! I never thought they will do this to me! I just want to run away.  Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta, basta gusto kong umalis dito.

Napatigalgal ako nang may humatak sa akin. When our eyes met, my sob became loud that some people were glancing at us. He didn't speak. His soft lips were shut while dragging me out of this place. Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin.

"D-Do you know about this set-up?!" He didn't answer. "Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?" tanong ko dahil kanina pa kami naglalakad.

"Basta," he coldly said.

Hindi ko inaasahan na dadalhin niya ako sa parking lot. He glanced at me before he pulled the cover of a vehicle. A lustrous red Suzuki big bike appeared in front of us. I'm not sure about the exact model, but I'm sure it's worth a fortune.

"Sakay,"

Napakurap-kurap ako pero hindi ako gumalaw. I just stood there feeling numb while crying my eyes out.

"Hindi ka sasakay?" halata sa boses niya ang pagpipigil ng inis. He scratched his nose and brushed his hair up.

Hindi ako kumibo.

"Ah! Fine!" He frustratedly brushes his hair again. Making it look messy, yet it suits him.

Hindi ko inaasahan na mabilis niya akong bubuhatin sa balikat kaya napatili ako at pinaghahampas siya sa likod. "Blood! Ibaba mo ako! Saan mo ako dadalhin! Help!" I screamed for help, but no one came.

Inalis niya ang suot na coat at sapilitan na pinasuot sa'kin. "Wear this if you don't want to expose your underwear," mabilis ko siyang hinampas bago tinakpan ang mga hita ko.

"Pervert! Manyak ka!"

"Psh, ikaw iyakin!"

Napanganga ako. "Kasalanan mo!"

"Bakit ako? Inaano kita dyan?"

"Hindi mo ba narinig ang sinabi ng mommy mo? Magpapakasal daw tayo! Ayoko! Ayokong magpakasal! I just turned 18! Hindi pa nga ako graduate ng college, tapos ikakasal na agad ako? Nag-iisip ka ba?" I vent out everything. Pinaghahampas ko siya habang umiiyak na naman.

He quickly caught my hands and stared into my eyes. He dried my tears using his bare hands. "Shhh... Stop crying, will you? You'll get yourself dehydrated."

I shook my head. "Stop acting like you care about me, Blood! Because I know you silently hate me, too!"

When I looked at him, I'm not sure if I'm hallucinating, but I saw the pain in his eyes. Napaiwas agad ng tingin.

"I don't hate you," I saw him take in a deep breath.

"Yes, you do... Just admit it," matigas na sabi ko.

"Fine, I hate-" hindi ko na siya pinatapos magsalita dahil hinampas ko na siya sa dibdib.

"I knew it! You hate me, too! Kaya ka siguro pumayag sa set up na ito because you want me to suffer!"

He stopped for a moment and shook his head. It looks like he's now losing his patience. "No." matigas at malamig pa sa yelo na sagot niya. "I hate the fact that you are crying right now because of me. I hate seeing you cry, Mardux. That's the truth! And if hating me will give you satisfaction, then hate me all you want."

Bahagyang napaawang ang bibig ko at sinalubong ang malamlam na mga mata niya. Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil sinuotan niya na ako ng isang pulang helmet.

"Let's go home,"I heard him murmur before he got on the motorcycle and drove it away fast.

 Hindi ko alam kung saan niya ako dadalhin, bahala na siguro. 

Ilang sandali pa, tumigil kami sa isang lugar na pamilyar sa akin. Just like in Itaewon, the Korean town here in the Philippines is full of bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and shopping centres. Suddenly, I felt like I'm in my hometown.

"Anong gagawin natin dito?" tanong ko habang iniikot ang paningin sa paligid.

 "Talk," Hinila niya ulit ako.

Tumigil kami sa harapan ng isang coffee shop. "This is my mom's coffee shop. Mag-uusap tayo ng maayos. No shouting, no crying."

"O-Okay..." sagot ko at sinipat na lang ang paligid.

Hinila niya ako papasok at hindi ko inaasahan na wala kaming maaabutan na costumer. Bukod sa mga staffs na nasa counter, mga taong naglilinis ng tables, tatlong lalake na naglilinis ng sahig, ay kami lang ang costumer.

"Sir Jared!"

May lumapit sa amin na babae. Iba ang suot niyang uniform kumpara sa iba kaya sa tingin ko'y mas mataas ang posisyon niya. "Hi Susie, How's the coffee shop?"

Ngumiti naman kaagad ang babae. "Ayos na ayos, Sir! Opening na po niyan kami within 15 minutes."

"All right," napatingin ako kay Blood nang humigpit ang pagkakahawak niya sa kamay ko. "Anyway, This is Mardux. She's my fiancée."

My eyes widened. "Blood! What the fuck?!" I blurted out.

I'm annoyed! How dare he tell Susie that I'm his fiancée even though I'm not yet accepting this arrangement! Idagdag pa na nakakahiya ang itsura ko! Paniguradong pulang-pula ang mga mata ko at ilong ko dahil sa pag-iyak. Idagdag pa na baka nalusaw na ang make up ko dahil sa pinaghalong pawis at luha.

"What? Are you hungry?"

I shook my head, giving him a deadly look. "Let's talk."

He nodded. "Oh, right."

Umakyat kaming dalawa sa second floor kung saan walang katao-tao maliban sa aming dalawa. Naupo agad ako sa may dulo at humalikipkip. "Now, talk."

"I'll order first," 

Mabilis ko siyang pinigilan. "Huwag na! I'm not hungry! Let's just talk about this bullshit!"

"I'll order first..." Madiin ang pagkakasabi niya kaya wala na akong nagawa.

Pagbalik niya ay may dala na siyang dalawang slice ng blueberry cheesecake at ice coffee. Inilapag niya ang tray sa lamesa bago umupo sa harapan ko. I'm just staring at the food, not making any moves.

"Eat," He said but I just shook my head.

"No,"

I heard him sigh. "Fine! I didn't know that you were my fiancée. Until last night, when Mom showed me a photo of you."

Mabilis akong nag-angat ng tingin sakto dahil mabilis din nagtama ang mga paningin namin. His butterscotch eyes are staring at me so intently that I averted my gaze because I can't take it.

"I was hesitant at first because I don't fucking want to get married at a young age, but they told me that there's no wedding until we graduate from college. Kaya yung sinabi mo kanina, that's not true."

Napayukom ako ng kamao. "Kahit na! Bakit kailangan natin magpakasal? Bakit hindi ka umayaw? Decline the marriage kasi gano'n ang gagawin ko..."

Again, he sighs. "I did. Actually, I decline the wedding thrice," I caught him sipping the iced coffee. 

"Pero bakit natuloy pa rin? Ayokong magpakasal..." Hinawakan ko nang mahigpit ang baso na nasa harapan ko. His adam's apple move.

"I don't know the reason why we need to get married, okay? Hindi lang ikaw ang nahihirapan at naguguluhan sa mga nangyayari..." Sumandal siya sa upuan at tinitigan ako ng malalim. "Why don't you try calling your parents right now and tell them where you are. Then, let them explain everything to you..."

I shook my head. "Paano kung hindi nila sabihin? I'm so disappointed with my parents. After nila ako pasiyahin sa party ko, eto pala ang kapalit. Nakakainis! Ayokong umuwi... Ayoko silang makita!"

"Then, our marriage will continue," I heard him smirking.

I pursed my lips while crossing my arms. "Umamin ka nga sa'kin! Gusto mo ba ako pakasalan? May gusto ka ba sa akin?" hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa dahil naiinis ako sa paraan ng pag-ngisi niya.

"I like you,"

My lips parted. Gusto kong mag-iwas ng tingin pero parang may sariling magnet ang mga mata ko dahil ayaw nitong lumihis. Napatulala ako sa kanya.

"Hoy! Ang sabi ko gusto kita!"

He snapped his fingers in front me causing me to blink faster. Mabilis kong hinuli ang kamay niya at kinagat 'yon. He left soft curses before glaring at me.

"Shit! Why did you bite me?!"

"Dahil naiinis ako sayo! Sinungaling!"

His lips parted. "What? Excuse me, I'm a bad boy, but not a liar!"  He frustratedly brushes his finger through his hair.

Mabilis ko siyang inirapan at dinampot ang baso na may lamang ice coffee at ininom 'yon. Masama ang titig niya sa akin habang umiinom ako kaya inirapan ko siya ulit. Hindi talaga kami pwede magpakasal dahil isa kaming aso't-pusa! We're totally opposite!

Bahagya siyang lumapit papalapit sa akin kaya napaurong ako. Napalunok ako nang makitang sumeryoso siya. My lips twitch while staring back at him. Why can't I look away?

"I'm going to give you an option,"

I lifted my eyebrows, trying to hide my nervousness. "Option?"

"Date me," He reached for my hands and held them.

My heart starts beating abnormally. Kahit walang laman ang bibig ko, mabilis pa rin akong nabilaukan sa sarili kong laway! Aigoo!

"What?!"

"Date me for 31 days and decide if you still want to decline our marriage or not,"

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita nang tawarin niya ang pagitan namin at halikan ako. He kissed me passionately which made my brain numb for a few seconds. I held the sleeves of his polo to get support when he bit my lips so I won't slide down. I couldn't remember how long the kiss lasted, but we were panting. Pakiramdam ko ay namamaga ang mga labi ko sa ginawa niya.

Nang mahimasmasan, mabilis na lumapat ang palad ko sa pisngi niya. Shocked is written all over his face. I won't apologize for slapping him because he deserves that slap. I slightly pushed him away so I could stand up.

"Mardux—"

"I will date you for 31 days but don't get your hopes up too high because I still won't marry you..." I gave him a cold stare. "Ihatid mo na ako sa amin," I left him without looking back.

*****