el presente [n.]
_________________
the present.

MAXINE.

"Wh–What?!?!" Sigaw ko. Galit na galit ako. What are they trying make me do? Bakit ako? Alam nila na ayaw ko. Ilang beses ko nang tinaggihan ang offer nila pero kinukulit pa rin nila ako. They must be joking. Argh!

Suddenly mom tries to calm me at the same time trying to explain the situation to me. I calmed down a little and pinakinggan ko siya.

"Baby, sweetie! You know very well that we are doing this for you, right? And for the company. Because we are one of the biggest shareholders of their company." Sabi ni mom.

Sighing I said, "No mom, I didn't know. I don't even know this stranger! Ayokong magpakasal sa taong hindi ko naman nakilala and yet you already seem to think ahead of things. You seem so excited. Yipee!" note the sarcasm on the last line, taking a deep breath and looking at my mother feeling annoyed.

"Trust me, you know this person. When the time comes, I'll let you meet him. The both of you. So, pumapayag ka na?" Mom asked. Judging from her tone she seems excited.

Kilala ko? Wala naman akong kilalang kaibigan ko dito kasi bagong lipat lang kami sa bagong bahay namin dito. Maliban nalang kung old friends ko ito from before.

"It's still a no no mom. I cannot agree to this. Pati ba naman dito, kayo parin ang may kontrol at magdedesisiyon sa mga dapat kong gawin? Paano nalang ako? Dad! Help me here!" I said and quickly went to where my father was. Kung alam niyo lang, ang hirap i-convice yang si mommy. Don't get me wrong, close ako kay mom pero mas close ako kay dad.

I just hope that he (My dad) doesn't side with mom because dad may be my last hope to get me out of this.

"Sweetheart, you know that your mom and I are not in our 20's or 30's anymore. Tumatanda na kami ng mommy mo, anak. We don't have that much time to see our grandchildren. We just want what we can still do for you, even if we are getting old, masaya na kame makita ka lang masaya. And for the record, the 'stranger' that you mentioned earlier, he was the one who personally came to us and chose you. Nakakahiya naman diba?" Dad said.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi ni Dad. Damn. I really thought Dad would be on my side. Well, there's goes my only chance to escape. And that leaves me no choice.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

"Okay, I'll think about it. BUT, it doesn't mean na pumapayag na ako. Give me atleast time to think it over." I said in my relaxed tone.

Saying that, I saw a sparkle in mom's eyes. I know she sees this as a sign that maybe, MAYBE papayag ako.

"Okay baby. Take all the time you need but, make sure that we need to hear your decision until the end of the month. Thats enough time isn't it? We don't want to waste time, don't we dear?"

"Mm-hmm. Thank you for understanding." I said, nodding.

After talking with my parents, I felt sleepy as I went upstairs my room and took a bath before going off to bed. It was a long day today.

"Goodnight sweetie." Mom and Dad bids me good night as I kiss both their cheeks as a sign that I'm going to bed already.

"Night mom and dad." I said before sleeping.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE NEXT MORNING / DAY

"Maxine! Maxi! Wake up! We're going to be late ugh!" sigaw kakambal kong si  Josiah. Nakakainis siya! Ang sarap pa ng tulog ko tapos sisirain niya lang! Ugh! Bumangon na ako at nagpunta patungong banyo para maligo.

Pagkatapos kong maligo at magbihis bumaba na ako para kumain ng almusal.

"Morning." Bati ko. Pero agad naman akong pinagsabihan ng kakambal ko.

"Kahit kailan ang bagal bagal mo talagang gumalaw. Pinaglihi ka ba sa pagong ni mommy, ha?" Inis na tanong ni Josiah. Buti nalang malayo kami sa isa't isa kaya I murdered him on my mind. I glared at him then umupo na ako sa usual place ko at nagsimula nang kumain.

"Nanay Roze, we're done eating. Thank you for the food po. Mauna na po kami. Bye Nanay, Bye Mom." I said, kissing my mom on the cheek, the other two following.

"Ingat kayo, iha. Wag masyado mainit ang ulo. Alam mo naman ganyan na yan si Josiah." Sabi ni nanay Roze bago kami tuluyang umalis ng bahay.

WAIT. I haven't introduced myself yet and these two that are with me inside the car.

Georgina Maxine Buenaventura. I have the two most wonderful yet sometimes annoying twin named Josiah and a younger sister named Victoria. Dad handles the business dito sa Pilipinas and soon the company will be handled by my twin brother Josiah. Ugh.

If I still don't know what I want by the time dad passes it to him, might as well give up. I wish I have something on my mind right now that I wanted to do.

Nandito kami ngayon sa kotse nang biglang nagtext si mommy.

' Mommy:

Sweetie, inimbitahan kami ng dad mo sa isang fashion event sa hotel natin pero hindi kami pwede ng dad mo ngayon. Can you do me a favor? Can the three of you attend the fashion show for us? May reserved seats naman kayo pagdating niyo sa venue. Please, anak? Love you. '

I sighed. Nireplayan ko si mommy at tinapik ko ang kapatid kong busy sa paglaro ng piano tiles sa tabi ko.

"Josiah, pinapapunta tayo nina mom and dad sa isang fashion show since hindi sila available today." sabi ko sa kanya. Nakita ko naman na hindi niya ako pinapansin at patuloy lang siya sa paglalaro sa cellphone niya. Kaya ang ginawa ko ay kinuha ko ang cellphone niya. Lumingon naman siya sa akin pero galit ang mukha niya, like I interrupted something he was doing. Ngumisi naman ako.

"Narinig mo ba yung sinabi ko? I said–" bago ko pa matapos yung sasabihin ko nag-usap naman siya.

"Yeah yeah. Alam ko na, naririnig kita. So where is this fashion show? Sa hotel? And I'm guessing kasama si Victoria?" tanong niya. Narinig niya naman pala pero hindi niya ako sinasagot.

"Yes. Sasama siya. We are headed there right now. Manong sa hotel po tayo." utos ko bago ko pa makalimutan and address.

"Sige po, ma'am." wika ng driver namin. Hindi ko maalala ang pangalan niya pero kasi ngayon ko lang nakita ang mukha niya. And somehow he seemed familiar.

The car stopped at the front door of the Buena Hotel. The three of us got out of the car and headed inside. Our family has been invited to a fashion show, but mom and dad are busy and the only people who are available are the three of us. I just hope nothing happens.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

What can you say about the edited second chapter?

Vote and comment. Thank you.