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Naia waited for someone to yell out that it was a prank or something pero hindi. One excruciating minute of silence at walang ni isang gusto magreact.

"What? Marriage?" bulalas bigla ni Third. "Hindi pwede! Hindi pwede si ate!"

"Third," maawtoridad na sambit ng kanilang ama. "Sit."

"This isn't fair!" patuloy nito, totally ignoring their father's glare. "Ate, tell them that this isn't fair. Hindi ka materyal na bagay para gawing insurance. You're human being with free will and should have the freedom to choose kung sino ang gusto mong mahalin—"

Calmly, she held her brother's hand and squeezed it gently. Agad itong natigilan.

"Ate..."

"It's okay," she assured him and that made her brother heave a sigh. Siya naman ay bumaling sa ama and then sa mag-asawang Montecillo. "Thank you for considering a friendship with my family. And it would be an honor to be part of yours."

Isang magaang ngiti ang ibinigay sa kanya ng mga ito.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll just head out for a bit," magalang niyang paalam. "I need some air."

Hindi niya na hinintay magsalita ang mga ito't agad tinahak ang daan papunta sa labasan—particularly Uno's car.

Mabuti na lang nga't sa kanya iniwan ng babae ang susi in fear that she might lose it when drinks gets involved.

"Breathe... Breathe," she chanted as she got out of the mansion. She took a deep breath before opening the car door.

"Naia! Wait!"

Napahinto siya sa akmang pagpasok sa kotse when she heard Inno calling her.

"We need to talk," anito at walang pakundangang pumasok sa passenger's seat ng sasakyan. "What? Get in. Mas mabuting magusap tayo away from our place so we can properly discuss what just happened."

That was her plan actually—minus the talking. Gusto niya lumayo muna and think. But being the way she is, wala naman talaga siyang pagiisipan. Susunod pa rin siya sa kanyang ama dahil para iyon sa kompanya.

Pumasok siya sa kotse at pinaandar ito.

"Where are we going?" tanong niya kay Inno.

"Sa Jollibee," agad nitong sagot which made her raise an eyebrow. "What? As I've said, gutom ako. They dropped the bomb before I could take a single bite. Maawa ka naman sa tiyan ko, Naia. Oo gwapo ako pero that doesn't mean I have no right to eat."

Hindi niya napigilan ang sariling matawa at mapa-iling sa sinabi nito. Same old Inno.

"Okay, fine. Meron bang malapit dito na Jollibee?"

"Di ko tanda, eh. Waze mo na lang. Naiwan ko ata telepono ko sa bahay."

Muli at napailing siya't nagsimula nang mag-drive. May nadaanan ata silang Jollibee kanina on their way to the exclusive subdivision.

"Just so we're clear, wala rin akong alam sa mga kaganapan kanina," ani ng lalaki habang nasa daan. "I'm just as much of a victim as you are."

"Hindi naman kita sinisisi," tugon niya. "Wala akong sinisisi. Nagulat lang talaga ako. I thought arranged marriages were a thing of the past."

"That's where you're wrong," natawang sambit ni Inno. "The Montecillos are of old money kaya gusto nilang nape-preserve ang lineage ng pamilya. Simula pa siguro sa ninuno namin eh talagang nakakulong na sa fixed marriage na 'yan. It's been a tradition that no one dared to defy."

"So that means your parents..."

Tumango ito.

"Yes. Mom and dad are a product of our grandfather's arrangement with the Jamoras. Lahat sila actually. Si Tita Saturn lang talaga 'yung black sheep who chose to stay celibate than marry someone she didn't love."

"But it all turned out great, right?" It turned out to be more of a question rather than a statement. "Okay naman ang kinalabasan ng mga fixed marriages ng mga magulang mo and your aunts and uncles."

"I guess," kibit-balikat nitong sagot. "Every relationship can blossom as long as they start with a good conversation. They both came from old money families kaya alam na nila na they're bound to be used as pawns for their respective companies. And I have a feeling na ga'non ka rin."

Their conversation was cut short nang makarating na sila sa sikt na fast-food chain. Swerte nila dahil wala gaanong tao kaya't naka-order agad ang lalaki ng pagkain.

"Isang six-piece bucket nga, ganda," ani ng lalaki that made the cashier blush. Oh that Montecillo charm. Wala talagang palya. "Samahan mo na rin ng coke float saka jumbo fries."

Wala siya sa mood kumain kaya minabuti niya na lang na umalis at naghanap ng mauupuan.

Arranged marriages. Hindi niya lubos akalain na papayag ang kanyang ama sa ideyang 'yon. Never kasing na-discuss iyon sa kanilang pamilya at wala rin siyang maalalang naging bunga ng ga'nong arrangement mula sa mga Uychengco. Her grandfather wasn't a traditionalist at naniniwala ito sa pag-ibig. Sa pagkaka-alala niya kasi sa mga kwento nito, her lolo Ponce met her lola when they were young. Anak ito ng katiwala nila't sabay ang dalawa lumaki sa probinsya. And like those classic love stories, the two fell in love and eventually, got married. Wala rin siyang maaalalang kinwento nitong pagtututol o kung ano pa man.

She was so deep in thought at hindi namalayang nakaupo na pala sa kanyang harapan si Inno.

"I got you some peach mango pie," anito. "Di ko kasi alam gusto mo so I just took a guess. I'm sure konti pa lang nakakain mo before we left the house."

"Thank you," tipid niyang sagot. But she wasn't really hungry. Nawalan siya ng gana the moment they announced she were to marry Inno. "So... what do we have to talk about?"

"The wedding," sambit nito sabay kahat sa hawak na chicken leg. "Do you want to go through with it?"

"As if we have a choice," mahina niyang sagot.

"Naia, we always have a choice. Kaya lang natin nasasabing 'no choice' kasi takot tayong harapin yung isa pang option."

That struck her straight into the chest. Pinapatamaan ba siya nito?

"But you said it's been in your family for years. Hindi ba that's the definition of 'wala kang choice'?"

"Oh no, my dear Naia," anito bago ngumiti. "Acceptance is different with having 'no choice'. Kapag tanggap mo, hindi ka napipilitan lang. maluwag sa kalooban, kumbaga. No one can force me to do shit."

"So you're okay with it? Marrying me?" she asked.

"Well, it's better you than someone I barely know," balik nito sa kanya. "Besides, I've known for years that I'll be forced to marry someone. At least ikaw, kilala ko. The only concern here is kung mahal mo pa ba si Jarvis."

"Bakit napasok sa usapan si Jarvis?" agad niyang tanong which sounded a bit defensive. "I mean, bakit kailangan siya i-mention? Tayong dalawa lang naman ang concerned dito."

Nagkibit-balikat ito. "I don't know. Maybe because my little brother is your ex? Baka lang naman kasi awkward."

"Why would it be? May girlfriend na siya."

He raised an eyebrow at her.

"Ano naman ang konek ng pagkakaron niya ng girlfriend?" Kunot-noong tanong nito. "Unless... May feelings ka pa ba sa kapatid ko, Naia?"

She bit her lip. Ngayon ay alam na niya kung bakit naiinis dito si Yoon.

"No," sagot niya agad. Then she cleared her throat. "It's been two years, Inno. Okay na siya. Okay na rin ako."

"I see." Tuloy pa rin ito sa pagpapak ng manok. "So kung wala ka talagang problema sa kasal at wala rin naman akong alma, I guess we should start preparing then."

"Preparing?"

"For the wedding, of course," he said then chuckled. "Bakit? Akala mo ba patatagalin pa ng mga magulang natin 'tong engagement? Once a marriage is announced, only a month or two wedding preparations are needed."

"I can't marry you right away!" bulalas niya. "I still have my MBA to finish. I also need to take care of my grandparents—"

"You can do all that even after we get married, Naia," saad nito. "You can do whatever you like after our marriage. Wala din naman sa'kin kaso kung mananatili ka ng ilang taon sa Amerika."

"But—"

"Are you really sure you're in on this? I mean, pwede ka mag-back out," paniniguro nito. "Like I said, you have a choice. Pwede kong kumbinsihin ang mga magulang ko to stop this union."

"And what happens after that?" agad niyang tanong. "They want the marriage as a safety net, Inno. Para sa tradisyon niyo at para sa security ng kompanya namin. You and I both know na hindi sila basta-basta na lang papayag sa gusto mo. Lalo pa't nakasalalay ang CEO position sa kasalang 'to."

He let out a sigh and dropped the chicken back into the bucket. Seryoso itong bumaling sa kanya.

"But what about what you want, Naia? Ano ang gusto mo?"

Hindi agad siya nakasagot. Ano nga ba ang gusto niya?

"I-I don't know," mahina niyang sagot.

Buong buhay niya ay nakasunod lamang siya sa kagustuhan ng ama. Hindi rin naman siya nagrereklamo dahil nakasanayan na niya ang makinig dito't sundin ang mga utos nito. Even her course was pre-determined by her father. Wala siyang naging sariling desisyon maliban sa isa. Si Jarvis.

"You don't know?" he asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I... I..."

"You do know, Naia," pinal na saad nito. "Si Jarvis, hindi ba? Siya ang gusto mo. Siya pa rin ang gusto mo."

That hit her like a truck.

"Pero hindi na pwede, tama ba 'ko? 'Coz he's with someone else," patuloy nito. "I guess mali nga ako. No choice ka nga pala talaga dahil yung gusto mong option, may iba nang mahal."

Hindi niya namalayang tumutulo na pala ang kanyang mga luha. Inno gave her his handkerchief and smiled.

"Since magiging mag-asawa na tayo, I'll let you in on a secret, Naia."

Napa-angat siya ng tingin dito.

"I lied. Pareho tayong 'no choice'..."

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Naia clung onto Inno's arm like her life depended on it. Kababalik lang nila mula sa Jollibee at mugtong-mugto pa ang kanyang mga mata. Nahulas na rin ang make-up niya kaya't medyo tinatago na rin niya ang mukha sa iba.

"Naia, hija," ani Stefania Montecillo. "Are you okay? Is it about the announcement? I'm sorry if—"

"It's okay po," putol niya dito in a polite tone. "Medyo nagulat lang ako but I'm fine. Nagkausap na rin po kami ni Inno and we're okay with it."

"Are you sure?" Isang ngiti sabay tango ang sinagot nito dito. Napatingin naman ang ginang kay Inno to make sure.

"We talked about it and we both agreed to do this," Inno answered monotonously. "It's better to be married with someone you know than a total stranger."

"That's great, then!" Ngumiti ito at niyakap siya ng mahigpit. "Welcome to the family, Naia."

"Isang karangalan din po ang mapabilang sa pamilya ninyo, Mrs. Montecillo," magalang niyang sagot.

"Tita," pagtatama nito. "But you can call me 'Mom' din if you prefer dahil ikakasal na din naman kayo nitong panganay ko."

"Sige po, t-tita," aniya sabay ngiti ng alanganin.

Everyone else was silent but then congratulated both Inno and her for their engagement. Including Jarvis.

Pilit niyang iniiwan tingnan ang lalaki but she felt his stares bore through her. Nang magtama ang kanilang tingin ay nakaramdam nanaman siya ng kirot sa kanyang dibdib. His eyes were blank. Emotionless. Nothing. Was he hurt?

But then he smiled. Ngumiti ito and gave her a curt nod. So she's wrong. He wasn't hurt at all. Pinaasa nanaman niya ang sarili sa isang bagay na hindi naman talaga mangyayari.

You left him, remember? Ikaw ang nakipaghiwalay. Wag kang umasa dahil masaya na siya. He's happy without you and he deserves to be happy.

She cleared her throat and averted her gaze. Hanggang kelan ba siya magkukunwaring okay? Hanggang kelan niya ba lolokohin ang sarili na hindi niya na ito mahal?

Dahil sa totoo lang? Mahal na mahal niya pa rin ito. And she'd trade everything she has para lang maging masaya sila uli. Nang magkasama.

She felt Inno gently squeeze her hand. Napatingin siya dito. He mouthed 'are you okay' to her. She nodded and smiled.

Kailangan niyang magkunwari. Kasi gaya ng sinabi ni Inno, no choice siya. 'Coz the only choice she wanted is already someone else's.

Now her karma begins.

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