"Let's schedule the wedding a month from now," Tita Cecille muttered, which made me blink from where I am sitting.

"What?!" My eyes widened a fraction. Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili sa pagkakataong ito. 

Agad naman akong natauhan at sinubukang ikalma ang sarili. I glanced a bit around the restaurant to see if I got someone's attention because of my sudden reaction. But thankfully, everyone's busy with their own businesses. Idagdag pa na malayo ang pagitan ng bawat table.

We're supposed to have dinner in Chaos's unit though our parents suggested to have it here, in a fine dining restaurant. Si Dad at Tito Aero ay kapwa nakaupo sa kabisera habang si Mommy at Tita Cecille ay parehong nasa tabi ng asawa. At ganoon din kami ni Chaos. 

"I'm s–sorry, I was just..." I trailed off ang bit my lower lip. 

"Cecille, let them decide." I almost nodded at Tito Aero. 

"No, Aero. They should marry as soon as possible. We already announced the engagement, the wedding should be the next."

Muntik na akong napahilot sa aking sentido sa tinuran ni Mommy. The last time, I thought she doesn't want me to marry soon? Now look at what she's saying.

"We'll get married when Rieselle's ready. I'm fine with whenever she wants." 

I stifled a smile upon hearing Chaos.

How about a year from now? Muntik ko nang maisaboses iyon. I glanced at him and found his hand under the table. I gave it a slight squeeze as I tightly smiled at him.

"What's wrong, hija? Are you still not sure about Chaos?" Mommy asked with a concerned voice. 

Oh my, God! Why is she asking this?

I shook my head. "No. No. Hindi naman po sa ganoon." I gave them a demure smile. "I just..." I paused a bit. Ano pa nga ba ang pwedeng maging dahilan ng pagpapaliban ng kasal? "I was just thinking if we can prepare in just one month?"

An elegant chuckle escaped Tita Cecille's lips. She lifted her table napkin and gently pressed it at the side of her lips. "Hija, if time is what's you're worrying about, you don't have to. We can prepare in one month. We'll hire the best team for that, huh?" Tita Cecille said in a reassuring tone.

I faintly nodded my head. "Let's schedule the wedding as soon as possible then."  

A month from now, really? That means I have to get all the money I need in a span of one month.

A year from now is much better though.

But on the second thought, scheduling the marriage a month from now is not that bad. What a good idea to ruin the Zaldivar.

I don't want this but you're pushing me to plan the wedding and have it done in a month. Huwag lang nila akong sisisihin kapag napahiya sila dahil walang dumating na bride. Because I can't marry him. And I seriously won't. 

What will happen to Abacus and Timothea Zaldivar if the bride of one of their precious grandsons ditched the wedding? 

That would be a big embarrassment for the Zaldivars. And how about I leave a dramatic note saying I fell out of love while planning the wedding? That'll surely make the Zaldivars ballistic.

"Son?" She turned to Chaos, asking for his approval.

Chaos turned to my direction and tilted his head. "You sure you're good with it? We can move the date if you're not comfortable."

What move? No! A month from now, the Zaldivars will surely be in a big scandal. "Hindi. Hindi na. I'm fine with it."

He stared at me for a quite while, tila sinisiguradong hindi ako napipilitan. I curled the corner of my lips into a smile to tell him I'm alright with it. He nodded a bit before turning to our parents. "It's settled then. We'll marry a month from now."

I want it grand though I know it will be, even if I don't tell them. Chaos is the first Zaldivar in their generation that will tie the knot. The more grand it is, the more embarrassing the day will be for the Zaldivars. 

We're still talking about the preparations when Chaos's phone started ringing. I saw him cancelled the call. Ngunit hindi pa naibabalik ang phone ay muli na naman itong nag-ingay. 

I slightly leaned towards him and whispered. "Maybe that's important." 

Umiling siya at muling pinatay ang tawag at inilagay sa loob ng coat ang phone. "It's just Guerdon."

I nodded.

"We'll hire–" Mommy's words were instantly cutted when Chaos's phone started ringing again. 

"Who's that, son? Why don't you answer that?" Tita Cecille suggested.

"It's just Guerdon, Mama." He grabbed his phone but seems he doesn't have plans to answer.

I held his arm when I saw that he's about to turn his phone off. "Kanina pa tumatawag. That must be important." 

"Go on, answer Guerdon, Son."

He let out a silent breath before picking up his phone. "Alright. Excuse me." He rose from his seat as he answered the call.

My head turned to the direction he took until he's out of sight.

Our parents started talking about things while I was focused on my food. I can hear them talking but my mind's clouded with things I shouldn't be thinking. 

Agad ring nawala ang usapan nila nang lumapit sa aming ang isang waiter. Hanggang sa muling umalis ang waiter ay wala na ulit nagsalita.

"Dad?" I called after a long silence. 

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa aking direksyon at sa gilid ng aking mga mata ay nahuli kong ganoon din ang mga magulang ni Chaos.

"Can I..." I paused and bit my lower lip.

"What is it, Rieselle?" My father urged me to continue.

I smile faintly. "Can I take a break from the company? I want to focus on my wedding preparations."

Besides, wala rin naman akong nagagawa sa opisina. I can attend a board meeting and that's it. I can't even remember how many meetings with possible clients I've cancelled already.

"I thought you wouldn't ask that," he replied as he put the cutleries down.

I blinked at his response. "Huh?" 

"You can't focus on your work lately. Your secretary told me you've been cancelling meetings. You can't even sign the documents on your table."

My lips parted a bit as I slowly nodded my head. "Hmm. I was a bit distracted, that's why I don't wanna meet the clients. I might mess the meeting up as well as the contracts."

"You should have told me earlier. Now, take a break and go back after your wedding."

I gasped as my eyes widened a fraction. "Really?" Oh, yes! Tapos ang isang problema. "B–but the company—"

"Don't worry about the company, hija. I can handle it," Dad assured.

"You really should take a break, Rieselle." My head turned to Tita Cecille when she spoke. "So you can focus on your wedding preparations."

"Yes, Tita." I smiled. 

Naroon pa ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang makitang nakabalik na si Chaos at nagtama ang aming mga mata. He stared at me with a frown in his forehead but he instantly shook his head as his eyes closed. Matapos ay nag-iwas siya ng tingin bago bumalik sa kinauupuan. 

"Everything's good, Son?" Tito Aero asked. 

"Yes, Dad," Chaos answered while his voice lacked emotion.

"Maybe that's the reason why the two of you can't start planning the wedding. You're both busy with the company," Tita Cecille concluded, continuing the topic that we're talking about before Chaos came. 

"You should file a leave too, Son," Tito Aero suggested but we got nothing in response. 

I glanced at Chaos beside me and saw him staring at his food.

"Son?"

"Hon." I nudged his arm as he seemed not with us.

Noon naman siya napatingin sa akin. "Yes?"

"I was saying, you should file a leave to focus on planning your wedding."

He glanced up as his mother and shook his head. "No need for that. I'll make time. I can manage."

"Oh?" Tita Cecille's eyes darted at me before turning back at her son. "But your fiancee will..." She trailed off, maybe when she saw that Chaos's decision seemed final.

"It's alright, Tita. I really just can't focus these days, that's why I need a break." 

She turned to me with worry visible in her eyes. Tila may gusto pang sabihin ngunit sa huli at marahan na lamang na tumango at wala ng nagawa sa desisyon ng anak. 

Besides, Chaos didn't have to if he really don't want it. Pero ako, kailangan ko talaga iyon. Pakiramdam ko, masisiraan na ako ng bait sa araw-araw sa opisina. I'm fucking handling a whole company! For Pete's sake!

No one spoke for a few while after that. Ngunit makalipas ang ilang minuto ay si Mommy ang bumasag ng katahimikan.

"About the team that will help you, as I was saying earlier, we'll hire a team for your wedding. The two of you should meet them tomorrow."

Tita Cecille and Mommy started discussing the things needed for the wedding and that's how the night ended.

The next day, we're scheduled to meet the team for lunch just like what my mother said. 

"I'll talk to Guerdon later. I'll be late for a few minutes but I'll fetch you." 

The corner of my lips rose. "Alright. Take care."

"Hmm. I'll see you later." He leaned and kissed my temple before going out of our condo. Like what he said, he didn't file a leave while I did. 

That was effective starting today so I don't have much things to do. The whole morning after working out a bit, I already start preparing for the lunch meeting.

Half past twelve in the afternoon, I'm fully prepared and Chaos was supposed to be here already. I tried contacting him but his phone is off. I waited for another set of minutes while pacing back and forth the condo but there's still no signs of him and still out of reach. 

It was almost one o'clock when my phone started ringing. I instantly answer without even looking at the caller, thinking it was Chaos who's calling. 

"Cha–"

"Rieselle?"

I looked at my phone when I heard my mother's voice. I winced a bit upon realizing it wasn't Chaos. 

"Where are you? The lunch is scheduled for today. Wala pa raw kayo ni Chaos? The team is waiting for the both of you," marahang sambit ng nasa kabilang linya. I can hear worry in her tone but I'm too distracted to mind it.

I lifted my free hand and started massaging my temples. Where the hell is Chaos? Don't tell me he'll ditch me? He told me earlier, he'll fetch me! "Parating na, Mom. I'll be there in a few–" 

"You'll be there? How about Chaos?"

I started picking up my phone and stride towards the door. "His phone's off. Maybe he's in a meeting. It's alright. I'll meet the team."

"What? You two should–"

"I'll be late, Mom. Let's talk later."

I don't know what I'm feeling right now. Pakiramdam ko, ano mang oras ay sasabog ang emosyon ko. I don't know if I'm mad, annoyed or disappointed at Chaos. The only thing I want is to know what his reason is. 

I arrived at the restaurant after a ten minutes drive. Normally, it would take twenty to twenty-five minutes to reach that restaurant where Tita Cecille reserved a VIP room but because I need an outlet for my emotion, that's what happened. Took it for ten minutes and somehow, I felt my insides calmed a bit. 

Pakiramdam ko lalabas ang tinatago kong ugali kung hindi ko napakalma ang sarili.

With a firm smile in my lips, I walked inside the room reserved for us. The women inside instantly rose upon seeing me. This must be the team Tita Cecille and Mommy hired.

They instantly greeted. I politely greeted them back. "I apologize for being late." 

"No problem, Maam. We understand."

I gave them a smile as a response.

Isa-isa rin silang nagpakilala habang panay ang aking tango. I can't focus especially when they asked where Chaos is.

"We were informed that the bride and groom will meet us today."

I let out a hesitant low chuckle. "Chaos can't make it today. But he'll surely join us at the next meetings."

I was in the middle of my words when the door opened again. Napalingon ako sa aking likuran upang harapin ang pumasok.

But my eyes instantly widened a fraction upon seeing a familiar face. Agad naman akong nakabawi at inayos ang ekspresyon sa mukha bago pa niya makita ang gulat na aking reaksyon. 

And the moment our eyes met, her mouth hung open as her eyes exaggeratedly widened. "Marcia?!" 
__________