Chapter 1

For how many times I cursed this traffic, I've lost my count. Stucked here for almost an hour, isn't really funny! A hundred times my finger messed up and fix my hair. Fuck this traffic. I tilted my head out of my car's window to lessen my annoyance. There's couple walking on the side of the road. The man halt and faced his girlfriend. I grinned when I saw how his lips curved into a sweet smile on her. He ruffled her hair while uttering something. The girl bit her lips and smiled shyly.

I shook my head when suddenly something popped up in my mind. That man, the first man who caught my attention. I still vividly remember how his warm palm patted my head. How my heart skipped a beat when his eyes beamed.

"Fuck!" I cursed as a persecutive car horns rattling behind my car. What the hell?!

Bakit ba hindi ko napansin na lumuwag na pala ang traffic. Damn Carmell, what are you thinking?! Pinagpatuloy ko na ang pagmamaneho, for sure galit na galit na sa akin si dad ngayon.

I swiftly drove my car. In just a snapp, nasa harapan na ako ng aming tahanan. Our home ain't gigantic as others.

"I'm home!" I shouted as I entered.

"Nasa garden po sila, Ma'am Carmell," pukaw sa akin ng isang kasambahay na lumabas mula sa kusina.

"Oh, I see." Muli akong humakbang palabas ng bahay, at tinahak ang daan papunta sa garden.

Malayo palang ako ay rinig na rinig ko na ang pag-uusap ng aking magulang, at ng nag-iisa kong kapatid na babae rin, si ate Crissel.

"Hi," bati ko sa kanila. They shifted their gaze to me.

"Why are you late?" my dad asked with authority.

"That pambansang dahilan, traffic," I asnwered. Hinila ko ang upuan sa tabi ni ate Crissel.

"And where have you been last night?" Natigil ako sa pagsasalin ng juice nang biglang magtanong ulit ito.

"Honey, let's eat breakfast first. Mamaya mo na sermunan iyang anak mo," saway dito ni mom, saka pa-simpleng kumindat sa akin.

"Kaya tumitigas ang ulo niyan, palagi mong kino-konsente," naiiling na saad nito. Yeah, mom's always there to protect me.

"It's not like that. I've just trust her. I know Carmell won't do stupid things, right darling?"

"Yes, mom. Dad, I'm just enjoying my life. Like what teenagers do, nothing else." Nawala na ang pagkaka-kunot ng kanyang noo nang sabihin ko iyon.

I know he's only worried. Ayaw n'ya lang akong magaya sa ibang teenager diyan na napapariwara ang buhay. Hindi ko naman sila bibigyan ng sakit ng ulo. Sinusulit ko lang ang mga natitirang araw na meron ako, habang hindi pa ako nagsisimulang magtrabaho sa aming kompanya.

"Stop being a brat, Carmell. Growing up isn't that bad." Typical dad.

"Relax, dad. Growing is still growing as well as up. It won't change, c'mon," sarkastikong sagot ko rito. Mom gave me a warning look.

"Let her be, dad. Carmell wasn't a little girl anymore. She can handle herself," hindi na nakatiis na sabat ni ate. "You owe me," bulong nito sa akin. Binigyan ko lamang ito nang matipid na ngiti.

"Fine," sumusukong pahayag nito at pinagpatuloy na lamang ang pagkain.

As expected. 'Pag si ate na ang nagsalita ay titigil na siya agad. Well, ate Crissel's constantly doing whatever he wants, unlike me. We're like magnets facing each other, will never have a chance to rub along.

"I have important announcement."

Lahat kami ay huminto sa pagkain. Tinuon ang tingin sa kanya. Probably it's really important. There's no glimpse of emotions all over his face.Ang mga kamay ay nasa ilalim ng kanyang baba. He look at us intently, particularly at me.

"Carmell, you're going to marry the CEO of our affiliate company." I literally froze hearing those words from him.

I'm just staring at him for a second. Sinusuri kung seryoso ba ito o hindi sa kanyang sinabi. Tumaginting ang kutsara't-tinidor dahil sa pagkakabagsak ko rito.

"What?!" gulat na untag ko. "Dad! I'm just 19 years old. Kaka-graduate ko lang sa kolehiyo."

Maging si ate at mommy ay natigilan sa biglaang desisyon ni Dad. Hindi magawang salubungin ng aking ama ang tingin na pinupukol sa kanya ng dalawa.

"Raymond, are you out of your mind?! She's too young!" singhal dito ni mommy. Nakalimutan na ata na nasa harap kami ng pagkain.

"Dad, mom's right. Carmell is still young. Hayaan n'yo naman siyang i-enjoy muna ang buhay niya," segunda pa ni ate. Mabuti nalang talaga at kakampi ko sila.

"But I made up my mind, and no one can change it," ma-awtoridad na saad ni dad.

"No! I won't marry him. He might be a paunchy, bald-headed man. God! I'm not entitled as goddess just to marry a old man. It's gross dad!" Pabalang akong tumayo upang lisanin ang garden.

Narinig ko pa ang pagtawag nilang tatlo sa akin. Hindi na ako nagpakalingon-lingon pa. Nai-imagine ko pa lamang ang mukha nito ay nai-stress na ako. Ano bang naisipan ni dad at ipakakasal ako sa kasing edad niya?

And that old man, is he thinking that I am that dumb to marry him? Nah, I'd rather kill myself than walking on aisle while he's waiting there, smiling like a goddamn devil. Fuck! No!

Nagma-martsa akong sumakay muli sa aking sasakyan. I don't fucking care if dad get mad. I just need to go far from this house.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta. Ayoko namang abalahin ang mga kaibigan ko, dahil tiyak natutulog na ang mga iyon. Magdamag kaming gumimik kagabi eh. Saan ba ako pwedeng pumunta ng ganitong oras? Bahala na, basta hindi muna ako uuwi. Until dad realize that he's decision was wrong. Who's sane father would do that? Literally no one!

Dinampot ko ang phone na nakapatong sa dash board nang tumunog ito. Binagalan ko ang pagmamaneho nang sagutin iyon.

"Hello," untag ko sa kabilang linya.

"Get back here, Carmell, or else I will command someone to pick you up wherever you are!" singhal ng ma-awtoridad na boses. Kung pwede lang sigurong lumusot dito sa phone ay nagawa na niya.

Nailayo ko ang phone sa aking tenga, isang sigaw pa kasi nito ay siguradong basag na ang eardrum ko.

"But dad!"

"Get back here, now!" Hindi na ako nito binigyan ng pagkakataon na makasagot. Pinatay na nito ang tawag.

Fuck this life!