Chapter 2

I was staring at the ceiling of my room. It's already 12 midnight, but I didn't feel even a shir of drowsiness. I pulled myself up from the bed. Binaluktot ko ang aking tuhod, and leaned my chin there. 

What should I do? Hindi ko na mababago ang isip ni dad. Kahit si mom at ate ay hindi siya mapigilan. 

 Ayokong maging asawa ng matandang lalaki na nalalagas na ang buhok. Does that mean, I have to mingle with other wives of whoever Poncio Pilato? I can't! 

I've automatically stand up when those scenarios appeares in my head. I gotta do something to stop this stupidity plan of dad.

Hindi naman ako pwedeng tumakas. I have nowhere to go. Kung meron man, siguradong mahahanap din ako ni dad. Think Carmell, think. Tinungo ko ang closet. Humila ng kahit anong hoddie roon. Sinaklob ang hood. I slowly open the door of my room.

Patay na ang lahat ng ilaw. I could only hear was the ticking of the clock.  I lifted my foot and slowly strode outward. Marahan kong binuksan ang front door, habang nililibot ang mata sa paligid. My sweat dripping down to my chin. It seems like I am a night thief trying not to make any noise. Maingat kong nilapat ang pintuan pasara. 

I closed my eyes when the mellow wind whiffed through my face. My lips formed into a wide smile. Success!

Mas lalo akong napangiti nang tuluyang makalabas ng gate. Tila batang nagtatatalon sa gitna ng kalsada. Galak na galak  dahil natakasan ko si dad. Sa tingin ba niya ay gano'n-gano'n na lamang niya ako mapapapayag sa gusto niya. I'm a queen not a pawn. 

Pumara ako ng taxi at nagpahatid sa isang bar na madalas naming tinatambayan ng mga kaibigan ko. 

I inhaled a mixed scent of liqour and perfume that could pierce my nostrils. May nakaka-salubong pa akong lasing. Some of them even brought their faces close to mine. I could smell their foul-smelling breath. They are disgusting!

Nilinga ko ang paligid. Nakapagkit sa akin ang tingin ng ibang tao sa loob. Certain men gives me a flirtatious wink,  I just rolled my eyes to them. I'm not cheap as them. Feeling good-looking, guess they're not glancing at the mirror. 

Naupo ako sa stall sa harapan ng bar counter.

"One bottle of tequila," saad ko sa bar tender. Naglapag ito ng isang bote sa aking harapan.

Umikot ako paharap sa dance floor, kung saan nagwawala ang mga kabataan. Walang pakialam kung nagkikiskisan na ba ang kanilang katawan, o di kaya'y nagpapalitan ng pawis ang kanilang balat. Ako ang nanglalagkit ang pakiramdam sa ginagawa nila.

Napangiwi ako nang pagbaling ko sa kaliwang bahagi ko ay may naghahalikan doon. Atat na atat, ayaw kumuha ng kwarto? 

I thought mababawasan ang aking pag-iisip sa pagpunta ko rito. I've put down the bottle on the counter table, hindi man lang nangalahati ang laman noon. Naglapag ng pera at nilisan na ang lugar. 

But before I could've finally leave this place. Someone bumped into me. I hardly closed my eyes, waiting my back hit the floor, but it didn't. 

"Got you." Hair on the back of my neck bristled as I heard his manly yet sweet voice whispered on my ear. His arm wrapped around my waist. 

"L-Let me go." I removed his arms and straightened my body. 

"Careful. You may fall for the wrong man next time," He said before leaving me behind dumbfounded. What was that? He's like a mushroom suddenly appeared in front of me.

Naiiling na lamang na nilisan ko ang lugar. 

"Where have you been last night, Carmell?" sita sa akin ni dad habang magkakaharap kaming kumakain ng agahan.

Sa tabi niya ay tahimik lamang na kumakain si mom. Si ate ay maagang umalis.

"C'mon dad, I slept early last night," tugon ko rito.

Ramdam ko pa rin ang mataman nitong pagtitig sa akin. Halatang hindi naniniwala

"I checked the CCTV footage. I saw you fugatitang like a night thief feared of being caught." Nasamid ako nang marinig ang sinabi niya.

Sinubukan kong ibuka ang aking bibig para depensahan ang sarili, ngunit naitikom ko lang ulit. 

"Gusto ko lang magpahangin kaya lumabas ako kagabi," pagsisinungaling ko. 

"Stop being strict to your daughter, Raymond. As if you are really concern," pagpaparinig ni mom. Tinapunan lamang siya ng tingin ni dad, at umiling.

"I'm securing our daughter's future," katwiran pa nito na lalong nagpa-simangot kay mom.

"How can you say? Your daughter is too young to settle. At doon pa talaga sa taong hindi namin kilala. I can't believe you, Raymond," dismayadong turan nito bago tumayo at naglakad paalis sa dining area.

"You really annoyed her, dad. Before we all get upset to you, bawiin mo na ang sinabi mo." Matalim ang tingin na pinukol nito sa akin.

"I won't do that, Carmell. Not because your mom and your sister always defending you, I'm going to let you do whatever you want. Wala tayo sa university, where everybody pampered you as a queen," nanlalaki ang matang saad nito.

Nangingilid ang luhang sinalubong ko ang matalim niyang tingin. Mahigpit ang ginawa kong pagkapit sa hawak na tinidor.

"I don't want to marry yet. Why didn't you understand that? Gusto ko pang i-enjoy ang buhay ko. Paano ko magagawa iyon kung gusto mo akong maikasal agad? At sa matanda pa talaga, dad?" 

"He's not that old. Doens't mean he's a CEO he would be a paunchy, bald-headed man. Besides what's wrong with that, if he can secured your future even to the next ten generation. Unlike a good-looking man. Does their faces could feed you? They are just good at showing their six packs abbs, and nothing else," mahabang lintanya nito. Pinagpipilitan ang gusto niya. 

"I am not saying that I want a handsome man, dad. Do you  hear yourself? Let me remind you, dad. I am just a nineteen year-old. Teenager. Hindi dahil gusto mo, kailangan gustuhin ko rin." Tuluyan nang kumawala ang kanina ko pang pinipigilan na luha. Nawala ang matalim nitong tingin. Napalitan ng malambot na emosyon.

Bago pa ito makasagot ay nilisan ko na ang hapag kainan. Kailanman ay hindi ko maiintindihan ang kagustuhan niyang iyon. Ipapakasal niya ako sa taong hindi ko naman kilala.