Chapter 5: Fainted

Wala  na akong sinabi nang ihatid niya ako kagabi sa bahay. Gladly, it was already midnight kaya wala nang gising pa para pagalitan ako sa ginawa kong pagwa-walk out.

But true to his words, Chester arranged a breakfast meeting for our family. Nagsisisi tuloy ako na nag-inom ako kagabi. Kaya kahit gaano kasakit ang ulo ko, wala akong magawa.

Fuck. He was with me last night. Dapat ginawa man lang niyang dinner ang meeting na ito.

“So, you’re really accepting the marriage, huh?” Fiona asked habang kaming dalawa pa lang ang nasa loob ng van.

I lifted my gaze and stopped putting on my lipstick. I really hate her. Sa bawat pagkakataon, wala akong ibang gustong gawin kung ang sabunutan siya. We barely even talk, and when she strikes a conversation, palaging para mang insulto.

“Paano mo naman nalaman agad? News slaps bitches that fast, huh?” I laughed and closed my compact mirror. Like what I expected, her teeth gritted at namula ang kanyang mukha. Na parang kulang na lang ay may lumabas na usok dahil sa matinding galit. 

“What else could be the reason why Chester arranged this and said that the two of you have an announcement to say?! Hindi ka ba nahihiya, Paris? Agreeing to this marriage? Sa iba ayaw mo pero dahil gwapo at mayaman, pumayag ka? Throwing yourself to him like a fucking slu–!”

“Don’t get me started!” I shouted at her. “Why? Gusto mong ikaw ang magpakasal?”

Natawa ako nang  nanahimik siya bigla. It’s like she went out of words dahil tama ako! Dahil totoo iyon. She can’t fool me. I know that she likes Chester.

Nang dumating sina Dad sa loob ng van, wala kaming ibang nagawa kundi ang manahimik. Tita Faureen kept showing off her new whatevers for this meeting, but I was too damn lazy to catch up. My head hurts so badly.

Nang makarating kami sa resto, I was actually fascinated by the interior design and relaxing atmosphere. It looks so good, that I'm actually impressed.

“Chester’s good at choosing places, huh?” Tita Faureen said.

Nang igiya kami ng waiter sa may rooftoop, halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko. That part of the resto was obviously exclusive for us. The view was breathtaking, and the designs were almost perfect.

I immediately saw Chester’s family as they stood because of our presence. There was a long table just enough for us pero kakapagtakang… wala pa rin ang kanyang ina.

Bakit kaya? 

“Ah, Philip! Faureen!” Tito Chris greeted my parents. 

Habang si Chester naman, dumalo sa akin nang may seryosong mga mata. And when he held my waist, I was too stunned to speak.

Akala ko ay igigiya niya ako sa bakanteng upuan na katabi ni Chancellor. But instead, he made me sit right between Tito Chris and him. 

Hindi ko alam kung gaano kahaba ang pag-uusap nilang lahat. I'm too sleepy and damn hungry. Malas pang katapat ko si Dad habang nasa gitna naman si Tito Chris. Chester is on my left at katapat niya si Tita Faureen. Dapat sana si Fiona. I like to see the look on her face. Parang mas ginaganahan ako.

The conversation was endless pero pagkain lang ang inintindi ko. And if Dad didn't asked the million dollar question, muntik na akong makatulog.

“So? Para saan nga ba ang breakfast na ito? Chester?” Dad asked.

Hindi sana ako sasagot. Pero nang… hawakan bigla ni Chester ang kamay ko. Parang bigla akong naupos.

My brows furrowed at it at kaagad kong binawi iyon. Mabuti na lang at nasa ilalim iyon ng lamesa! Damn it. This bastard really knows how to get my attention.

“Well, this is to formally ask Paris to…” Nanlaki ang mata ko nang ilabas bigla ni Chester and isang large velvet box. What the hell was that?!

“... to marry me,” Chester continued as he opened the damn box.

Unlike other men with engagement rings, the box contained a stunning pearl necklace that made our jaws drop. Hindi ko sigurado kung paano niya nalaman, but pearls were actually sentimental to me. Just the sight of it made my heart go wild. So wild that it's giving me headaches.

Isa pa… ang kwintas na 'yon. Probably around 300,000 worth. Why is he proposing with that?

Nakita ko ang panlalaki ng mata ni Daddy. Funny how he reacted. Parang hindi inaasahan, ah?

“I realized that what happened yesterday was actually not how it's supposed to be. So I'm giving her my formal proposal now,” Chester said.

What is he? A suitor? A boyfriend? Yesterday was damn fine!

“So… Paris?” Chester asked nang ilang saglit pa akong natulala. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya, his brows were raising, like he was expecting an answer after what we talked about last night.

My lips parted, and it answered automatically. 

“Y-Yes. Yes, I will,” I whispered, which made him smirk.

“Paris,” Dad called happily na parang iyon ang pinakamagandang desisyong ginawa ko.

Narinig ko pa ang ilang palakpak. Surely, Tito Chris was one of them. Isa na rin si Tita Faureen at maging si Felix. Chase also clapped with them as well lalo na nang isuot sa akin ni Chester ang kwintas.

“There, perfect,” he whispered before he sat beside me.

“Congratulations! I'm looking forward to your marriage. It's about two weeks, right?” tanong ni Tito Chris sa akin.

I smiled at him and nodded. I actually don't know the details. Si Chester na lang ang tanungin nila. Tutal ay siya naman itong nakakaalam ng mga detalye.

Dad and Tito Chris were very happy with the news. Ilang saglit pa ng pagkukwentuhan bago nagsimulang magpaalam ang lahat dahil sa meetings and agendas.

I was supposed to go to the spa right now, pero dahil sa bilin na sumama muna ako kay Chester, mukhang hindi ko na magagawa iyon. Or maybe I could. Baka nga siya pa ang magbayad, eh.

“Paris… Paris, hey!” Napatigil ako sa paglalakad patungo ng comfort room nang bigla akong hilahin ni Chancellor para iharap sa kanya.

“Ano ba?" I asked in annoyance.

Akala ko nakaalis na sila? 

Nagpaalam lang ako kay Chester sandali. I didn't know that Chancellor was still here!

“What do you want?” tanong ko sa kanya nang tuluyan ko siyang harapin.

He breathed heavily and tried to look around parang tinitingnan kung may makakarinig ba sa sasabihin niya. “I-It's about last night. Look, I'm sorry I gave you advances that would make you think that way. I'm sorry I lied. It’s just that–!”

“You don’t have to explain to me anymore, Chancellor. Wala na akong pakialam,” asik ko at akmang aalis na sa harapan niya.

“Come on, Paris, don’t be like this.” Akma niya akong hahawakan pero bago niya pa nagawa iyon, I heard the deep and familiar voice that made me stop walking.

“She said she doesn’t want to talk about it, Chancellor. Hindi ba talaga ‘yan maiproseso ng utak mo?” Chester asked in a dark tone.

I sighed and looked at them dahil mukhang mag-aaway pa yata. I badly want to go to the comfort room right now, pero nang hapitin ako ni Chester sa baywang, alam kong hindi na ako makakaalis pa.

“Chester, I just want to talk to Paris. This is between us, so ‘wag kang makialam–!”

“Makikialam ako, Chancellor,” Chester said. “She already said that she doesn’t want to talk about it, kaya ayokong… nakikita pang nilalapitan o hinahawakan mo siya.”

Chancellor glared at his brother. Alam kong sasagot pa sana siya kung hindi lang dumating si Chase para awatin ang dalawa. Maybe it was instinct, pero kung paano niya man naramdamang nag-aaway ang dalawa, I’m glad that he came to stop them!

“Really? Right in front of a woman? Stop it, you morons. Tara na, Chancellor,” Chase said.

Chancellor sighed. He then looked at me, pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. Of course I want his explanation, pero hindi ngayon. Dahil… sa tuwing nakikita ko siya, para pa rin akong sinasaksak sa puso at nagpupuyos sa galit.

“Let's go,” I whispered to Chester, which he gladly obeyed.

Walang imik at nagmamadali akong lumabas patungo sa sasakyan niya. I really want to go somewhere. But today… my schedule was tied with him.

“Missy, you’re very moody,” he said. “It’s our day today, yet you’re broken hearted because of that asshole.”

I glared at him as I fastened my seatbelt. “Tara na nga lang. Saan ba tayo pupunta?” I asked in an annoyed tone. 

“We're going to buy a ring. An engagement, and wedding rings.”

“Right. Why did you give me this, instead of a normal engagement ring in the first place?” tanong ko sa kanya habang pinagmamasdan ang kwintas na ibinigay niya sa akin.

“Pearl suits you. I couldn’t think of a ring dahil… nadidistract ako sa ganda ng leeg mo. I don’t like others seeing that, so I just gave you a pearl necklace

I raised my brows at him pero hindi ko na iyon pinuna dahil mababara ko lang siya.

Nang makarating kami sa mall, I simply followed him towards the jewelry store that he went. True to his words, he’s never good at choosing such things kaya sa halip na makigulo ay pinaupo ko na lang siya sa tabi ng mga baklang clerk at iba pang babaeng mukhang nahuhumaling naman sa kanya.

“I want to help,” he said with damn puppy eyes.

“No you don’t. You just kept on choosing the most expensive ones,” inis kong bulong sa kanya habang ibinababa ko ang bag ko sa tabi niya.

“So what? I can pay for those–!”

“That’s not my point, Mister. Kaya maupo ka lang diyan at…” I looked around and saw different people looking at him. “I don’t know, entertain?”

“What?”

Hindi ko na siya tinanong at nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pamimili ng singsing. I actually never thought I’d ever do this. Choosing a ring with the man I’m going to marry. Except that I… already expected that I’ll soon get married not for love, but for convenience. 

Napabuntong hininga ako sa isiping iyon. I tried looking for a ring that would find my taste, pero siguro wala lang talaga ako sa mood. Nothing suits in my hands here.

I tried scanning over and over again, running here and there to their different shelves hanggang sa…

“Gusto niyo po ba siya, ma’am? Mukhang bagay po sa inyo ni sir ‘yan,” the sales lady said when I locked my eyes in a silver ring.

It was a wedding ring that I wished I have never seen. Napakaganda ng dainty twig na wedding rings na iyon. A simple round for the man, and a beautiful twig style for a woman. If this was a real wedding–no, I mean, a wedding between me and the man I love, I would’ve appreciated it even more.

Nang ibigay sa akin iyon ng sales clerk, I can’t help but hold it. Napakaganda talaga na gusto kong maiyak.

“That looks good on your hands,” I heard Chester’s husky voice as he went near me. “Tamang-tama, bagay ‘yan dito.”

When I looked at what he’s holding, nakita ko ang isang twig rin na engagement ring. Unlike what I’m holding, the ring he holds have a diamond. At talaga ngang napakaganda noon.

“Give me your hand,” he whispered, pero kaagad niya ring kinuha ang kaliwa kong kamay.

To my surprise, he slid the ring that fitted my finger perfectly. It looked and felt so damn perfect. It's like I… fell in love with a goddamn ring.

“There. Perfect,” he said after he slid the wedding ring I'm holding into my finger.

I was too stunned to speak. Manghang mangha ako sa ganda ng singsing na parang ayaw ko na iyong hubarin pa. And I guess, Chester saw that look in my eyes.

“I'll buy these. Mukhang gustong gusto mo na, eh,” he said and talked to the cashier.

My eyes widened. “H-Ha?”

“Remove the wedding ring. Babayaran na natin.”

“U-Um… sige.” I really love it. Sayang nga lang at… ngayon ko iyon nakita kung kailan sa kanya ako magpapakasal.

Well, maybe I can still find something more beautiful than that, right?

Iyon ay kung… makakatakas pa ako sa kanya pagkatapos ng kasal.

After he paid those, he kept the ring on a velvet box and slid it inside his coat's pocket. Pero ang engagement ring, hinayaan niya lang na suot ko.

“Let's go,” he said and held my hand, which honestly made me shocked.

“You're holding my hand,” puna ko habang naglalakad kami.

Nilingon niya ako bago siya sumulyap sa kamay kong hawak niya naman talaga. Parang hindi aware, ah?

Damn you, Chester Lancelot.

“Oh, sorry, nagkusa,” nagpipigil ng ngising aniya na inirapan ko naman kaagad.

Gago talaga.

Parang nagdududa na tuloy ako kung siya ba talaga si Chester. Damn, he's a ruthless businessman, and a damn rude person, pero ngayon ay para siyang bata.

“We're getting married. Is there something wrong kung hahawakan ko ang kamay mo in public?” he suddenly asked. “Besides, I want to give the paparazzi a great story.”

I rolled my eyes again at his response. Sabi ko na nga ba, eh. He's just doing this for something.

Bakit, ano bang ineexpect ko?

Damn it, Paris!

“Saka mo na hawakan ang kamay ko kapag kasal na tayo. Kanina ka pang kung makahawak, eh. We barely even know each other,” I whispered the last sentence and rolled my eyes.

Pero nagulat ako nang bigla siyang tumigil sa paglalakad at hinila ako para tumigil rin! Aba't talagang hindi nagpapatalo, ah?

Kapag ako ang nang-aasar, bawal? Tsk.

“Barely even know?” he smirked. “And we did more than just holding hands kaya tigilan mo ako, Paris.”

My jaw literally dropped at what he said. Wala akong pakialam kung may nakakakita man sa amin. I immediately pulled my hand away from him and was damn ready for a fight.

“Talagang binabalik balik mo pa rin iyon, ah? Again, Chester, nagpakilala kang si Chancellor!” gigil ko sa kanya.

However, he just smirked at me and winked. “Isipin mo na lang na… I am Chancellor,” he said.

‘I am Chancellor.’

‘I am Chancellor.’

‘I am… Chancellor.’

What the?

“Argh,” I groaned in pain nang parang may martilyong ilang beses na pumukpok sa ulo ko. 

Shit, shit!

“What's wrong?” he asked in a panicking voice pero hindi ko siya masagot!

It felt like something… something's hitting my head nonstop. I can hear an annoying noise that brought headaches like there was no tomorrow. Napakasakit. Napakasakit na parang hindi ko kayang huminga…

“H-Hey?” Chester called when I lost balance. He held me and assisted me pero ni pagsasalita ay hindi ko magawa! It hurts that it’s killing me. 

What’s happening? What the fuck is happening?

‘I am… Chancellor.’

‘I am Chancellor,’

“Paris… Paris!” Chester’s voice echoed in my ears before I completely lost track of everything.