Plan
Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. Relatives? Akiana Guillermo? then mali pala ang impormasyon na ibinigay nila Sandy sa 'kin kung ganoon?
Mula sa puntong iyon, hanggang sa makasakay ng kotse ni Zacharius, wala ako sa sarili. There's something in his words that made me hypnotized.
At hindi ko maintindihan kung paano niya ako napasunod dito. kidnapping
"Shit." iyon lang ang naging reaction ko sa naiisip.
"Bad mouth." nilingon ko si Zacharius na seryosong nagmamaneho gamit ang isang kamay, at ang isang kamay naman ay nakapatong sa cambio.
His Car is manual, isn't he rich?
Ang pangaasar na sinabi niya kanina ay hindi ko na nagawang kainisan, dahil siguro iyon sa pagkapahiya kanina.
Para maalis ang mga naiisip, I decided to open my phone. Nakita ko ang benteng mensahe, sampu kay Sandy at Sampu naman kay Gelo.
Oo nga pala!
Dali-dali kong binuksan ang telepono at nakatanggap ng samo't saring mura kay Sandy at ang panlalait ni Gelo.
"Ay teh, french exit lang? 'Di man lang nagpaalam?" si Sandy iyon.
I scrolled a bit more at binasa ang mga text niya.
"Binayaran ko pa 'tong sapatos mo, lintik. Pero ayos lang! peram ako next time huh." Nakakatawa 'tong isang to. Why would someone scold you for leaving them tas manghihiram ng gamit sa 'yo?
Ngumuso ako para pigilan ang ngiti sa labi. Gusto kong matawa, but I noticed on my peripheral vision how Zacharius looked at me and back to the streets.
I looked at him and saw him pursing his lips and licked it afterwards. Ngumuso din ito ng bahagya.
Ibinalik ko na ang tingin ko sa telepono at inilipat na sa messages ni Gelo. Mas lalo akong natawa sa isang 'to.
"Oh my.. Girl asan ka na! Kinain ka na ba ng mga Sapatos at hindi ka na bumalik?" Hindi ko na maiwasang humagikgik. This man is hillarious! Bumaling ulit ang tingin ni Zacharius sa akin nang mapalakas ang paghagikgik.
What? keep on driving!
Hindi ko pinansin ang tsismosong si Zacharius and continued to read all of Gelo's messages.
"Girl, where na u! Pinagpapantasyahan na ako ng Sale's Lady dito, hindi niya alam na parehong lalakesh bet namin!" with that, I decided to text back.
"I'm sorry, I left. I just checked somethi-"
"Your boyfriend?" Zacharius. I ignored him and continued texting but he continued saying his nonsense opinion.
"You're young." why do you care?
Binaba ko na ang cellphone ko at tinitigan siya ng masama. Ngayon ko lang din napagtanto na kanina pa pala kami nakatigil.
Kaya pala may time ka para maki-chismis sa usapan ng mga kaibigan ko!
"Why did we stopped?" his eyes were serious. Should I get used to it?
What? Asha, why would you get used to it? Are you planning to stay with this man forever?
"You're busy texting your beloved boyfriend that you didn't realized we stopped." Ofcourse I won't because I don't care!
"Please continue driving, you insisted to take me home so do it." and with that, he moved the shufting gear sa hindi ko alam na direksyon at pinaandar na ang bulok na kotse niya.
Pinindot ko na ang send button at nang maisend na iyon, iginala ko ang tingin sa kotse. It's clean. Everything else is clean.
But I noticed something..
His phone.
Bakit ganyan ang Cellphone niya!
"What's this?" kinuha ko na ang di-keypad na cellphone. Kulay itim ito at walang camera.
"A phone." he simply replied.
"I mean, why are you using this? isn't it a toy phone?" totoo naman! ang ganitong klaseng mga cellphone ay madalas na lang makita sa laruan. At kung ipagbibili naman ay sigurado akong hindi pa aabot ng isang libo ang presyo nito!
"So what?" he focused then on the road.
"Aren't you suppose to use touchscreens? You're earning a lot!" he looked at me and back to the road.
I didn't meant to look like I'm interested in him but... him using this kind of phone is unusual.
"Do I need to use those?" I can't believe him. Paano na lang ang mga emails niya? Nerd.
Hindi na ako naki-intriga pa at ibinalik na lang ang tingin sa daan. Ganoon na lang din ang saya ko nang maakita ko na ang bukana ng Village.
"Dito na lang ako, Salamat." I need to go out bago pa may makakitang kasama ko 'to.
I was about to go out but then, pinaandar niya ang kotse niya.
"What the..." he showed no reaction at all!
Alright. I'm pissed.
The guards on the village showed their salute hand on Zacharius's car and let him in. Ni hindi man lang niya pinansin ang nagbigay pugay na guard.
Well, if that's what he shows, then I have nothing to be worried about. He's making his image dirty so I should be happy.
Nang tumigil ang kotse sa tapat ng bahay, hindi na ako nagatubiling maghintay sa magbubukas. I went out and closed the door, I didn't even bother to say thank you to him.
Hindi naman ako nagrequest na ihatid ako sa bahay so why would I?
I heard the window opened and he didn't say a thing. Tatawagin ko na sana ang guard pero bukas pala itong gate kaya ganoon na lang din kabilis ang pagpasok ko. Nang makapasok ng gate ay narinig kong bumukas ang makina ng Honda Civic, mukhang umalis na siya.
Alright!
"Asha." Napatingin ako sa bukana ng pinto, I saw my mom smiling.
Why is she suddenly like this?
She kissed me on my forehead and continued what she's about to say.
"So, Friendship with Zacharius is doing great, huh?" kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya but then, I remembered our agreement.
"Mom, Hindi ko po itutuloy ang sinabi niyo." totoo naman. Hindi ko iyon itutuloy dahil hindi ko masikmura na gagawin ko iyon dahil sa gusto nila. I want myself to decide on what I will do.
"Anak, gusto mong mabayaran yung kasalanang ginawa mo last time hindi ba?" What the.. hindi pa 'rin ba ako bayad doon?!
"Mom! Sinabi mo na kapag humingi ako ng tawad kay Zacharius, okay na!" My mom smiled sweetly at hinaplos ang buhok ko. She knows how to convince me and this is her way.
"Anak, you love me right?" tumango ako. "Then do it for me." I knew it. Hindi ko alam ang rason kung bakit gustong-gusto niyang lapitan ko si Zacharius, hindi ako makahanap ng rason.
"You must be wondering kung bakit kailangan mong gawin 'yon, huh?" right, she read what's on my mind.
My mind is battling, should I ask this question?
"Mommy, are you planning for an arrange marriage?"
There, I said it.
"Asha, you're not doing it to fall inlove with him. We're not setting you up with him for marriage."
"Then what, mom? Alam ba ni daddy 'to? Is he aware of everything you want me to do?" I stared at my mom's eyes. Nakita ko ang pagpipigil sa kanya pero she remained calm.
"You need to be close on that Alcevedo. Make him drawn to you, sweetie." the heck?!
"Mom!"
"Shh, anak. Please do it for me... and no, your dad doesn't know anything about this so please, let's make this topic for only the two of us. Can I trust you?" Can I trust you, mom?
Pinakitaan ko siya ng kunot na noo, senyales na hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya.
"Mommy, hindi ko alam kung susundin ko 'yang sinasabi mo. Bakit ko kailangan gawin 'yon at... why does it seems like you want me to leave him afterwards?" lumaki ang ngiti ng Ina.
"Yes, you got it, ija. You will leave him afterwards, that won't be hard for you right? I know you hate him. I let you do all of this things because I know you can do it." this is unbelievable!
Marahas kong iniwas ang tingin ko kay Mommy na halos pairap na iyon. My mom is known to be the 'what I want, what I get.' person. Why can't she do it by herself?
"Mom, why do I need to do this? please give me a valid reason." Isa sa rason kung bakit hindi ko makumbinsi ang sarili ay hindi ko kakayanin kung dudurog ako ng puso ng isang tao dahil lang inutusan ako. Not to be assuming but, it's not imposible that this plan of hers will succeed.
"Zacharius Alcevedo is much more richer than us. By the age of 22, he has proven so many things. I want his downfall, he's a threat to our family. You don't want to be bankrupted, right?" ano?
"So the news are true, then?" mukhang alam naman na niya ang ibig sabihin ko. If we're going bankrupt, isn't it a requirement to let other people down?
You shouldn't let other people down even if you're the one who's going down!
"No, ija. Of course not! we're still the second to the highest company for Cement and Steels. One of the reasons why I want the downfall of Zacharius Alcevedo is their family's standing. If someone broke his heary, he will lose focus. Mapapabayaan niya na ang kumpanya nila at tuluyan ng babagsak. All because of love. Get that Ija?"
"Mom, I should remind you that Praxedius Benedictum Alcevedo is still young. He can replace Zacharius that easily." paliwanag ko. She didn't say a thing and only smiled at me
Iyon na ang huling usapan namin ni mommy.
Kasalukuyan akong nasa silid at pinagiisipan ang plano. I don't know why am I still thinking about it kahit na alam kong desidido na akong hindi ko iyon susundin.
what would I get for letting other people down? My mom's sympathy and love?
But a part of me is thinking... if I were to follow mom's order, will I even hurt him the way my Mom expecting me to do? I don't believe he's that versatile when it comes to love.
I grabbed my phone to scroll down on my Social Medias. The idea came into my mind na maybe I should stalk Zacharius' background. So I did.
'Zacharius Alcevedo scandals.'
Nothing popped out. Hmm, so the man is really good at hiding things, huh?
I searched again, hindi ako kuntento.
'Zacharius Alcevedo Girls.'
Maybe this will work.
I tapped the enter button at ganoon na lang ang inilaki ng mata ko sa mga lumabas.
Athena Gonzales, rumored girlfriend of Elite Zacharius Alcevedo.
Athena Gonzales, huh? Is this man has something to do with girls that has 'A' as their starting name?
Natasia.
Nope, mine starts with N. It's imposible.
I sighed with that thought at patuloy iniscroll ang mga balita, it's just making me pissed! Maraming balita ang dumaan bago ko makita ang hindi kanais-nais na isa.
I rolled my eyes as I saw the picture of Zacharius with 'Athena Gonzales' and another girl.
Girl Catcher?
I had enough, I should stop scrolling now. I was supposed to put my phone down but Sandy texted. Anong pakay?
"Girl, hindi pala Akiana Guerrero ang jowa ng papi! Si Akira Guerrero pala!" I texted back. Huli na sa balita, Fake news pa ang sinabi noong una!
"I know, you've misunderstood things."
"How'd you know?"
Napalunok ako doon. Oo nga pala! Hindi niya alam na kasama ko si Zacharius kanina!
Nagtext ako pabalik nang makahanap ng palusot. Kapanipaniwala iyon dahil una sa lahat, no one really expects me to be with Zacharius. Paangalawa, I'm 17, he's 22. we can't be together!
"I researched. Obviously, Akiana Guillermo is his cousin so nothing to worry about." walang pang isang segundo, nagtext siya ulit pabalik.
"Paano mo nalaman na pinsan niya si Akiana Guillermo? Alcevedos doesn't reveal their far relatives that much!" and with that, my eyes widened.
What the heck, Asha! Nagte-text ka na nga lang pero hindi mo pa pinagiisipan bago mo isend!
Hindi ko alam pero mukhang nauubusan na ako ng palusot.
I texted back once I finally thinked of a one.
"May nakita akong article, siguro'y Fake News ulit kaya hindi mo alam." I sent that and didn't bother to reply again.
Nakatingin lang ako sa Ceiling, nakatulala, hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko. Pumasok ulit sa isipan ko ang Plano ni mommy.
Should I agree? or Shouldn't I?
I know should not, but what will my Mother feel?
Kailangan ko pa rin bang sundin ang gusto niyang mangyari sa buhay ko? Kailan naman ako makakapagdesisyon sa gusto ko?
Ah, I don't want to think of it again!
I got up and sat on my swivel chair. I opened my laptop and decided to learn how to draw a Human face.
I want to take architecture, but the problem is that my capabilities won't let me. If I failed, anything will do basta't nakakapagdisenyo pa rin ng mga bagay-bagay.
nakita ko ang isang tutoryal sa internet at napagisipan ito ang gayahin.
Draw a circle first, then a curve, then a line, then a line...
Oh geez, I messed up!
I crumpled the paper and drew again.
Draw a circle, curve, line, another line.
Perfect!
Now it's time for the eyes.
Okay, Asha. Focus. Draw a curve, and a curve, and a circle, and a...
Natigilan ako nang pumasok ulit sa isipan ko ang plano na gustong mangyari ni Mommy.
You lost your focus Asha! Napailing ako at ipinikit ng mariin ang mata.
Ano bang kaso kung gagawin ko iyon?Is it that too much to affect me like this? I'm having an Insomnia!
Geez, that man is giving me headaches! As well as my mother!
Hinilamos ko ang mukha ko at ipinatong sa nakatuong braso.
If I'll do it, my consience will kill me. If I don't, my mom will kill me.
Argh.
Bukas na bukas ay babalik ako ng dagat. I'll throw some bottle with a letter inside. I just want other people to know how fustrated I am right now! I'm 17 and fustrated. Looks like someone's going to have her white hair at the age of 18 huh?
And with that, I found a bottle. Not too big, not too small. It has a Brown cap.
Now it's time to write a Letter.
Dear Sea,
Whoever see this shall understand,
Whoever read this shall lend a hand.
I'm having a Hard time nowadays because My mom is making me want to break someone else's heart.
I didn't really want to do it but a part of me wants too. For the sake of my Family. What should I do? What should I decide?
- Asha.