A/N: This part will be a third person's view in Jared's and Janice's perspective, creating a new scene within this book. Sana magustuhan niyo :))
---THIRD PERSON'S VIEW---Puro basag na mga bottles ang nasa sahig habang si Jared ay pulang-pula ang mukhang pinagpatuloy ang pag-iinom niya. Magmamadaling-araw na pero walang hinto sa pag-inom si Jared sa likod ng mansion nila. Hindi siya mapigilan ng mga maids dahil na rin sa agresibong nature ng lalaki.Well, maliban sa isang babae na apakatapang na hawakan ang braso ng lasinggero at kinuha pa ang inumin na nasa kamay nito."Hey, give that f*cking back!" sigaw ni Jared."No," sabi ng babae sa kanya. "You have enough already. Nakadalawa ka ng case ng alak. Paawat ka naman, babe.""Huwag mo akong matawag-tawag na babe, Janice, dahil ikaw 'yung dahwilan bwakit kami hiwaley ni Ellywn," lasing niyang banggit habang dinuro-duro ang babae.Ang babae na kasama niya ngayon ay si Janice Guiterez. Siya ang ipinalit ni Jared kay Ellyn nang nag-aaral pa ito si Baguio. Maganda. Sexy. Matalino. Lahat na lang ata nasa kanya pagdating sa katangian. Pero may isa siyang sikreto na hindi alam ng laha
---ELLYN'S POV---Napaurong ako ng ilang hakbang dahil sa sobrang lapit ni Red sa akin.I never knew he is the one na sinasabi ng Dad ko na papakasalan ko. And the fact that he is a CEO?! To think na hindi naman kami nagkalalayo ng edad, gwapo naman siya, pero hindi talaga siya mukhang CEO eh.Hindi niya nabibigay sa akin ang "CEO" vibes.Wala namang mawawala sa akin if I try to get into this arranged marriage, right?"Fine. I'll marry you, but with one condition.""What is it?" tanong niya."No rules."Nakita ko ang gilid ng labi niya ay tumaas na kaagad namang nawala. "Fine. Is that all?" agad niyang banggit na ikinatango ko pabalik. "Follow me."Sinundan ko siya hanggang sa makarating kami sa dulo ng mahogay table. Ngayon ko lang napansin na mayroon palang dalawang white folder doon. Ini-slide niya 'yon papunta sa akin sabay sabing, "Contracts. Sign it. One is for the arranged marriage and the other is for our arranged plan. I signed the marriage contract already; it's your turn."
---ELLYN'S POV---"Ano?!" Napatayo ako sa aking upuan nang marinig ko ang sinabi ng tatay ko sa akin.Naghahapunan kami ng maaga dahil may sasabihin na importante daw si Daddy sa amin but I never thought it was all about a freakin' arranged marriage! At ang napiling ipapakasal? Ako!"Hindi ako papayag. Dad, you know I have a boyfriend!" Hindi ko lubusan na mapigilan ang aking sarili na magtaas ng boses. Paano ba naman at apaka-unfair ang gagawin niya sa akin. "My older brother still doesn't have a wife and he's almost gonna be thirty in a few years, bakit ako?""We need to further expand our connections with other companies, hija," sagot niya sa akin. "Our hospital isn't making enough money. We need modern equipments for innovated conditions. We are the most prestigious hospital in our place. If hindi 'to maaagapan, all will be gone."And their plan is to sell me off as a wife of what? The richest guy in town? Ano 'to, telenovela? No way I would marry off someone I don't know!"Father
“She’s mine. Hands off.” “Red,” tawag ko sa kanya habang lumalapit. Napangiti siya nang makita ako. “Hi there, princess,” malambing niyang bati, punong-puno ng kumpiyansa at lambing. Bigla niyang hinawakan ang kamay ko, pero hindi iyon nagustuhan ni Jared. Hinatak ni Jared ang kamay niya paalis at halos mapasigaw siya sa inis. “You’re nuts. Nahihibang ka ba ha? That’s my fucking ex for fucking sake, Red!” “And you said it a hundred times already,” kalmado lang si Red habang kinakamot ang ulo niya. Kita pa rin ang ngisi sa labi niya. Para bang wala lang sa kanya ang tensyon. Lumapit siya sa akin at walang pag-aalinlangang inakbayan ako, parang sinasadyang ipakita sa lahat na akin siya. “And I already also told you nang ilang beses that she’s mine now. Hindi pa ba klaro ‘yon, pinsan?” “And I told you na hindi puwede!” “Dahil lang ex mo siya, I can’t date her? Damn, she’s so gorgeous, bro. Every man would be dying to date her, and I’m the lucky one who gets picked,” proud na proud
“Let’s talk.” “Ayoko nga,” agad kong tanggi sa kanya at yumakap kay Red. “Tignan mo busy kami ng hubby ko eh.” “I know your relationship is fake. Cut the act, Ellyn,” sabi niya. Wow, sino siya para sabihan ako? Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. “Excuse me? This is not an act. Boyfriend ko talaga si Red.” Tumawa si Jared. “Talaga? Eh, bagong transferee nga lang siya eh. And did you know who he fucking is? He’s my cousin. Do you know what that means?” “Yes. It means I can still get your last name. Hindi nga lang galing na sa’yo,” I retorted back. There are many oohs and positive cheers being heard all around the cafeteria. Mas lalo kong nakikita na nati-trigger na si Jared. Lumingon siya kay Red. “Bro, are you fucking kidding me? You know she’s my ex. Why would you have a relationship with her? You know what happened to us.” “Yeah, I know.” Naramdaman ko ang kamay niya ay humaplos sa beywang ko. “I know what you really did to her.” Another oohs ang narinig namin mula sa ka
“Are you ready?”Napalingon ako kay Red habang nakatayo kami sa labas ng main building. Hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang strap ng bag ko habang pinipigilan ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ko.Itong pakulo niya na ‘to, it’s on another level, okay? Kinakabahan ako.Ito na ‘yong araw na pag-uusapan ng buong campus ang ‘relasyon’ namin.Nakangisi si Red habang inaayos ang suot niyang varsity jacket. Nagbago na siya bigla uli ng outfit ah. “Don’t be nervous.”“I’m not,” I lied while whispering.He chuckled. “I’m sure you are, don’t lie. Besides, ito naman ang goal natin. You want to see my cousin’s reaction, right?” I nodded. “Then, let’s do it.”Napatingin ako sa kanya. Red was confident. He had this boyish charm and relaxed posture na parang wala lang lahat sa kanya. Pero sa likod ng confidence niyang ‘yon, ramdam kong handa siyang sumuporta sa plano ko—kahit pa alam naming pareho na delikado ‘to.“Ready?” he asked, this time offering his hand to me.Huminga ako nang malalim. “Let’s do this.”
The next morning, nag-meet kami sa library and damn, I think I am in the worse situation than I thought.Red showed up with glasses. Reading glasses. Para siyang isang main character sa isang drama. Like the male lead author sa Chicago Typewriter. Yep. The vibe is like that right now. And the fact that he's even holding a mystery book tucked between his right now doesn't even make my situation much better.“Stop looking at me like that,” sabi niya habang paupo sa tabing upuan ko.“I can’t help it. You’re so... theatrical," pagsabi ko ng totoo habang nakatitig pa rin sa kanya.He smirked. “Thanks." Nakita ang mga mata niya nang may tinignan sa likod ko at mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti niya. "Just wait. The show will begin in three... two...”Bigla siyang nag-lean in sa upuan at nilagay ang braso sa mga balikat ko. My heart skipped a beat again.“You smell like strawberries,” he said, not even whispering.I almost snorted. “You’re ridiculous. I'm not."“You love it,” he shot back, eyes t
Just before the exact time na magkita kami, I already saw Red there in the hallway near the cafeteria, leaning against the wall na akala mo ba mga artistang napo-pose for ad campaigns. This time, his outfit is different. No hoodie and jeans. Naka suot siya ngayon ng isang malinis na puting polo, gray trousers, and even his shoes are suspiciously bright clean as if ni-wax pa niya 'yon bago siya makarating dito.Nang makita niya ako, taas-baba niya akong tinignan at marahan na ngumiti. “Right on time.”“Told you na seryoso ako tungkol dito,” sabi ko sa kanya, keeping my cool.“Good.” Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin. “Ready for our first scene?”Tumango ako bilang pag-a-agree.Suddenly, he reached out—without warning—and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. His fingers brushed my cheek, and I swear parang biglang humiwalay ang kaluluwa ko sa katawan ko dahil sa ginawa niya.“Smile,” bulong niya. “Here comes your ex.”Before ko pa ma-process ang nasabi niya, bigla na lang may pu
Kinabukasan, naghintay ako sa may gym kung saan madalas mag-break si Red. Nakatayo siya sa pader, umiinom ng iced coffee habang nagso-scroll lang naman ng cellphone.Here goes nothing."Hi," I said.Red looked up, eyes filled with recognition as he saw me. "Ellyn, right?"He remembers me."Yeah. Do you have a minute?"He slid his phone into his pocket. "Sure."I motioned toward the empty bench near the gym doors. He followed."I'm going to be honest," I began, fiddling with my fingers. "This will probably sound crazy."He gave a small chuckle. "I like crazy."I blinked. "Okay... good. So, here it is. I want to ask you for a favor."He tilted his head. "Go on."I swallowed hard. "I want to fake a relationship with you.”Silence.Red blinked slowly. "Okay. That's not what I was expecting.""I know, I know," I said quickly. "But just hear me out."He raised a brow. "I'm listening."I licked my lips, steadying my voice. "I just broke up with Jared. I'm sure you know what happened."He nod