Chapter 1

The sound of the huge bell echoed the quiet place along with the rhythmic opening of the wide wooden door in front of me.

The song started to play by the choir as well as the people started to clap in pure happiness and excitement while looking at me as if I'm the star of the day.

I watched my Mom beside me who's now holding her pink handkerchief to wipe her own tears as well as my Dad who's holding tightly to my arm as if any minute now I'll be leaving by their side after how many years of being with them.

I surveyed myself only to see a white long dress that was hugging my waist, showing my hourglass-shaped body. The white bouquet of roses and the red carpet where I'm walking on will surely be my future.

We stopped when we reached the end of the red carpet and swift my gaze to the man who I think was cursing me under his breath.

I scanned his whole being only to make myself winced in disgust.

The deep dimples on his both cheeks whenever he smiles, the tall noseline that has a perfect match on his well-shaped jawline says how attractive he is not just for the girls but also for the boys. He has a pair of sharp but charming green eyes that can surely seduce every person he's talking to. The way he stands, the way he talks and the he looks at me and the women here says it all.

'A playboy.' I thought and gripped the stem of the white roses that I was holding.

I clenched my teeth and managed to have a normal breathing while glaring at him who's now walking towards me to get my hand from my parents.

'Just like my boyfriend,' I said as soon as he stops in front of me to lend his hands. 'Whom I broke up yesterday.' I continued before placing my hand at the top of his palm.

Yes. After I broke up with my partner yesterday after seeing him cheating with a another girl, I promised to myself to move-on, but my Mom just literally wake me up the next morning to inform me that I have to attend my own wedding. Not the wedding of her friends nor wedding of our relatives, but my own fucking wedding.

Isn't it weird that after I broke up with my eight fucking years boyfriend, I have to attend my wedding the next day with a fucking stranger.

Ngumiti pa muna siya kina Mom at Dad bago kusang inilingkis ang mga braso ko sa sarili niyang braso.

Ang akala ko ay didiretso na kami sa paglalakad pero nangunot nalang ang noo ko nang makaalis na lang at lahat ang mga magulang namin sa aming tabi ay naroon pa rin kami.

"I don't know if this is all your plan but I'll surely not give you the happy family thing that you want." Bulong niya habang ang mga mata ay nasa pari na naghihintay sa amin sa harap ng altar.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya tsaka siya pinagkunutan ng noo.

"I apologize for your concern, Mister but I don't think that you're the one that who's been set-up here." Buwelta ko at inirapan siya bago inis na inis na kinurot ang tagiliran niya.

Tahimik siyang napaaray sa ginawa ko at pinandilatan ako ng mga mata nang makitang napatingin sa amin ang mga tao. Tumawa silang lahat sa pag-aakalang kahit nasa gitna ng kasal ay nakuha pa rin naming maglampungan.

Hindi ko na iyon pinansin at hinayaan ang sarili na sumunod sa kanya hanggang sa harapan ng altar. Nauna siyang umupo nang hindi ako inaalalayang ayusin ang mahabang dress na suot ko, pagkakataon kung saan masarap ihampas sa kanya ang hawak kong palumpon ng bulaklak.

Not that I'm expecting him to do that because I'm his soon to be wife but can't he just be a gentleman who treats a woman nicely. I am willing to treat him with kindness but it seems like he's not going to do the same.

Ako na mismo ang nag-ayos sa suot kong dress tsaka inayos ang belo na nakaharang sa mukha bago umupo sa harapan ng altar.

Muling dumagundong ang kaba sa aking kaloob-looban lalo na nang magsimula ang pari sa misa.

Pakiramdam ko ilang oras nalang ang natitira ay matatali na ako sa lalaking hindi ko kailan man kilala at hinding-hindi ko kikilalanin.

Sinong mag-aakala na ang kasal na dati ay pinapangarap ko lang namaranasan gaya ng mga nababasa sa libro at napapanood sa palabas ay mararanasan ko na ngayon, pero iyon nga lang tila may malaking plot twist sa buhay ko. Ang magpakasal sa isang estranghero. Ni pangalan, edad at kung saan ito nakatira ay hindi ko pa alam at kabisado.

Kung pwede ko lang sabunutan ang sarili ko dahil sa ginawang pagpayag sa kasal na'to ay ginawa ko na.

My heart starts to pump faster than before when the priest walks down from the altar towards us, holding a bottle of holy water really ready to bless the rings in front of us, and also us who will be announced later as newlyweds.

Natapos na niyang basbasan ang mga singsing at handa na itong suotin as soon as matapos na naming pangakuan ang isa't-isa.

The priest remained silent to give us a moment for our lovely wedding vow.

"I don't know what to say. I just want to end this wedding." He declared the moment when the mic point at him.

Nahigit na lamang ng mga taong nakarinig ang kanilang hininga kasunod ng hindi inaasahang pag-ani ng matinding bulungan. Kinagat ko ang pang-ibaba kong labi nang makaramdam ng kung anong pagkapahiya at bahagyang iniyuko ang ulo nang marinig ko ang tawa niya.

Tumikhim ang pari at napalunok ng ilang beses bago inayos ang suot niya tsaka binalingan ang lalaking kaharap ko.

"Are you sure that's your vow? Your vow will supposed to be the memorable message for your soon-to-be wife, which is here in front of you, holding your hands to receive your promise to her." Sabi pa ng pari bagay na inismiran niya.

Tinignan niya ang magkahawak naming mga kamay dahilan para mas lalong bumasa ang mga palad ko sa kaba kasabay ng panginginig ng buo kong kalamnan sa pagkapahiya.

He just nods his head before gesturing me to talk.

"I don't know who's the man I'm with today but all I can say is he should have learned proper manners and right conduct before growing up like this. Do you even learn for the past years or do you even have what you called self-growth?" I frankly said and wandered my gaze to all the people who's been looking at us.

They all gasped in disbelief, mostly girls who covered their slightly open mouth with their hands along with the cursing of the men especially whom I suspected that his friends.

Nagulat siya sa sinabi ko kasabay ng sunod-sunod na paglunok.

He gritted his teeth and clenches his jaw before clearing his throat. He even looses his necktie and click his tongue on his inside cheeks.

Maski ang pari ata ay nagulat nang sabihin ko iyon dahilan para hindi siya kaagad makabawi kung hindi lang siya siniko ng altar server na katabi niya.

Inutusan niya kami na kunin ang singsing sa harapan namin at isuot iyon sa isa't-isa.

"Waylen Jax Sanchez, would you take this woman in front of you as your lawfully wedded wife and to be with you forever and ever?" The priest asked causing him to smirk.

Bahagya pa akong nagulat nang marinig ko ang pangalan niya. Siya iyong kinukwento sa akin ni Eva na boss nila na may marami raw babaeng pinupuntahan.

Ano ba itong pinasok ko? Parang gusto ko nalang na lamunin ako ng lupa para hindi na matuloy ang kasal.

"I do." He flatly answered, obviously showing to everyone that he is forced to do this marriage.

Well, pareho lang kaming napipilitan dito.

"Scarlett Evelyn Castillo, would you take this man in front of you to be your lawfully wedded husband and to be with you forever and ever?" Nakita kong bahagyang namilog ang mga mata niya matapos marinig ang buo kong pangalan tsaka namamangha akong tinignan.

Kung papahilingin man ako ng isang hiling ngayon, iyon ay mawala ako sa paningin ng lahat ng tao at kalimutang nangyari ito.

Bawat segundong lumulipas ay bumibilis ang tibok ng aking puso, bawat hampas ng hangin sa aking balat ay tumataas ang aking mga balahibo at bawat ngiting nakikita ko sa mga labi at mata ng aking mga magulang ay nanlalambot ang tuhod ko.

Tumingin ako sa kanya at nakitang nakatingin lang rin siya sa akin animo'y hinihintay ang magiging sagot ko.

Tagaktak ang mga pawis at habol ang hiningang napabuga ako tsaka hinarap ang pari.

"I d-do, father." Napalunok ako nang gumaralgal ang boses tsaka napalingon sa lahat ng taong may magandang ngiting nakabalandra sa kanilang mga mukha.

"And now by the power vested in me, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day to the fullest. You may seal this declaration with a kiss and I am so pleased to present the newlyweds, Waylen Jax Sanchez and Scarlett Evelyn Castillo." Kasabay niyon ang masigabong palakpakan mula sa mga madla habang patuloy na bumabagtig ang maliliit na bells sa loob ng simbahan.

He then leans forward to me, not expecting a kiss from him.

"I hope we'll be in good terms." He whispered and planted a soft kiss on my earlobe before looking to the people with all smiles.

Parang tumigil ang pagtibok ng aking puso sa kanyang ginawa at wala sa sariling napatulala sa kanya.

Hindi ko alam kung anong naghihintay na kapalaran sa akin pero isa lang ang hinihiling ko, iyon ay sana maging masaya ako at ang taong nakapalibot sa akin.