Chapter 3

Akasia’s Point Of View

A week has passed, and I am still not talking to my Dad. I never wanted any of this, and I hope he will know it so bad.

“Wow, where’s your wedding dress?” My older brother tried to piss me off. I raised my middle finger at him, and he laughed.

“Akai, please do me a favor.” I said.

“Yes? Ano ‘yon?” He asked.

“Be gone,” I said, and he laughed even more. He knows how to push my buttons!

I need to meet up with Caleb again because our fathers ordered us to talk about the event and the place where the wedding will happen.

I still have a week to come up with a plan on how to run away, right?

I didn’t have a choice but to meet Caleb in the location he sent me.

Imbes na kasama ko si Lucila na nag-sho-shopping, nandito ako at namimili ng venue sa kasal na hindi ko naman ginusto.

Gusto kong maiyak sa inis!

“I need your opinion, okay?” Caleb snapped off.

Kanina pa kasi ako hindi kumikibo habang tinatanong ako nung organizer sa harapan namin.

“Bakit hindi mo papiliin ‘yung parents natin? Tapos sila na rin ‘yung ikasal.” Pilosopo kong sagot dito. Pinipilit namang pigilan nung organizer ‘yung tawa niya dahil natatakot siya kay Caleb.

Ang ending, hinayaan na lang namin ‘yung organizer mamili nung venue at sa lahat na gagawin.

“Can you cooperate for once?” His voice raised as he held my arms when I tried to walk away.

“Ayaw ko nga!” I snapped my arms away from him and grabbed my car keys.

Gusto kong uminom kasi naiinis ako!

I called Lucila, and good thing she agreed to come with me.

We went to our go-to club and decided to drink the night away.

“You look so frustrated right now.” Lucila shook her head as she was looking at me.

“Who wouldn't?” I grabbed a shot of tequila and drank it. My Dad pisses me off, his parents piss me off, and even he is pissing me off. Everyone’s making my head hurt.

“Itakas na lang ba kita?” Lucila joked, trying to ease my mind. I chuckled and shook my head. My Dad will always find a way to locate me. He is too controlling and strict. It hurts my head.

After a few shots, I decided to stay at my condo. I don’t want to see anyone’s faces tonight. I want to clear my mind and find a place for peace.

My Dad bought me this condo because this is the nearest one to my work. I usually stay here when I don’t feel like going home.

The next morning was a good day for me because today is the day when I will meet some new clients. I find it amusing to meet them when Dad is busy. I get to sit in his office and meet his clients.

Although I do love to talk about businesses, I still don’t think that I am capable of helping the company.

Kung tutulong ako at iuurong ang kasal, papayag pa ako.

Dad saw me entering his office when he was about to attend a meeting.

“You will visit the venue with Caleb today, right?” He told me.

Bungad ko sa magandang umaga ko ay ang pangalan ng lalaking ‘yon.

“Dad!” I irritatingly called him as he walked away.

Wala na, gusto ko na lang umuwi. Ayaw ko nang makakita ng mga tao.

I told Akai to come here and be the one in charge in Dad’s office. I didn’t used to call him “Kuya,” and that is okay for him as well. He doesn’t like it when someone calls him “Kuya” because he feels so old. Well, he is old. He’s three years older than me.

The devil reached me because I received a text from Caleb demanding me to go to the said venue.

Why is he always present?

Wala ba siyang plano sa buhay niya? Hahayaan niya na lang na kontrolin din siya ng parents niya sa mga bagay na gusto niya.

Ni hindi ko man lang nga naririnig na nag-complain at parang gusto pa talaga matuloy ‘tong kasal.

Inis akong pumunta sa lugar kung saan gaganapin ‘yung kasal in six days.

Gusto ko nang magwala.

I saw Caleb talking to some of the coordinators and organizers, and he looked serious. When I heard the conversation, he said that strictly no media or any photos that might leak on social media.

Wow, famous?

I mean, I am glad that he thought of that. Hiding this kind of shit that will happen.

He then walked towards me when he saw me. He was wearing a button-down white polo and grey slacks. His cold demeanor was darting my soul. It feels like he wants to rip the hell out of me. Not in a nice way, though.

“Are you taking this seriously?” I asked him with an irritated tone.

“Could you please just shut up and cooperate? I have a lot of work to do after this shit.” He said in his cold tone of voice.

I might agree with some strangers that he sounds scary. Plus his accent makes it scarier.

When I was doing research about him and his family the last few nights, it turned out that he is half Italian, where his mother was the Italian one and his father, Tito Carlo, was pure Filipino. He does have a younger brother named Calum. Their companies were known as some of the richest in Italy and here in the Philippines as well. Making him a billionaire.

So that is why Dad really wants me to get married to him.

Why did he agree, though, when he can easily get away from his parents because he has his own generational wealth and is a billionaire?

He doesn't look like the husband type. He doesn’t look like he is the type of person to build a family. He looks like he is the main reason for a wrecked family.