Chapter 4

Alora’s POV

“D-Draven?” I stammered as I finally saw the man’s face.

Draven carried me in his arms and faced Danzon and Marga.

“Touch my fiancée again, and you will lose everything, Danzon,” may bantang sabi ni Draven sa kapatid.

“I-I didn’t mean to hurt Alora. I just stopped her from hurting Marga,” depensa ni Danzon.

“Do you want me to check the CCTV footage? Once I prove that Marga started the fight, I will take over both of your companies.”

“No!” eksaheradong pigil ni Marga. “I-I admit. I’m the one who provoked Alora. But she slapped me; Danzon saw it.”

Pinukol ko ng mariing titig si Marga. “Sinampal kita nang tuluyan para may saysay ang pag-arte mo! You deserve my slap!” buwelta ko.

“You just can’t accept the fact that Danzon doesn’t love you anymore; that’s why you can’t take my words, Alora!”

“Enough!” awat ni Draven. “This place isn’t yours to throw a childish tantrum. Discipline your fiancé, Danzon, or I won’t allow her to be part of the Richmoore family.”

Hindi na umimik si Danzon at hinila sa kanang kamay si Marga.

Kumalma rin ang gigil sa aking puso nang mawala ang dalawang hangal sa paningin ko. I leaned my head on Draven’s masculine chest. Suddenly, I felt relaxed. But before I lost my sanity, I struggled.

“Put me down, Draven. I can walk,” I said calmly.

Ibinaba naman niya ako nang makalabas kami ng hotel. Sinalubong kami ni Leo.

“Ma’am, uuwi na po ba tayo?” tanong ni Leo.

“Oo,” tipid kong tugon. Pagkuwan ay nilingon ko si Draven.

“Thanks for tonight, Draven,” I said politely.

He just nodded and handed me a white business card. “Take this. Call that number if you need anything from me,” he said.

I took the card and frowned.

“A business card? Who will answer my call, then?” I asked.

“My assistant. Just introduce yourself when you call.”

I smirked. “Seriously? I will be your wife. Bakit hindi personal number mo ang ibigay mo sa akin?”

“I don’t have time to use my phone during office hour. At ayaw ko ng abala sa rest hour, so I silence my phone. Kahit ibigay ko sa ‘yo ang personal number ko, hindi ko rin masasagot ang tawag mo.”

Napabuga ako ng hangin. “You’re impossible. Fine! Mas okay na itong wala tayong direct contact para hindi natin maabala ang isa’t isa. But before the wedding, I will set my own rules, too. Just wait.”

I turned around.

“Whatever your rules are, that won’t work for me,” he said.

I gritted my teeth. But before I turned to face Draven, he was already gone. Nakasakay na siya sa kan’yang kotse.

Lumulan na rin ako sa aking kotse at inutusan ang driver na magmaneho. Saka ko lang dinamdan ang matinding pagod nang makaupo na ako.

DALAWANG linggo ang lumipas na hindi ko nakausap nang personal si Draven. Sinadya ko ring huwag siyang tawagan at nagpakaabala ako sa pagsusulat ng bagong kanta.

Biyernes ng gabi pag-uwi ko ng bahay ay nasorpresa ako nang madatnan ko si Draven na nakaupo sa couch sa lobby. Kausap niya si Lolo Wilfredo.

“You’re finally here, Alora. Kanina pa naghihintay si Draven,” ani Lolo.

“Himala, naisip mong bisitahin ko, Draven,” may sarkasmong sabi ko habang palapit ako kay Lolo.

Nagmano ako kay Lolo bago umupo sa couch na kaharap ni Draven. Pero una kong tinitigan ay ang parehabang puting kahon na nasa ibabaw ng mesita. May ideya na ako kung ano ang laman n’on dahil noong isang araw ay pumunta roon sa bahay ang assistant ni Draven kasama ang fashion designer. Sinukatan nila ako para sa wedding gown.

“I decided to rush the wedding, so I bought the ready-made wedding gown,” ani Draven na nagpawindang sa akin.

Uminit na ang bunbunan ko dahil sinasadya kong huwag pansinin ang utos ni Draven sa assistant niya para siya mismo ang uurong sa kasal. But now, he has already bought me a wedding gown. How can I escape this man now?

“Sinabi ko na sa assistant mo na ako na ang bahala sa gown ko. At bakit ka ba nagmamadali? We still have one week,” palatak ko.

“No. We will get married tomorrow.”

“What?” Napabalikwas ako ng tayo dahil sa pagkagulat. “Are you insane? I didn’t have beauty rest; how can I get married tomorrow?”

“Marami akong parating na business appointment. And I noticed you’re fooling around, messing with my assistant. You want me to cancel the wedding.”

Napalunok ako at biglang nilamon ng kaba ang aking puso. Hindi ko akalain na namo-monitor pala ni Draven ang kilos ko. Pero ang totoo, since nalaman ko na ikinasal na sina Danzon at Marga, naisip ko na kailangan ko na ring ituloy ang kasal namin ni Draven.

I felt something pulling me to be trapped in this marriage. I can’t do anything to stop it, anyway.

“Fine! We will get married tomorrow, but I need to rest, so go home now,” I said after arguing with myself.

I grabbed the box of the gown. “What time is the wedding ceremony?” pagkuwan ay tanong ko.

“Nine am. Grandpa Wilfredo got the details of the venue. You refused to take the wedding planner’s update, so I gave it to your grandpa. Ang party ay gaganapin sa Grand Plaza Hotel, na isa sa hotels ko,” tugon ni Draven. Tumayo na rin ito.

“Noted. Don’t be late, Mr. Richmoore.”

Umakyat na ako ng hagdanan bitbit ang kahon ng gown. At pagdating ko sa aking kuwarto ay kaagad kong binuksan ang kahon. Inilabas ko ang damit. Mabango iyon, halatang nalabhan na.

It’s an exquisite net gown, perfect for my preferences.

“Wow! It’s closest to my imagination!”

Despite my hesitation about marrying Draven, I can’t stop myself from feeling excited. Seeing the designer’s name on the gown made me proud. I know the designer; she’s famous. And every dress she made is worth a million.

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising at naligo. Dumating din ang tinawagan kong make-up artist na mag-aayos sa aking mukha. Pagkatapos kong mag-almusal ay sisinuot ko na ang gown.

Aicy, my friend, arrived wearing an ocean-blue dress I bought for her. I love everything in blue. Actually, I chose this color for my wedding, but Draven ruined everything. He wants plain white as a motif.

“Wow! You’re gorgeous, Alora! Sigurado akong masasampal ng katangahan niya si Danzon once nakita ka niya sa simbahan,” ani Aicy.

I smirk. I know Danzon will attend my wedding. Of course, he’s my fiancé’s brother and soon-to-be my brother-in-law. And Marga is my cousin, so she will be there, too.

“There’s no backing up, Aicy. I’ll make sure Danzon regrets losing me,” I said.

Tumawa si Aicy.

Hindi ko na tinalian ang aking buhok at hinayaan kong nakaladlad para mas bumagay sa damit. Maliit lang naman ang belo ko sa ulo.

Nang maayos ang aking makeup ay umalis na kami. Mag-isa akong nakaupo sa backseat ng bride’s car. Nauna na kasi si Lolo sa simbahan. At habang palapit kami sa simbahan ay inalipin ng kaba ang aking puso. Hindi ko maintindihan bakit mas nangingibabaw ang kaba kaysa pananabik.

Tamang-tama pagsapit ng alas nuwebe ng umaga ay nakarating kami sa simbahan. Pero pagbaba ko ng kotse ay sinalubong ako ni Aicy.

“Alora, wala pa ang groom,” sabi niya.

Nagatungan ang kaba sa aking dibdib. Dapat ay nauna na ang groom. Pero bakit wala pa si Draven?

“B-Bakit?” balisang tanong ko kay Aicy.

Mainit sa labas kaya pumasok na kami sa simbahan. Sinalubong kami ni Lolo Wilfredo kasunod si Marga suot ang magarang silver dress.

“It seems Draven forgot he’s getting married today,” ani Marga na may sarkasmo.

Hindi ko siya pinansin pero hindi na maalis ang kaba sa aking dibdib. Panay ang lingon ko sa gate ng simbahan baka sakaling may darating na kotse.

“Wala pa rin dito ang assistant ni Draven, Alora. Hindi kaya nakalimutan niya na ngayon ang kasal n’yo?” nababahala ring saad ni Aicy.

Hindi ako kumibo.

Nilapitan na ako ni Marga. “I knew it. Maybe Draven finally realized that you’re useless to him, Alora. Sino ba naman kasi ang magpapakasal sa babaeng mahina ang utak? Draven needs a woman who can stand beside him, and know how to deal with business,” aniya na nagpainit sa aking ulo.

Dinig ng mga bisita ang sinabi ni Marga kaya pati ang mga ito ay napatanong kung deserve ko bang maging asawa ni Draven Richmoore.

This time, I felt humiliated. Some guests already knew me, and they were aware of what kind of woman I was. Some said Marga was right. I can’t stand beside Draven in business matters.

I was just a woman who wanted to be loved and cherished.

“Why did Draven agree to marry her? She can’t help him in business,” dinig kong tanong ng isa sa bisitang babae.

“Kaya nga. Hindi nga niya maisalba ang kompaya ng tatay niya. She doesn’t deserve to be Mrs. Richmoore,” komento rin ng isang babaeng bisita na mas malapit sa akin.

Napakuyom ako ng kanang palad. I can’t defend myself this time because they are all right. I don’t deserve to be－

Before I could finish my thought, the door swung open. We all turned to the man in a white suit who stepped inside. It was Draven!

“Who said Alora doesn’t deserve to be my wife?” he asked, which stunned everyone in the church.

Finally! He saved me from embarrassment again.