CHAPTER 1

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination, or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the authors permission.

Plagiarism is a crime!!!

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NAYIEN

"WHAT the hell are you talking about, Dad?!" sigaw ko at tumayo mula sa kina-u-upuan ko.

"Sit down Nayien," sabi ni Mommy na nakaupo sa upuan na nasa harap ng table ni Daddy.

Bumalik ako sa pagkaka-upo habang nakakunot yung kilay ko. What the hell is going on? Sino bang hindi magugulat sa balita na yon? Akalain ba namang kakagaling ko lang sa bakasyon ko at sasalubungin pa ako sa balitang ikakasal ako sa isang hindi ko kilala at higit pa roon ay maglalaban kami through using physical strength. The hell with him! Ano bang nakain niya? Gusto niya ba ng bali sa katawan? 

"This is a game Nayien and you are the choice of the company, the same as his," sabi ni Dad at pinakita sa'kin yung larawan ang sunod na maglalaban. Lumapit ako roon at tiningnang maigi yung makakalaban ko. And just HELL man! What game? 

"Pero bakit Dad? Anong game? I thought-" naputol yung sasabihin ko kasi nagsalita si Mommy.

"He wants to marry you Nayien but your Dad didn't agree so they made a deal under the company. We know you are shock about this news but he so eager to marry you." sabi ni Mommy. Nangunot yung noo ko.

"Hindi ko maintindihan Mom! I don't know what to say. Tell him I won't fight him. Fight himself!" sabi ko at tumayo. Deri-deritso akong lumabas mula sa opisina ni Daddy. 

Ha! Asa siya!

Lumabas ako sa bahay at sumakay ako sa kotse ko. Maka-uwi na nga! Nababadtrip ako sa mga pinagsasabi nila. 

Pagkarating ko sa condo ay humilata agad ako sa kama. Papikit na ako para matulog nang bigla nalang tumunog yung phone ko. Napamura tuloy ako.

"Hello,?" kalmado lang ako dyan pero gusto kong bumali ng buto ngayon.

"Come back here Nayien! Hindi pa tayo tapos mag-usap!" a middle aged man shouted from the other line. I just rolled my eyes and get back on my bed. 

"Ayoko Dad. Tell that bastard that I won't buy his stupid fight." I said as I massage my temple. Ano ba talagang gusto niya? Nakakabanas siya ah.

"Nayien this is a big match between you and Sam. Please, Nayien. For the sake of the company. He can ruin us, Nayien." He said calmly. 

I sighed and shut my eyes tightly."Fine! When is the fight?" 

"Next week. So, you better rehears yourself." Sabi niya na nagpabangon sa'kin.

"What? Dad! Anong araw na ngayon? Tapos next week na yung laban? Nasaan ang hustisya doon?" napakamot ako sa ulo ko. Baliw ba siya?

"Kaya nga pinapa-uwi kita last week pa diba pero ayaw mo. Kaya ayan," 

"Naman oh! Fine fine," 

I hung up the call and readied myself. I picked up my suit and put it in my bag and all the others stuff. I'm gonna kill that bastard shit! Sino ba talaga siya? Bakit kayang kaya niya kaming sirain? Ano ba siya? 

Nagdrive ako pabalik sa bahay para mag ensayo kasi nasa bahay yung training ground ko. Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay dumiretso ako sa training ground. 

HINDI KO alam kong ilang oras akong nag-ensayo. Namalayan ko nalang na pinagpawisan na ako ng marami at tinawag ako ng isang kasambahay namin.

"Ms. Nayien, kakain na daw po ng hapunan." sabi niya at sumungaw yung ulo niya sa bukana ng pinto.

"Okay, I'll follow. I'll just need to fix myself," sagot ko at lumapit sa upuan kung saan nakalagay ang duffel bag ko na naglalaman ng mga gamit ko.

Nagpunas ako ng pawis at uminom ng tubig. 

Pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako sa training room at dumiretso ako sa kwarto ko rito para maligo. I need to freshen up my body. I'm very sweaty and I want to relax my mind for a bit. Ever since I came back from my vacation, I'm thinking too much because of that stupid bastard. 

After kong maligo ay nagsuot ako ng short at lose shirt. I combed my long wavy hair and put my favorite hairpin on my side of left ear. Then I left my room.

Pagdating ko sa dining area ay nandoon na si Mommy at si Daddy. Umupo ako sa tapat ni Mommy at nagsimula na kaming kumain. 

"Mabuti naman at nakinig ka sa Daddy mo," sabi ni Mommy na hindi man lang ako tinapunan ng tingin. Hindi ko siya pinansin at bumaling nalang ako ni Daddy.

"Dad, I want to meet that bastard shit." sabi ko. 

Tumigil sa pagkain si Daddy at tumingin sa'kin. "Sure, Nayien. You will meet him next week sa laban ninyu." sambit niya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"Did he ate something which made him decide to marry me with his stupid game?" bulong ko pero narinig pala ni Mommy iyon.

"Maybe, Nayien. You have nothing special, anyway." sabi niya at tiningnan ako pero wala namang emosyon. 

Honestly, I don't know what's wrong with her. Everything I do is wrong to her. Ever since I was a kid. All of my achievements are nothing to her. She didn't even come my highschool and college graduation.

"Exactly Mommy! That's why I'm wondering why he wanted to marry me." sagot ko at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"Why don't you ask him. Simple." sabi niya habang tinutusok tusok yung pork steak niya.

"Kaya nga gusto ko siyang makita diba?" sagot ko.

"Hmm. I don't think you would like to meet him with that reason." sabi niya na nagpa-angat ng paningin ko mula sa pagkain ko.

Nangunot yung paningin ko at tiningnan siya.

Sasagot na sana ako nang magsalita si Daddy.

"Stop it both of you. Why don't you just eat?" sabi ni Daddy.

Tumahimik nalang ako at nagpatuloy ako sa pagkain. Pagkatapos kong kumain ay tumayo na ako.

"I'm done. Excuse me." sabi ko at tumayo.

Iniwan ko sila doon at nagpunta ako sa may pool area. Umupo ako sa lounge chair at doon nagmuni muni.

Hindi ko maintindihan kong bakit ako ang napili ng lalaking iyon na pakasalan? Hindi naman siya pangit para hindi magkandarapa yung mga babae sa kanya. I admit he's handsome and his body built was beyond good. He's rich and he can buy dozens of women to be his wife. I don't know why me? I am nothing compared to him. Yeah we're both rich but I am not that beautiful like my mother. Maybe that is why my mother is always mad at me because I am not beautiful like her. She's really beautiful. While me, I don't know. I didn't inherit her features even a single one. That's why I'm wondering kung bakit ako ang napili niya and besides I'm already thirty-one. I'm older than him. By just looking at his picture I can say that he's only on his maybe twenty-nine or twenty-eight. We're not a match. 

I heaved a sigh.

I looked up at the sky and I saw the glimmering stars. I envy them. Even in their darkest times they are still happy. I smiled bitterly. Nasa ganun akong posisyon nang maabutan ako ni Daddy.

"Why are you so sad looking at the stars?" tanong niya at umupo sa tabi ko. Tumingin din siya sa langit.

"I envy the stars Dad. How come that they are still happy even when they are in their darkest?" sabi ko at tumingin saglit sa kanya at binalik yung tingin sa langit.

I heard him sigh before he speak up. "That is why we should be like them. No matter how hard the life throws at you, you should remain strong. Make that hard times to be your inspiration to move forward." sabi niya. I look at him and his eyes are very gloomy while looking at the stars.

"Did you...somehow... experience what you just said, Daddy?" 

I saw him smile. 

"Yeah. When you we're still a fragile baby." sabi niya at tumingin sa'kin. I creased my forehead. 

Why? Diba dapat masaya siya? Baby is a blessing, bakit siya malungkot? 

"You will know someday, sweetheart. Good night." sabi niya at tumayo para pumasok na sa loob.

Naiwan akong nakakunot yung noo. Anong ibig niyang sabihin doon sinabi niya? Is it about me?

I stayed there for a moment before I go back inside the house.

—HoneylynBlue