Chapter 1

OUR PRESENT

(A FEW YEARS LATER)

 "FUCK! Ruby, that hurts!" Kheimer groaned as I moved my hand faster.

 "Please, slower, it's fucking hurting me," reklamo niya pero hindi ko siya pinansin, mas lalo kong binilisan ang pag taas baba ng kamay ko.

 "Fuck!" sigaw niya at hinatak ang kamay ko.

 "I told you to stop! Nabalatan yung buong likod ko sa bilis mong maghilod sakin!" he complained, making me roll my eyes.

 "Ang arte mo naman, pano ko patatanggal ang dead skin sa likod mo kung hindi ko didiinan?" Inis kong tanong sa kanya at binato sa sapa ang batong ginagamit ko panghilod kay Kheimer.

 "Really? Hindi lang dead skin ko ang tinanggal mo, pati buong balat sa likod ko, nasama na!" He complained again.

 "Diyan ka na nga! Ang arte mo!" sigaw ko aa kanya bago siya talikuran. Rinig ko pa ang mapangaasar niyang tawa habang naglalakad ako palayo.

 "Hoy! Yung baby bra mo! Na iwan," he yelled from a distance. I immediately touched my chest and realized my bra was gone.

 Bigla naman akong nakaramdam ng hiya dahil baka mamaya may mga trabahador na nakarinig sa kanya nang isigaw niya na naiwan ang bra ko.

 Nagmamadali akong tumakbo pabalik sa kanya at hinatak ang bra kong hawak-hawak niya habang iwinawagay-way sa hangin.

 "Leche!" I yelled at him and ran back to my horse.

 "Baka pati panty ko naiwan!" sigaw niya na mas lalong ikinainis ko. Hindi ko siya pinansin dahil alam ko naman na suot ko pa ang panty ko.

 Nang makarating ako ng hacienda ay agad akong bumaba sa kabayo ko at ibinigay iyon sa trabahador para ibalik sa kuwadra.

Thank goodness I put my bra back on while on my way to the hacienda because as I walked back inside, I ran into Kheimer's parents.

 "Good afternoon po, Tita and Tito," I greeted them after kissing them on the cheek.

 "Good afternoon too, hija. Have you seen Kheimer? The party's about to start, and you and Kheimer need to be there because they have an important announcement for you both," Kheimer's mom said, which surprised me.

 What kind of trick are their parents planning again, and why is this announcement so important?

 "Magkasama po kami sa sapa kanina, siguro po ay pabalik na rin po siya," I answered his mother.

 She smiled at me. "Okay, dear, please go upstairs to your room. Nasa kama mo na ang mga damit na susuotin mo for later, ok? Ipapatawag ka nalang namin," Saad ng ginang, at kahit na nagtataka ay sumunod na lang ako at umakyat pataas sa kwarto.

 When I got to my room, I saw a baby pink mermaid dress. It was simple but very elegant. I liked the pink color even more because it's my favorite.

 I decided to take a shower because my mom messaged me on my phone saying that the dinner party starts at 7 pm. So I got ready.

 After showering, I started doing my makeup and hair so I could just put on my dress afterward.

 But while curling my hair, I suddenly heard a loud thud against my window. It sounded like a rock. Thankfully, it didn't break.

 I put down my hair curler and went to the window to see who was throwing things at my window.

 When I opened it, I saw Kheimer's niece. She was wearing a lilac cocktail dress and her favorite Converse sneakers.

 She lazily looked at me while holding a pellet gun. That must be what she was shooting at my window.

 "Oy! Pinapabigay ni tito!!" she yelled loudly because my room is on the second floor.

 She then threw a box at me. Luckily, I caught it.

 "Kita daw kayo mamaya," she added before leaving.

 "Charlie!" I called to her. The child lazily turned to face me.

 "Anu?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

 "Akyat ka dito sa kwarto ko," nakangiti kong aya sa kanya pero kita ko ang pagkunot ng mga noo niya na para bang nawari nito ang plano ko.

 "He! Yoko!" Sigaw niyo at nagtatakbo pabalik sa harap ng hacienda. Napailing na lang ako sa inasta ng bata.

 Balak ko sanang ayusan siya pero mukhang nahulaan ng niya ang plano ko.

 Nang buksan ko ang kahon na ipinabibigay ni Kheimer, ay biglang nagningning ang mata ko, nawala tuloy ang inis na nararamdaman.

 Isa itong darry ring at meron itong malaking pink diamond sa harap na napapalibutan na nang maliliit na diamante ang kabuoan ng singsing. Mas lalo akong natuwa dahil silver ito kaya paniguradong bagay na bagay ito sakin.

 Pero ang ipinagtaka ko ay bakit ako bibigyan ni Kheimer ng ganitong singsing? Ang pagkakaalam ko ay ang darry ring ay pwede lang makuha ng isang beses per person at hindi ka na makakabili ulit once nakabili ka na dahil nanghihingi sila ng personal information sa mga nagiging customers nila para masiguradong nag-iisa lang ang darry ring na binili nila.

 Nang sukatin ko ang singsing, ay saktong-sakto lang ito sakin. Halatang-halata na alam ni Kheimer ang bawat sukat ng buong katawan ko.

 10 minutes bago mag 7pm ay napagdesisyonan ko nang bumaba dahil ako na lang daw ang hinihintay, sabi ni mommy na panay ang tadtad ng text sakin.

 When I got to the front of the hacienda, I realized how grand this night was.

 Pink and white roses were everywhere, and there were many lights. There were many people, although I knew most of them were Kheimer's relatives, since this is their hacienda.

 "Pa-importante ka talaga no?" Kheimer greeted me, making me annoyed again.

 "Pasalamat ka maganda ka diyan sa suot mo, nagustuhan mo ba? Ako pumili niyan," he teased.

 "Bwist ka! Sa dinami-dami ng damit na pipiliin mo yung off-shoulder pa talaga eh ang lamig-lamig dito sa labas ng hacienda," I said irritably, making him laugh.

 "Unting tiis lang, magsisimula naman na." He reassured me, wrapping his arms around my waist, and we walked towards his parents.

 I suddenly felt nervous because people were starting to pay attention to us.

 A moment later, the party began, the music got louder, and the lights became more colorful.

 From afar, I could see Charlie in the front, happily dancing with her father watching her.

 Then I looked at the man smiling widely as he watched his only daughter.

 Keefer Jasfer-Grey Castiglione, the ghost of my life. Wow, he's still so handsome— nothing's changed. I wouldn't have thought a man like him would already have a child.

 "Hoy, respeto naman! Nandito ako o!" "Kheimer suddenly grabbed my attention. I just rolled my eyes at him and looked back at his older brother, who was now with his fiancée.

 I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart when I saw how sweet the two were to each other.

 I didn't know what I really felt for him. I knew it was wrong to continue this feeling I felt for him because he has a child and is about to get married. So, I can only admire him from afar.

 "And now, we would like to call our leading lady and leading man for tonight. Ms. Ruby and Mr. Kheimer, please come to the front and join us." I heard the emcee call from the front, which surprised me. Kheimer stood up first and offered me his hand.

 Even though I was confused, I gave him my hand because the guests were waiting.

 We walked to the front where all the guests could see us. From the front, I could see my mom and dad gesturing for me to smile.

 'How can I smile? I have no idea what's going on.'

 The emcee gave us the mic before leaving and going down the stage. When only Kheimer and I were left in front, I felt even more nervous because everyone's attention was on us.

 "Good evening, everyone. First, we would like to say thank you for making time for us. We all know that all of you here are busy at work, and yet you made time to attend our special day," Kheimer began, while I just listened to him blankly.

 "Both of us and our families really appreciate your presence here today, so thank you. And to our family, thank you so much for organizing this party. This night wouldn't be successful without your love and support, so thank you for making this engagement party possible for both of us." He spoke at length. But what caught my attention was his last words.

 'Engagement? 'Engagement of what?

 I felt Kheimer signaling me to speak.

 My mouth opened, but no words came out. Before the people noticed that I was spaced out, Kheimer spoke again.

 "Please enjoy the night, thank you again," he said before pulling me off the stage, but instead of going back to our seats, he pulled me into the mansion, where no one could see us.