Feigned Promises

"Great show!" Kaagad na lumawak ang ngiti sa labi ko nang salubungin ako ng yakap ni Drianna. "Your collection is so gorgeous! As expected from a Renesmee Xin Hades."

"Thank you for coming, Dri," nakangiting sabi ko.

Katatapos lang ng event and I'm currently here in New York to showcase my work since isa ako sa mga designers na napili para ibahagi ang mga gawa ko.

"You owe me a dress, okay? That compliment wasn't free," nagtawanan kaming dalawa.

I'm a fashion designer and I can say that I already made a name for myself. Kilala na ako at ang mga gawa ko dahil may iilang mga international artists na rin ang nagsuot ng mga 'yon.

And I'm proud. Natupad ko rin ang matagal ko nang pinapangarap. I've been only dreaming and working hard for these years ago but now that I'm actually where I am right now, it all felt so surreal.

"Oh, I heard you're going back to the Philippines the day after tomorrow?" Untag ni Drianna. "C'mon, Renesmee, can't you stay a little longer? We haven't seen each other for quite some time now!"

Mahina akong natawa, "You know my parents, Drianna..."

"Oh," bumagsak ang balikat niya na parang naalala ang mga magulang ko. "That is why you don't have a man for yourself. Geez," she rolled her eyes.

Umuwi ako sa Pilipinas pagkatapos ng isang araw na pamamahinga. I was so tired from the fashion show since we've been working on it for weeks. Now, I can finally rest at home.

"Renesmee, honey!" Salubong kaagad sa akin ni Mommy pagkapasok ko sa bahay. Hindi na ako nagpasundo pa sa airport at dumiretso na lang pauwi mag-isa. I didn't want to bother my parents. And besides, kaya ko namang mag-commute. There was no need for them to pick me up. "Welcome home! Kumusta?" Tinulungan niya akong ilapag sa living room ang mga luggage ko.

"It was great, Mom," sabi ko bago inilibot ang paningin sa buong bahay. "Si Daddy nasa'n?" tanong ko nang hindi maaninag ang tatay ko. Hindi man lang ako sinalubong.

"Wala. Gumala sa bahay ng kaibigan niya," sagot ng Mommy ko. "Matagal na rin nung huling pagkikita nung dalawa kaya hinayaan ko na. Subukan niya lang talagang umuwi ng lasing, tingnan natin kung makakatapak pa siya papasok dito sa bahay."

Nagpaalam akong magpapahinga na kaya hinayaan niya na 'ko. We've been working on that project for weeks and I can already feel my body aching all over. I needed to rest badly.

I've been busy the next few days. I was back to my boutique and I was helping my assistant, Rosie, in sewing orders that we had before and after I went to New York. She was the one managing the boutique while I was gone. I trusted her since we've been together ever since college we've already planned everything out even when we were still studying.

I looked at my boutique, Rosie who was working on a dress and the personels that were helping us do a lot of work, everything was going according to what we planned out. I've never expected that I will arrive in this point of my life where all of the sleepless nights paid off.

A few more time and I'll finally start my very own clothing line. Just a little bit more. Planado na namin ang lahat ni Rosie. May mga bagay na lang talaga na kailangan pa namang hintayin. We wanted to be right on time. We need to have the perfect timing.

I was eating silently when dad approached me. "Hey, sweetie," he sat beside me.

I smiled at him, "Hey, dad. Are you feeling better now?" I asked. Bukod sa pagpaplano ng mga bagay para sa boutique at sa mga pananahi ng mga kailangang mga piece, isa sa mga pinagkakaabalahan ko nitong mga nakaraang araw ay ang pag-aalaga kay Daddy.

Kakalabas niya lang sa hospital dahil tumaas na naman ang blood pressure niya. Ang pasaway kasi. Ilang beses ko na siyang sinasaway sa mga kinakain niya pero ang tigas ng ulo. 'Yan tuloy, sinugod na naman siya sa hospital.

"Can I talk to you about something?" He asked. I faced him with questioning eyes.

"What is it that you want to talk about, dad?" I asked.

He smiled at me, "Finish your food first. I'll wait for you in the living room," he said before walking away.

Napaisip naman ako sa sinabi niya. He looked serious. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin. I was wondering if it will be something good or will it be the other way around. I finished my food before heading to the living room. There, I found my dad sitting on the sofa.

"Dad," I called his attention.

He faced me before smiling, "Take a seat, sweetie."

"What do you want to tell me?"

"Uhm.." he played with his fingers, "You see, when I was young, I was a total opposite of you. I love rebelling against my parents. I want things to go according to what I wanted it to be. I was spoiled rotten. That, was when I met your mom..."

I couldn't really get where this is coming from but I just listened to him while he was telling me their love story. It was pretty interesting, though.

"When I met your mom, I was actually not that... you know, chivalrous. I was a complete jerk. I was no gentleman. You know how our story started, right?" He asked so I nodded. They were in an arranged marriage.

"It was never my choice to get married that time... But I had nothing to do. Because I was a total bastard back then, I said, why not marry her? She's good enough to be a partner with doing... Well, inappropriate things," he shrugged and I chuckled. "But eventually,..."

"You fell for her," I finished the sentence.

"Yeah, and we are happily married! With a very beautiful daughter..." He looked at me with tender eyes, "You see, baby, I want you to have a happy family. Like us," he said.

I was confused because of what he was doing. He suddenly talked about their love story with me and now he's telling me to have a happy family.

"Renesmee," he inhaled a breath, "I have a good friend from college," he started, "And he has a son, about two years older than you, and he wants you to, uhm..."

"Marry his son?" I asked and he reluctantly nodded. So this is why he talked about their story all of a sudden. Because he wants me to take the same course. He wants me to do the same thing.

All my life, my parents have always supported me with whatever the hell I wanted to do. Study Fashion Designing? No problem. Not managing the business even if I should already handle it since I'm the only child and I am already in the right age? Not a single word from them. They didn't complain. They even supported me with my achievements as a fashion designer.

Mom and Dad have always supported me with everything. They've always thought of the things that'll do me good and the things that'll make me happy even if it meant compromising their own. Everything that I have now wouldn't be possible if I didn't have them. Giving life to me was even more than enough I could ever thank them for.

And now that Dad is asking me to marry his friend's son, I didn't have the heart to refuse. I know that they will not force me into doing something that I do not want, but something tells me that this is just a very small thing compared to everything that's they've done for me.

 It is whether I refuse or not but either way, I know I would always do what they want. I don't want to disappoint my parents. In the end I just found myself nodding.

"Okay, I will marry him."