I MARRIED A DUMMY STRANGER

● YazminI THREW myself into a black side-ruched knot body dress layered with a white trench coat. I kept my hair untied and added a gold necklace as jewelry. Hindi ako palaging nagme-make up, natural lang ang aking mukha at nilagyan ko ng konting lipstick.Just because they're gonna sell me off tonight doesn't mean I have to feel less anyhow. I snickered, staring at myself in the mirror when I remembered what Dad said last morning.Kumatok ang kasambahay hudyat na kailangan na naming umalis. Alas singko pa lang, atat talaga silang mawala ako sa litrato. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga bago lumabas ng kwarto."Yazmin..." Dad blurted out when he saw me descending the stairs.On the living room couch, Darcy and her mother scoffed silently at me. I gave them a cold shoulder and turned to my father who is somehow staring at me in awe. "Y-You look just like her...""Daveon, let's go." agad na singit ni Tita Darlynn.I rolled my eyes at her. Kahit kailan, ang hilig niyang pumapel sa tuwin

● YazminNGUMITI si Daddy ng malapad sa akin na tila nagkatotoo ang pangarap niya. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang kamay ni Evron na nakahawak sa aking baywang bago umangat ng tingin sa akin."Well, well. Seems like malapit na kayo sa isa't isa, ah." Mrs. Montemayor giggled.Umupo ako at sumunod naman si Evron na muling tumahimik."Let's talk about marriage during dinner. Bon apetite," halakhak ni Daddy.I took the golden chopsticks and took sushi from the plate. Si Evron naman ay naghihiwa ng braised pork ribs."So, hija. Do you work?" panimula ni Mrs. Montemayor.Umiling ako. "I'm still looking for a good company, Ma'am. As of the moment, none hired me."Kumunot ang noo niya. Dad nervously chuckled."Oh, I expected you to work under KOR Corporation, hija." puna ni Mr. Montemayor.Ramdam ko ang nanunuot na paninitig nila Tita Darlynn at Darcy. I smiled politely at the couple. "Kakagraduate ko lang po ng kolehiyo. I'm sure Dad will give me a position," sabi ko."Yes, of course. She's m

● YazminTHE warm water soothes my flesh and helps me relax. Paglabas ko, nakabihis na, wala si Evron sa kwarto. I dried my hair with the towel because it got wet when I unconsciously sunk myself in the tub. Minutes passed and he's still not coming in.Lumabas ako sa sala. Wala siya roon pati na rin sa kusina. I opened the office and still not there. Pagbukas ko sa guest room, naroon siya, nakapagbihis na rin ng pamalit na damit at nag-aayos ng bedsheet. Napatingin siya sa akin."Anong ginagawa mo?" tanong ko.He looked at me, confused. "Making the bed.""I can see that, but why?" agap ko. "Akala ko iyon ang kwarto mo,""Ayaw mong magkatabi tayo, ikaw matulog do'n."Oh... He is really just like a kid. Taking things very seriously.Tumikhim ako. "The bed's too big for me. Tabi na tayo,"Umaliwalas ang mukha niya. Mabilis siyang lumapit sa akin kaya tumalikod na ako at naunang naglakad pabalik. ‘Oh God! My heart suddenly palpitate fast.’Napansin ko na malapit ng mag-alas onse kaya suma

● Yazmin"EVRON, I'll get going now," paalam ko.Tumango siya habang nakatingin lang sa pinggan niya. Mas mauna siyang nagising sa akin at naghanda siya ng agahan. But I need to be early on my first day of work that's why I didn't bother eating breakfast.For the past two days, all I did was get familiarized with the general overview of Kortez Corporation and its components. Just then, our driver drove me to work."Good morning, Miss Kortez..." bati ng sekretarya ni Daddy.Ngumiti ako. "Good morning, Tess.""Architect is inside the office po. I'm given orders that you can go in immediately.""Thanks,"Diretso ang aking lakad sa opisina ni Daddy, pagdating sa pintuan ay itinulak ito.Because Dad remarried I seldom went here for two main reasons: I don't want to mingle with Dad stepdaughter and second, I don't want to meet his second wife.Pero ngayon na nandito ako magtatrabaho, nilagay ko na sa isip ko na magiging madalas ang pagtatagpo namin. I mentally prepared myself for another st