chapter 3

Yazmin

NGUMITI 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 Kortez Architecture, 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 my daughter after all. She needs to have experience working in Kortez Architecture. So she'll be an efficient leader someday," agap ni Daddy.

"Here," mahinang sabi ni Evron.

He took my uncut meat and placed the pork he cut onto my table.

"Thanks," I smiled and took one piece of it.

"So, what do you think of my son, hija?" saad ni Mrs. Montemayor.

"I have no problem with him, Ma'am."

"You don't care if he is a bit... off the chart?"

"Evron is perfectly fine to me," diretso kong sagot.

She smiled widely.

"Then that settles then. I have the papers of Yazmin, it's ready to register," singgit ni Tita Darlynn.

"Calm down, Darlynn. It's not our call."

I smirked inwardly. Mrs. Montemayor's hostility to Tita Darlynn did not change at all. Seems like not everyone bites to her acts. Hindi na ako nag-angat ng tingin at kumakain na lamang.

Naramdaman ko ang paglapit ng dibdib ni Evron sa aking balikat. I felt his breathing on my shoulder. Tumingin ako sa kanya. He sighed and gave me a lot of food in my plate.

"That's too much..." apila ko.

Umiling siya at bumalik sa sariling pinggan.

"E, ano pa ang hihintayin natin. Our children already decided. Let's have them sign it," halakhak ni Daddy. "So we can proceed with our business."

Tumingin ako kay Evron. Nakatingin din pala siya sa akin. I smiled warmly.

"Are you both okay with this?" tanong ni Mr. Montemayor.

Tumango agad si Evron at tumingin sila sa akin. I nodded too. The dinner continued during dessert they even prepared-to-get-rid-of-me Tita Darlynn presented a blank marriage certificate.

Ngayon ko lang nalaman na lawyer pala si Evan, Kuya ni Evron. He officiated the marriage at the very restaurant and both Evron and I signed the certificate. It's quick and easy. Just like that, I got married.

"Magpahinga na tayo ngayon, it's been a long day. May binili ako na unit sa Del Rio Grande, regalo ko iyon sa inyo. Doon na kayo tumira," si Daddy.

"No need for that, Sir. I have a place and we'll be living there." The tone of his voice sent chills into my spine.

Humalakhak si Tita Darlynn. "Your family has many properties, I'm sure our daughter is in good hands, hijo. But we want to offer a place too for our daughter to live comfortably."

"Evron wants his wife to go home with him, Darlynn. I think it's just best to let the two of them decide for that matter," pormal na sabi ni Mrs. Montemayor.

Walang gana akong napatingin kay Tita Darlynn. Good hands meaning I won't have the right in my family's assets anymore, huh. I won't share a hand on the things my mother wants me to have. Tita Darlynn brainwashed him so bad.

Bumaling ako kay Evron na hinawakan ang aking kamay sa aking kandungan.

"I have a penthouse in Vida Towers," banayad niyang sinabi.

Tumango ako at bahagyang nagulat.

That's a very expensive place. Vida Towers is one of the known condominium towers where most rich people, celebrities or politicians live. It's very secured and it's located in the center of the mall, company buildings and quick access for everything.

Pero nang naalala ko na ang Vida Towers is a condominium building of the company called Vida de Lao or known as this building we are in itself. Yeah, his family owned that. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit nasa ganitong sitwasyon ako ngayon.

Kanina sa usapan, nabanggit nila na pagmamay-ari ng mga Montemayor ang Hotel na ito. Kaya pala nasa pangalan nila mismo.

Lumabas na kami sa Hotel. Dad and Mr. Elias Montemayor are talking by themselves. Evron is with his brother, looks like his brother is giving him instructions or what.

"You immediately agreed to marry the dumb man, Yazmin. Dahil ba guwapo at mayaman?" Darcy smirked.

Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. "I noticed how you went jaw-dropped when you saw him, Darcy. Bakit? Iniisip mo ba na sana ikaw nalang ang pinakasal?"

Napawi ang ngisi niya sa labi. "Mom and Dad will find me a better man, Yazmin. Or si Evan."

I scoffed at her ridiculous statement. "The man barely looks at you when you kept sending him your flirtatious advances, Darcy. Sa tingin mo hindi iyon nahahalata kanina?"

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya ngumiti ako ng tipid sa kanya bago nagpatuloy. "That's why Mrs. Montemayor didn't give you a single moment to speak."

"You..." galit niyang sabi na hindi naituloy.

'They are just around us, Darcy. Go on and let hell break loose.' Tingnan natin kung sino ang mapapahiya. Sa galit niya, umismid na lang siya at tinalikuran ako.

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●To be continue