Chapter 2

MF90D 02

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Solstice

Grimaldi

I was out the whole night. Wala akong kahit isang tawag na sinagot o kahit isang pinagsabihan kung nasaan ako dahil sa pagkasiphayo.

I was so willing to run away with him pero parang ang dali-dali sa kanyang tanggihan ako. I know everything seems to abrupt, hindi pinag-isipan. Pero kung magtatagal pa kami dito, siguradong wala ng kasal na magaganap sa pagitan naming dalawa.

Knowing my family, they will do their best to halt the wedding from happening. Kung kailangang sumira sila ng buhay ay gagawin nila para lang masunod ang kagustuhan nila.

I bit my lower lip too hard that I can taste the metal touch from the blood of it habang blankong nakatingin sa kasintahan na ngayon ay komportableng nakahiga sa kamang ako mismo ang bumili kasama ang hindi kilalang babae.

Is this what they mean of him cheating? Tingnan mo nga naman kung gaano ako kaayaw ng mundo. Really? Ngayon pa talagang halos talikuran ko na lahat para sa kanya?

Puno ng puot kong sinimulang ihagis lahat ng bagay na pagmamay-ari ni Marcos. Even the things that I bought as a gift for him. Wala akong pinalampas na kahit na ano.

I was just out for a whole night and this is what he's doing behind my back? Sa ganitong lalaki ko ba gustong itali ang sarili ko? Am I really too blinded by the love he showed me na hindi ko na napansin na niloloko ako? Am I that stupid to not noticed anything that he is doing behind me?

I saw how Marcos slowly woke up from the noise, maski ang babaeng katabi niya ay biglaan ring bumangon nang makita ako sa loob ng silid.

"Solstice..." Marcos called in devastation.

Tumaas ang kilay ko roon. I heave a deep sigh and crossed my arms over my chest. Kitang-kita ko kung papaanong nanlaki ang mata ng dalaga nang maliit ang hakbang na lumapit ako sa kinahihigaan nilang dalawa.

"Marriage huh?" I sarcastically uttered. Trying the hide the bitterness in my voice. "This is what you're giving me after asking for my hand?"

"Solstice, listen to me... I can explain myself."

Napuno ng takot ang mata ng binata. I heard a car engine from outside na ikinakunot ng noo ko. Bahagya kong sinilip ang labas bago ibinalik ang tingin sa dalawang demonyong nasa harapan ko.

"Get out of my house," kalmado ngunit madiing utas ko.

The woman immediately stood up from he bed with only the sheets covering her naked body. Ngumisi ako nang makita ang hubad na katawan ng kasintahan habang pinipigilan ang sarili sa pag-irap.

The pain inside my chest is excruciating. I feel I am slowly getting eaten by my own thoughts and regrets. I was so ready to fight for him, kahit pa sa sarili kong pamilya pero ito ang isinukli niya sa akin.

I held my breathe as I felt a lone tear started peeking on the side of my eyes. Halos mahulog pa sa kama ang binata sa taranta nang itaas ko ang kamay para sana'y padapuin sa pisngi niya pero agad ring naiwan sa ere nang may kamay na pumigil rito.

I cocked my head to the side in confusion. Agad na tumalim ang tingin ko nang makita ang hindi kilalang binata na malaki ang ngising hawak ang braso ko.

A very fine built man. Sa tindig palang ay halata mo nang galing sa marangyang buhay. His scent leaked over the enclosed space. Parang nanghihipnotismo.

"You shouldn't touch a trash, Solstice. Don't you think?" he trailed off, trying to stifle his laugh.

Just by hearing his voice jeopardize my day. Alam na alam ko na kaagad kung sino ang binatang mapang-asar na nakatayo sa harapan ko.

May mapaglarong expresyon sa mukha ang binata. Giving a roguish smirk and a playful stare, mas lalong hindi gumanda ang pakiramdam ko.

I sighed in frustration and shove his hands away, "What are you doing here?"

Alistair shrugged as his expression turned stoic. Now this is how I know he is. A ruthless emotionless asshole.

"I told you I'll fetch you yesterday. Nakalimutan mo na kaagad?"

I rolled my eyes at that. Muli kong ibinaling ang tingin sa ngayo'y naguguluhan ng kasintahan. I saw how his jaw clenched staring at the man beside me.

I snapped my fingers in front of him and smiled mercilessly, "I told you to get out."

"Solstice, let us talk first."

I fluttered my eyes as tears sprung on my eyes. Hindi dapat iniiyakan ang mga manlolokong katulad niya. There's no way I would act all weak in front of this kind of man. That's the least thing I would do for the rest of my life.

"Leave. I gave you a choice last night right?" my eyes sported nothing but disgust, hiding the pain that is slowly killing me inside.

Sinubukang ibuka ni Marcos ang bibig para magsalita pero agad ring itinikom nang walang boses na lumabas mula rito.

The woman earlier already flew away. Good for her dahil hindi na siya makakatikim ng galit ko. After all, Marcos is the only one who caused me pain. Hindi naman ang babaeng 'yon na siguradong wala ring alam tungkol sa akin.

"Do you want me to drag him out of this house?" rinig kong tanong ni Alistair na nagpalukot ng mukha ko.

"Shut up. Don't act all close with me," I scowled. "Umalis ka rin dito."

Napuno ng pagkamangha ang mukha niya, "So you do speak tagalog?"

Inis na kinamot ko ang batok, "Umalis kayong dalawa rito bago ko pa kayo mapatay."

"Are you a potential murderer?" ismid ni Alistair.

Napapikit ako ng mariin, "I will be kung hindi pa kayo aalis sa kwartong 'to."

Alistair then walk towards Marcos and pushed him towards the door. Tuluyan lang akong natahimik nang sumarado na ang pintuan at naiwan akong mag-isa sa silid.

That's the time where I felt my heart slowly breaking into pieces. I wasted my two years with Marcos. What a bullshit relationship.

Ngayon, mas lalong wala na akong maidadahilan para maiwasan ang kasal na ipinipilit sa akin ni Lolo.

I let the tears fell on my cheeks. Walang makikitang kahit anong emosyon sa mukha ko pero ang loob ko ay patuloy na nadudurog.

I was genuinely happy inside my relationship with Marcos. Hindi ko naman siya ipaglalaban ng ganito kung hindi ako handang ibigay ang buong buhay ko sa kanya. Kahit anong pilit kong tago sa totoong nararamdaman, I just can't really stop my tears from falling.

Kung kanina, kayang-kaya kong umakto na wala lang sa akin lahat ng nakita ko. Ngayon ay para na akong bata na naghihintay ng aalong magulang sa sobrang pag-iyak na ginagawa ko.

All his things are scattered on the floor. Ni hindi ko magawang umupo sa kama dahil sa pandidiring nararamdaman sa nakita kanina.

Never in my life I thought that I'll feel this shitty. I am always seen as an independent ruthless woman pero pagdating sa lalaki ay nanghihina ako? This is not me.

I shut my eyes tightly when I heard some footsteps coming towards the room. I gently wiped the tears on my cheeks as the door shut open.

Alistair scent touch my nose na ikinangiwi ko. I though he already left.

"Now you are crying?" he chuckled. "I warned you right? You should be thankful that you are marrying me instead of him."

Umismid ako, "You are just the same. And who told you that I'll marry you? Kahit balatan niyo ako ng buhay, hindi ako magpapakasal sa'yo."

"What's wrong with marrying me? No string attach, just the title. I am up for that," Alistair shrugged.

Nalukot ang mukha ko, "Marriage is not like that. You're disrespecting its sacred meaning."

"I didn't know you are into the rules."

"Shut up and just leave me alone," I snorted. "Magpalakas ka ulit kay Lolo tapos siya na rin yayain mo ng kasal tutal parehas naman kayo ng takbo ng utak."

"Magpalakas? Malakas na ako sa Lolo mo."

"Are you always this sarcastic? No wonder you're single even with that face," I snidely remarked.

Hindi ko naman maikakaila ang pagkamaganda niyang lalaki. I actually thought he'll look average but he looks much better than how I imagined him to be. Kahit kasi kilala ang pangalan ng mga Balter ay hindi ako kahit kailan nagkaroon ng interes sa kanila. Except from his parents of course, utang na loob ko sa kanila ang buhay ko.

Back when I was five years old, may muntik nang umangkin sa'king mag-asawa. I was outside our school premises when a couple approached me and offered to drive me home. Being a child, muntik na rin naman akong sumama sa kanila. I was almost kidnapped and got sold by some people if the Balter couple didn't see me.

Kaya ganoon nalang ang pagpilit sa akin ng Lolo na matali sa binata dahil na rin sa napagkasunduan nilang magkaibigan.

Napakurap ako nang biglang inilapit ni Alistair ang mukha sa akin. I immediately stopped him from leaning closer by pushing him lightly with my arms.

Mas lalong lumaki ang ngisi ni Alistair nang makita ang gulat na ekspresyon ko.

"I have rows of girls queuing behind me, Solstice."

I rolled my eyes heavenwards, "Then pick someone to marry in them. Hindi 'yong ako ang pinipilit niyo."

Hindi ko talaga maintindihan ang takbo ng utak ng mga lalaki. How can they talk about marriage like it's nothing? Parang papasok lang sila sa isang pintuan na puwede nilang labasan kung kailan nila gugustuhin. The way they seem so uneducated with this topic turn me off. Lalo na sa hambog na lalaking nasa harapan ko.

Nahigit ko ang hininga nang mas lalong inilapit ng binata ang mukha sa akin. The spaces between our face are barely visible. I can even feel his warm breathe on my face. The mint scent from his mouth dominated my senses, para bang nanghehele, nanghihipnotismo, pilit akong pinalalambot.

I pressed my lips tightly together and tilted my head to the side to avoid his advances.

He clicked his tongue and stood up before extending his hand on me. Tinitigan ko lang iyon bago tumayo nang hindi tinatanggap ang alalay niya.

Mas lalong lumalim ang tingin niya sa akin dahil doon. I don't why but his eyes seems so mysterious. Kahit pa mukhang mapaglaro ang binata ay mahirap basahin ang pinapalabas ng mga mata nito.

His eyes feels like its building a wall between us na hindi ko pupwedeng akyatin.

"You really don't accept even a genuine help ano?" sarkastikong utas niya.

I made a face and shrugged, "I can stand alone. Aanhin ko naman ang tulong mo?"

He stared at me in amusement, "After crying like a kid right before I came in, ni hindi ko na makitaan ng bakas ng lungkot 'yang mukha mo."

"Do you expect me to cry and lean on your shoulder? wanting for your comfort?" I sneered. "I'm not like your girls, Alistair."

Umikot ang mata niya sa narinig. I flinched when he suddenly held my wrist and dragged me as he strode out of the room. Inis na pinaghahampas ko ang likod ng binata.

Halos magkandadulas-dulas pa ako nang walang pakialam niya akong hinila pababa ng hagdanan. What a gentleman, I see!

Huminto kami sa tapat ng sasakyan niya but instead of letting my hand go, mas lalo lang niyang hinigpitan ang kapit sa kamay ko bago ako hinila papalapit sa kanya.

My whole body bumped onto his frame. Ramdam ko kung papanong umikot ang braso niya sa baywang ko at bahagyang yumuko para maabot ng bibig ang tainga ko.

"How about we marry each other for three months and then have an annulment after? Tutal hindi na rin naman magtatagal ang buhay ng Lolo mo," he paused and chortled. "Let's just play his games and make him happy before he leave the world."

Hindi makapaniwalang tingin ang binigay ko sa kanya, "Hibang ka na nga!"

"If you don't want to..." he smirked. "Then I have no choice but to drag you right now to the church and marry you, whether you like it or not."