Prologue

"Mom! Why would you do that?!" It's my first time yelling at my mom.

Sino ba naman kasi ang matutuwa? Gusto nila akong ipakasal sa hindi ko kilala!

"I'm sorry, honey. We don't really have any choice. Our company is failing." Mom held my hand. Marahan n'ya itong hinahaplos. "Please? Just this once, anak. I promise, once we get back on track, I'll process your divorce." She caressed my face.

"Mom.... I'm scared." Pag-aamin ko.

"Don't worry, anak. Your dad knew the guy." She smiled. Sa mga ngiti n'ya, batid kong ayaw niya rin itong gawin. But, maybe she trusts dad too, right?

"Pero mom-"

"Trust your dad, okay? He will never put you in danger."

I nodded. I know they will never make decisions that could ruin me. Pero kasi, nakakaduda. Bakit gusto pa nang lalaki na makita ko s'ya kapag titira na kami sa isang bahay? Kahit sa kasal, ayaw n'ya magpakita! Pipirma lang daw s'ya sa marriage contract! Iyon ang sinabi sa akin nila mommy. Sinong makakampante sa ganoon?!

I trust my parents so much, but aren't they afraid? What if the guy has a hidden agenda?

"Bukas ay idadala na ng dad mo ang marriage contract. Someone's gonna fetch you too." My eyes widened.

"What?! Bukas na ba kami titira sa iisang bubong?!" Mommy chuckled. I know natatawa na naman s'ya sa pagiging overreacting ko.

"Calm down, anak." Umupo s'ya malapit sa akin. I'm currently sitting on my bed.

Kanina pa kasi talaga ako hindi mapakali. Yes, I want to have a husband pero not like this! Hindi ko kailanman pinangarap na mapangasawa ang taong hindi ko pa nakikilala, 'no!

"Yes. You'll be living in your house tomorrow....with him. That's why you should now prepare all the things you need. Bibisitahin ka naman namin every week, okay? Don't think too much." She kissed my head.

I pouted before uttering my words. "Okay, I trust you mom."

Mom hugged me before leaving my bedroom. Nang mawala si mommy sa paningin ko, tuluyan na akong humiga kasabay nang pagpikit ng aking mga mata.

I'm going crazy, I guess?

I really don't trust the guy I'm going to marry!

Hindi s'ya pamilyar! Matunog ang apelyido nila pero kailanman ay hindi s'ya lumalabas sa kahit anong articles. I've tried searching for him on different websites and platforms pero wala talaga! Kahit ni isang picture, wala s'ya! Baka panget 'to? Pero pwede rin namang hindi, 'di ba? Masyado lang siguro s'yang private.

Sa kabila nang pag-iisip, I tried calling my friend. I need someone to talk to right now. Dahil kung hindi, ay baka mabaliw na ako kakaisip dito!

"Fiona, do you know Ezekiel Nickolas Fabros?" Tanong ko sa kabilang linya.

Fiona is my childhood friend. She's always the person I run to whenever I overthink about something.

"Hmm.... Isn't he a billionaire?!" She said hysterically.

"Yeah. He's the.... the person I'm going to m-marry." Napapikit ako kasabay nang paglayo ng cellphone sa tainga ko dahil sa sigaw niya.

"Omg! You're not kidding, right?"

Tanging buntong-hininga ang naisagot ko sa kanya. If only I could, right? I wish I was just kidding too.

"Did you meet him already?"

"Nope. Not yet. Bukas ko pa s'ya makikita."

"You think he will show his face to you? What if he will hire someone to pretend to be him?" Napaisip ako sa sinabi n'ya. Hindi nga iyon imposible! He has the money to do such things! "And what if he has many mistresses? My god, Kairylinne, isumbong mo agad kila Tita, ha!" I chuckled. Iba talaga mag-isip itong kaibigan ko. She's thinking so much about the possibilities in any circumstances.

"It's not impossible for him to hire someone, but I think he will not do that. My father knows him. My parents will also visit us every week, so.... I guess he wouldn't hide behind someone's mask." I shrugged. "And the Kabit-thingy? Isn't it kind of disturbing? Why would you think he'll do that?" Ngumiwi ako.

"Duh?! Of course, he's a billionaire for God's sake. He can do and get whatever he wants."

"You're not sure, 'no! What if panget s'ya? Edi, walang papatol do'n kahit marami s'yang pera."

I heard her laugh. May nasabi ba akong nakakatawa?

"Aren't you afraid? If he's really ugly, you'll have to see his face everyday and make love to him!" Aniya sa malanding tono.

"Eww! That's gross! Kasal lang ang deal, 'no! Kahit kasal kami, it doesn't mean that I have to give my virginity to him! Sa papel lang kami kasal. I know he's aware of the deal too."

"Anyway, I hope he's hot! Para naman sulit ang arrange marriage ng parents mo!"

"Nah. I don't care if he's good looking or not. I'm just hoping that the contract will be dismissed within a year. Siguro naman, okay na ang kumpanya namin after 1 year."

"So it's not a permanent deal?" Pag-uusisa n'ya.

"I think so. Mom told me awhile ago that once our company will be back at its progress, then she'll dismiss the deal. Possible naman daw ang divorce, eh." I smiled. Knowing that it wouldn't be a permanent deal, it somehow calmed me.

"That's nice, huh. Tita and Tito really love you!"

"Uh-huh."

Just like that, our call ended. However, my doubt was still there. The guy's really suspicious. I don't even know why my parents ask for their help. Tito Mike is good at the business industry too! Why wouldn't they ask for his help, instead of someone who's living secretively?

When I was a kid, I dreamt of having a glamorous wedding with the guy I want to spend my whole life with. But, what's happening to me right now is totally the opposite of what I once wished! I can't blame my parents though..... I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I feel like they are doing what they think is the best for me. Maybe they are thinking that I wouldn't be able to survive life in a way that I wasn't used to.

Baka ginagawa nila ito para maging marangya pa rin ang buhay ko. Letting me marry a billionaire says something about my parents' plans for me. They don't want me to experience being poor.

I'm an only child. They treat me like a princess, spoil me with all the things I want.

They want me to experience a luxurious life until the end. That's what they promised me before and perhaps, right now, that's the only solution they have in mind--to marry the mysterious billionaire.