CHAPTER ONE

Chapter one

“ Dad, I made up my mind po, ” I nervously said to my dad, who's busy reading the newspaper. He lifted his face and confusedly looked at me.

“ I am accepting to marry Mr. Solise, ” I said. His eyebrows furrowed.

“ Is that all you have to say? ” Aniya, in his baritone voice. I nodded. Akala ko ay magagalit siya, because it's been three months since he asked me to marry his closest friend's son, Diego Draven Solise.

“ Y-yes, dad. ” I know dad was disappointed, however, I can't deny the fact that I am head over heels, Diego. He was my long-time crush. My first love.

“ That's a good news, Caroline. ” biglang naging masigla si Dad, and left me to his room. I followed him sa sala, and there hawak ang kanyang cellphone.

“ Good news, Amigo. ” Masayang wika ni dad sa kanyang kaibigan. Si Mr. Solise lang naman ang tinatawag niyang Amigo everytime they talked. Ang daddy ni Diego, “ My daughter is accepting the proposal, so the deal is still good? ” kunot-noo kong tiningnan si Dad.

Anong deal ang pinag-usapan nila? Dad hasn't said anything about the deal, or something, etc.

Nakinig pa rin ako sa usapan nila dad, hanggang sa matapos na. I have to know kung ano ang pinag-usapan nila dad na deal.

“ Dad, ano ang pinag usapan niyo na deal ni Tito? ” agad na tanong ko. Nilingon niya ako at hinawakan ang kamay.

“ It was nothing iha, sa amin na lang iyon ng Tito mo. Prepare for tonight, honey. They’ll be here for dinner, ” Dad said, and left.

Naiwan akong tulala, parang may hindi tama. Kaya siguro gusto ni dad na ipakasal ako kay Diego, dahil may usapan sila ni Tito Edgar. Dad knows that I like Diego for so long, however he didn't even bother, or care about it. Pero ngayon alam kong may binabalak si Dad. It is about business again, sigurado ako.

Perp sige lang, makakasama ko naman si Diego habang buhay.

Thinking about marrying him makes me giggle. Ano kaya ang itsura namin kung makasal na kami ni Diego? Will he be happy to have me?

Dinner time…

The family has arrived, they're elegant as usual, nothing's new to this family. They're the richest among other businesses I know. As a business woman, I know how people's minds go. But in this family, money is everything. They don't care if their businesses are flop, or successful. The Solise family has a bunch of businesses, however it keeps unsuccessful. Pwera lang sa isa, na nasa pamamalakad ng mag-amang Solise. Si Diego, at Edgar Solise. The other businesses they had ay parang katuwaan lang ng pamilya, hindi sila takot pumalya. At kahit pumalya man ang business na iyon ay mabilis din naman silang makakaahon, or makakabawi sa lahat ng ginastos nila sa business na iyon.

Nahihiya akong e approach ang pamilyang ito, dahil sa sobrang taas nila sa kanilang sarili. Lagi nilang sinasabi na hindi daw kami magka-level ng kayamanan. Oo, mayaman sila. Pero mayaman din naman si dad, and my siblings are successful successors in the future,kung hindi mga tamad. And me, I build my own business without the help of those higher ups. Ibang businessman and woman ay umaasa lang din sa ibang mas mataas pa, they invested, but it got wasted kasi bigla bigla na lang pu-pull-out mga investors.

“ Good evening, tita Melissa. ” bati ko kay Mrs. Solise. She just grinned at me.

Sumunod na naman si Allisa. And as usual, lagi niya akong iniirapan. Sa kanilang lahat si Diego at Tito Edgar lang ang walang sayad sa pamilyang ito. I haven't seen, Diego baka late lang siya. Stiffany was here din, Kuya Harold, Kiefer din. Mga attitude na magkakapatid. Tito was talking to dad sa garden, I don't know kung ano pinag uusapan nila.

“ Caroline, asikasuhin mo nga bisita mo. Why are you just standing there? ” Tita Andrea said. She's my stepmom. I have step siblings. Atacia, Clifford, and Mikey Frowline. Lahat din maatitude, pero ako mas matanda sa kanila.

“ Tita, everything was settled, so please, stop commanding me. ” aniko at inirapan siya. We are not close to each other, we are like aso’t pusa everytime na wala si dad.

She's a pretentious bitch.

Nang nasa hapag-kainan na kami ay lahat tahimik, wala pa rin si Diego. It makes me sad, kasi I am really excited to meet him. Nasa edad na din naman ako eh. I am twenty-five years old already. Handa na din naman akong bumukod. Actually, having a family was not in my vocabulary, I know that time will come that I will need someone to be with. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na magkakagusto talaga ako kay Diego. And worst pa is I am in love with him.

“ Sorry, iha.. if Diego was late. I am sure he is on the way, ” Tito Edgar said.

“ Don't mind it, Tito. Okay lang po, ” I said and smiled sweetly.

“ You're always the sweetest, iha. Diego will never deny someone like you. Independent. And at a young age, you already had a business, you're so hardworking. You're really something, unlike my girl. Party-goer. ” he said, which made his daughter roll their eyes at me, Stiffany.

What a shame. I acted as if I am not bothered, pero gustong gusto ko na talaga tusukin mga mata nila. Lalo na itong si Stiffany, super m*****a para namang may binatbat, puro paganda lang alam, at TikTok. Anong business kaya ang alam nitong patakbuhin? Kairita.

Nag-simula na akong kumain nang may biglang nag-interrupt. Ang gwapo ko palang mapapangasawa. I am so in love.

“ Sorry, guys. It was a traffic jam, ” he said, and smiled at me. Oh my god. Akala ko lalabas na puso ko. Sa akin pa talaga nag smile.

I tried to keep my posture, ayaw kong mag wala dito. Kinikilig ako ng sobra. Gusto kong sumigaw, tumuli, at mag wala. Fuxk. Ang gwapo, at ang hot pa. My Diego.

“ You're here, iho. Have a seat, ” sabi ni Dad. Umupo naman si Diego sa aking tabi. I have to calm down.

Huminga ako nang malalim at palihim na binuga ang hangin sa tagiliran ko na hindi nila nahahalata.

“ Hi. ” I stopped. My breathing stopped. My ears are hot. And my heart beat is going crazy. His voice is so fuckin’ hot. Sheesh.

“ H-hi, ” sagot ko naman na hindi pinapahalata kung gaano ako kinikilig.

“ Kain kana, Iho. After this dinner, let's talk about your marriage. ” Tito Edgar said.

“ Is this for real dad? ” tanong ng kapatid kong si Atacia, who has a crush on my future husband.

“ Yes, Iha. This is the reason why we're here tonight, ” wika ni Dad.

Bigla naman akong kinakabahan. Tahimik lang si Diego, hindi ko makita na masaya siya, maybe because he was going to marry me? And was forced?

Nang matapos na kaming kumain ay nasa sala na kami. Lahat tahimik. Hindi ko rin alam kung ano sasabihin dahil ayaw kong pangunahan si Dad. I just hope na hindi ako magsisisi sa desisyon kong ito.

I have no other intention, accepting it has also a benefit for our company. I think, bubukas naman puso ni Diego para sa akin. That he will love me, and accept me as his future wife. Mabait naman si Diego, magiging close kami. And he will fall in love with me.

“ We already talked about the wedding, and Caroline, my daughter, she will set a date. ” Dad said. I was speechless,as they all looked at me.

“ Uhm, I haven't had a date in mind, dad. How about you, Diego? ” nahihiyang wika ko.

“ Next month, ” agarang salita nito. I don't know if he is serious or not, next month agad?

“ Yes, pwede naman next month, habang hindi pa masyadong busy si Diego ay makasal na sila ni Caroline, ” pagsang-ayon naman ni Tito Edgar.

“ So, it is settled? ” tanong ni Dad.

“ It came from Diego, so it's settled. ” sabat ni Tita Melissa.

Lahat ay sumang-ayon na. I know that this is my decision, at sana ay hindi ko to, pagsisishan.