TMBLW 1: The Deal

A slim woman with fair skin, tall, with notepad on her hand, wearing a law suit, and sling bag is walking confidently outside the courtroom. Lumilikha ng tunog ang bawat paghakbang niya dahil sa 4 inches black heels. 

Napatingin naman ang ibang tao sa kaniya dahil sa naturang aura na taglay niya, pero binalewala niya lamang ito. Agad siyang dumeritso sa kaniyang Tesla at doon ay nagpahinga muna saglit ng makapasok sa loob.

Iniisip niya ang patungkol sa kasong marital abuse where her client which is the wife was experiencing violence from her husband (physically) mostly. Naawa siya rito nung natitigan niya ang mukha nitong puno ng bugbog at pasa. 

Napapikit nalang siya at napahilot sa sintido. "Man are all monsters."

Sumandal siya sa upuan niya ng biglang magring ang phone niya sa sling bag na nasa tabi lang niya. Agad niya itong kinuha at doon nakita ang pangalan ng ama. Agad naman niya itong sinagot. 

"Dear Everen, are you done with your case?" tanong ng kaniyang ama.

"Yes dad! Kakatapos palang and there is still another case to fight next month." sagot niya at uminom ng tubig galing sa tumbler niyang kulay black.

"Makakadaan ka ba rito sa company Everen? I have something to discuss with you together with one of our  investors." 

"Sige Dad. I'll turn off the call na. I'll be there in 10 minutes. " she said and she turned off the call.

Agad naman nitong pinaandar ang kotse at agad na nagpaharurot papunta sa kompaniya nila.

Pagkadating niya ay agad niyang pinark ang sasakyan sa parking lot at pumasok ng elevator. Pinindot niya ang 10th floor kung saan located ang office ng kaniyang ama.

Pagkadating niya sa harap ng pintuan ng opisina ay hindi niya alam kung bakit siya kinakabahan. 

Everen POV

Why does it feels like something bad will going to happen? I will not going to like it if ever my instinct is true.

I slowly opened the door widely and dad quicky looked at my direction. Sumunod naman ang lalaking marahan na nakaupo sa harap ni papa habang nakacorporate suit pa ito. He have a well-built body, clean hairstyle, and moreno. 

I closed the door at pumunta sa kinaroroonan ni papa. He smiled at me and I hugged him. He signaled me to sit kaharap sa investor daw namin. He's handsome and looks like he's older than me , 3 years or 4 years? But I don't like his cold aura. 

"You two will going to get married next week." agad akong napatingin kay Daddy ng puno ng gulat.

Ano?! 

"Dad! Di ko nga kilala to eh! How did you even trust your daughter to a stranger?!" reklamo ko at masamang tiningnan ang lalaking nakaupo lang na para bang siya ang boss habang mariin na nakatitig sakin. 

"Don't look at me like that, id*ot!" 

Rinig ko naman ang suway ni Daddy sakin kaya tiningnan ko ito. "Bukod sa investor natin ito, sino itong lalaking ito Dad?" 

"I'm Erickson Silva." rinig kong pagpapakilala nito pero di ko ito binalingan ng tingin.

"He's the one who save our company from bankruptcy Everen. Kaya nararapat na pasalamatan natin siya." 

Ah yun lang naman pala eh. Pasalamat lang naman pala gusto nito bakit kinakailangang may kasal? Baliw lang?

Tumingin ako kay Erickson at kinuha ang kamay niya tsaka nakipag shake hands. "Thanks for helping our company. Makakaalis kana."

I heard my father cough and I looked at him. Madilim niya akong tiningnan at makikitang may pagbabanta talaga sa tingin nito. 

"Why Dad? I am just expressing my gratitude and kindness here. There's nothing wrong about that!"

"Whether you like it or not Everen, you will going to marry Mr. Erickson Silva! Understood? Now sign the document!"

Kinuha ko naman ang nasabing document at binasa. Ang taas pala nito, umabot pa talaga ng 5 pages, parang statement lang ng witness and victims ko sa kaso ah?

Dahan dahan akong nagsign sa ibaba para maclose na ang deal. 

Wala na ikakasal na talaga ako. 

This is coercion! It is against my will! This is under the revised Penal Code! 

Binigay ko naman kay Daddy ang document at ang ballpen. Naiinis ako ngayon! Ayaw kong magpakasal pero si daddy eh! Naninigaw agad! Nakakatakot!

"Thank you for the time you gave for this, Mr. Silva." pasalamat ni papa at tumayo. 

Tumayo narin yung lalaki at nagpasalamat rin kay papa. Nanatili naman akong nakaupo. Bahala kayo diyan! 

"Ill go first Mr. Acosta. I still have some important things to do. " paalam nito kay papa at umalis.

Pagkasira ng pinto ay agad akong pinalo ni papa sa ulo ng folder niyang hawak.

Napahawak ako rito at tumingin sa kaniya na puno ng katanungan.

"I know that Mr. Silva is not your type. But, you shouldn't say those words! He's still our investor!" reklamo ni papa.

Galit na naman siya. 

"I just don't like him and the point that I am getting married to a stranger, not to a person I love."

Halata namang pangit ugali nun! Sa aura palang!

"He offered me a deal. Akala ko after ng pagtulong niya sa company natin ay sapat na ang long-term partnership. Hindi pala. He offered me, na in order to maintain the partnership and to assure na walang aatras, he wants to marry my daughter — and that is you!" 

Napatampal ako sa noo. I understand now. My parents owe him. We owe something from him . Hirap talaga pag you are born in a family like this, an arranged marriage is not impossible. 

"It's okay Dad. I'm a lawyer. I can put him in jail if ever he is going to do bad things on me. I'll assure you that." I said and I gave him a smile.

Sinabihan pa ako nitong baliw dahil daw katiwala tiwala naman ang lalaking iyon. But I insisted. He made a deal, a marriage instead of a partnership. A marriage is not easy, so he's up to something. There's something on him. He didnt do this for nothing, I feel it. 

"So, when's the engagement party dad?" I asked my dad who is now reading something in the folder.

" I'll ask my secretary to find a wedding planner and a designer to design your gown. There's no engagement party." 

Napakunot naman ako. Hindi naman yun kailangan. I can do those things alone.

Pero mas nagulat talaga akong walang engagement party. As in?!

"Dad naman! Di nga ako nakaranas maligawan ngayon pati narin ba engagement party?!"

Ang sasama ah!

"Nag proposed ba sayo? Wala naman 22

diba? Mas magandang deritso kasal Everen. Huwag mo na pa painitin ulo ko at baka civil ang bagsak ng kasalan niyong dalawa!"

"Daddy naman eh!"

He gave me a death glare and I just rolled my eyes. Daddy is taking advantage of me as her daughter here! I'll tell this to mommy. 

"You are already 27 years old Everen! Will you act like one?" 

"Eh yung si Erickson dad, ilang taon na yun? 30 years old? Baka niyan, wala na  siya sa kalendaryo!" saad ko kaya napalo na naman ako ni daddy sa ulo ng folder.

"Daddy naman eh! Masakit kaya!" reklamo ko pero pinanlakihan lang ako ng mata. Sige ganiyan kana pala sa unica-ija mo ah. Mommy ka sakin mamaya!