Novel & Cerita Arranged Marriages

tanong ng abogado ni Valeria, “isn’t it true that you married Mr. Velasquez not out of love, but because of an arrangement? An arrangement that gave you status and wealth?” Parang sampal ang tanong, pero hindi siya natinag. Huminga siya ng malalim. “Yes, it was an arranged marriage. Pero hindi ibig sabihin nun na kaya ko siya minahal. Love doesn’t always start the traditional way. And I would never destroy someone else’s life just to keep mine.” Nag-ingay ang courtroom. Halatang nagulat sa diretsong sagot niya. Muling sumugod ang abogado. “But isn’t it true that you’re jealous of Ms. Cruz? That you’ve always been threatened by her presence in your husband’s life?”

Kahit hindi man nila sabihin, alam kong bago pa man ako sumang-ayon sa pagpapakasal kay Kiel, gusto na talaga nila 'yun, baka nga hinihiling pa nila na um-oo agad ako. But that time, when they decided to marry me to Kiel, I was a bit stunned. Maliban sa kadahilanang ayaw ko, alam ko rin kasi ang isang bagay na hindi sinasang-ayunan ng pamilyang Sarmiento, ay ang arranged marriage. That's why it was questionable for me that time, even if our businesses are about to fall, hindi talaga pwede as much as possible sa pamilya namin na pumasok sa arranged marriage. Pero dahil tiwala naman ako sa mga magulang ko, sumang-ayon din ako.

I'm sure hindi ako lasing kagabi so I'm perfectly sure of what I was talking and hearing. "Party? Iba talaga ang mga mayayayman. You all party a lot," Carol commented. "Not really. Ngayon lang kasi may Marriage Season." "Marriage Season?" She asked. "What blasphemy is that?" "I know," Lev chuckled. "Well, children from the elite families could meet other children to find a match. If they found their match then they should marry." "What for?" "Family Status. I don't fully understand the objectives but I still followed what were asked from me," Sagot ni Lev.

"Hindi pa rin. Pero pupunta rito sila Mommyla mamaya, kasama si Daddylo at Tita Baby. Mukhang i-inform na rin nila si Mom at Dad, lalong-lalo ka na Faithfully, dahil aware ka naman na sa ating tatlo, ikaw ang mauunang sakalin–no. Ikasal pala." Natahimik si Faith. Yes. Aware siya roon. They were oriented about the arranged marriage by their Lolo Don A back when they were just teenagers, and they all agreed because it's a long-standing tradition in the Lee Family. Isa pa, sa sobrang lawak ng kayamanan ng kanilang Lolo Don A, kahit silang mga anak ng apo nito–si Ace Lee–ay napaglaanan nito ng hindi birong mana.

"Respect?. Dad, are you serious?. How can I respect this man, huh?!" "Because he is your soon-to-be-husband, Zevianna?. We arrange the wedding for the both of you".

mahabang litanya ni Marco pero nakangiti ito na halatang inaasar lang naman ang babae. Umikot ang mga mata ni Nickelle. “Akala mo ba hindi napabalita sa opisina ang pagpapakasal mo sa ibang babae? Masakit ‘yun ha?” Huminto si Marco sa bukana ng hagdanan at saka umikot para lingunin ang babae. “Arranged marriage nga.” “So, totoo nga?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babae. Ngayon lang niya nakumpirma ang lahat.

“Hindi siya ang dahilan kung bakit hindi kita magawang mahalin, dahil kahit anong pilit ko ay wala talaga akong maramdaman sa’yo.” Biglang tumahimik ang paligid, at tanging paghikbi lamang ni Ada ang maririnig. “Bago pa tayo ikasal…” Mahinahon niyang ipinagpatuloy. “Alam na nating pareho na arranged marriage lang ito. Pareho nating alam na hindi tayo ang pumili sa isa't isa.” Napaatras si Ada na para bang sinampal siya ng katotohanan.

"I mean, your family owns businesses. Sabi sa'kin nila Hailey dati, kadalasan daw ay kailangang magkaroon ng sariling pamilya ang magiging tagapagmana sa business ng mga kagaya niyo na mayroong mataas na estado." "Is it still bothering your thoughts, Isla? The things about arranged marriages." He softly asked. "The Altamirano clan has multiple businesses. The first generation until the parents of our generation believes in arranged marriages. Minsan, para maisalba ang kompanya. Pero kadalasan ay para maipasa ang title." Sandali akong napaisip sa isinagot nito sa'kin. His family arranged his marriage with Ate Xyline to save their

Pero habang namumulat ako sa reyalidad ng buhay, napagtanto ko na hindi lang pag-ibig ang maaaring maging dahilan ng isang pagsasama. There's this thing called arranged marriage that probably everyone hates. And because I was one of the luckiest humans in the universe, I was fated to have such a set-up. A fate that was meant to make me suffer. A moment of silence enveloped us. Wesley continued staring at me as his lips slowly formed into a devilish grin.

Siguro dahil sarili kong gawa na pinaghirapan ko din, at di ako sigurado kung lasang… fruit salad nga ‘to. Tumunog ang phone ko. Napatitig ako sa screen ng phone ko… yung sinet na schedule ni Secretary Taki tungkol nga sa unang paghaharap namin ng babaing yun. Ngunit ang haharap talaga sa babae, ay isang trahedya. Tsk. Arrange Marriage, isang klase ng pagiging social climber ng isang pamilya. Akala nila makukuha nila ang hinahangad nila ng ganoon kadali.