Proposed Marriage 소설 & 이야기

“And they’re together now?” “They’re not lovers, they were married before and they just got their divorce as well.” “So your marriage with her is not valid?” “It’s valid of course, hindi naman ako nakikipaglaro lang ng bahay bahayan.” “But you said–” “I’ve waited sa approval ng divorce nila at tsaka ako nagpropose sa kanya.” “I see,” tugon niyang may alanganing ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

This is not the end of our story, but this is a new chapter and we'll surely face it together. First love never dies, indeed. Mr. and Mrs. Carter are now signing off. And our contractual marriage is now officially null and void. But the marriage of love will remain valid forever.

I answered every question honestly in English, even explaining why I needed this arrangement in the first place. “My grandfather—Hudson Hutsonville Sr.—is turning eighty next month,” I said. “He’s been pushing me to get married for years, saying the company needs a stable leader with a family to ensure continuity. He has a heart condition, and his doctors say stress could be dangerous for him. If I don’t show him I’m ‘settled down,’ he’s threatening to name my cousin as his successor instead of me.” Tita Mona frowned. “Ang iyong pinsan? Hindi ba siya kwalipikado?”

Natawa ang lahat sa tanong na iyon. “Hindi ‘ko na kasi kailangan pang magplano ng proposal just for show.” ani Marion. “Marami pa namang chances to organize a romantic dinner and all, lalo na’t kasal na kami. That time when I proposed, ‘yon na yung gut feel ‘ko na that was the right time to propose. Ang sabi ‘ko sa kanya, saka na ‘ko babawi sa romantic dinners, pero mag-yes muna s’ya sa proposal ‘ko.”

"No. Alam kong kailangan mo ng pera at kailangan ko rin ng mapapangasawa. Don't worry, it's a contract marriage only. I'll marry you not because I love you, but because I need you to forget." Seryosong sabi ko. Hindi siya umimik. Tiningnan niya lang ako sa mga mata ko. "I promise, tutulungan kita sa lahat ng problema mo. Sa bahay, sa mga utang ng Dad mo." Muling sabi ko. "I'll think of it, Wade. Just me give some time."

Must be! He deeply hates nosy people with a burning passion as much as he hates anything that is related to wedding. Yeah, he was being unreasonable, some people say. That fúcking failed marriage proposal not only caused him to lost his sexual appetite, but also an irrational and unbridled antipathy for wedding.

Habang nasa shower biglang sumagi sa isip ko ang boses ni Hugo. “Marry me. Problem solved…” Ipinilig ko ang ulo ko. That might just be an imagination. Hindi pa naman siguro ito nasisiraan ng bait na mag-propose sa isang gaya ko na isang hamak na empleyado. And if ever Hugo did propose, surely, not for me. I was sure his marriage would also mean business. Tiyak na ipagkakasundo rin ito sa isang babae pareho ang kanilang status.

Walang bakas ng lalaking nakasama ko kagabi sa ilalim ng kumot. “Excuse me?” nasambit ko sa wakas. “Naia,” muling sabi niya, calm pero firm. “I’m proposing a contract marriage.” Tumingin ako sa paligid. Kay Lorraine na halatang hindi makapaniwala. Kay yaya Minda sa gilid, nanonood na parang may teleserye sa harapan niya. At kay Ammir ulit—na para bang walang ibang tao sa paligid kundi ako lang.

Kaagad kong kinuha ang phone ko at inexit lahat ng apps. Napansin ko naman ang matalim na tingin ni Thaddeus pero hindi ako nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya. The email I was reading was a proposal marriage arrangement from the Malaria Family. Matagal na iyon, pero laging nade-delay ang kasal namin ni Xian Malaria, dahil sa hindi ako ready at ayoko, at ayaw din ni Xian. But both of our parents keeps pestering us.

I mean, there is a possibility that people might see it a valid excuse already. “It may look valid but not a strong one," aniya. "We need to be careful about this. The last thing we want is for them to speculate that everything's planned." Napaisip ako. He is right. Baka mabuking kami. Pero kung hihintayin kong makasal kami, baka tuluyan na lumubog ang kumpanya. We cannot marry each other right way. It would look even more suspicious.