Chapter 27 | Dream

"Andrei was looking for you. Close kayo dati, 'di ba?" si Siñon.

We entered the mall as he opened up the topic.

"Hindi kami close, 'no. Student niya lang ako," I answered.

He didn't speak because I hurried away and searched for a clothing store. Nang may napansin akong magandang brand ay agad akong pumasok rito. I had no plans to buy but I needed distraction and Siñon wasn't the distraction I needed.

"Student pero dinala sa bahay noon?" may pang-aasar sa kanyang tono.

I turned to him while holding a piece of shirt.

"Pwede ba? Ano naman kung dinala ako sa inyo noon? Ayaw mo ba akong nandoon?" I diverted the talk.

He laughed so much that some looked at us. He had been eyed for a while since he himself was out of this place, at a women's store. Plus, he had the perfect built to attract anyone but me.

"Syempre, gusto. I just missed you," pinisil pa niya ang aking pisngi.

"Ano ba?" hinawi ko agad ang kanyang kamay na pumisil.

"Ayaw ko sa lahat ay hinahawakan ang mukha ko," sabi ko.

I couldn't focus picking clothes because of his teases.

"Ganoon ba? Okay," sabi niya kahit natatawa pa rin.

In the end, I bought eight clothes and I wanted to pay for it. The line got long because of our mini argument at the cashier. He wanted to pay for my clothes which I didn't want to. In the end, he won our fight.

Nilibre pa niya ako ng mga sapatos sa sumunod na mamahaling store. Limang bagong sapatos iyon at parang piso lang sa kanya kung magwaldas.

"This is enough!" I declared dahil mukhang balak pa niya ako bilhan ng kung ano-ano.

I seriously could spoil myself alone, he didn't need to do this. I was grateful but nothing more.

"Sure?" he asked, smirking.

I rolled my eyes at him, "Nagmumukha ka ng sugar daddy. Tama na 'to."

His face turned bitter na aking ikinatawa. I teased him more because of it. Hindi rin nagtagal ay bumalik ang kanyang mga ngiti at nakisabay na lamang sa akin.

"I'm surprised na wala kang naging boyfriend kahit noong high school," he said.

"I'm surprised too that you haven't been married," I observed.

I saw how his face became dark but he didn't want to show. Something must be bothering him.

"Or... were you married?" I curiously asked.

Ngumiti siya pero halata mo ang lungkot mula rito, "I am... married. But anyway, hindi na importante iyon. Malapit nang maayos an gaming divorce-"

"What?!" gulat kong tanong.

And he would marry me?

"Yes," he answered.

"What a jerk! Bakit kayo magd-divorce? Dahil lang ba sa company namin? Is that it?" I asked and honestly I needed the right answers.

I didn't like this idea earlier and this reason made me more hate it.

"She cheated on me so wala na akong magagawa pa-" natigil siya sa pagsasalita nang may babaeng lumapit sa amin.

She was tall and beautiful. She wore a black v-neck dress. Simple lang ang make-up at may bahid ng pighati ang mukha.

"S-Siñon," she started.

Siñon turned to her.

"Get lost," he said coldly.

"Let's go, Minah," niyaya na akong umalis ni Siñon but I didn't move.

My sight didn't leave the woman in front of us. She was pleading for Siñon's attention yet this jerk only ignored her. I know cheating is considered bad as the way it is but they are married for heaven's sakes.

Siñon grabbed my pulse but I refused. "Talk to her, please. Don't marry me just because your father wants to-"

"Your company needs us. Wala na kaming dapat pang pag-usapan," he said to me.

"She wouldn't be crying here kung wala na, Siñon," I irritatingly said.

He was acting like a kid. Bakit ba ayaw niyang linawin ang mga bagay-bagay sa kanyang asawa? I didn't know their story but this was way important than me.

"She loves you," I whispered to him.

"No. She cheated," he said.

"Please talk. And siguro may mga anak na kayo, 'di ba?" I guessed.

I got him right there. He remained speechless yet a couple of seconds passed, he lifted me at dinala hanggang sa exit ng mall. Binaba niya lamang ako nang nakalayo na kami roon.

Iritado ako sa kanya at sa mga inasta niya. He should get back to his senses and realize that this scene was ridiculously annoying.

"Seriously?! It is obvious that you still love her!" I said.

"Yes, I still love her but she doesn't!" he yelled back.

"Napakinggan mo na ba ang side niya, Siñon? Nakapag-usap ba kayo ng maigi?" I asked.

"Hindi ko kailangan ng explanation niya-"

"Kailangan mo!" I cut him off.

"Hindi—dahil alam kong magsisinungaling lang ang babaeng iyon tulad ng lagi niyang ginagawa," aniya.

"Look, may mga anak na kayo. Please don't break up with her. Alalahanin mo ang mga anak mong sa inyo pa lang kumakapit. Sobrang sakit para sa isang bata na maramdamang hindi maayos ang kanyang pamilya. Sobrang sakit, non, Siñon," I hissed.

I caught him speechless kaya nagpatuloy muli ako.

"Kung mahal mo ang isang tao, kahit kasinungalingan niya ay paniniwalaan mo, 'di ba? I know it makes you look like an idiot but... that's it."

"Mag-asawa kayo. Dapat ninyong kausapin ang isa't isa. May mga anak kayo. Please," I almost begged.

He sighed. He looked above as if he was problematic and confused. I could clearly tell that he wasn't even ready to marry me. I could see his doubts and worries na ngayon ko lang napagtanto kung bakit.

Maya-maya pa ay tinalikuran niya ako. I thought he would walk away from me to dismiss the topic.

"Tell father that I'll go home late. Umuwi ka ng ligtas, Minah. I'm going to talk to her," he finally said it.

Tumango ako agad. Dahan-dahang sumilay ang aking ngiti sa mukha.

"And please don't marry me. May asawa ka na. May pamilya ka na. Hindi dahil ayaw kong matali kung hindi dahil ayaw ko lang makasira ng pamilya," I told him.

"Wala kang kinalaman dito-"

"I know... but I will forever feel guilty kung nagpakasal tayong may ex-wife ka," I said.

"I understand. Thank you for opening mymind. I'll go," nagmamadali niyang sabi.

Nakahinga ako ng mabuti nang siya'y umalis. I wanted his family to be good. Biktima ako ng ganyang sitwasyon kaya ayaw kong may ibang batang makaranas pa ng ganoon. If only I could dictate each parents what they should and shouldn't do, ginawa ko na.

"Saan pupunta si kuya?" halos mapatalon ako sa lalaking nagtanong sa aking gilid.

I immediately turned around to see him. There was nothing to worry about anyway. His action seemed harmless yet danger didn't left his eyes.

"He's going to talk with his wife," I said at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Hinahanap ka na. Tara," he coldly said.

Tila pa galit ang kanyang naging tono. I disregarded the thought and focused on my way. Tahimik kaming naglakad, ibang iba sa mga nagsisiyahang tao sa paligid. I felt like an outcast with him. His air had been different, noon pa man, ngunit tila ba mas iba na ngayon... mas bawal.

"Oh? Na saan si Siñon? Nilibre ka niya ng mga bagay?" papa asked.

"Yes. He's with his wife. I let him talk with her. May pamilya na pala siya, hindi ninyo sinabi. I don't want to marry him, tito, tita, lolo," I directly said that made them speechless.

"I don't want his family be ruined. Ayaw ko," I said.

I heard papa's deep sigh.

"That's so thoughtful of you, hija," tita said, almost crying, after a minute of silence.

"We understand," tito Andro said, their father.

I concluded that he came here with Math. I remained standing habang lahat sila ay komportable na muli sa upuan.

"So, is the merging postponed?" papa asked, may biro.

Lolo laughed a bit, "No, ayaw kong itigil ang merging dahil kahit walang merging na magaganap, ipipilit ko pa rin itong anak mo na ipakasal sa apo ko."

For a moment, I felt sure that the engagement would be off. Laking gulat at inis ko nang narinig ito mula sa matanda.

"Hindi ko nga alam kung bakit si Siñon ang nagpresinta. Guess he was just too broken these days kaya na-carried away. Good thing you did the right thing, hija," dagdag pa niya.

"Gusto talaga kita para kay Andrei. Iyon ang totoo. I am happy that my dreams are coming true," he said, parang batang binigyan ng candy sa sobrang galak.

I froze. I stand still.

"Noon pa lang ay bagay na kayo ng apo ko. I can't wait for the wedding," he said na agad namang sinang-ayunan nina tito, tita at papa.

"Woah, wait right there po," natatawa kong utas.

I got all of their attention.

"I don't want this marriage with anyone. It's not right that you decide who is for me just because you want to," mariin kong sabi.

"Minah-"

"No, dad. Obviously, our company can be saved by my brothers. Stop putting me into this because it sucks and disgusting," I cut my father's word.

I looked at the family Herjus, they were all stunned with my words.

"I am not anyone's fantasy so stop dreaming things with me involved," I harshly said.

My eyes caught Math's reaction. He looked dismayed.