This is part 1 of Epilogue; I still don't have an idea how many parts I should write in Constantine's POV. Have fun reading!

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"You should be home immediately!" Sigaw ni Mama sa akin sa kabilang linya.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at napahilot ng aking sentido. She wants me to go home and meet the girl that she's talking about. She really wants me to get married right away.

Ang pinakaayaw ko sa lahat ay ang pangunahan ako sa mga desisyong gagawin. Lalong-lalo na sa pagpapakasal.

Marrying someone right now is not a good idea. Marrying someone right now is not a good idea. Marrying someone is something holy and should be taken seriously! Iyon ang gusto kong ipaintindi kay Mama, ngunit, ipinagpipilitan talaga niya ang gusto niyang mangyari.

It happened this once to Kuya Manuel and Melanie, and I don't want this to happen ever again. Kung magpapakasal lang rin naman ako, sisiguraduhin kong sa babaeng mahal na mahal ko gagawin 'yon.

Not to anyone else, not to that girl that my mother's referring to.

"Ma, hindi ako sigurado kung makakauwi kaagad ako riyan. I'm still here in Zambales. Marami akong dapat pagtuonan pa nang pansin." Pagpapaliwanag ko kay Mama sa kabilang linya.

Narinig ko ang marahas niyang pagbuntong hininga at ang kaniyang mga yapak ng paa.

"Constantine, you should meet Dahlia Eleonora Verluz! Anytime she would visit our mansion, kaya, dapat ay nandito ka na! Anak naman, pagbigyan mo naman ako."

Umigting ang aking panga at mas lalo akong nalilito sa mga gagawin ko. Hindi ko na alam kung ano ang dapat kong uunahin, ang kompanya ba, si Mama, o ang party na sinasabi sa akin ni Jonas.

"I'll try my best, Mama. But I can't promise you," mahinahon kong sabi sa kaniya sa kabilang linya.

Nakakunot ang aking noo nang magsasalita pa sana ako ng bigla niyang binaba ang tawag. Marahas akong napabuntong hininga. I tilted my head and massage my neck. Ilang gabi na rin akong puyat nang dahil sa mga meetings na kadalasan ay hating gabi na natatapos. And I still had meetings to attend next week, but I can't make sure that I can attend because of this! 

On leave si Kuya Manuel, kaya ako ang nautosang mamamahala muna pansamantala, dahil ako ang vice president ng kompanya. Maselan ang pagbubuntis ni Melanie, kaya kailangan itong matututokan nang maayos at maalagaan. They're now in Malapascua for a short vacation. Pagkatapos raw na manganak ni Melanie ay babalik kaagad sila sa Manila.

Natigilan lamang ako sa aking mga ginagawa nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan ng aking opisina. Kumunot ang aking noo at pagagalitan ko na sana ang taong iyon nang makita ko ang pagmumukha ni Jonas.

"Aren't you going to the party?" Pagtatanong sa akin ni Jonas nang nakapamewang itong tumingin sa akin.

Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy lamang ako sa aking ginagawa.

"Dude, you're unreasonable! Minsan na nga lang tayo magkakasamang mag-pinsan, tapos hindi ka pa sasama?" Iritadong pagtatanong sa akin ni Jonas.

"Can't you see? I'm damn busy, Jonas." Malamig kong sabi sa kaniya at napansin ko ang pagkunot ng kaniyang noo.

"That is the reason why Tita Ophelia wants you to get married at this early age. Kasi, palagi nalang trabaho ang inaatupag mo," Jonas' sentiments towards me are half the truth. I can't deny the fact that I kept busy to distract myself. 

Jonas is the youngest of the three Fernandez children, Tito Ozicus and Tita Katerine Fernandez. Sa kanilang tatlo ay siya lamang ang mahilig magpalit ng babae. He's a womaniser, I admit that. That is also the reason why Tita Katerine wants Jonas to get married at this very early age. Ang alam ko lang, hindi natuloy ang engagement party nilang dalawa ng kaniyang fiancee. He got mad, of course.

I didn't know the whole story either; the only thing I knew was that he was married now to the same woman he wanted to ditch with. 

"Why? Is there something wrong with choosing a job than getting married to someone whom I don't know yet?" Sarkastiko kong sagot sa kaniya pabalik.

I couldn't concentrate on my work; that's why I chose to stand and go to the table to get some wine to drink. I handed one to Jonas, and he accepted it right away.

"Are you really sure about this, Tino? Everybody is expecting you to come. Darating din sa makalawa ang iba pa nating mga pinsan na anak ni Tito Tomathias."

He is really trying his best to convince me to join the party tomorrow, but I still refuse to come. Mas lalong magagalit sa akin si Mama kung hindi ko siya uuwiin at mananatili na lamang rito sa Zambales.

"Sa susunod na ako sasali, Jonas." Iyon na lamang ang aking nasabi sa kaniya.

Napapailing na lamang ito sa akin at dismayado sa kaniyang mga natanggap na sagot. I already informed them in our chat group that I couldn't really join the party. Kung hindi lang sana magtatampo si Mama, ay pupunta kaagad ako roon.

The party will be held in a special room at the Okada Hotel. 

I have decided to go home and booked a ticket. Pagkarating ko sa airport ay kaagad akong sinalubong ng aking mga kaibigan at sinundo kami ng aming driver.

I insist that I will be the one to drive home. Hindi ako sanay na iba ang magmamaneho ng sasakyan namin sa tuwing bumibisita ako sa rest house namin dito. The reason why I book a flight right away, it is because of Mama. Tumawag ito sa akin kaninang madaling araw at sinabing may nangyaring hindi raw maganda.

I was curious about it; that's why I'm here, together with Paul and Timothy. I actually invite them over to have some fun and drink some beer. Ayokong ipakita sa babaeng iyon na nag-aalala ako sa kaniya. Matagal ko ng iniwan ang bagay na ito pero, mukhang sinusubukan talaga ako ni Mama.

She wants to play this game? Let's play this game, baby.

Ako ang nahuling lumabas ng sasakyan at dumiretso ako sa paglalakad, papasok ng dining area, kung saan sila kumakain ngayon.

I went to Mama's chair and gave her a quick kiss on her left cheek.

"I am so glad you came home early!" Masayang bati sa akin ni Mama, na para itong nabunutan ng tinik.

"I just have a few things that I fixed in Zambales. I received your call this morning, kaya nagmamadali akong umuwi rito. What is the emergency, by the way?" Kaagad kong pagtatanong kay Mama nang maalala ko emergency na tinutukoy niya.

Kumunot ang aking noo nang makita ko ang unti-unting pag-iiba ng ekspresyon ni Mama sa akin. She smiled shyly, like she had done something wrong to me.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba, eh...

Nang dahil sa inis ko ay hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mapalingon sa babaeng tahimik na nakatitig lamang sa aming harapan. My forehead's furrowed when I examined her physical features.

She's wearing a floral burgundy that is shaped like a red sweetheart neckline dress that fits her perfectly. Her wavy, long jet black hair was waving perfectly on her back. Ang maamo niyang mukha ang nagpapainis sa akin lalo. Her almond eyes were hooded, and she has a high cheekbone and a perfectly well-defined jaw. Matangos rin ang ilong nito.

She has freckles and looks vulnerable in front of everyone. Her skin is as white as fair like a snow. It's white, but still soft. Kahit hindi pa nahahawakan ay malalaman mo talaga.

The way she moves, the way she looks at me.

Nabalik lang ako sa realidad nang biglang magsalita si Mama sa aking gilid.

"Hijo, wala naman talagang emergency eh. Nasabi ko lamang iyon dahil alam kong magtatagal ka na naman sa Zambales! I have already told you that your fiancee will visit you this month! Kaya, heto siya. Meet Dahlia Eleonora Verluz."

Napalingon akong muli sa babae nang makita kong dahan-dahan rin itong tumayo at ngumiti ng tipid. Inilahad niya rin ang kaniyang kamay sa akin upang makipagkamayan.

"Nice to meet you, Ms. Verluz." Sabi ko sa kaniya sa isang matigas na ingles.

She awkwardly look at me back and I smirked at her.

"Nice to meet you, Constantine."

"Oh don't bother, just Tino, baby." I said in a husky voice.

Nagulat siya sa biglaang pagsagot ko sa kaniya, ngunit nakabawi naman ito kaagad at hinampas ako ni Mama nang mahina sa aking balikat.

Magbibihis lang muna ako," pagpapaalam ko kay Mama.

I didn't wait for my mother's response to say goodbye to that woman. I didn't look at her back, and I immediately went to my room upstairs. Pinasok niya ang bagay na ito, kaya, susubukan ko rin siya kung hanggang saan aabot ang pasensya niya sa akin.

Women always get what they want. They want pleasure, attention, love, and something else. On the other hand, I love women to satisfy my needs. Of course, I'm a fucking man. I need to fill these cups of mine to have that pleasure again. 

Kung hindi ko sila pinaglalaruan sa isang relasyon, iniiwan ko naman sila at sasabihing hindi ko naman talaga sila minahal. Dahil iyon naman talaga ang totoo.

I didn't take this relationship serious. Lahat nang dumaan sa akin ay pinaglalaruan ko lang sila.

After what happened to my relationship with my brother Manuel, I didn't take relationship seriously. Pakiramdam ko ay lahat sila ay ginagamit lamang ako para sa isang bagay.

They want money? They can actually get it.

They want power? I can actually make her superior in any ways that she wants. Kaya, natatakot na akong sumugal ulit.

After I had dinner with my family and Dahlia, I went to her immediately and talked.

Magkano ang ibinayad sa'yo?"

Iyon ang pambungad ko sa kaniya nang tuluyan na kaming makalabas ng mansion. Her eyes widened even more and she looks pale. Umawang ang bibig nito at hindi alam kung ano ang isasagot.

Hindi rin naman talaga ako naniniwala ma hindi siya binayaran ni Mama. The last three girls that I've met from my mother would always tell me the price of it. I double it even more; that's why my mother will be so confused about why the girls refused to get married with me. 

"A-anong ibig mong sabihin?"  Nauutal niyang pagtatanong sa akin.

"Oh c'me on. I know that my mother paid you to be one of those girls," I  sarcastically said those words to her.

Unti-unti akong lumalapit sa kaniya at unti-unti rin siyang umaatras palayo.

"I don't understand you, Fernandez." She whispered those sentences to me like I was going to pity her for something.

"My mother wants me to get married this year. I didn't disagree with that because I knew it wouldn't happen. I just couldn't believe she did this to me again. I don't like fixed marriages or anything else related to marriage. Kaya, kung inuutosan ka ng ina ko na maging fiancee at maging asawa ko, sabihin mo sa akin. Babayaran kita ng doble."

Her jaw dropped and couldn't believe everything that I have said to her. Matapang itong lumapit sa akin nang dahan-dahan. Hinayaan ko nalang siya sa kaniyang ginagawa.

I let her do the move first. Mas mabuti na nga ito para hindi na ako mahirapan pa.

"Sorry, not sorry, but I am not part of your mother's plan. I am here because I am your fiancee, either you like it or not. You have to deal with me."

I didn't expect those words from her. Mas lalong kumunot ang aking noo at mas lalo akong nainis sa kaniya.

You really want to play this game, woman?

"No, you'll be the one to deal with me. Don't challenge me, woman. I'd make sure you'll fall for me and beg me to marry you immediately. You want that? I'll give you that," I said to her in a baritone voice.

"I won't fall for you, Constantine. The heck? I won't even beg just for marriage."

Talaga?

"You bet?"

She just rolled her eyes to me.

Tatalikuran na sana niya ako nang pinigilan ko siya at mas lalo ko lamang siyang pinalapit sa akin. I carressed her back and move closer to her.

Her sweet candy perfume makes me fucking turn on!

"I'd make sure you're going to be mentally and physically weak just for me. You want to marry a Fernandez, huh? Deal with it." I whispered it to her.

"Is that a threat?"

"Why? Are you threatened? Don't worry, baby, I won't hurt you physically. Well, I can do it, but in bed." Bulong kong sabi sa kaniya, bago ko siya binitawan at iniwan roon sa kaniyang kinatatayuan.

When making decisions, I always make sure that I can stick to them. My principles are firm and too strong to break with someone. Pero, mukhang ako naman yata ang napaso sa apoy at unti-unti ko itong tinanggal sa sarili.

She is a threat to me

A threat that I want to get involved with, forever.

She is a threat that I want to have... forever...