"When I wished for a one-of-a-kind marriage, this isn't what I meant," sabi ko sa lalaking kaharap ko na abot-langit ang ngisi. If I didn't know any better, iisipin kong sabik itong makasal saakin but the situation was much more complicated than that.

I just met him 3 days ago, in this cruise ship. Our mothers' got into a catfight with each other for the pettiest thing. Since then, they've been at each other's throats at every chance they get.

They were here because of his cousin's wedding, habang kami ay nagbabakasyon lang.

Tired of our mothers' incessant quarrels, we decided to prank them and get them to agree on something for once.

Magpapanggap kaming magpapakasal just to annoy them back. It was a stupid idea but we both agreed just for the sake of fun.

May singsing pa kami na kusang ibinigay sa kanya ng pinsan niyang kakakasal lang. It was their old engagement rings. Kinuntsaba rin namin iyong paring kumasal sa kanila. Surprisingly, he was okay with it.

Matapos naming ianunsyo sa ina namin iyong plano naming biglaang pagpapakasal at makuha ang nakakatawa nilang reaksyon, tumakbo kami sa mini-chapel ng barko at humabol naman sila habang mariing tumututol.

"Maria Karina! I forbid you to marry that man! Quentin! Do something!" baling ni Mom kay Dad na chill lang na sumunod. Umupo ito sa upuan ng chapel at tinuloy ang pagbasa ng magazine na binabasa niya kanina, ganoon din ang ama ni Kaiser.

On our cue, the priest immediately skipped to the questioning part.

"Do you, Kaiser Corinthian Villafuerte take Maria Karina Ramirez as your wif--" agad nagtanong ang pari pero sinapawan siya ng nakabibinging sigaw ng ina ni Kaiser.

"Kaiser! Don't you dare!"

He chuckled. "I do."

Bumaling naman iyong pari sa akin. "Do you Maria Karina Ramirez, take Kaiser Corinthian Villafuerte as your husband to have and to hold, 'til death do you part?"

"I do," tugon ko.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

"Do it on the corner of my lips so it looks like we're kissing," bulong ko at tumango naman siya. Pagdampi ng labi niya, agad bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko.

"Maria Karina!/ Kaiser Corinthian, get a divorce right now!" sabay na sigaw ng mga ina namin.

Nagulat ako ng biglang binuhat ako ni Kaiser ng bridal style. "Let's escape, my beautiful fake wife," nakangisi nitong sabi at itinakbo ako palayo.

...

"May I have a dance with my wife?" naglahad siya ng kamay. We were on the top deck of the ship hiding from our parents pero rinig parin hanggang dito ang tunog ng malumanay na musika.

"Of course." tinanggap ko ang kamay niya at nag-umpisang sumayaw sa ilalim ng buwan at bituin.

He encircled his arms around my waist. I noticed him staring so I stared back. "You're breathtaking," biglang sabi niya at ang tanga kong puso ay nagwawala nanaman.

We spent the last 2 days hiding from our family and basically just goofing around the cruise ship. We also did that scene in Titanic where Jack holds Rose in edge of the ship, the only catch is I was Jack and I was holding him.

Sa huling araw ng cruise, napagpasyahan na naming sabihin na sa aming mga ina ang totoo, na palabas lang ang lahat. Muntik naman silang atakihin sa puso dahil dito.

Just like that, it was over.

Our days together flashed through my mind. Suddenly it felt bittersweet. Our make-belief fairytale's over. We'll never meet again. Soon, I'll just be some girl he met and he'll completely forget.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. Agad kong hinanap si Kaiser at tiyempong nakasalubong ko siya. "I was looking for you! I was thinking--"

"Isasauli ko na iyong singsing." mabilis kong sabat sabay hubad nung singsing at inilahad sa kanya. "We're done pretending. Baka ito na iyong huling pagkikita natin at di ko maisauli." Nag-iwas ako ng tingin dahil nag-iinit na iyong sulok ng mata ko.

"Do you believe in fate?" bigla niyang tanong kaya napalingon ako at umiling.

"Then let's say by coincidence, we meet by chance again. You can return it to me." Kaiser held my hand and inserted the ring back to my finger. My heart began beating loudly again.

"Kaiser, let's go!" masungit na sigaw ng mama niya habang papababa ng barko.

"It was nice knowing you, fake Mrs. Villafuerte. " He smiled and kissed the back of my hand. Just like that he walked away.

'Look back! Please look back!' pipi kong usal. I watched as his figure slowly disappeared and not once did he look back.

Tears welled up my eyes.

Gaano ba ako kabilis magmahal at masaktan?

I think I'm already broken just as I was falling for him.

Damn.

-END-