CHAPTER 12

*NEIL POV*

IT'S BEEN A MONTH since the last time I saw Ysabel, and It's making me insane and miserable.

I'm just watching her from afar now, while I'm inside the car with my driver slash bodyguard na hinire ng mommy ko. Up until now, I still can't believe what she had told me that night where I almost lost my sanity.

《Flashback》

As soon as I arrived at the mansion, I hastily went out my car and run inside the house. I saw Era Madrigal - my ex girlfriend -  with my parents who's sitting comfortably in the sofa.

"Mom, Dad, what's happening here?" I ask while looking at them.

I heard my mom sighed heavily and motioned me to have a seat, so I did.

"Neil, my son, your mom and I decided to get you married with Era next month." Dad said calmly.

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya at hindi makapaniwalang napatingin sa kanilang dalawa ni Mommy.

"W-what? You want me to get married with Era? Next month?"

"Yes," Mom said. "Besides naging kayo naman noon kaya hindi na kayo mahihirapan pa na mag adjust sa isa't isa sakali makasal na kayo."

"But mom-

"No buts Neil." Putol ni Daddy sa malamig na boses.

Napatayo ako at walang ganang napatawa sabay baling ng tingin kay Era. "You plan this right?" Matigas kong sabi sa na ikinagulat niya.

"Neil!" My mom shouted  with anger. But I refused to look at her.

"Era, you knew that Ysabel and I are in relationship! So why all of a sudden you agreed to this shit?"

Era looked at me while crying, but she didn't utter a word, instead she look at my mom like she doesn't want to talk and let my mom to say it all.

"Neil, calm down," mom said looking straight to my eyes.

What? How? If I have to marry a woman I didn't love!

"We have to do this for your future. You know it already son, your Brother Jeff already said it to us that he don't want to manage the Hospital." Dad explained.

"So you pass it to me?"

Dad nod his head.

"Wow! Wow! But how about Ysabel?"

"Break up with her. As easy as that." Mom said with no emotion.

I chuckled while combing my hair with my fingers. "Did you hear yourself Mom? Ysabel is my dreamgirl and you know that."

"But she has nothing to give to you! Compared to Era, I'd rather chose her than Ysabel."

'What? Ysabel is nothing? What happen to the "I Really like Ysabel for you Son, she's pretty and kind"?'

"And you are grounded starting now, I hire you a bodyguard-driver. You're not allowed to go outside our house without him," mom said and about to walk away but stop midway and look at me. "And one more thing, first week next month we will announce in public your engagement party."

Those are the last words she said before they went outside with Era, and I was just left alone in the sofa still dumbfounded.

'What the heck did just happen?'

《End of flashback》

"Sir Neil, kailangan na po nating umalis. Mag aalas dose na po." I'm snapped out of my reverie when Mang Ramon - my Bodyguard/driver - suddenly speak.

He look at me with pity. I gritted my teeth and look away. I saw Ysabel with her friends walking fast through the black sedan, and Ysabel looked pale.

"Mang Ramon can you follow that car," kinakabahang sabi ko sa kanya.

"P-pero Sir, mapapagalitan po ako  ni Ma'am Estela. Kailangan po nating umuwi agad gaya ng paalam natin dahil maghahanda pa po kayo para mamaya." Mang Ramon nervously said with worries.

I looked at him. "Mang Ramon please po, kahit sandali lang. Sundan po natin si Ysabel."

Mang Ramon hesitated to follow my order but when he see my face he sighed and nod his head. So I just close my eyes and leaned my back.

"Sige ho," he said and followed Mara's Car. "Sir papuntang Hospital po ninyo ang daan na tinatahak nila."

Napamulat ako bigla ng mata sa sinabi ni Mang Ramon.

'What is happening?'

I immediately went out the car and I heard Mang Ramon shouting for my name. I followed them inside and I saw them talking to the nurse, and seconds later they went to Tita Selena's Clinic - Era's Mother.

'Anong gagawin nila dun?'

My forehead creased and an idea pop in my mind, my eyes widened and I felt my heart beating fast.

'Could it be?'

My phone vibrated and I saw it's my Mom calling. I gritted my teeth in annoyance. I almost lost my respect to them when they decided to engage me to Era months ago.

Someone tapped my shoulder and I saw it's Mang Ramon. "S-sir tumawag po sa akin si Ma'am at tinatanong niya po kung nasaan nadaw tayo."

Napapikit ako nang mariin at lumingon pa saglit sa pintuan ng clinic ni Tita Selena bago tumango at nagpatiunang maglakad palabas ng Hospital.

'Malamang sa malamang, nakasunod na naman ang mga tauhan nila'

Tiim bagang pumasok ako nang sasakyan at sumunod kaagad sa'kin si Mang Ramon, at agad niyang pinaharurot 'yun paalis pauwi nang mansion. Nanlulumong napatitig ako sa establisyimento at napapikit.

'Ysabel my love, I'll come back to you, and I promise i'll find a way to get out of this shit. Please love, wait for me'

I pray while I'm silently crying. I heard the car engine stop but I just close my eyes to calm my self.

"Sir Neil. Nandito na po tayo. Si Ma'am Estela at Sir Franco ay naghihintay sa inyo sa loob." Mahinang sabi ni Mang Ramon bago huminga ng malalim. "Sir, alam kong nahihirapan po kayo, nandito lang po ako Sir kung sakaling maisipan niyong tumakas."

Napabaling ako nang tingin kay Mang Ramon dahil sa sinabi niya. Binigyan ko lang siya nang ngiting pilit, "Mang Ramon gustuhin ko mang gawin yang sinasabi niyo po, pero ayaw kong madamay kayo at ang pamilya mo sa posibleng gawin ni Mommy pag nalaman niyang tinulungan niyo ako."

Nakita ko ang lungkot sa mga mata niya kaya nginitian ko nalang siya at tinapik ng mahina sa balikat bago lumabas nang sasakyan. Then I saw my parents waiting for me inside with Era and her Father, Doctor Edbert Madrigal, and i was shocked that Tita Selena is not here.

Dad cleared his throat and walk near me and tapped my shoulder lightly. "Neil meet your wife's Father, Doctor Edbert Madrigal, he's a surgeon like your Brother."

Tito Edbert smile at me. "Nice to meet you Neil. And I hope that you and my lovely daughter here will have a happy married life together."

I just looked at their happy faces. And my eyes went to the woman I hated now - Era. She looked away when our eyes meet, so I smirked and slowly walk through her.

'You want a show? I'll give you a show'

Her eyes widened when she saw me in front of her. I grab her hand and kiss the back of it while looking at her expressions.

'You're really good at acting babe.'

I smiled sweetly at her before looking at my mom who looked shocked too with my actions.

"When is the wedding Mom?" I said coldly and silently give my self a round of applause for a good acting.

"My beautiful future wife here seems like to get wed at me asap." I continued.

My mom cleared her throat and look at Era. "I-i guess Era decided it already, right hija?"

I almost laugh while looking at them. They're stuttering and looked shocked with my sudden decision of agreeing now with their plans.

"So?" I look at Era and fake a smile. "What's your decision now my future lovely wife?"

"I-i," she stuttered. "I w-want it asap. I mean n-next week."

'So she want it to be special huh!'

"Hmmm," I nod my head. "So... you want to get married next week? .... before your birthday or after?"

"Uhm... b-before Neil."

"Okay.... What my girl wants."

I simply said and walked away. I went straight to my room and locked it before going inside the bathroom and cry.

Cry for my life, and for the love of my life - Ysabel.

"I'm sorry love if I have to do this. Don't hate me love, please, please, please."

I muttered while sobbing, and suddenly remember her going inside Tita Selena's Clinic.

I already have this idea inside my head that she's carrying my child when I saw her awhile ago in the Hospital. I remember our intimate night and I cry again with the thought of her giving birth to our child without me.

"I promise i'll make it up to you love. Just please listen and understand me soon if I explain my side."

《Flashback》

"I love you so much Ysabel." I said lovingly to her while we're in the Domino Restaurant for our third monthsary.

"I love you too much Neil."

I give her a smile while caressing her cheeks with ny thumb. "When we'll get married love?"

"Neil!"

I laughed at her reaction and I reach for her hand and lightly squeeze it. "I'm dead serious of marrying you love."

"I-i know. B-but love, marriage is not as easy as you think."

"I know. But if ever the right time comes, I'll marry you as soon as possible."

Ysabel cry and hug me. "Kahit gusto ko nang magpakasal sa'yo ngayon Neil, alam mong hindi pa pwede hangga't hindi tayo nakakapagtapos."

I hug her back and kiss her hair. "We'll be happy together forever."

"Together forever."

《End of flashback》

'Together, forever '

Napangiti ako nang mapait nang maalala ang salitang 'yun at tumingin sa kawalan.

"I'll make our Dreams come true soon love. I promise."

SHILAMOI || shilamoi