Our Beneficial Agreement(English-Tagalog)

Chapter 4: Agreed

aril_daine,Sadist Lover to the go po! Nakakaiyak and nakakatawa at the same time :"> 

Xander's PO

"Anak, you're going to marry my bestfriend's daughter. To merge our companies." Bungad sa akin ng tatay ko. Kakauwi ko lang at ito ang bati nila sakin? Tsk.

"Ayoko."

"Son, She's a wonderful girl. She works as a model-" singit ni mommy.

"Iniwasan ko magka girlfriend. Umiwas ako sa mga babae na hindi ko kadugo. Sa tingin niyo sa pagpapakasal papayag ako?!"

"Pero an-"

"No. That's final. I'm going to bed."

Paakyat na sana ako nang. "We'll leave you be." I stopped. "You'll get your inheritance. You'll be independent."

"What? Michael ano to?!" Mom protested.

"Diba matagal ka nang nagrereklamo na bine-baby ka ng mommy mo at masyado kaming madikit sayo? Diba matagal mo na kaming kinukulit na makuha pamana namin sayo? You'll get all of that, just say yes."

I'm 20 years old still they treat me as a 5 year old. Bantay sarado ako lagi, talo ko pa ang anak na babae. They always ask where I go, what time I'm going home and who I'm with. There are times that it's good but I'm getting choked up. I want to be independent. I want to live my life.

"Bakit? All that, just for a yes? What's going on?"

"Wala ka na doon Xander. It's done. You'll get what you want."

Umakyat na ako sa kwarto ko at humiga. Nakakapagod din itong araw na ito.

~~O~~

*bzzzzt*

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Nagising ako sa vibration ng cellphone ko. Naka vibrate pero ang ingay pa din. 15 missed calls. 35 messages. All from dad.

Dad
Dinner with your soon to be in-laws at 7pm. Wear something decent. Evolution Hotel. Do not be late.

Dad
Where are you?! You're late!

Dad
Xander, do you want to get grounded?!

Dad
Hoy bata ka, wag kang talk shit!

Nabigla ako sa huli niyang text. Tumingin ako sa wall clock, 7:20pm. Damn I'm late! I wore my grey slacks and black v-neck shirt and rode a taxi to the hotel. Bago pumasok sa restaurant inayos ko muna ang itsura ko.

Dad introduced me to tito Angelo and tita Angie and of course my fiancée, their daughter, Hannie. I looked at her, may kakaiba. Parang pamilyar siya. Iba sa pakiramdam sa nakikita ko siya sa school.

"Ah yung suplado." Napatingin ako sakanya. She's my fiancée? And oh God how I recalled how she pissed me of this morning. Who'd knew that we would again bump into each other in Samar. She was annoying! I stepped on crap because of her!

There's still this uncertainty about her presence..

I let the thought pass. Kumain nalang ako ng tahimik. Magdamag nagkwentuhan ang mga magulang naming tungkol sa kasal. At itong supposed to be fiancée ko, halatang walang ideya sa mangyayari.

"Hannie and Xander, you are arranged to get married."

Pinigilan kong matawa dahil sa reaksyon ni Hannie. But at the same time I really didn't care. She protested but her mother seemed to persuade her, a little.

"Follow her Xander. Try your charms and persuade her," bulong ni tito Angelo na nakakagulat.

"No offense tito, nirereto mo ba anak mo sa akin?"

Tito Angelo just grinned and answered, "Maybe?. One day you'll know why. Now, go on!"

Kusa nang gumalaw mga paa ko at nakita ko nalang sarili ko naglalakad papunta sa balcony, to Hannie who was leaning forward the rails with the air freely swaying her hair.

This is the first time I'm going to be talking to a girl not school related. Dahan dahan at tahimik akong naglakad papunta sakanya.

"Should I say yes? I want to experience getting married though, that's another thing I haven't done. Ugh. Yes or No?"

"Experience? Marriage is an experience for you?" Iritado kong tanong. Anong akala niya sa kasal? Trip lang?

"Ay tokwa! Don't scare me like that!"

"For your information, marriage is sacred."

"Okay? Why didn't you even flinch about the arrangement?"

"Pumayag na nga ako diba? Weren't you listening to my mom?"

"W-why?" Why is she stuttering? Namumula pa siya. Ano feeling niya gusto ko siya?

"Una, wala akong gusto sayo okay? Baka mali ang iniisip mo. Wag feeling. Pangalawa, personal reasons."

"Bakit ka nga pumayag"

I let out a sigh. "Para malayo sakanila kahit onti, pinalaki nila ako na parang bata. Pumayag ako para makuha ang sarili kong space. Plus, I'll get my inheritance."

"Ohh. I guess I'll agree then."

"Oh? You like me don't you?"

"No way! For experience only! We can have a divorce you know."

"So, are we game?"

"Yeah. Sure. But how about if you fall inlove with me or vice versa?"

"Let's not talk about that for now. When we have time let's talk about dos and don'ts in this arrangement."

We headed back to our table with our parents instigated with Hannie's decision.

"Alright."

"Very good."

"But we are allowed to get a divorce when we want to."

Nakitang kong simulyap si dad kay tito Angelo at tumango sila.

"Sure, why not," masayang saad ni tito Angelo. Bakit ganoon? Parang masyado sila 'Go with the flow'? Kung papayag sila na magdivorce kami kung kalian namin gusto bakit pa sila mag-aarange ng kasal? Ano ba ang pakay nila?

"It will be held after a month and a half, you both would be ready right?."

Hannie and I nodded in accord and answered, "Sure."

Mga 10pm na kami nag-alisan. How time flies. Bago umalis lumapit ako kay tito Angelo na naghihintay kay tita Angie at Hannie na nasa comfort room.

"Tito, hindo po ba masyadong maaga ang kasal?"

"Oh don't worry Xander. A lot can happen in days. May mga pwedeng mangyari na hindi mo aakalain." Bakit parang dumumi ang utak ko? "So then, I bid you a goodnight. Oh and we have a surprise for you and Hannie tomorrow."

We got home safe and sound. However my mind disquieted. I tried to sleep it off but what tito Angelo told me kept on bugging me. I heard tito can be very bewildering when it comes to surprises, kinakabahan na ako.