Arrange To You (Tagalog)

Yeah, right. He's my husband and I'm her wife. Great. A fucking television show indeed. "Like what?" pa asik kong tanong.

"Your father asked me to marry you. He wants me to be your husband and assured that all the assets will be given to you and not Roseanna." Nagpantig ang tainga ko sa narinig. My mind is filled up with many questions that only Wayde can

answer.

"How about you? Bakit ka pumayag na pakasalan ako? We don't know each other yet you agreed to be arrange with me."

He shifted his motion and sat on my bed. And again, mas lumayo ako ng bahagya sa kanya. Wayde leaned his back in the headboard on my bed sideways. Humalukipkip ito at ipinikit ang mga mata.

"Marriage is nothing for me. I don't value sacraments like that before. I was busy building my own community in the field of business industry. I don't really mind if I marry you. I don't care who you are and what you look like. As long as I get my share and I got my benefit."

I admit, there's a part of me na nanlumo. If only the circumstances was different, then I shouldn't be feeling this way towards him.

Pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko. Marami pa akong kailangang marinig na kasagutan sa kanya. As what as Clayton said, I need to hear his side before considering my actions next.

"Didn't you think about my reaction too? Na hindi pa ako handa sa mga ganitong bagay?" I rebutted.

"Yes, I did, but your father is persistent. Three years ago, I met your father while I'm still a start up in business. May nagtangkang pumatay sa kanya and it's a good thing that I was there to saved him. That's when our friendship started."

I'm very much aware of the threats that my dad had gotten for the past years. But he didn't even tell me a single thing about Wayde. Or I was just busy distancing myself away from him.

"But I heard you, Wayde... You're talking to Roseanna about stealing money from my dad's company." Halos hindi ko na matuloy-tuloy ang pagsabi ng mga katagang 'yon.

He heaved a deep sigh once again..

"It was your father's idea. I'm Roseanna's adopted son. Bata palang ako ay inuutusan na niya akong magnakaw ng mga mahahalagang papeles na makakakuha siya na malaking halaga. I grew up in foster home, Celestia. And I thought, it's a normal thing to do. Stealing documents, and such. Dahil iyon ang nakamulatan ko."

Unti-unti akong nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya at nakita ang pagod sa mukha niya. I always see him being so compose and even his words are calculated sometimes. But his different today. He looks weary and worned out. "When I reached sixteen, I got fed up and was able to realized that what I was doing was completely wrong. I ran away from her. I worked despite not having a single penny in my pocket. May mga pagkakataong hindi ako kumakain dahil igagastos nalang sa mga bayarin sa bahay. Those times were the hardest for me, not until I came across your father. My life changed." He paused for a while.

Nagu-guilty ako. All those times that I eas being served by our servants and was given an extravagant life. There are people like him who's suffering. Na parang pinagkaitan sila ng kasiyahan ng mundo. That they need to endure more suffering and deal with the hard situations they were in.

"I was still building up my business that time and I didn't know much about it. He helped me and guide me to the things I'm still not used to. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa ama mo, Celestia. And I promised to myself that I would give back to him someday."

"Then one day, your father proposed to me that I should marry his only daughter. I was opposed at first since I'm thinking about your reaction too. Yun din ang oras na nalaman ko na may masamang balak ang ina-inahan ko. Your father is too protective and would give up anything just for you. Kailangan ka niyang ilayo bago isagawa ang mga plano niya. And just incase if he... die, he can assure that his daughter is in good hands and well taken care off. He knew he shouldn't forced you to these things, pero para sa ikapapapanatag niya, he did."

Naramdaman ko ang pag-init ng sulok ng mga mata ko. Napailing-iling ako.

Daddy...

Now I understand. I was too caught up when my own emotion. Pansariling kagustuhan ko lang ang iniisip ko. My feelings were invalidated, yes. But I should have asked him. Sana ay tinanong ko siya kung meron pa 'bang rason kung bakit niya ako ipapakasal sa iba.

Maybe... none of them would happen.

But you wouldn't meet Wayde in this lifetime too, Celestia.

Wayde looked at me, "your father also told me to investigate my parents. Akala ko ay baka buhay pa ang mga magulang ko at masisilayan ko pa sila. But I was wrong... Roseanna killed them. Pinalabas niya na aksidente lahat at ulila nako. Just because she could adopt me and do her plans. It gives me the urged to accept your father's offer and put Roseanna behind bars." His voice cracked and that's when I knew that he needed comfort.

I reached out for him and throw myself into him. Kaagad naman niya akong nasalo. He hugged me tightly and before I could even noticed, his muffled sobs echoed the room. Isinubsob niya ang mukha niya sa dibdib ko at mahigpit ang pagkakahawak sa akin.

"I'm..." nagbaba ako ng tingin. "I'm sorry... for judging you too early. I'm sorry for being so selfish, I really do. I was caught up by my own emotions. I'm a brat to those people who's against my own will." I sincerely said while comforting him. "S-She killed my parents, Celestia," hinagod ko ang likod niya. Tears also bewailed in my eyes. Para siyang bata na naghahanap ng aruga sa magulang niya. It must been so hard for him throughout the years.

"I accepted the proposal without having the assurance of what would come ahead. Kailangan kong paniwalain si Roseanna na bumalik na ako sa kanya. So I need to pretend in front of her. Fuck, I don't even have the plan to steal money from your father's money nor someone's."

"Just cry... let it out, Wayde..." it's the only thing that I could do for him. It may be a least thing to make him feel better, but it surely does help.

"That day when Roseanna asked you to marry someone, it was all set up. Roseanna thought that I'm into her side to manipulate the both of you. Kaya siya nagalit nang malaman niyang tumakas ka. But when she found out that you're staying under my roof, she got happy and asked me to make you fall for me. But I wouldn't let myself fall into her trap, instead, I'm the one who fell for you."

Tila may humaplos sa puso ko nang sinabi niya yun. I refrained myself from smiling and just listened to him. Who would have thought that the circumstances would go this way?

"I'm ready to take your anger towards me if you ever found out. But so you know, what I acted towards you and the things that I told you... you don't have to doubt it because all of that is true." Unti-unti akong tumango.