Forbid Me: Affair Series 1 (COMPLETED)

Part 2

Chapter Two

I heaved out a heavy breath as I stared at the woman who was hopelessly staring back at me in the mirror. The heavy makeup designed for this occasion and the crystal beads that adorned my hair was not enough to hide the sparkle of sadness in my eyes. Kung buhay pa ang kapatid ko ay sana hindi ako ang nasa sitwasyon na ito. It should be her who's sitting now in this hotel room. She should be the one who's dressed up for this occasion and not me. But what can I do?

Another sigh escaped my lips, I signed for this one and I should be responsible for this. I forced out a smile kahit na sumasakit ang ulo ko sa kakaisip. My practiced smile, whenever I'm in front of the crowd, is plastered in the mirror. The smile everyone thought was genuine, but it was the opposite. I can do this.

Nabaling ang tingin ko sa pinto nang may kumatok doon at pumasok ang isa sa mga pinsan ko, si Evany. Alanganin siyang ngumiti sa akin.

"Okay ka lang ba? Pinapatanong ni tita kung ready ka na ba?" she asked me. Her eyes told me a thousand unspoken words. Inayos niya ang tiara na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at tinitigan niya ako mula sa salamin. she squeezed my exposed shoulder and leaned on the side of my head.

"You know you can always say no. Hindi mo kailangang sundin ang lahat ng sinasabi nila," she stared at me like urging me to do things my parents won't like. Sa lahat ng pinsan ko, si Evany ang pinaka mature mag-isip. It's like she always has the right words to say sa lahat ng mga sitwasyon. Situations like this.

Tumango ako sa pahayag niya. Alam kong puwedeng-puwede akong huwag sumunod sa mga utos at gusto ng mga magulang ko pero mas pinipili ko na sundin sila. I don't have any choices, anyway. Either way, they still got hold of me even if I defy them.

Mapait akong ngumuti sa kanya at hindi pinansin ang mga pahayag niya. "I'll be out in a minute."

She squeezed my exposed shoulder lightly before she let out a sigh. "Okay, nasa labas lang ako."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang pag-alis niya. Binaling ko ang tingin pabalik sa salamin. I guess this is my fate. Ito ang ibinigay ng tadhana sa akin, maybe I should just suck this up and move on. I can still live a life even if I'm married. Niu isn't that bad. Uubusin ko na lang ang pera niya sa pagsho-shopping para naman makaganti ako kahit papaano.

Nang lumabas ako sa kwarto ay nasa labas na ang mama at papa ko. My dad is a very strict businessman who has no room for mistakes and my mom just follows whatever my dad wants. I guess I'm just like my mom, walang boses at dapat nakasunod lang sa lahat ng ipaguutos niya.

I saw unshed tears at the corner of my mother's eyes. Mapait ang ngiti niya para sa akin, it's like she knew what I was going through right now. Ginagap niya ang kamay ko at malambing na hinaplos ng kaliwang kamay niya ang pisngi ko.

"My princess is going to be someone else's queen now. You're going to leave me already," may pagmamaktol sa kanyang boses. My adorable mother.

Mahina akong natawa sa tinuran niya. "Ma, ikakasal lang ako. Kung maka react ka parang pupunta akong pluto." I joked. This is what I do best, hide all my emotions. This is what my father always told me when I was young. Never let anyone see through my eyes. The eyes are the only part in the body where weakness can be seen. It is the eyes that cry when one is sad and happy. And I've mastered the art of hiding everything that can be seen through my eyes. I let them see what I wanted them to see. And this is me, showing the world that I'm happy with this marriage.

At hinding-hindi ko ipapakita sa ama ko kung gaano ako kahina.

My father cleared his throat which brought my attention back to the present. He was standing tall and dominant beside my mother. Nabaling ang tingin ko sa kanya, his eyes were sharp and intense. Gaya ng palagi niyang sinasabi sa akin, hindi ko mabasa kung ano ang nasa isip niya. His face was blank and empty like he does not care for anyone in this world. Mahina akong natawa sa loob ko, I don't know if I should be thankful to have a father like him but it seems like I should feel the opposite.