KRISTINE SERIES 25: Have You Looked Into my Heart?

CHAPTER 12

"MAGPAPAKASAL!"

"Ouch!" Inilayo ni Jared ang telepono sa tainga.
He grimaced, half-amused. "Yes, Carrie honey. Umaasa akong makakarating kayong mag-asawa sa Marinduque." Sinulyapan niya si Serena na natatanaw niya sa nakabukas na pinto ng drawing room at kasalukuyang kausap ni Yaya Lucita. Kinindatan niya ito at pagkatapos ay ibinalik ang atensiyon sa kausap sa telepono.

"Ikaw mismo ang nagsabi sa akin noong kasal ng kapatid mo na wala kang pakialam sa habilin ng lolo mo, Jared," ani Carrie sa kabilang linya. "And that you can't be manipulated. Kaya naman nang magkausap kami ni Jordan bago sila nagtungong mag-asawa sa Caribbean ay nagpahiwatig na siyang mawawala na nang tuluyan sa papa mo ang Batangas mill. So, what could be the cause of this sudden turn of events?"

"A twenty-five-year-old green-eyed beauty,
Carrie. Promise, you will like her. She's as sweet
as Adriana."

"I am sure this is not a love match, Jared, and
don't lie to me about that," patuloy ni Carrie.

Jared was amused. He could picture her aunt
pacing around the room agitatedly.

"Unlike my brother, alam mong hindi ako
sentimental, Carrie. Jordan didn't want to relinguish the Batangas mill for sentimental reason. And what I told you on his wedding was also true. But somehow, guilť's been eating me. Alam ko kung gaano kahalaga sa Papa ang mill. Then I remember this green-eyed beauty I met a few days ago... not my type really but I thought she was perfect-"

"Did you tell her about the reason for this
marriage?" Carrie said, cutting him off. "At paano mo siyang napapayag, knowing that your emotions are not involved? How much did you offer her? And how can you expect me to like her if she is marrying you for your money?"

"Whoa... whoa!" He was torn between amusement and irritation. "Calm down, Carrie.
She isn't marrying me for my money. Her family's well-off."

Narinig ni Jared ang buntong-hininga ng tiyahin sa kabilang linya, "I am not worried about the codicil anymore, Jared. Eh, ano kung mauwi kay Ryan ang Batangas mill. But somehow, I wish you to fall in love," she said wistfully.

He grinned. "You know I am always in love,
darling..."

"Dammit, Jared, be serious!" muttered Carrie.
He laughed. "How unladylike."

"Pumanhik kayo rito sa Baguio at ipakilala mo
sa akin ang babaeng iyan-"

"She has a name, Carrie, she's Serena."

"Oh, okay. I want to meet Serena. Ako ang
magpapasya kung dapat mo siyang pakasalan. You still have time, for heaven's sake! And what about Kathleen--oh, lord! Tell me who's the lesser evil?"

"Trust me on this, honey. Serena's nothing like
Kathleen."

"I really hope so, Jared. And you haven't
answered my question. Paano mo siya napapayag?" Inulit nito ang tanong.

"We feel in lust with each other, my dear.."
Pinagtawanan niya ang sariling pahayag, pagkatapos ay sumeryoso. Nagbuntong-hininga at sa mahinang tinig ay, "We were actually kissing and groping in the dark when the aunt caught us. At alam mo naman ang mga matatanda-"

"Pinikot ka!" Carrie screamed the words
hysterically. "I can't believe this!"

"Calm down. 'Nagpapikot' is more likely," he
said, mas binabaan pa ang tinig. Pagkatapos ay sinundan iyon ng halakhak. "Pero sinamantala ko na ang pagkakataon para ilahad ang sirkumstansiya ko. You know how I hate deception. As that old saying goes: ang pagsasabi ng tapat ay pagsasama nang maluwat. So, there, bukas ay babaiik na kami sa Marinduque. We'll be married in three days' time."

"Why so soon, Jared? Bakit hindi ninyo hintaying makauwi muna sina Jake at Alexa?"

"The last time I talked to my father, he said
the bank wanted him to stay for another couple of weeks," he said. "Alam kong gusto nang umuw ni Mama noong malaman niyang magpapakasal si Jordan, but that conference in Geneva was too important. Jordan and I both know that the merger wasn't going to be easy. And I think Jordan will join them in Geneva before taking off to Caribbean, That
was why they shortened their stay in Paso de Blas."