The Girl Who Cannot Write Love Stories ✓

14: Foreign

Para lang nakalutang lang si Quinn sa ere habang pauwi sa bahay. She couldn't even recall how they have made it out of the venue. Lalo na't umulan ng papuri ang mga tao roon pagkatapos ng announcement ng tatay niya. Halos kuyugin sila ng media pagkalabas na pagkalabas ng hall.

She walks out there with a ring on her finger. It shimmers in darkness as their vehicle move. It almost looks foreign, so out of place with the bareness of her hand. Parang ang bigat tuloy ng daliri niya. And she doesn't think that what's dragging her down is the weight of the authentic gemstone. Iba ang bigat na nararamdaman niya ngayon.

Ang naaalala niya na lang kanina, she's about to protest. Balak niya sanang magreklamo at magtanong kay Ethan. Ngunit pagkalingon niya ay nakaluhod sa harap niya ang binata with a velvet box at hand. The ring shines and flickers. Para siya nitong binubulag. She looks fambled. Kaagad na nag-init ang sulok ng mga mata niya kahit na naghihiyawan ang lahat.

She's blinded by the flashes of light everywhere. At napuno ng kantyawan ang lugar. Everyone's urging her to accept the proposal.

She looks for solace amidst the crowd but is quickly disheartened when she sees her father smiling, even encouraging her to accept the ring. "Please accept it, mi hija. For the sake of our strong relationship with the Vernons."

Kahit nanglalabo ang mga mata niya ay hinanap niya si Jae sa dagat ng tao. Pigil na pigil siya umiyak sa harapan ng lahat. She doesn't want to take a pity party.

Ngunit mula sa stage ay hindi niya ito mamataan sa pinag-iwanan nilang lamesa.

And then she looks back at Ethan. He's smiling, yes. But then his eyes... are as if begging her to say yes so they could run away.

So they have fled the scene.

"All along, alam mo na 'tong plano na 'to?" She asks Ethan without facing him. Nakakabinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa kanila kanina pa na halos rinig na niya ang buga ng aircon sa sasakyan.

"I'm sorry, Quinn." Napapikit siya sa sagot nito.

Paano nito nagawang maglihim sa kaniya ng gan'to kalaki? Akala niya ay mabait ang binata. Kaya ba eksperto nitong kinuha ang loob niya kahit magkakilala palang sila? Para hindi siya makawala sa desisyon ng iba?

"I like you, Quinn. I truly do," Ethan says. Ano 'to pampalubag loob?! Is that supposed to woo her?

What's there to like anyway? She has been called boring too many times. Ano naman kaya ang nakita ng lalaki sa kaniya? For all she knows, pinagpipilitan lamang nito ang sarili sa kaniya. At paano na si Alayah?

"Is this all about my father? Don't worry, I'll talk to him," she convinces him.

Rinig niya ang buntong hininga ng binata. She eyes him and she could see determination in his eyes. He looks like he has long accepted this decision. Has he been conditioned for too long? Siya lang talaga itong walang alam? And what's all that for? Para hindi peke ang maging reaksyon niya at magulat talaga siya sa proposal?!

"It is already decided, Quinn. We must accept it." Nagpakawala muli ito ng malalim na hininga.

"Tangina," hindi niya na mapigilang magmura. "Decided by who?!"

"Our parents..."

Parang gusto niya nang maiyak sa kausap. Mukhang mabilis lang itong nagpaubaya, like their lives aren't controlled! She wants to shriek in horror.

"So if they say die for me, you'll jump off the cliff?" Paghahamon niya rito. She couldn't fathom his mindset. Bakit ang dali lang dito magpa-alipin sa iba?

"And what about Alayah?" She raises a brow at him.

Akala niya ay hindi na ito sasagot. Pero matapos ang mahabang katahimikan ay sinabi nito, "It doesn't matter. This has been long decided."