Pretending with the Snob (Pyxis #1)

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 – In another life

What a weird dream.

Me? Fighting my own grandfather? As if I'd win. Bugbog sarado nga ako ng mga sensei ko eh.

Sure, lolo doesn't really like papa. But lolo wouldn't go to that extent.

And who was that guy I was with anyway? Hindi ko maalala ang mukha niya.

It felt real though. Is that a glimpse of my other self from an alternative universe?

The faint glow of the stars on my ceiling is as usual, the first thing I see when I open my eyes.

My head and whole body aches. Ilang oras lang pala ako nakatulog. Binato ko sa pinto ang alarm clock ko para matigil na ito sa walang habas na pag-vibrate at pag-tunog.

Charot lang. Mahal ang bili ko d'yan eh. I gently turn it off at binalik sa nightstand.

I get up then, albeit begrudgingly. Siguradong sesermonan na naman ako ni mama kapag hindi pa ako bumangon. Gusto niya kasi sabay-sabay kaming nag-aalmusal.

"Oh, Alisson. Ang aga mo yata?" salubong sa'kin ni papa pagbaba ko, na para bang hindi niya nakita ang pagsermon sa'kin ni mama kahapon dahil tanghali akong gumising. He leans toward me, nang umupo ako sa tabi niya sa table, at saka bumulong. "Got scared of mom?"

Hindi ako nakasagot dahil lumabas na si mama mula sa kitchen, bitbit ang platong naglalaman ng mabangong almusal namin: quesadillas and baked eggs! Ang sarap! At ang dami! Anong meron?

Sabay kaming tumayo ni papa para tulungan si mama.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa napansin ko, "Bakit kayo nakabihis?"

Mama's wearing a fancy dress behind her apron, naka-polo at slacks naman si papa.

Tinaasan ako ng kilay ni mama, "Ikaw bakit hindi ka pa nakabihis? They're coming, Alisson."

Nagtatanong kong tiningnan si papa, he clears his throat. "We've told you about this yesterday, nakalimutan mo ba?"

"Ngayon pupunta ang mga Smith dito sa bahay, anak." Mama softens a bit, "Para pormal na hingin ang kamay mo."

"Po?" napatangang sambit ko. "Smith? Hihingin ang kamay ko?"

What the hell does that mean?

"Your grandfather has arranged your marriage with one of General Smith's grandsons, as we've already told you yesterday. I've heard they're all great anak. Good looking even." Ngumiti si mama, at nagawa pa akong kindatan. "And your lolo chose the best one for you. I'm sure you'll like him."

"But I thought it wasn't serious—"

The doorbell rings at agad na pumunta ang mga magulang ko sa pinto para salubungin ang bagong dating.

I want to run. I'm too young to be engaged! What the fuck is my grandfather thinking? And my parents agreed to this? Akala ko nagbibiro lang sila!

"Apologies, Mr. and Mrs. Moretta. My parents couldn't make it on time, may emergency sa company. They'll be a bit late."

"It's okay, hijo." says my mother, hindi ko makita ang kausap niya sa labas, dahil nahaharangan niya ito. "Ang mahalaga makakapunta sila. Come in!"

And when he did come in, my jaw drops.

My ghad.

He's gorgeous. So fucking gorgeous, parang gusto na lang malaglag ng panty ko. He's tall and just gorgeous. Ang kapal ng kilay, ang ganda ng mata, tipong tantalizing, gano'n, ang haba ng pilik mata, ang tangos ng ilong, ang pink ng mga labi, ang perpekto ng hugis ng mukha.