Si Torpe at Si Feeling

Chapter 16: Will

--o-o-o--

Chapter 16: Will

"Ha?" Namingi ata ako. Kasal? Sa kanya? "What did you say?"

I look at my mama, she had a sorry look pero hindi siya nakatingin sakin, sa ilalim siya nakatingin. Papa, Mr. And Mrs. Cruz smiled kindly while Bryce grinned.

"I know its a rush, its a need for the business, Avery." Papa explained. "You'll be married to Bryce when he turns of legal age next year."

"What?! No!" I exclaimed, standing up.

"Sit down, darling." Bryce said and I felt my stomach turn.

"I know it's too sudden, Avery," Mr. Cruz explained. "You and Bryce will be inheriting our business once you get married, we'll send you to business school and you will manage it when your father and I retire."

"Ayoko nga!" sigaw ko.  "Ma! Please tell them I don't want it!"

"Avery, anak it's for the best. Its for your future as well." Mama pleads but I only stood further. Natumba ang inuupuan ko when I scooted too much. Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa hawak kong breadstick at tumingin ako sa kanila.

"May free will ako. And my will is to stay free from any lifelong bonds built on decisions by adults thinking only for their own good. Marrying me off, makakatulong sa business niyo, but it won't help me be happy. I'm not happy, pa!" I raged, slamming my hand to the table. "I don't want to get married to this... vile person, and I do not plan on marrying early and becoming a bussinesswoman. I will become an author or a doctor or whatever, because I want to and all I want to be is to be happy."

"Clare Avery Sanchez, sit back down." Papa sternly said and i shook my head. "Please do this. We need to save our business and you're the solution."

"Ayoko nga pa. Bata pa ako. Let me live my life for myself. I don't want this, I don't want an arranged marriage!" I ran out of the restaurant into the pouring rain.

I hear my parents and the Cruz's call out for me but I paid no mind as I ran as fast as I could habang nakaheels sa ilalim ng malakas na ulan.

I didn't know how far i have gone away from the restaurant, pero tumigil ako sa labas ng nakasiradong sari-sari store. Nadapa pa ako kanina habang tumatakbo kaya medyo masakit ang kamay at tuhod ko, hindi ko naman makita dahil madilim ang lugar, wala pa masyadong sasakyan na dumadaan.

Tumingin ako sa paligid ko at narecognize na malapit ito sa lugar ni Szanelle. I was about to go to her nang naalala ko umalis pala sila for vacation.

Napaisip ako. Shet, saan ba ako pupunta ngayon? Ang lamig at nagugutom na ako.

Kinuha ko ang breadsticks na naipuslit ko sa bag ko at kumain. "I guess this is dinner then."

I ate my breadsticks sadly as tears flowed out from my eyes mixing together with the rain water on me. How could they? Arrange marriage? Shet, bakit ako? Bakit si Bryce? Bakit ako ba?!

"Avy?"

I flinched, pero kumalma ako nang makita ko si Jared na nakapayong, may dalang instant noodles mula sa convenience store sa kabilang kanto.

"Avy anong ginagawa mo dito? Bakit basa ka? What happened? Halika nga." J leads me to his house.

Malaki siya for a family of three, you could easily say they're well off. We stop at their kitchen as he began to boil water and grab towels.

"Here." Niyakap ko ang towel ng mahigpit sa katawan ko. "I'll get you some clothes to wear. Magshower ka para hindi ka sipunin."

Pumunta ako sa tinuro niyang cr at nagshower. Sinuot ko ang tshirt at jershey shorts na ibinilin niya sa labas ng pinto. Pagdating ko sa dining area, nakalatag na ang noodles, ready to eat.