Take Me (La Alquera Series #3)

Two

Allisa couldn't believe what the man had just said to her. What fiancé was he talking about? When did she ever have a fiancé? As far as she knew, she had been single for a year. She had no plans of getting into another relationship anytime soon, as she believed they were nothing but headaches, especially the man standing in front of her.

She walked out, ignoring the guy. She wasn't even sure if what he said was true. She still needed to talk to her father.

"Ally, what happened?" Rica asked as she entered the stock room. Allisa hadn't even noticed her friend's arrival.

"I just met my fiancé," she replied, her voice filled with disbelief.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rica dahil sa sinabi niya. "Anong pinagsasabi mo?"

She sighed heavily as she clasped both of her hand. "My father set me up for a marriage."

"Marriage agad? Hindi pwedeng landian muna? Atat 'din yang si Tito," komento ni Rica.

"His Chinese blood was too strong. Chinese 'rin ata ang mapapangasawa and he's a fuck boy."

The image of the scene she witnessed earlier, where the man she referred to as her fiancé was flirting with two friends, still haunted her. It filled her with rage. How could her father set her up with a man like that? He showed no mercy to Eba's fellow women.

"Ano ba kasing nangyari at bakit galit na galit ka sa kanya?" Rica asked while caressing her protruding belly. Masyado ng halata ang tiyan nito. Sabi ni Quennie baka raw kambal ang maginging anak ni Rica. Sabi naman ni Girlie baka raw may kambal na ahas dahil medyo sketchy daw ang mga kilos ni Rica. Tinawanan lang namin si Girlie dahil sa mga kagagahan nito.

"Hindi ko lang talaga siya gusto, Catin. Pakiramdam ko may mali, e."

Napapaisip si Allisa kung paano niya haharapin ang kanyang ama. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit kailangan pa niyang ipakasal sa lalaking hindi naman niya gusto. Baka dahil sa pera at kapangyarihan ng pamilya nito?

"Maaari bang hindi ko na ituloy ito?" tanong niya kay Rica.

"Hindi ko alam, Ally. Pero kailangan mong kausapin ang iyong Daddy at malaman ang kanyang dahilan kung bakit niya ito ginagawa," sagot ni Rica.

Tumango si Allisa. Alam niyang tama ang sinabi ng kaibigan. Kailangan niyang malaman ang buong katotohanan. May mga bagay kasi na hindi niya kayang gawin para lang sa kapakanan ng iba.

Nang lumabas siya ng stock room, nakita niya ang lalaking tinawag niyang fiance na may kausap na namang ibang babae. Nakangiti pa ito at nagbibiro. Hindi siya makapaniwala na nakikipagbiruan pa ito sa dalawang babae.

"Sa tingin ni Daddy ay kaya ko talagang magpakasal sa lalaking 'yan," bulong niya sa sarili. She rolled her eyes at him. Wala siyang balak na kausapin ito. Naiinis siya sa lahat lalo na sa kanyang Daddy.

Hindi pa rin niya mapigilang magalit sa ama. Kung mayroon mang dapat sisihin dito, iyon ay ang kanyang ama na balak ipakasal sa kanya sa lalaking hindi niya gusto.

Umalis na rin ang binata sa coffee shop. Nang makaalis ito ay nakahinga siya nang maluwag. She was feeling suffocated when that man was around. Lalo na kapag tinititigan siya nito pakiramdam niya ay nanlalambot ang kanyang tuhod.

The coffee shop was about to close soon. She decided to let the manager handle the closing since she needed to go home as she still have work tomorrow. Additionally, She wanted to take the opportunity to discuss about her father's plans with her. She never consented to an arranged marriage.

It weighed heavily on her mind as she walked away from the coffee shop, the familiar scent of roasted beans slowly fading behind her. The urgency to address the issue with her father grew stronger with each passing moment. She couldn't bear the thought of being bound to someone she barely knew, forced into a life she hadn't chosen for herself.

As she made her way home, her footsteps seemed to echo her inner turmoil. She knew that confronting her father wouldn't be easy. Their relationship had always been a complex one, filled with unspoken expectations and societal pressures. But this was her life, her future, and she couldn't allow it to be determined by someone else.

Reaching the front door, she took a deep breath, gathering her courage. The house felt eerily quiet, as if anticipating the storm that was about to unravel within its walls. She found her father in his study, surrounded by books and papers, lost in his own world.

"Daddy," she began, her voice trembling slightly, "May I speak with you about something important?"

He glanced up, his eyes meeting hers, and she could see a flicker of curiosity mixed with concern. "Of course, anak," he replied, gesturing for her to take a seat. "What is troubling you?"

She hesitated for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "Father, I recently learned about your plans for an arranged marriage for me. I want you to know that I cannot agree to it. It is not thee path I wish to follow."

His face hardened, a mix of surprise and disappointment. "But it is tradition," he insisted. "It is our way of preserving our heritage, ensuring a secure future for our family."

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Dad, hindi naman pwede na ipakasal ninyo nalang ako sa lalaking hindi ko kilala at lalo na sa lalaking hindi ko gusto. Hindi namna tama na ipagkanulo ninyo ako sa lalaking kahit kailan ay hindi ko magugustuhan."

Buong tapang saad niya sa kanyang ama. Her father fell silent, contemplating his daughter's word. Allisa clasped both of her hands waiting for her father to finally speak.

"Nakausap ko na ang pamilya ng mapapangasawa mo."

"Daddy!" atungal niya.

"We already settled for this arrangement, Allisa. Hindi kakayaning ng kompanya natin kung wala ang pamilya ng mga Dy," ganting sigaw ng kanyang ama.

Their family business was real estate. Ang buong pagkakaalam niya ay maayos naman ang takbo ng kanilang negosyo. She was currently working there since that was her father's order. Hindi naman niya pwedeng basta nalang balewalain ang iniutos ng kanyang ama sa kanya. Her father was a successful man with full of authority lahat ng mga iniuutos nito ay dapat agad mong sundin. Wala rin siyang kapatid kaya siya lamang ang mapagdidiskitahan ng kanyaga ama.

"He's not the one I like," sambit niya rito.

Naramdaman niya ang bigat ng kanyang puso habang nakatitig sa kanyang ama. Sa loob ng ilang sandali, naghinay-hinay ang ama niya sa pagsasalita. Sa mga mata nito, makikita ang pag-aalinlangan at pagsisisi.

"Allisa," sabi ng ama niya nang malumanay. "Alam ko na ito ay mabigat para sa iyo. Subalit kailangan nating isaalang-alang ang kabutihan ng negosyo at kinabukasan ng ating pamilya."

"Maaari ba nating hanapin ang ibang paraan, Daddy?" aniya, na may kahalong pag-asa. "Hindi ko naman kailangang ikasal agad. Puwede ba nating pag-usapan ang iba pang mga pagpipilian?"

Umiling ang ama ni Allisa. "Gusto ko lamang na matiyak ang kinabukasan ng ating pamilya. Pero wala ng ibang paraan at ito lamang. This marriage will save your future."

"How will it save my future?" tanong niya sa kanyang ama. "Dad, hindi natin alam kung anong klaseng lalaki ang mapapangasawa ko? What if he's a serial killer?"

Natatawang napailing ang kanyang ama dahil sa tinuran niya. "Oh, anak, wala kang dapat alalahanin. Kilala ko ang lalaking mapapangasawa mo. I already did my part as your father to make sure that you will be in good hands."

"Daddy naman, e."

Hindi na umatungal pa si Allisa dahil alam niya na sigurado na ang ama niya na ipakasal siya sa lalaking nakita niya kanina sa coffee shop. Buo na ang desisyon nito para sa kanya.

This is unfair.

She sighed and left her father's study.