Rule #2: Ruling The Flames

RTF36

RTF36

I could see the shock on my family's faces. Hindi nila inaasahang iyon ang isasagot ko. Akala ko siguro nina Mommy, aapela pa ako. But, no. I thought of this as well. Tatanggapin ko nalang ang kapalaran ko.

"What?" Napatayo si Kuya. "Audrey, I need to talk to you—"

"I said what I said, Kuya," I told him. Tumingin ako sa mga magulang ni Brax. Pati na rin sa kanya. Sigurado naman na ako dito.

Brax stared at me. I couldn't read the expression on his face. I smiled at him and reached for his hand. Hinawakan ko 'yun at pinatong sa lamesa.

"I'll marry Braxton..." I repeated. "Pumapayag po ako sa gusto niyo."

"Audriella Zerene," Daddy called. "Marriage is a serious commitment. Wag ka magpadalos-dalos ng desisyon."

I smiled at Daddy. "I know that, Daddy. Believe me, I'm sure. Paninindigan ko po ang desisyon ko."

Daddy sighed as Mommy stared at me. Napatingin din siya kay Kuya at Ate. Kuya seemed like he's panicking. Si Ate naman nakatitig sa akin at hindi pa rin makapaniwala sa nangyari.

"Excuse me," Kuya said as he stood up from his seat. Tumingin din sa kanya si Ate.

"Brandon," Mommy called but Kuya had left already.

Nanatiling nakatitig sa akin si Braxton. Hindi ba siya masaya? Imbes na sagutin ko siya muna ay sa kasal na agad ako pumayag. He should be happy right? He waited for this. Ilang beses niya nang sinasabi sa akin kung gaano niya daw ako kagusto. Shouldn't he be smiling since I already agreed to be wedded to him?

"Well, good choice, hija. Pakiramdam ko rin naman ay kayo rin ni Brax sa huli," nakangiting sambit ng Mommy ni Brax.

Brax kept staring at me, my smile didn't falter. Hindi na bumalik si Kuya. I don't know where he went, but he seemed so upset with what I said. Sinundan pa nga siya ni Ate para hanapin dahil 'yon ang inutos ni Mommy. Daddy kept looking at me.

We had a few talks while Brax seemed distant... may mali ba sa sinabi ko? Dalawang taon niya na akong niligawan diba? Dapat nga'y magtatalon pa siya sa tuwa na pumapayag ako sa kasal.

"I need to talk to you," Brax whispered.

Ngumiti ako sa mga magulang namin. Brax stood up as he held my hand, pulling me away from there. Nagpaalam lang din ako saglit sa kanila, bago nagpahila kay Brax, palayo doon. Kunot noo naman niya akong nilingon at halata ang inis at pagtataka sa mukha.

"What the hell was that?" he asked. "Pumapayag kang makasal sa 'kin?"

"Yeah... I said what I said. Pumapayag ako sa gusto nila—"

"Oh, fucking hell, Audrey? Bakit? Para gawin akong rebound?"

Umismid ako. That was not my intention at all. Magkaiba naman 'yun. I wanted to learn how to love him. I wanted to give him the chance na pinagdadamot ko noon pa. Masama ba 'yun?

"I want to give you a chance—"

"If you want to give me a chance, Audrey. You should've done that a long time ago! Don't tell me you are doing this just because Blaze is getting married and since you don't have anyone else to love you decided to turn to me. Tama ba? Pamalit lang ba ako kay Blaze?"

Kinagat ko ang labi ko. That was slightly true... but I don't want to think of it that way. I agreed on this since I think that Brax is a better option.

Now that I realized what I have done, I started to feel guilty. No one deserves to be an option... kaya bakit ko ginagawa 'to?

But I can't take back what I said! I already gave my promise! Pinag-isipan ko ba talaga 'to ng mabuti?