Chapter 2: 2 - The Groom
RJ's POV
Here we go again, ayaw talagang mag-give up ng Daddy ko sa arranged marriage na ito. Tinakasan na nga sya ni kuya RD, ako naman ngayon ang isusubo sa ganitong kakomplikadong sitwasyon. I dreamt of having a family of my own, pero ang gusto ko. ako ang pipili ng babaing papakasalan ko at hindi yung basta na lang irereto ng Daddy at ng Lolo ko.
Kung hindi lang dahil sa lolo ko, hindi ko talaga sisiputin ang pa-meeting ng Daddy ko with the Mendozas. I am just hoping that this girl will back out just like what her sister did. I heard, mukhang mas palaban ang bunsong anak na babae ni Teddy at Mary Mendoza so I'm sure aayaw rin ito katulad ng kapatid nya. I wonder how she looks like. Nica Mendoza is pretty so I presume she is pretty as her sister. Sana naman hindi mukhang lalaki ang babaing yun or worst lesbian pala because, based on the information that I gathered she is a motocross rider, I have to commend her as she is such a brave and impressive lady to be in an extreme sports such as motocross driving. Well, better if she is a lesbian, mas madaling umayaw sa gustong arranged marriage ng Daddy at Lolo ko.
"RJ nandito ka lang pala, I have been looking for you all over the place. Are you ready to meet your fiancée?" My lolo asked while approaching towards me in his wheelchair.
"Do we really have to do this Lolo?" I bravely asked.
"Pangako ko ito sa Tatay ni Teddy Mendoza, utang ko ang buhay ko sa kanya when we were still in school. The Mendozas are more blessed than the Faulkersons pero kahit kelan hindi nagdamot ang matalik kong kaibigan pati na rin ang buong pamilya nya. Sila ang gumabay sa akin para mapalago ko ang negosyo na hawak mo ngayon." Lolo Danny said.
"Pero Lolo, ikaw na ang nagsabi na hindi nababayaran ang utang na loob. Bakit parang kami ang pinagbabayad mo ng utang na loob mo sa mga Mendoza?" I replied
"Hindi ako nagbabayad ng utang na loob RJ. Ito ay kasunduan namin ng matalik kong kaibigan, at wala nang iba pang dahilan. Gusto lang namin na maging tutoong magkapamilya na kami. Kung hindi nga lang ba nagtanan ang Tita Jo mo, malamang sya ang napangasawa ni Teddy Mendoza. I trusted the Mendoza family too much, kung mayroong ibang magmamalasakit sa pamilya ko, alam ko sila yun." Lolo Danny explained
"Pero pwede naman silang magmalasakit sa pamilya natin na hindi na kailangan ipakasal pa ang isa sa miyembro ng bawat pamilya." I said.
"Pero higit na maganda kung mapagtitibay ang pagmamalasakit na iyon, RJ." Lolo replied.
"Paano kung hindi rin kami makapagpakasal ng Charmaine Mendoza na yun? What if kagaya din sya ng kapatid nya at takasan rin tayo? Hanggang kailan magpapatuloy ang ganito Lolo?" I asked him because I myself would like to know when this craziness will end.
"Until a Faulkerson - Mendoza wedding happens." He firmly replied and brought me to a deep thought.
If that Charmaine Mendoza and I will not get marriage now, siguradong ang magiging anak ko o ng mga kapatid ko naman ang maapektuhan because obviously hindi talaga titigil si Lolo hangga't hindi nangyayari ang pinagkasunduan nila ng best friend nya. I guess I really need to put an end to this craziness. I will just offer her an annulment maybe after several months of being married. I am still young, several months of waiting for my one true love to come won't hurt anyway. Gagawin ko na lang busy ang sarili ko sa negosyo. I'm sure that Charmaine Mendoza would agree with me to just mind our own businesses after the wedding.
"Are you having second thoughts now, RJ?" Lolo asked.
"It is not that Lolo, it is just that .... Nevermind, I already made my decision anyway." I said. I could not say straight to my Lolo's face na walang kwenta ang gusto nilang mangyari ng kaibigan nya. Kung hindi ito pagtanaw ng utang na loob eh ano ang tawag sa kalokohan na ito? I'm sure he will be offended if I say that, so I better keep my mouth shut and just go with the flow since pumayag na rin naman akong magpakasal sa anak ni Teddy Mendoza.
"Wala ka namang girlfriend ngayon, di ba? So siguradong walang masasagasaan." Lolo asked.
"I am too busy at work for that kind of stuff Lolo. But I am not denying that I am dating, though not exclusively." I said
"Then suit yourself while you are still single, in a weeks time you will no longer be a bachelor. Ang asawa mo na lang ang pwede mong i-date at wala nang iba pa." Lolo said
"Nagpapatawa ka Lo, as if naman papayag ang bunsong anak ni Teodoro Mendoza na i-date ko. I'm sure nakapag-research na rin yun tungkol sa akin and by this time she already knows that I was linked with several girls in our circles. Baka nga nakasama ko na yang si Charmaine sa isang party eh." I brag
"Bakit naman hindi sya papayag makipag-date sa iyo. You are a fine young man, a successful business man and not to mention, you have our family genes of being good looking. Ano pa ang hahanapin nya?" Lolo brags back.
"I am actually has a different feeling with this Charmaine girl. I think magkakasundo kayong dalawa. Pakiramdam ko mabilis akong magkaka-apo sa tuhod sa iyo." He added na ikinasamid ko nang todo-todo. Wala sa usapan ang pag-kakaroon namin ng anak. Hanggang kasal lang ang sagot ko at annulment after a few months.
"Can we not talk about that muna Lolo. Parang tumataas yung stress level ko eh. Hindi ko pa kayang i-absorb ang idea na magkaka-anak ako sa babaing ipinagkasundo nyo lang sa akin. I wanted to have a child with the woman I am in love with." I said.
"Are you currently in love with someone right now?" Lolo abruptly asked.
"Hindi naman po. I told you I am busy for that kind of stuff. I love my freedom, Lolo." I replied.
"Then, in a matter of several weeks you will be in-love." He said and abruptly leaves me pondering on what that statement means.
Impossible ang sinasabi ng Lolo ko, I can never fall in love with someone I barely know, much more have a child in her. I have to convince this Charmaine Mendoza for a quick annulment after the wedding, so we could get rid of each other, the sooner the better. Bago pa ipilit ng Lolo ko ang apo sa tuhod na sinasabi nya. Ito ngang pakasalan ang anak ni Teddy Mendoza hindi ko pa masyadong ma-absorb, yun pa kayang magkaka-anak ako sa kanya. That is definitely insane.
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