"!" 

Napahawak na lang ako sa ulo ko dahil sa sobrang sakit dala ng hang over ko kagabi. I'm totally wasted last night to the point na hindi ko na alam kung anong mga nangyari. When I opened my eyes, I saw a familiar ceiling as well as the fragrant smell of this room. So, I roamed my eyes around to make sure if I am right. Nang ibaling ko sa bandang kaliwa ang paningin ko, I saw our picture sa bedside table niya that confirms na nandito nga ko sa kwarto ni Jennie. Pero pano ako nakarating dito? Did I drive myself here or did Jisoo and Seul brought me here? I don't know? I can't recall anything that's happened last night.

"Oh you're awake. Good morning!" 

I lifted my head and saw the most beautiful girl I've ever seen. She was smiling at me while carrying a tray of orange juice and sandwich. I smiled but it easily vanished and my heart aches when I remembered what I saw from the pictures my dad showed me. Inalis ko ang tingin ko sa kanya at ibinaling yun sa nakakuyom kong mga kamay. Gusto ko siyang komprontahin tungkol sa mga bagay na nalaman ko kagabi pero hindi ko magawa. Hindi ko kasi alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ko kung sakaling totoo ang mga paratang ni dad sa kanya, kung totoong naging kabit ba siya ng isang mayamang pulitiko.

She placed the tray on the bedside table and sat beside me. 

"Hey babe, are you okay?" she asked before caressing my cheek using her thumb. 

I didn't answer. Nanatili lang akong nakayuko dahil hindi ko magawang tignan siya sa mga mata. But she lifted my head up so she could look at my eyes. 

"Hey baby, what's the matter? You can tell me" she sweetly said.

Sinubukan kong komprotntahin siya pero hindi ko magawa. Natatakot ako sa pwede kong malaman. Natatakot ako sa katotohanan. Kaya imbes na pag usapan namin yung problema, ang tanging nagawa ko na lamang ay umiling at magsinungaling sa kanya.

"It was nothing. Nasermunan lang ako ni dad sa trabaho"

Her eyes softened, she cupped my cheeks and pulled me closer for a kiss. I closed my eyes feeling her soft lips against mine. I want to cry but tried not to coz I don't want her to ask more questions. Pero sobrang nasasaktan ang puso ko dahil bumabalik sa isip ko yung mga nakita ko sa litrato. I pulled out from the kiss at saka umiwas ng tingin sa kanya. Tumayo ako at nagpaalam na para umalis. 

"Aalis ka na?" naguguluhang tanong niya when she saw me fixing my things and getting ready to leave. Hindi ako sumagot at nagpatuloy lang sa pag aayos ng aking mga gamit. 

"Hindi ka ba muna magbebreakfast? I prepared something for you pa naman oh" nakapout niyang sabi. 

"Hindi na. Sa office na lang. I have to be there ng maaga" cold kong sagot sa kanya. 

Nakita ko kung paano lumungkot ang mukha niya dahil sa sinabi ko. Nagiguilty ako pero sa mga oras na to hindi ko pa siya kayang makasama at makaharap ng matagal dahil baka kung anong masabi ko at ayokong may pagsisisihan ako sa dulo. Hindi naman ako galit. Sobrang dami lang ng mga bagay na gumugulo sa isip ko ngayon kaya gusto ko munang mapag isa para makapag isip isip.

"Okay. Call me if you need anything" she stood up and is about to kiss me but I avoided. 

"I have to go" dali dali akong lumabas ng kwarto niya ng hindi man lang siyang tinatapunan ng tingin. 

"Good morning" 

A soft female voice greeted me. Iniangat ko ang ulo ko and I saw Snow smiling at me. Andito na ko sa bahay. Nagpahanda ako ng makakain sa kasambahay namin ng makaramdam ako ng gutom. I refused to eat kasi what Jennie had prepared for me. Pagpunta ko sa may dining table, I saw Snow sitting.

"Morning" I smiled back and sat in front of her. I didn't know she's here. Maybe dad invited them again for breakfast.

"Oh Lisa is here na pala. Good morning hija" this time it was Uncle Max, Snow's dad, who greeted me. Behind him is my dad, kakarating lang nila. I ignored my dad's presence and he also did the same.   

"Morning Uncle" 

Uncle Max sat beside her daughter Snow while my dad sat on his usual spot. Until now, galit parin ako sa ginawa ni dad at  hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko sa mga nalaman ko at sa ginawa niyang pagpapaimbestiga sa buhay ni Jen na para siyang isang kriminal. I didn't like what he did but at the same time I'm trying to understand why he did that. Maybe he was just protecting me but he's out of the line. Dahil sa mga nalaman ko, hindi ko tuloy maalis na magduda sa girlfriend ko. Dahil sa kanya I am doubting Jennie's love for me.

"How are you hija? You looked stress?" Uncle Max asked. 

"I'm fine uncle. Medyo busy lang po sa trabaho at sa school"

He nodded and smiled. 

"Manang mana ka talaga samin ng dad mo. Napaka workaholic. But don't worry we'll give you time to enjoy after the wedding"

I furrowed my brows as I looked up to him.

"Wedding?" naguguluhang tanong ko habang salitang tumitingin kay dad at Uncle Max. 

My dad cleared his throat and wipe his mouth with the table napkin before he speaks.

"You and Snow" he simply answered. 

"WHAT?" napatayo ako sa kinauupuan ko na halatang ikinagulat nila. I looked at Snow but she avoided my gaze. 

"Your Uncle Max and I decided that it is better for the both of you as well as our businesses kung sa isa't isa na lang kayo ikakasal. Besides you are both single" dad explained that made my blood boiled in anger. 

Naramdaman ko yung pag iinit ng tenga ko sa sobrang galit. 

"I am not single dad! You know that I have a girlfriend. What the ?" iritableng sagot ko. 

My dad hundred percent knew that I am in a relationship right now. We maybe in a storm now but we are still together. I know I have doubts about Jennie's true feelings for me but it doesn't mean na nabawasan na yung pagmamahal ko sa kanya. I am just trying to absorb everything I have learned about her past. So, he doesn't have the right to dictate me to marry someone I don't love and just leave Jennie behind. 

"Watch your words Lisa! I'm your dad! I just want what's best for you!" he said without any signs of regret.

I laugh sarcastically and said, "What's best for me or what's best for your company?"

"Ikaw lang ang iniisip ko, Lisa. You leave me no choice. Choosing that girl to be your girlfriend proves me that you are not capable of knowing what's right for you. That girl is no good for you! She's just after your money, can't you see?!" he shouted.

"Stop it! Don't you dare judge her coz you don't know her! Why don't you just give her a chance na kilalaninin muna bago mo siya husgahan? I know she had a not so nice past but who does? Lahat tayo may baho sa katawan pero lahat rin tayo may karapatang magbago. Please dad, ngayon lang ako hihingi ng pabor sa'yo. Please, kilalanin mo muna si Jennie" I begged. 

He remained silent and I waited for him to speak. Sobrang nagalit ako sa mga sinabi niya. What he said about Jennie being after my money is not true. Kahit kailan hindi niya ko hinuthutan o pinerahan. In fact, she's always right there to comfort me kapag may problema ako sa trabaho at sa school. I never heard her complain kahit na hindi ko na siya napagtutuunan ng pansin. I felt guilty of thinking bad about her when all she does is to love me and takes care of me. I feel so sorry about it. 

"No! My decision is final, Lisa. You will marry Snow and we will announce your engagement on your birthday party" he said without looking at me. 

I gritted my teeth and glared at him. I walked out from the dining area. I need to leave this place and breathe. I need my safe haven. I need Jennie. 

Nagmadali akong lumabas papunta sa kotse ko when someone called me. 

"Lisa wait!" 

I know it's Snow. I closed my eyes and heave a deep sigh bago ko siya hinarap. 

"Where are you going? Don't tell me pupunta ka sa kanya?" she asked.

"And so?"

"Lis, can't you see? Cause lang siya ng di niyo pagkakaintindihan ng dad mo" 

Kumunot ang noo ko sa mga sinabi niya. 

"Kung merong hindi nakakaintindi dito si Dad yun Snow, hindi si Jennie"
 

"He just wants what's best for you" she debated. 

I shook my head and furrowed my brows. 

"Teka nga. Alam mo ba yung tungkol dito? Pumayag ka sa arranged marriage na 'to?" 

I saw how she avoided my gaze and swallowed her saliva. But she quickly redeemed herself and look up to me with confidence. 

"You're right. Alam ko at pumayag ako" 

"What? Why?" 

"Like your dad, I also want what's best for you. I saw the pictures and as your bestfriend, hindi ako papayag na mapunta ka sa ganong klaseng babae---"

"For god sake can you please stop accussing her! Those pictures and even her past doesn't define who she is! Kung merong nakakakilala sa kanya, ako yun! Naiintindihan niyo? !" 

I rushed to my car and slammed the door and drove fast away from this hell. I heard Snow calling me but I didn't looked back. I'm done here. Pagod na ko sa panghuhusga nila kay Jen. I drive fast at ilang minuto lang ay narating ko na ang bahay nila Jennie. Kakagaling ko lang rito kanina pero pagkatapos ng mga nangyari sa bahay, wala akong ibang gustong puntahan kundi siya. Bigla kong namiss yung presence niya. Bigla akong nakaramadam ng takot na baka mawala siya sakin. So, I hastily walked towards the door and knocked. After three knocks, the door opened revealing the person I've been wanting to see. 

"Baby? You're back---" gulat niyang tanong na di ko na pinatapos dahil agad ko na siyang niyakap ng napakahigpit. I burried my face on the crook of her neck and sniffed her scent. I can feel her hugging me back and my hair. The usual thing she does when she's comforting me. 

"What happened?" she worriedly asked. 

"I'm sorry" the only word that came out from my mouth. 

She pulled out from the hug and cupped my cheeks to look at me. 

"Are you okay?" she asked again.

I refused to answer and just remained silent. 

Huminga siya ng malalim at imbes na kulitin ako sa kung anong nangyari, ang tangi niya na lang ginawa ay halikan ako sa noo. 

"Everything will be alright my love, okay?" she smiled and caressed my cheeks. 

I nodded my head and hugged her again.

Makalipas ang ilang oras ay natagpuan namin ang aming mga sarili na magkayakap sa kama niya. 

"Malapit na ang birthday mo baby, what's your plan?" she asked. 

Bigla akong nawalan ng gana ng marinig ko yun. Ayokong pag usapan ang nalalapit kong kaarawan dahil yan ang araw na iaannounce ni dad ang tungkol sa engagement ko kay Snow. 

"I don't usually celebrate my birthday, babe. Isang araw lang naman yun. Lilipas din yun so don't bother" I said trying to avoid the conversation. 

She lift her head up and looked at me with furrowed brows. 

"But it's your first birthday with me kaya hindi pwedeng hindi natin icelebrate"

"No need na, baby. Ayokong mag abala ka pa. Let's not talk about it na, okay"

I placed my hands on her nape and kissed her so she couldn't object anymore. 

I'm sorry baby. I want to celebrate my birthday with you but I can't coz I don't want to hurt you. I promise I'll try to convince dad about us.