ARRANGED MARRIAGE

Chapter 22

YEONWOO'S POV

"I'll be back this evening, Hon." paalam ko kay Nancy bago ako lumabas ng kwarto namin.

"You're not telling me what's with the urgent meeting?" balik niya. Ilang beses niya akong tinatanong pero hindi ko masabi. Parang bigla akong natakot at nag aalala sa maaring niyang isipin. "You keep on telling me you don't know but that's not what I see in you, Yeonwoo." Natahimik lang ako.

"I still need to confirm it, Hon. I'm sorry I can't tell yet. Remember Nancy mahal na mahal kita and I'm willing to give up everything I have as long as you and the kids are with me." haplos ko sa magkabilang pisngi niya.

"You're making me nervous, Yeonwoo. What's going on?" may pagaalala sa kanyang mga mata.

"I'll tell you everything when I get back. I promise." sabi ko na at hinalikan siya. She didn't say a word after the kiss. "I'll be going now." paalam ko at tumango lang siya. She's just watching me walking out of the house. After kong nagpaalam kanina sa mga bata na naglalaro sa likod ay kinausap ko saglit si Lolo Pablo. Malakas ang loob ko sa gagawin ko ngayon dahil sa suporta ni Lolo.

"Gawin mo kung ano sa tingin mo ang makakabuti sa kumpanya, Apo. It's your company now. I'd rather have few good people around you than have wolves roaming around your company waiting for the perfect time to devour you." sagot ni Lolo.

Bago pa ako tuluyang pumunta ng meeting ay dumaan muna ako sa bahay nila Lisa. Nagipon muna ako ng hangin sa dibdib bago ako naglakas loob na pindutin ang door bell. Alam ko wala na don si Lisa dahil kakatawag ko lang sa kanya at on the way na siya sa meeting. Bakit kung kailan magpopropose na siya saka pa nangyari ito. Nagbalik sa kasalukuyan ang isip ko ng magbukas ang pinto.

"Hi, Jennie." ngiti kong bati.

"Hi Yeomwoo." may pait sa kanyang ngiti. "W-wala si Lisa dito."

"I know..." tipid kong sagot. Sinusukat ko ang tingin at ang galaw niya. I know there is someting unusual. "Uhm...actually ikaw ang sadya ko."

"You want to come in?" matamlay niyang alok.

"No, Jennie. This will only take a few minutes." Saglit na katahimikan, hindi ko alam kung paano uumpisahan.

"I felt Lisa's uneasiness before she left and honestly I felt the same when I saw you, Yeonwoo. You don't just come here without notice. What's wrong?" kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya.

"I just want to tell you how Lisa loves you so much, Jennie."

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Just trust her, will you?"

"What happened, Yeonwoo? Tell me. Please. Don't just tell me all these things without reason of what brings you here." nanginginig na niyang sabi. I bowed down my head and I felt I'm about to cry, too.

"She's afraid to lose you, Jennie. As much as I'm afraid to lose my wife, her trust and her love...." pigil iyak kong sabi. "Someone is playing dirty on us and it's all because of selfish motives. But I will get who's behind this Jennie. Just please trust me and Lisa."

"Can I still trust her, Yeonwoo?" namumuo na ang luha sa kanyang mga mata. "Will she ever change?"

"She did change, Jennie. When you came to her life, slowly she changed." I honestly said pero hindi siya umimik bagkus mabilis na pinunasan ang luhang pumatak. "Jennie..."

"I trust you, Yeonwoo...but I'm hurting until know kung may nababalitaan ako tungkol kay Lisa and her other women....a-and if she's still pushing herself to you..."

"No! No Jennie...She loves you so much to ever cheat on you. She's dead serious in your relationship..."

"How can you be so sure, Yeonwoo?"

"I'm sure, Jennie..." I'm sure because she's proposing to you, dugtong ng isip ko. Hindi ko magawang masabi. "Just trust her, please." pakiusap ko.

"Anuman ang pinasok niya tanggap ko, Yeonwoo. Pero kung maninira siya ng pamilya that I can't accept. It's too much..."

"Wala siyang sinira, Jennie. At alam ko wala siyang sinisira o sisiraing pamilya. Alam kong alam mo yan. You know her that much Jennie." paalala ko sa kanya, she just shook her head and let out a sigh. "I have to go, we'll talk again. Ok?" paalam ko na. Humalik lang ako sa kanya saka tumalikod na.

"What if Nancy finds out?" habol niya at bigla akong napabalik ng harap sa kanya.

"What do you mean?"

"What if Nancy finds out?" ulit niya.

"Find out what?" balik tanong ko.

"Find out about the picture..."

"What picture?" mabilis kong tanong pero agad siyang natahimik.

"Nothing..."halos pabulong niyang sagot at isasara na niya ang pinto ng pinigilan ko.

"Jennie..." habol ko sabay harang ng kamay sa pinto. "Whatever picture you saw has nothing to do with me and Lisa. Malisyoso ang kumuha non at gustong sirain ang policy ng kumpanya. Gusto ng taong gumawa non na bitawan ni Lisa ang latest project na binigay ng kumpanya sa kanya."

"I want to believe...."

"You need to believe...because that's the truth, Jennie." putol ko sa kanya pero matama niya lang akong tiningnan. Hindi ko mabasa ang isip niya pero natatakot ako sa pananahimik niya.

"Bye, Yeonwoo." Ngiting paalam niya pero kita ang lungkot sa mga mata niya. Wala na akong nagawa.

"Bye, Lisa." sagot ko na lang at mabigat ang mga paa kong humakbang pabalik ng sasakyan ko.

-

"It is a closed door meeting, brad. Hindi kailangan si Joy doon." sabi ni Hyebin ng pinasunod ko si Joy sa akin habang naglalakad kami papuntang conference room.

"I don't care, Hyebin. I want every detail recorded. They asked for this meeting then kailangan ko ring protektahan ang mga walang kasalanan." sabi ko at tuloy tuloy sa paglalakad.

Pagbukas ko ng pinto ay lahat ng mata nasa akin sunod kay Joy

"I asked her to be with me, It must be very important that you asked this meeting in a short notice..."sagot ko sa tingin nilang nagtatanong. Bago pa makapag salita ang iba ay may nagsalita na.

"As your eldest member of the board I called this meeting to clarify issues..." bungad ni Tito Ramon Santos, pinakamatandang miyembro ng Board at matalik na kaibigan ni Lolo Pablo. Nakita ko ang alala sa mga mata niya at ganon din kay Dada. Sa kabilang dulo ng conference table nakaupo si Tito Ramon at katabi niya si Dada. Pagdating ko kanina ay ang upuan ko na lang ang bakante, nakaupo sa kabilang gilid ni Tito Ramon si Lisa na nakatungo at halatang mugto ang mata.

"If the purpose of this meeting is to clarify issue involving me, Mr. Santos, let me speak first before you need to ask me and Ms. Manoban." pauna kong sabi.

"We have time for that, Ms. Lee. You will be asked and will have enough time to answer...." harang ni Mr. Cruz. 

I know him and I know eversince that he's one of the few who were against my position in the company.

"Mr. Cruz, I already know the purpose of this meeting. Gossips has no place in this room. If you won't allow me to speak now then I will leave and see to it that the person who accused me of having an affair with Ms. Manoban will pay severely...I will spend up to my last penny just to be sure he or she will face the consequences of destroying a family, friendship and future of innocent people...." sabi kong may paninindigan. Tiningnan ko ang lahat ng nakaupo karamihan ay gulat sa tinuran ko. Nanatili silang tahimik.

"Ms. Lee are you accusing one of us here?"

"Why, Mr. Cruz am I and Ms. Manoban are not already judged and accused in this room?"

"The reason why you are being called for, Ms. Lee." sagot ni Mr. Cruz.

"Then let me tell you, Mr. Cruz. There is nothing between me and Ms. Manoban."

"Ms. Lee..."mahinang tawag ni Tito Ramon.

"I would gladly leave this lonely chair and my position to sit in a couch with my wife and my family, some of you know that very well." tingin ko kay Tito Ramon at kay Dada. "I will do so even if the person I love works in this company. I can give up anything for the sake of my happiness. I won't hide and lie just to stick in this dam.n chair...Would you?" baling ko kay Mr. Cruz na hindi nakaimik. Nanatiling tahimik ang lahat kaya nagpatuloy ako.

"Show me more than the picture or whatever that is, show me anything aside from that piece of crap. Why that picture came out only now? That was almost a month ago. Why? because they can't find anything more than that, can't they?" hamon ko na sa kanila.

"It was a desperate move because the contract with the Asian Development Corp. will be signed next week and the person who did this wants Ms. Manoban out in the project. You have your bets, I know, but let them prove themselves first. I didn't choose Ms. Manoban because she's my friend, I chose her because she and her company is the best. If you disagree with me then vote for her removal in the project." hamon ko sa kanila. Wala pa ring umiimik. Tiimbagang akong nagpipigil na umiyak. "If you don't trust me anymore then eject me and I will gladly step down as CEO and President of this company. But I will not change my decision, Ms. Manoban' works were included in all our other partners' works that were presented to the Asian Development during negotiations. They made their choice, not mine to dictate. Everything was laid down to you in our meetings, you're all informed and you all agreed. Our Europe and US contracts never had a conflict like this, so I presumed that this is just a personal attack. But it is better for that person to leave this company than doing dirty tricks. This will be the first and last. I won't investigate but it doesn't mean I will just shrugged off this issue." Tingin ko sa bawat isa sa kanila. "If the only reason for this meeting is to ask me about the truth. I tell you. There. Is. Nothing. Between me and Ms. Manoban. I don't care if your believe me or not. What I care about is how our loved ones would take this controversy. I'm asking you to stop this nonsense, if you don't then I won't stop either until I find out who's behind all this. I'm not threatening anyone here, I'm just being honest."

"How did you know that this meeting is about that issue, Ms. Lee?" Tanong ni Mrs. Antonio "Did Ms. Manoban told you?"

"Madam Antonio, I don't need anyone to tell me anything. I'm always one step ahead of my enemies and one step behind my friends. I know people who don't want me here and I back up people who work hard for the company." sagot ko sa malisyosong tanong niya. Meron pa rin mga taong hindi matanggap ang pagkatao ko, hindi nito kayang takpan ang nagagawa ko sa kumpanya.

"Is this the only reason why you requested for emergency meeting, Mr. Cruz?" kunot noong sabat ni Mr. Evangelista. Kaedad ni Dada at alam kong isa sa mga naniniwala sa akin. "Nonsense." mahina niyang komento. At sumunod na rin ang bulungan sa mga ibang miyembro ng board.

"Anything more?" putol na lang ni Tito Ramon. Wala nang nagsalita. "Ok then, we have to adjourn this meeting." Sagot niya at kita pagtitinginan nila Mr. Cruz at Mrs. Antonio. Ngunit ang karamihan ay nakangiting nakatingin sa akin bago tumayo. Everyone left and five of us remain seated. Tito Ramon. Dada. Joy and Lisa. Lisa was about to stand up when I spoke.

"Ms. Manoban please stay." pakiusap ko. "Joy please leave us." baling ko sa katabi ko at tumayo na siya at lumabas.

"I'm sorry..."

"No. I should be the one to apologise, Ms. Yeonwoo." putol niya sa akin. "Sorry to you and to everyone." sabay lingon niya kay Tito Ramon at Dada.

"Hija, wala kayong kasalanan." sabi ni Tito Ramon.

"Ang kaso lang hindi kayo umayos ng galaw..." singit ni Dada."Lalo ka na Yeonwoo...mula ng kinasal ka lagi ka ng hinahanapan ng butas pero magaling ka kaya wala silang makuhang dahilan para kontrahin ka."

"Dada..."

"Hindi ako naniniwala sa nakita ko, Yeonwoo dahil alam ko kung gaano mo kamahal ang anak at mga apo ko. Pero dapat kumilos ka naman ng tama. Eh malisyoso ang dating ng larawan." hawak ni Dada sa sentido niya."Mga bata kayo. At ikaw naman Lisa alam mong nabansagan ka ng womanizer hindi ka rin umayos kung kailan may sumeryoso na sa'yo." sermon pa ni Dada. Nakikinig lang si Tito Ramon na naiiling.

"What gotten into you girls?" tanong ni Tito Ramon.

"We're just too happy at that moment, Tito. Lisa's just so happy specially when she told me..." bigla akong huminto at napatingin kay Lisa

"What?" tanong ni Tito Ramon. Hindi ako umimik.

"Yeonwoo..." tawag ni Dada.

"Wala ako sa posisyon na magsabi, Dada."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?" tanong niya muli. Nagkamot kilay na ako.

"Lisa?" baling ni Dada kay Lisa. Tiningnan lang siya nong isa na ngayon ay namumula na. Biglang nahiya.

"Tito Richard..." mahina niyang tawag.

"Ano?" Balik tanong ni Dada kay Lisa. "Hindi niyo sasabihin tapos maglalandian kayo sa publiko..."

"Dada/Tito!" sabay naming protesta ni Lisa

"Sabihin niyo bakit ganon kayo kasaya para pag isipan kayo ng masama ng ibang tao..." sagot ni Dada.

"I...I told Yeonwoo of my plan of proposing to Jennie..."

"What?! Goodness! Sa tingin mo makakapag propose ka pa ngayon?" balik ni Dada at nagumpisa na muling nangilid ang luha sa mga mata ni Lisa. "See? Ngayon makakapag propose ka pa ba kung nalaman niya tungkol dito?" parang amang sermon ni Dada. Saka bumuhos na ang luha ni Lisa at nagtaka si Dada. "Bakit?Alam na niya? I thought it was just one picture sent to Ramon." gulat na tanong ni Dada.

"I-i don't know Tito pero she's holding the envelope this morning." naiiyak ng sabi ni Lisa .Sabi ko na kaya iba ang pakikpag usap ni Jennie sa akin kanina. Bumaling sa akin si Dada.

"At ikaw sa tingin mo hindi mag dududa si Nancy pag nakita niya ang larawan?" tanong ni Dada sa akin.

"D-dada..."

"Alam ko mahal ka ng anak ko, Yeonwoo pero selosa din siya, alam mo yan."

"Kilala na niya si Lisa, Dada. Alam niya din ang kalokohan ni Lisa." sabi at nag angat ng tingin sa akin si Lisa. "I mean, hindi ba?" sagot ko sa tingin niyang nagtatanong, saka muling nag pahid ng luha.

"Yes, we know pero hindi niya alam kung kailan mo papatulan ang kalokohan ng batang to." sagot ni Dada. "Hay naku, alam niyo ng mainit ang mata sa inyo lalo na sa'yo Lisa dahil sa edad mong yan marami ka ng napatunayan." balik ni Dada kay Lisa. "Pati sa pagiging malapit sa mga babae napatunayan mo na rin." dugtong niya.

"Tito naman..." parang batang komento ni Lisa

"I should expect you to be more mature and reaponsible young women." naiiling na sabi ni Dada. "You put yourselves into this truoble then you have to learn to deal with it." sabi niya sabay tayo "Let's go, kumpadre. Bahala na sila magpaliwanag sa asawa at girlfriend nila." aya niya kay Tito Ramon.

"Ok, so paano ba yan? Good luck na lang? Knowing Nancy and Jennie, pahirapang paliwanag yan." nakangiting sabi ni Tito Ramon pag tayo niya. Naiwan kaming dalawa ni Lisa na nakaupo sa bandang dulo.

"What are we going to do now?" mahina kong sabi.

"Dmo alam?kung magsalita ka kanina tapang tapang mo..." sagot niya.

"Ang ibig kong sabihin anong gagawin ko. Paano ko sasabihin kay Nancy." kunot noo ko ng sabi.

"Ewan ko sa'yo, kanina pag alis ko hindi na maayos ang boses at pakikitungo ni Jennie sa akin. Natatakot na ako sa pwede niyang gawin." alalang sabi mi Lisa. Napabuntong hininga ako sabay sandal sa upuan.

"Mas madali pang magpaliwanag sa Board kesa sa asawa..." mahina kong komento.

"Sinabi mo pa..." sang ayon ni Lisa. Paano namin paliliwanag sa kanila? Hindi pwedeng sabihing masaya kami kasi mag po-propose na si Lisa. Paano. Paano. Tanong ko sa isip habang nag iisip ng malalim.

NANCY'S POV

"I understand, Dada. I know. Ok bye. Love you." paalam ko sa phone. Saglit akong natahimik at nag isip ng nag ring ulit ang phone.

"Hello, Jennie?"

"Hi, Nancy. H-how are you?" kamusta sa akin ni Jennie.

"Trying to be calm. Dada told me about the meeting."

"I'm sorry sa gulong ginawa ni Lisa..."

"It's not her fault, Jennie. Biktima din sila."

"I think Lisa will never change..."

"I doubt that Jennie...remember lagi ko nasasabi sa'yo how happy Yeonwoo was everytime we talk about you two. Sabi niya sana noon ka pa daw nakilala ni Lisa para tumino na siya." I said calmly. "She loves you. So much and she's afraid of what you will do if you this thing comes out. By the way how did you find out?" curious kong tanong.

"I received a copy of it in an envelope, naka address sa akin and the other one to Lisa"

"I see... " nasabi ko lang. "I already talked to Dada before your call came in and he told me how worried Yeonwoo and Lisa are because of that picture."

"Lisa's used in playing with feelings..." sagot niya "of all people bakit pati kayo nadamay pa..."

"Give her the benefit of the doubt, Jennie. Hear her out first."

"I wish I could be like you, Nancy. I've been trying to understand Lisa eversince..."

"Then don't give up on her, Jennie. We don't give up to the one we love, do we?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Parang hindi na niya pansin ang galit ko pag gumagawa siya ng kalokohan." sumbong niya at humugot ng malalim na hininga.

"But she's a new person when you came to her life, Jennie." sagot ko dahil naikukwento na siya ni Yeonwoo sa akin at nakilala ko na rin siya mula ng magkaron ng renovation sa bahay.

"Hindi ko na alam ang gagawin ko kay Lisa."

Ramdam ko ang pag aalala ni Jennie. Saglit akong natahimik.

"You want to teach her a lesson?" tanong ko.

"What do you mean?"

"I know Yeonwoo and Lisa are telling the truth. But let us teach them a lesson so they won't treat this issue a petty one."

YEONWOO'S POV

"Hello,Lo?"

"Kamusta ang meeting, Apo?"

"Mukhang ayos naman Lo, but I won't let my guard down." sabi ko.

"Mabuti kung ganon..."

"Pabalik na po ako diyan Lo."

"Saglit, Apo. Nakaalis na sila Nancy. Hindi ka ba tinawagan ng asawa mo?"

"H-hindi po, Lo. Bakit umuwi na po sila, hindi ba dapat bukas pa po.? takang tanong ko at may kasamang kaba.

"Hindi ko na nga siya napigilan Apo at sabi uuwi na nga daw. Abay kanina pa umalis ah. Bakit hindi man lang nasabi sa'yo."

"Wala po ba siyang nakausap, Lo?" alalang tanong ko.

"Wala naman Apo. Sa tingin mo ay alam na niya?"

"Hindi ko po alam,Lo. Sige po tawag na lang ulit ako. Salamat po." paalam ko at saka napakamot ng batok.Hindi kaya nalaman na ni Nancy? Dapat kasi sinabi ko na kanina, sermon ng utak ko. Bakit hindi man lang siya tumawag sa akin? Lito ang isip ko na umupo sa harapan ng manibela. Baka nasa bahay na sila tawagan ko kaya? Uwi na ba ako? Paano ko uumpisahang sabihin sa kanya? Bakit ganito ang reaksiyon ko? Alam ni Nancy ang pagpapahaging ni Lisa noon dahil naikukuwento ko at nakilala ng personal ni Nancy si Lisa mula ng ginawa niya ang bahay, naging malapit na rin sila at Jennie. Saksi din si Nancg sa bati at away nila dahil sa paminsan minsang nababalitaan ni Jennie. Laging sinasagot ni Lisa ay silang mga babae lang ang makulit at hindi na niya pinapansin. Kaya dapat ay hindi ako mag alala pero bakit parang kinakabahan ako. Hay naku Yeonwoo, bakit parang 'takusa' ka nga. Hindi ko pa magawang paandarin ang kotse ng tumunog ang cellphone ko.

"Hello Lisa?"

"Takot ka ring umuwi?"

"Ano?" takang tanong ko.

"Look to your right..." sagot niya at nakita ko siya na kumaway sa loob ng kotse niya. "I saw you entered your car, pero kanina ka pa diyan hindi umaalis."

"Hindi kita napansin..." sabi ko lang.

"I know, you're preoccupied. Sure you can drive?" kamusta niya.

"Ikaw?"

"Yeah, I'm trying. This is my doing and I will take the consequences. Tatanggapin ko ang galit ni Jennie. She's not answering my calls anymore and my messages. Kanina pa ako dito nagiisip kung uuwi ako o hindi." sagot niya pareho pala kami.

"Anyways, I'll go ahead Yeonwoo, baka may mga mata na namang nakasunod sa atin. Bye. Safe drive."

Paalam na niya. Hindi na ako nakasagot. Naiwan akong nag iisip. Paano na pag uwi ko?