Forced to the Altar

Chapter.5

*Chapter 5: Unang Date sa Jewelry Shop*

*Chapter 5: First Date at Jewelry Shop*

*ELENA POV*

Alas nuebe ng umaga. Nasa harap ako ng salamin. Hindi makapaniwala.

_9 AM. In front of mirror. Can't believe._

Nakasuot ako ng dress na binigay ni Manang Fe. Kulay light blue. Simple lang. Pero brand new. First time ko magsuot ng brand new dress na hindi ukay.

_I'm wearing dress Manang Fe gave. Light blue color. Simple. But brand new. First time I wear brand new dress not from ukay._

"Bagay sayo, hija," sabi ni Manang Fe. "Para kang prinsesa."

_"It suits you, hija," Manang Fe said. "You look like princess."_

Prinsesa? Ako? Pandesal girl from Tondo?

_Princess? Me? Pandesal girl from Tondo?_

Bakit ba ako pinapaganda ni Manang Fe? Pupunta lang kami ni Adrian sa jewelry shop para ayusin yung sirang necklace na binigay ni Lolo. Yung sinira ni Sophia.

_Why is Manang Fe making me beautiful? We will only go to jewelry shop to fix broken necklace Lolo gave. The one Sophia broke._

Pero bakit parang date?

_But why does it feel like a date?_

Bumaba ako. Nandoon si Adrian sa sala. Naka-black suit. Pogi. Amoy mamahalin. Nakatingin sa cellphone. Seryoso.

_I went down. Adrian was in living room. Wearing black suit. Handsome. Expensive smell. Looking at cellphone. Serious._

Pag-angat niya ng tingin at nakita niya ako, natigilan siya. 5 seconds siyang nakatitig lang.

_When he looked up and saw me, he stopped. 5 seconds just staring._

"Bakit?" tanong ko, nahihiya.

_"Why?" I asked, shy._

"Wala," sabi niya, pero namula tenga niya. "Tara na. Ayusin natin yang necklace mo. Ayokong magalit si Lolo."

_"Nothing," he said, but his ears turned red. "Let's go. Let's fix your necklace. I don't want Lolo to get angry."_

Lolo na naman dahilan. Hindi dahil gusto niya akong samahan.

_Lolo again reason. Not because he wants to accompany me._

Pero okay na rin.

_But it's okay._

*ADRIAN POV*

9 AM. Hinihintay ko si Elena sa sala.

_9 AM. Waiting for Elena in living room._

Sabi ko kay Manang Fe bilhan siya ng simpleng dress. Ayokong isama sa jewelry shop yung mukhang katulong. Mrs. Montenegro siya sa papel. Dapat mukhang Mrs. Montenegro.

_I told Manang Fe to buy her simple dress. I don't want to bring to jewelry shop someone who looks like maid. She is Mrs. Montenegro on paper. Should look like Mrs. Montenegro._

Yun lang dahilan. Wala nang iba.

_That's only reason. Nothing else._

Tapos bumaba siya. Naka-light blue dress. Mahaba buhok, nakalugay ngayon. Hindi nakatali tulad dati. May konting lipstick. Hindi ko alam sino naglagay, si Manang Fe siguro.

_Then she went down. Wearing light blue dress. Long hair, down now. Not tied like before. Little lipstick. I don't know who put it, Manang Fe maybe._

Damn.

_Damn._

Bakit siya... maganda?

_Why is she... beautiful?_

Hindi. Hindi maganda. Cute lang. Oo, cute lang. Pandesal girl pa rin.

_No. Not beautiful. Only cute. Yes, only cute. Still pandesal girl._

"Elena, tara na," sabi ko, mabilis tumayo. Ayokong makita niya namumula tenga ko.

_"Elena, let's go," I said, quickly standing. I don't want her to see my ears turning red._

Sumakay kami sa kotse. Sa likod. Tahimik. Amoy ko buhok niya. Amoy sampaguita. Hindi mamahalin shampoo, pero mabango. Natural.

_We rode car. At back. Quiet. I can smell her hair. Sampaguita smell. Not expensive shampoo, but fragrant. Natural._

"Elena, makinig ka sa jewelry shop mamaya," sabi ko. "Huwag kang magsalita ng kung ano-ano. Baka isipin nila gold digger ka talaga. Tumahimik ka lang. Ako bahala."

_"Elena, listen at jewelry shop later," I said. "Don't talk nonsense. They might think you really are gold digger. Just be quiet. I will handle."_

Tumango siya. "Opo, Sir Adrian."

_She nodded. "Yes, Sir Adrian."_

Sir pa rin tawag niya sa akin. Kahit asawa niya ako sa papel.

_She still calls me Sir. Even though I'm her husband on paper._

Gusto ko sana sabihin na Adrian na lang itawag niya. Pero hindi. Kontrata lang kami.

_I want to say call me Adrian only. But no. Contract only._

*SOPHIA POV*

9 AM. Nagising ako sa kwarto ni Adrian. Wala si Adrian!

_9 AM. I woke up in Adrian's room. No Adrian!_

Bumaba ako. Wala rin sa sala! Sabi ni Manang Fe umalis daw kasama si Elena! Pupunta sa jewelry shop!

_I went down. Not in living room too! Manang Fe said he left with Elena! Going to jewelry shop!_

Ano?! Jewelry shop?! Date?!

_What?! Jewelry shop?! Date?!_

Hindi pwede! Ako dapat kasama ni Adrian sa jewelry shop! Ako dapat binibilhan ng alahas! Hindi yung pandesal girl na yan!

_Not allowed! I should be the one with Adrian at jewelry shop! I should be the one bought jewelry! Not that pandesal girl!_

Kaya mabilis akong nagbihis. Naka-sexy white dress. 20,000 pesos. At sinundan sila sa jewelry shop na pag-aari ng Montenegro family!

_So I quickly dressed. Wearing sexy white dress. 20,000 pesos. And I followed them to jewelry shop owned by Montenegro family!_

Makikita nila. Hindi ako papayag na maging Mrs. Montenegro yang si Elena!

_They will see. I will not allow Elena to become Mrs. Montenegro!_

*MANANG FE POV*

Pinagbihis ko si Elena ng light blue dress. Binili ko kahapon sa SM. 800 pesos lang. Pero bagay sa kanya. Morena kasi siya, bagay light color.

_I dressed Elena in light blue dress. Bought yesterday at SM. Only 800 pesos. But suits her. Because she's morena, light color suits._

Nakita ko mukha ni Sir Adrian nung bumaba si Elena. Natulala. 5 seconds. Namula tenga.

_I saw Sir Adrian's face when Elena went down. Stunned. 5 seconds. Ears turned red._

May gusto na si Sir Adrian kay Elena. Alam ko. 30 years ko na alaga si Sir Adrian. Alam ko pag may gusto siya.

_Sir Adrian likes Elena already. I know. I took care of Sir Adrian for 30 years. I know when he likes someone._

Sana magkatuluyan sila. Mabait si Elena. Hindi tulad ni Sophia na 20,000 pesos dress pero ugali 20 pesos.

_I hope they end up together. Elena is kind. Unlike Sophia with 20,000 pesos dress but 20 pesos attitude._

Kaya nagdasal ako habang paalis sila. "Lord, sana maging date talaga yang jewelry shop na yan."

_So I prayed while they left. "Lord, I hope that jewelry shop really becomes a date."_

*SA JEWELRY SHOP - ELENA POV ULIT*

Pagdating namin sa jewelry shop, lahat ng staff yumuko kay Adrian.

_When we arrived at jewelry shop, all staff bowed to Adrian._

"Good morning, Sir Montenegro! Ma'am!" sabi nila.

_"Good morning, Sir Montenegro! Ma'am!" they said._

Ma'am daw ako. Mrs. Montenegro.

_They called me Ma'am. Mrs. Montenegro._

First time may tumawag sa akin ng Ma'am. Sa Tondo, "Hoy, pandesal!" lang tawag sa akin.

_First time someone called me Ma'am. In Tondo, they only call me "Hey, pandesal!"_

"Ayusin niyo itong necklace," sabi ni Adrian at binigay yung sirang heart pendant.

_"Fix this necklace," Adrian said and gave broken heart pendant._

Kinuha ng staff. "Ay, putol po yung chain, Sir. Pero kaya po hinangin. 30 minutes lang po."

_Staff took it. "Oh, chain is cut, Sir. But can be soldered. Only 30 minutes."_

30 minutes. Maghihintay kami.

_30 minutes. We will wait._

Pinaupo kami sa VIP room. May juice at cake.

_We were seated at VIP room. With juice and cake._

Hindi ako sanay sa ganito. Uupo lang at may magse-serve.

_I'm not used to this. Just sitting and someone will serve._

"Adrian! Nandito ka pala!"

_Biglang may pumasok. Si Sophia! Naka-white sexy dress!_

"Adrian! You are here!"

_Suddenly someone entered. Sophia! Wearing white sexy dress!_

*SOPHIA POV - SA SHOP*

Nakita ko sila sa VIP room! Magkatabi! Si Elena pa naka-light blue dress na mukhang 800 pesos lang! Hahaha! Mukhang yaya!

_I saw them at VIP room! Sitting together! Elena wearing light blue dress that looks only 800 pesos! Hahaha! Looks like nanny!_

"Adrian, babe! Kanina pa kita hinahanap!" sabi ko at umupo sa tabi ni Adrian. Sa kabila ni Elena.

_"Adrian, babe! I was looking for you!" I said and sat beside Adrian. Opposite side of Elena._

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" malamig na sabi ni Adrian.

_"What are you doing here?" Adrian said coldly._

"Eh nakita ko sa i********: na nasa jewelry shop ka ng family mo, kaya pumunta ako! Babe, bagay sa akin yung diamond necklace dun oh!" turo ko sa diamond necklace na 2 million.

_"I saw on i********: you are at family jewelry shop, so I came! Babe, that diamond necklace suits me oh!" I pointed to diamond necklace worth 2 million._

Tumingin si Adrian sa akin, inis.

_Adrian looked at me, annoyed._

"Umalis ka dito, Sophia. Inaayos namin necklace ni Elena."

_"Leave here, Sophia. We are fixing Elena's necklace."_

Necklace ni Elena? Yung 5,000 pesos lang na gold heart? Hahaha!

_Necklace of Elena? That only 5,000 pesos gold heart? Hahaha!_

*ADRIAN POV - SA SHOP*

Dumating si Sophia. Naka-white dress. Amoy mamahaling pabango.

_Sophia arrived. Wearing white dress. Expensive perfume smell._

Pero bakit mas gusto ko amoy ni Elena? Sampaguita lang?

_But why do I prefer Elena's smell? Only sampaguita?_

"Sophia, umalis ka," sabi ko. "Inaayos namin regalo ni Lolo kay Elena."

_"Sophia, leave," I said. "We are fixing Lolo's gift to Elena."_

"Eh babe, mas bagay sa akin diamond eh! Tingnan mo, mas sexy ako! Mas maputi! Mas model! Siya pandesal girl lang!" sabi ni Sophia, malakas.

_"But babe, diamond suits me more! Look, I'm more sexy! More white! More model! She is just pandesal girl!"_

Tumingin ako kay Elena. Yumuko. Umiiyak na naman. Hawak laylayan ng dress niya.

_I looked at Elena. Head down. Crying again. Holding hem of her dress._

Tumayo ako. Galit.

_I stood up. Angry._

"Sophia, tama na!" sigaw ko. Malakas. Narinig ng staff. "Umalis ka! Hindi ka welcome dito!"

_"Sophia, enough!" I shouted. Loud. Staff heard. "Leave! You are not welcome here!"_

Nagulat si Sophia. Hindi niya inakala sisigawan ko siya sa harap ng maraming tao. Para kay Elena.

_Sophia was shocked. She didn't expect I would shout at her in front of many people. For Elena._

"Adrian... pinipili mo yang pandesal girl kaysa sa akin?!" sigaw ni Sophia, umiiyak.

_"Adrian... you choose that pandesal girl over me?!" Sophia shouted, crying._

Hindi ako sumagot. Hinawakan ko kamay ni Elena at hinila patayo.

_I didn't answer. I held Elena's hand and pulled her to stand._

"Let's go, Elena. Sa ibang shop na lang natin ayusin yan."

_"Let's go, Elena. Let's fix that at other shop."_

At hinila ko si Elena palabas ng shop, hawak kamay.

_And I pulled Elena out of shop, holding hands._

Iniwan si Sophia na umiiyak.

_Leaving Sophia crying._

*ELENA POV - LABAS NG SHOP*

Hawak ni Adrian kamay ko. Mahigpit. Mainit. Hinila niya ako palabas ng jewelry shop.

_Adrian holding my hand. Tight. Warm. He pulled me out of jewelry shop._

Lahat ng tao nakatingin sa amin. Si Adrian Montenegro, Billionaire CEO, hila-hila yung pandesal girl.

_All people looking at us. Adrian Montenegro, Billionaire CEO, pulling pandesal girl._

"Sorry, Sir Adrian..." bulong ko. "Dahil sa akin, nag-away kayo ni Ma'am Sophia..."

_"Sorry, Sir Adrian..." I whispered. "Because of me, you and Ma'am Sophia fought..."_

Huminto siya. Tumingin sa akin. Hawak pa rin kamay ko.

_He stopped. Looked at me. Still holding my hand._

"Elena, hindi ikaw ang problema. Si Sophia ang problema. At... hindi mo kailangang mag-sorry."

_"Elena, you are not the problem. Sophia is the problem. And... you don't need to say sorry."_

Tapos may binulong siya, mahina lang. "At... maganda yung dress mo. Bagay sayo."

_Then he whispered, very soft. "And... your dress is beautiful. It suits you."_

Namula ako! Sobrang pula!

_I blushed! So red!_

First time niya ako pinuri.

_First time he complimented me._

"Salamat, Sir..." bulong ko.

_"Thank you, Sir..." I whispered._

"Adrian na lang," sabi niya. "Adrian na itawag mo sa akin pag tayong dalawa lang. Hindi Sir."

_"Just Adrian," he said. "Call me Adrian when it's just us two. Not Sir."_

Adrian? Tawagin ko siyang Adrian?

_Adrian? I will call him Adrian?_

"Opo... Adrian..." sabi ko, nanginginig.

_"Yes... Adrian..." I said, trembling._

Ngumiti siya. First time ko nakita siyang ngumiti ng totoo. Hindi malamig. Hindi galit. Ngiti talaga.

_He smiled. First time I saw him smile for real. Not cold. Not angry. Real smile._

"Halika, kain tayo. Gutom ka na diba?"

_"Come, let's eat. You are hungry right?"_

At hinila niya ulit ako papunta sa restaurant. Hawak pa rin kamay ko.

_And he pulled me again to restaurant. Still holding my hand._

Unang date namin? Sa jewelry shop?

_Our first date? At jewelry shop?_

*TO BE CONTINUED...*

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*END OF CHAPTER 5*

*Author's Note:* OMG! PINILI NI ADRIAN SI ELENA KAYSA KAY SOPHIA! HAWAK-KAMAY PA LABAS NG SHOP! AT TINAWAG NA SIYANG ADRIAN HINDI SIR!

Sino kinilig?!

Comment: TEAM ADRIAN x ELENA FOREVER!

Next: Chapter 6 - First Date sa Restaurant / Ang Sarap Maging Mrs. Montenegro

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