Until I Found You

" Happy Birthday, Francia!" the friends and relatives greeted at Francia, it was her 18th birthday celebration. They were at the 5th star hotel, doon naisip ng mga magulang ang venue ng debut party niya. She was excited, she thought that she will be free to make a decision now that she turned eighteen, the legal age. Maraming mga bisita ang dumalo na puro mayayaman na mga kaibigan, katrabaho at kamag- anak ng kanilang pamilya. They all had a presence on Francia which made her more happy. " Thank you!" she said happily as she accepted their gift for her. " Hi Francia! " isang lalake ang biglang tumabi sa kanya. " Hello Adam." she said casually. Adam was her school mate on high school, he obviously liked her and even courted her but she didn't entertain him, aside sa strikto ang parents niya , wala rin naman siyang gusto sa binata. " I'hope, you like my gift. " he said to her. He also gave her a gift. " Thanks your for your gift." she said. " You want to go anywhere? I' can go with you." Adam offered. " No, I'm okay. Here." sabi naman ni Francia na nagpawala ng ngiti sa binata. Someone called Adam made her all alone as she walked. Nagpasalamat naman siya sa pagkakataong iyun. Ewan pero di siya kumportable kapag umaaligid ito sa kanya. The party had started, unang nagsalita ang ama niyang si Don Arthur sa harap ng maraming tao. " Good evening everyone, thank you for coming on my daughter's 18th birthday celebration. As we celebrate her special day. I' would like to announce that she will be getting married soon with Adam Samonte!" everyone cheered and clapped at Francia's dad said. Francia was so schocked and hindi agad nagsink- in sa utak ang narinig niya galing sa ama. " Me and Adam's decided to arranged marriage of them as they both adult, now." her dad added. " Congratsssss!!!!" people greeted. Tinawag sila sa harap kasama ang lalaking pakakasalan niya, ito ay walang iba kundi si Adam, anak ng isang bilyonaryo. Gwapo naman ito at mabait sa kanya, but she had never feelings for him. Walang ekpresyon ang mukha ni Francia, habang abot tainga naman ang ngiti ni Adam sa tabi niya habang nasa harap ng mga tao. She never expected na magsasagawa ng fix marriage ang mga magulang. She was always been followed of her parents ordered cause was afraid of them. But she didn't know if she can followed that fix marriage. She knew that fix marriage had been normal on their family but she believed that marriege is only those people who loved each other and not to force it. " Congrats to us, Francia!" Adam said to her. Francia didn't said anything. Her tears just fell, Adam smiled faded. " Are you not happy?" he asked her. She didn't answered. Until she walked out and runned to somewhere as her tears kept fell down on her cheeks. " Dad, why did you plan a fix marriage for me?" she asked her father when they are home. " It's for our business, if you marry Adam, our family with became more wealth, and you have a good future." her dad explained. " Dad, I' don't want to marry him!" she said when they are home. " What did you say?!" her father got mad. " I' will never marry, Adam!" she said. " Please, don't do this to me!" she added. " Shut- up! Can you just follow? After all, it's all for you!" his dad said. " Really, huh? Or you did for your selfishness reason!" Francia said. Francia 's dad went angry and slapped her. Na ikinagulat naman niya. It was the first time that her dad hurt her on physically. " Stop, Arthur!" her mom said. " Suwail kang bata ka! Kung alam kulang sana di kana pinanganak!" her dad said, made her heart broke. " Sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, ako ang masusunod!" he added. Tinalikuran naman siya ng mga magulang na basang- basa ang mga luha, she remember since she was a kid, her parents had been controlled her decisions in life. She wanted to get free from it. Hindi na niya kayang hayaan na kontrolin ng mga ito ang buhay niya. " Hija!" her yaya Pina hugged her when she was on her room, cried. " Yaya, please help me!" she said. " Anong maitutulong ko?" " Itakas mo ako!" " Naku! Ako naman ang malalagot sa mga magulang mo." ang sabi naman nito. " Yaya please, parang ina ko na kayo. Ayaw ko ng diktahan nina mommy ang mga desisyon ko. Sobra na." she said. " Okay, okay...Pero saan ka naman pupunta, huh? Sigurado kaba diyan sa desisyon mo?" " Yes, yaya. Siguro ito na yung pagkakataon ko para maging independent naman. " aniya. " Oh, sige. Kelan?" anito na nagpatuwa sa kanya. " Ah, mamaya." aniya. " Salamat, yaya!" she added and hugged her so tight. Francia prepared all of her belongings like her clothes and everything that was important to her. When everything was ready sigurado nilang tulog na ang lahat sa bahay. " Mag- ingat ka, huh? Mamimiss kita!" sabi naman ng yaya niya. " Don't be do dramatic yaya, babalik naman ako, eh." she assured. " Dapat lang." anito. Muli silang nagyakapan bago tuluyang nagpaalam. Masakit naman kay Francia iwan ang buhay at pamilya na kinagisnan niya but she felt that she need to do it. Sa gitna ng kadiliman, naglalakad si Francia dala ang mga bagahe, she didn't know where to go, naramdaman niya ang takot pero nilakasan niya ang loob. She had a positive mind that she will succeed of her plan. Later, isang grupo ng mga lalake ang nakita niya na agad namang napatitig sa kanya, she started to felt scared. " Oh, may babae!" sabi noong isa. " Maganda pa!" sabi pa nong isa. " Who are you? Stay away from me!" aniya ng palapit na ang mga ito sa kanya. They all laughed at her. " Ano raw?!" " Ano pang hinihintay natin, sige na!" sabi nong isa at agad hinawakan ang kamay niya ng dalawang lalake at kinuha naman ang kanyang bagahe. " Help! Help!" she screamed as she tried to get away from them. The sounds of the car echoed, tila nabunutan naman siya ng tinik. " Help!" sigaw niya. Agad naman na lumabas ang isang lalake at pinagsusuntok ang mga masasamang loob. Pinanood naman ito ni Francia na namamangha. " Tama na boss. Suko na kami!" parang pagmamakaawa naman ng mga ito. " Go away!" sigaw naman ng lalake at umalis naman ang mga ito. Francia came closer to the guy, she wanted to thank him. " Ah hi, thank you for saving me." aniya. The guy looked at her, he looked shocked. " I'm Arielle. " she added. She decided to use her second name. Tiningnan naman ng lalake ang kamay niya. " Ah, Is there's something wrong?" tanong niya naman ng di ito magsalita at titig lang sa kanya. Kahit madilim, kitang- kita niya ang guwapo at maliit na mukha nito, matangkad din ito. She was also tall, pero walang wala ang height niya kung ikukumpara sa height nito. He was like the model or an actor. " Anong ginagawa mo dito?!" ang naging tanong naman ng lalake, parang binalewala ang pagpapasalamat niya at pagpapakilala. " Ah, naglalakad." she couldn't find oyher words she have to say. " Are you crazy? Who would dare to walk here alone a girl like you?!" parang galit nitong tanong. " Excuse me, I'm not crazy!" she said irritated. " Really? Kung di pa ako dumating, ano ng ginawa sayo ng mga gagong yun!" " That's why I'm thankful to you." she said " Okay, tell me your address, ihahatid kita." " No! Pwede bang dalhin mo nalang ako sa bahay mo?" " What?!" gulat naman na sabi ng lalake. " Yes, I' don't have home now." aniya. " No, I' don't know you, so how can I'trust you?" " Please, I'm not a bad person, and I'm looking for a job, and I' promise to work for you, deal?" " Really?" " Yes." " Okay." the guy agreed. " Thank you!" natutuwa namang sabi ni Francia. " Don't yet thank me, my decision are not yet final." anito at tumalikod sa kanya. " Get inside." utos nito. Pumasok naman siya kaagad dala ang bagahe niya.