NO CHOICE /r18

ENGAGEMENT

It was Saturday and everyone in both families was busy preparing for the engagement party later. This event will be considered an important milestone for both the Montreal and the Rivero family because it will show the business world how powerful their companies will be.

The party was agreed to be held at the old mansion of The Montreal patriarch, Pablo Montreal, who was known for everyone as Old Pab. 

May malaking lawn at mapakagandang garden ang mansion sa harap nito at dito napili ng isang sikat na event organizer na gaganapin ang ceremony. Ramdam ang romantic vibes at extravagance ng set up, making everyone feels that this is a very important occasion. May mga transparent tents for dining na puno ng mala bituing ilaw at cocktail tables. Naka set up din ang isang mobile bar where all kinds of drinks were unlimited for the guests. Ang Bob's catering din ang napili nilang caterer. Bonggang pinaghandaan talaga ng mga mommies nila Alex at Mylene ang importanteng kaganapan ngayon dahil ang hands on sila sa pagpa plano nito.

Nagsimula nang magdatingan ang mga bisita ng dalawang pamilya... Mga CEOs, stockholders at executives ng malalaking companies ng bansa. Nagmistulang business meeting ang okasyon sa mga presence ng mga distinguished people of the business world. Walang media coverage para masigurado ang pagiging pribado nito.

Halos mapuno na ang venue ng mga bisita nila. Mahigit kumulang isang daang tao ang mga invited.

Halos nandito na rin ang family ng Montreal at Rivero pero hanggang sa mga oras na ito, di pa rin alam ni Alex kung sino sa mga babae na nandito ang magiging fiancë nya.

Nasa terrace ang makakaibigang Alex, Jack, Paulo, Anton and Ryan at kitang kita kung saan sila nakaposisyon ang mga sasakyan at mga taong nagsisidatingan sa di kalayuan.

Napapatingin sila sa bawat pagpasok ng mga ibat ibang klaseng sasakyan, ang napansin ni Alex  ang umugong tunog ng isang sasakyan at ang pagpasok ng puting sports car, kayat napatingin silang lima, as curiosity perked them up. Huminto sa harap ng drop off lane ng mansion, lumabas ang babaeng naka puti sa driver's seat at isa pang babae sa passenger. Iniabot ng babaeng driver sa valet ang car keys. Then may sumunod na sasakyan at may lumabas na isang babae at isang lalaki pa na parang kasama ng dalawa kasi naghintayan pa sila.

"Puta astig! Naka Volvo ang chicks. Sino kaya yun, bro? " tanong ni Jack.

Alex shrugged his shoulders but he had to admit it made him curious too. " I don't know, ni di ko nga kilala ang mga invited dito." sagot ni Alex pero may kakaibang vibe syang naramdaman.

Sa loob nya, that girl looks so familiar! 

Where did I see her?? 

For sure she wasn't one of his girls. He didn't remember any of his flings na naka sports car din. 

And that car! It was identical to his own car, pero yung sa kanya, itim lang. 

Then suddenly, his memory sparked!

Tama! She was the lady in white dun sa engagement party ni Paulo. What is she doing here? Lahat nalang ba ng engagement party eh andun sya? 

Sinundan nya kanyang paningin ang babae, not wanting to miss her in his sight.  

He saw her greet some people, introducing her companions to some guest habang bumebeso at nakiki-shake hands sya sa mga kilalang tao sa business world.

Was she some kind of a high class w***e na kilala ang mga matatandang negosyante na bisita nila Dad?

If that is so, tsk, sayang sya.

After a while, tinawag si Alex ng bunso nyang kapatid na si Alice.

"Kuya, tawag ka ni dad. Nasa living room sila kasama ang mga Rivero." ani Alice.

Mangyayari ang actual proposal sa loob ng mansion at tanging family members at close friends lang ang nandun, bago sila iharap sa mga bisita at and formal announcement sa venue.

"Let's go, samahan nyo ako sa loob." pagyaya ni Alex sa mga kaibigan.

"Syempre bro, sasamahan ka namin sa huling sandali ng maliligaya mong buhay binata." biro ni Ryan sa kanya.

"Ako, gusto kong makita ang napakamalas na babaeng mapapangasawa mo." sabi naman ni Jack.

"Mga ulol!"

Nang pumasok silang lima sa living room, nakita ni Alex ang family nila at si Mr. Ramon Rivero, ang kasama ang iba pa na marahil ay mga Riveros rin.

He couldn't help but notice again the lady in white. She was also there inside but she was talking with some people na kasama nya din kanina na dumating.

So, she is probably a Rivero too. Sabi nya sa sarili.

Of course, naka Volvo nga eh, malamang!

He was looking at her nang mapansin nyang binulungan ng isang babae si lady in white. Lumingon ito sa kanya, tiningnan sya mula ulo hanggang paa, inirapan at tumalikod na parang wala syang effect dito.

Aba! Inirapan nya nga talaga ako! Sin o ba sya???

Iritang sabi ni Alex sa sarili.

He was then called by his parents at pinakilala dito si Mr. and Mrs. Rivero. 

Mayat maya ay, lumapit din si Michael Rivero at pinakilala sa kanya. Then, may tinawag si Mrs Rivero.

"Mylene dear, come here and meet your husband to be."

Alex was surprised when the lady in white walked towards them. 

Pucha, siya ba ang mapapangasawa ko??

Lumapit sa kanila si Mylene na walang emosyon ang mukha. At di maiwasan ni Alex na titigan sya. Ganun pa rin, walang gaanong make up, napaka simple at ang mata nya....

Mr. Rivero then said, " Oh, this is my lovely unica ija, Mylene. Anak, this is your soon-to-be parents-in-law, William and Maria Montreal. This lovely girl is your soon to be sister in law Alice and this young man right here is Alexander, your husband-to-be. Now we will give you two a few moments to talk to personally get to know each other  para magkakakilala kayo then we will start the ceremony."

"Hi Alexander." unang bumati si Mylene sa kanya while extending her hand for a handshake habang sya ay nanatiling nakapako ang mga paa at natigilan sa nangyayari.

Huy Alex, ano na?? Ang boses nya, napaka........ Bata????? Gago! Wala ka na bang ibang adjective na maisip????

"Uhmm..Where can we talk? I have some important things to tell you before we start this bullshit." mahinang sabi ni Mylene sa kanya, her not wanting others to hear what she just said.

Bullshit??? Tinawag ba syang bullshit? Or what?

"Excuse me, Alexander, I ask where can we talk... privately?" tanong muli ni Mylene, na nakataas ang isang kilay nito sa kanya.

Privately daw, eh di sa room ko!

Gago, compose yourself Alex!

"Oh sorry, but will the library be fine?" sagot nya.

"Oh that's fine, but I wanna bring my friend with me if that is ok with you. Maybe, you bring one of your friends too. We need some witnesses for this discussion." seryosong sabi ni Mylene sa kanya.

Oh, medjo may pagka ano sya... Seryoso at di man lang  ba sya naapektuhan sa akin????

"Yes, that's fine." then tinawag nya si Jack.

Pumasok silang apat ngayun sa loob kasama si Jack at Ann sa library. Then, without any drama,  sinimulan ni Mylene ang gusto nyang sabihin.

"Ok, Mr. Montreal. I know na gaya ko, napilitan ka lang din sa set up na to, so I have a few things to clear before we oblige to them. " Mylene said. Her hands were crossed in front of her, as she looked at his towering height. 

Regardless of her petite build, Mylene could fill the entire room with her presence alone. That's the kind of effect she had on Alex and he was overwhelmed with that feeling.

"Wait, wait, wait. Can we at least try to get to know each other first? Although I'm pretty sure we have met sa engagement party ni la Paulo and Celeste at Tagaytay. That guy there is Jack, best friend ko--." he interrupted her. 

"Don't bother. Let's cut that crap. We are not filling up slum books here. We can do that some other time."  Mylene insisted, giving her that boredom that told him she was not interested in him.

Naubo si Jack na parang natatawa pero personal syang  nagpakilala sa kaibigan ni Mylene na si Ann. 

"Ok, if that's what you wish, but can we at least take a sit first?" Alex said, putting his best foot forward to charm Mylene.

Without any word, Mylene turned her back to sit on the couch, and so, they all followed her. Umupo silang apat sa sala ng library.

"I want this over right away kasi pareho din naman natin di ito gusto, right? To start it up, I don't need to know nor interested kung ano ang mga vices at ginagawa mo sa buhay, the same way that I don't want you to know mine. After all, this marriage is up for a piece of paper and in name only. Now, I just wanna make some things clear. I want to set some rules and conditions in our marriage, which of course pag uusapan natin bago tayo ikakasal. For now, I just wanna make this engagement over. Please, no cheesy, scripted promises or whatsoever on the proposal. I don't want any show. Naririndi ako dyan. Simply put the ring on me and be done with it." nonstop ang monologue ni Mylene kayat di makapagsalita si Alex. " And, don't you ever dare kiss me on my lips when you propose. We are not lovers. Do I make myself clear?"

"Ok" tanging sagot na lumabas sa bibig ni Alex.

"Good. Then let's go and be done with it." hinala ni Mylene ang  kamay ni Ann palabas na parang nagmamadali.

Alex was left dumbfounded. He was at loss. Natatameme sya at di man lang nakasagot.

He saw Jack was holding his grin. Alam nya na natatawa ang kaibigan nya sa kanya pero wala itong sinabi.

Gaya nang nasa plano, nag propose si Alex kay Mylene sa harap ng mga pamilya at kaibigan nila. Isang heirloom na diamond ring ang nilagay nya sa kamay ni Mylene. That ring has been passed for 3 generations of the Montreals.

Sobrang bilis nang pangyayari. Di nga naubos ang 10 minutes sa proposal.

Simpleng, "MYLENE RIVERO, WILL YOU MARRY ME?" lang ang sinabi ni Alex and a simple "YES" lang ang sagot. A peck on her cheeks, a few photo ops with the family, and it's done.

Then,  they went outside to be introduced as a newly engaged couple to the guests. 

The night has ended successfully. Both parties were happy with the outcome of the event. 

The Riveros and Montreals are more than halfway to have the most powerful merger in the country.

Except for the two.

Mylene was bothered.

Alex was bothered.

And whatever's bothering them, let us find out next!

THANK YOU FOR READING

#NoChoiceWP