Her Unveiled Love

[Her POV] I listened attentively to our lecturer as she explains the things that can be seen in the PowerPoint. "Do you have any idea why people die?" Walang gana kong inikot ang tingin ko sa mga kaklase ko, nag-aantay kung merong sasagot. "Because of disease siguro, Ma'am, o 'di kaya ay sa sobrang katandaan na," sagot ng isang kaklase ko. "Any answers?... Yes, Miss Bautista?" "When Homeostasis is not in balance." "Can you elaborate it more, Miss Bautista?" Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagsimulang magpaliwanag. "A person will die if nawalan na ng balanse ang katawan niya. For example, kapag naputol ang braso ng isang tao, mawawalan ng dugo, hindi 'ba? We need blood because blood fuel our body with nutrients and oxygen, so if wala nang dugo, mawawalan din ng oxygen ang katawan natin. Which results to death." "Ang galing naman." "Talino talaga." I could hear my classmates' praise which is expected. I just don't get it kung ba't sa simpleng tanong lang ay hindi pa nila masagot. Our lecturer started talking about history. Particularly, history of foods and how people invented it like popsicles, ketchup, wine, and a lot more. "Ano pa?" "Sour, Sweet, Salty." "Bitter din." "Spicy!" "Is spicy a flavor?" Natigilan ang lecturer namin sa pagsusulat sa board nung may sumagot na spicy. "No, Ma'am. It's a chemical reaction. Certain compounds in spicy foods activates our sensory neurons, so when we eat chili peppers, it'll trigger our tongue to burn because our brain thinks that it's actually burning." "Well said," ngumiti sa akin ang lecturer namin pero iniwas ko lang ang tingin ko. Why is she smiling? It's just a small reason to be impressed. "How many bones did we have in our body when we're still a baby?" "350," sagot ng kaklase ko. "What about kung na-fully grown na 'yung bones natin?" "206, Ma'am, but we lose another 60 when we reach adulthood." Pumalakpak ang iilang kaklase ko pero kita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko na si Julia na masamang nakatingin sa akin. She hates me, after I paid a guy to sleep with her in order for my brother to break-up with her. Habang tumatagal ang klase ay nawawalan ako ng gana dahil about love life ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. Hindi ko talaga makuha kung ba't interesado pa ang mga kaklase ko sa love life kesa sa lessons. It's full of stupid and unnecessary things, what's so interesting about that? "Miss Bautista?" "Yes, Ma'am?" Mabilis akong tumayo. "What is love?" Agad na napataas ang kilay ko sa tanong niya. "P-pardon?" "What is love? How would you define love?" I scoffed with her question, pero natigilan ako at nawala ang ngisi sa labi ko nung wala akong maisip na isasagot. "Love... it is something that..." Napalunok ako lalo na dahil sa pagtitig ng mga kaklase ko. "It's unexplainable, Ma'am." Sagot ko at umiwas ng tingin. "Unexplainable? Nagka-boyfriend ka na ba, Miss Bautista?" "I never had any. May I ask why are you asking me this, Ma'am?" Naguguluhang tanong ko. Sobrang layo naman ng lesson namin sa tanong niya. "I'm just curious, Miss Bautista, so wala ka pang plano na pumasok sa isang relasyon?" Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa kanyang tanong. I have a lot of suitors, kung may plano ako, edi sana may sinagot na ako. To think that my suitors all came from well-known families. "To be honest, Ma'am, I don't think i'll ever get married. If you ask why, it's because I don't need a man in my life." Tumango siya at hindi na ako tinanong pa. Love never crossed my mind. I don't think i'll ever need it anyways. I have everything. Power, fame, intelligence, family, and wealth. I couldn't ask for more. "Your face showed us that you were ask by the most hardest question you ever encountered. Come on, Via, it's a simple question." "Homeostasis is also an easy question pero walang sumagot kanina." Sagot ko kay Rose habang abala sa pagliligpit ng gamit. "Pero seriously, you don't want to get married?" "Do I look like I need to?" Sarkastiko kong tanong at hinarap siya. Rose has always been friendly to everyone especially to me. Kahit sino ay magaan ang loob sa kanya especially with her hazel brown long hair and cute brown ribbon headband. Parang elementary student ito kaya walang sino man ang nai-intimidate sa kanya... which is the opposite of me. "You're just saying that kasi hindi mo pa nahanap ang the one mo!" "I'm not looking and I rather be blind than to fall in love." Kinuha ko na ang bag ko at mabilis siyang tinalikuran. I really hate conversations like that. Nonsense. "Quennelle Sylvian!" My aunt's voice roared across the living room after I step my foot inside the house. Mabilis kong hinubad ang bag ko at pinatong sa sofa. Binilisan ko ang paglalakad patungo sa study room without breaking my composure. Pagkapasok ko ay lahat ng atensyon ng mga kamag-anak namin ay napunta sa akin. I didn't flinched and remained expressionless as I walk towards Aunt Mavis who is elegantly sitting on the couch. "Yes, Tita?" "We know that we love you right, Quen?" "Yes, Tita." "And you swore to obey your family at all times." "Yes, Tita." Napangisi siya sa walang pag-aalinlangang sagot ko. "The family had agreed to give your hand in marriage with our affiliate family. You won't disagree right, hija?" Napalunok ako at kahit nagulat man ay nananatili akong nakatitig nang matapang sa mga mata ng tiyahin ko. Marriage, a f*****g marriage. "Ate Via is getting married?" "No, Mom, you can't let her marry." "Ate Via, you can't be married to that guy–" "Of course, Tita. No questions asked." I answered without hesitation. Especially when my siblings and cousins entered the room. I don't want to get married. I don't want to be involve with any guy, but agreeing to this arranged marriage is what my family wants, then so be it. I am the first born in this generation of the Bautista Family, and I will do everything in my power to satisfy the elders. "You never failed to make us proud, hija." Tumayo si Tita at lumapit sa akin. She gently cupped my both cheeks and kisses my forehead. "Ate, why did you agreed?!" Bulalas ng kapatid kong si Ashton nung lumabas na ang lahat ng elders sa study room. "I need to." I looked at him with zero interest. I was about to leave the study room but my cousin, Shine, stopped me. "How can you marry someone you don't even know? Ate, we know that you hate marriage. How can you agree–" "May magagawa pa ba ako? Besides, I only want what's best for this family. No one can make me change my mind. Kung ayaw niyo talaga akong magpakasal, then beg your Mom to call the wedding off." Binawi ko ang braso ko mula sa pagkakahawak niya at binigyan siya ng isang matalim na tingin. I left the study room after slamming the door shut. I don't want to get married. I don't want to... but I need to, especially if that's what my family needs me to do.