I Was The Mafia's Runaway Bride

Run 1: 💐💐💐

ARKISHA MIRABELLA’S POV:

Mabigat ang hangin sa labas pa lang ng Cathedral, tila hinihigop ang hangin sa loob ng aking baga.

Ito na iyon.

My hands were trembling, not with the delicate flutter of a nervous bride, but with the violent, rhythmic tremors of a condemned prisoner walking toward the gallows.

“Give us a smile, Arkisha. You look as if your wedding to Euan is against your will,” ani ni Erica ngunit hindi ko siya pinansin.

I found myself staring blankly at the massive, intricately carved wooden doors of the Manila Cathedral.

The craftsmanship was exquisite, depicting scenes of salvation and grace, but to me, they looked like the impenetrable walls of a fortress.

The most anticipated wedding of the year, a strategic union of power between the Laxamana and Fierro empires. Two legacies, two fortunes, and one sacrificial lamb.

“Sino ba ang matutuwa sa kasalang ito kung hindi ko naman talaga ginusto?” malamig na sambit ko kay Erica.

“Come on, iniisip lang nila Tita ang future mo and besides mabait naman si Euan at magkababata kayo hindi ba?”

Paano nga ba ako napunta sa ganitong sitwasyon?

Kung ako ang tatanungin, masaya na ako sa kwarto ko na walang ibang ginawa kundi ang manuod ng sine o kaya mga pelikula na may kinalaman sa pag-ibig.

Ngunit hindi ko inaasahan na ang eksena na nakikita ko lang sa mga palabas ay siya na pala mismong nararanasan ko sa totoong buhay.

“My future? They already ruined it the day they announced the engagement.”

I was the invisible daughter, the quiet Laxamana. But invisibility is a luxury the rich cannot afford for long.

Now, I’m standing here, draped in a designer gown that cost more than a literal house, about to be shackled to a lifelong arrangement na hindi ko naman kailanman hinangad.

Hindi na lang umimik si Erica at umalis sa tabi ko sakto namang lumapit si Mommy sa akin.

“Are you ready, anak?” Mommy suddenly whispered.

Ang init ng kanyang kamay sa aking braso ay kabaligtaran ng aking balat na nagyelo. Ibinalik ako nito sa malupit, hindi mapagpatawad na katotohanan ng kasalukuyan.

Lumingon ako upang tumingin sa kanya, umaasa na makahanap ng isang kurap ng pag-aalinlangan ng ina, isang kislap ng maaari pa kaming umalis.

Instead, she was beaming with a terrifying, polished pride. Her smile was radiant, her makeup flawless, looking for all the world as if this were the happiest day of her daughter’s life.

“Can I just run away, Mom? Please... ayokong makasal kay Euan,” pagmamakaawa ko, my voice cracking, the words coming out as a desperate, jagged serration of sound.

Nawala ang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Imbes na sagutin ako ay tinignan niya si Daddy at binigyan ng makahulugang tingin na para bang sila lamang ang nagkakaintindihan.

“Nag-usap na tayo tungkol dito, Arkisha Mirabella. Huwag mo akong sisimulan,” angil ni Daddy sa akin.

"Nag-usap? Ni hindi niyo nga tinanong ang opinyon ko tungkol dito. Tinanong niyo ba kung gusto kong maikasal kay Euan, hindi di ba?" wika ko na puno ng poot at hinanakit dahil sa desisyon na sila lamang ang may gusto.

Nakakasakal.

Para bang humihigpit ang tanikala na nakagapos sa aking leeg habang kasama ko sila.

"Arkisha, para sa'yo rin itong ginagawa namin," sabat ni Mommy.

"Nandito na tayo at wala ka nang magagawa kundi ang tanggapin ang kapalaran mo kay Euan," muling sambit ni Daddy.

There was no room for negotiation.

There was no space for my heart. They didn't talk to me; they decided for me.

"Ganoon na lang iyon? Hahayaan niyo akong maitali kay Euan?"

To them, my heartbeat was just a rhythmic ticking of a clock, my life just a final piece of a grand puzzle required to complete their business empire.

"There's nothing wrong to be with Euan, anak at isa pa kilala niyo naman ang isa't-isa hindi ba?"

I wasn't a person; I was a signature on a merger.

“I really hate you, Dad. This is not the wedding I dreamed of.”

Sa pagbukas ng malaking pintuan, tila pinupukpok ng malaking martilyo ang aking mga paa at bumabaon ang malalaking pako sa aking mga paa bilang parusa.

The massive doors began to groan, swinging open slowly to reveal the cavernous, gold-leafed interior of the church.

The ethereal, melodic swell of the wedding march began to fill the air, the organ pipes vibrating through the floorboards and into the soles of my feet.

Sa dulo ng altar, naroon siya.

Standing tall, imposing, and terrifyingly still was Euan Steve Fierro.

My childhood acquaintance, a boy I once played tag with in manicured gardens, had transformed into my destined husband and my future jailer.

Isang hawla na siguradong paglalagyan ko hanggang sa huli kong hininga.

He looked magnificent in his bespoke suit, a dark prince waiting to claim his prize.

Mom and Dad gripped my arms firmly, not for support, but to ensure I didn't bolt.

Sinamahan nila akong maglakad patungo sa gitna ng altar. Bawat nota na sumasamyo sa aking tainga ay para bang karayom na tumutusok sa aking dibdib.

Ayoko nito.

Hindi si Euan ang mahal ko.

May mahal akong iba at si Lawrence iyon.

I looked at Euan’s face, searching for a sign of softness, but his expression was unreadable, a stone-cold mask of duty.

All I could see in his dark eyes was the end of my freedom.

I didn't want this marriage, but my parents wouldn't let anything not even the broken spirit of their only daughter get in the way of the Laxamana-Fierro merger.

Bago ko pa man maproses ang distansya sa pagitan namin, nasa harapan ns ako ni Euan. Ang hangin sa pagitan namin ay puno ng tensyon.

Euan reached out, his large hand enveloping mine.

His grip was firm and possessive, feeling less like a romantic gesture and more like heavy iron shackles locking around my wrists, anchoring me to a life I never chose.

“Take care of our daughter, Euan,” wika ni Daddy, handing me over with a nod.

Tila isang transaksyon. He was handing over the title deed to my life.

“I will, Dad. No need to worry,” Euan replied.

His voice was smooth, filled with a smug, nonchalant confidence that made my stomach churn.

Tumango si Euan bilang respeto sa aking ama at binigyan niya ng magaang halik sa pisngi ang aking ina.

"Be good to each other," bulong sa akin ng ina ni Euan nang lumapit ito sa akin at gawaran ako ng halik sa aking pisngi.

I remained frozen, a statue in white silk, unable to offer even a fake smile for the cameras.

Walang salita na bumaling si Euan sa akin at iginiya ako patungo sa harapan ng Pari upang simulan ang seremonya ng aming kasal.

“Welcome all of you who are near and dear. We gather here today under this roof to celebrate the union of Euan Steve and Arkisha Mirabella...”

Ang boses ng Pari ay umalingawngaw sa loob ng simbahan. Magpapahayag tungkol sa salitang pag-ibig, pagsasama at pakikipagsapalaran.

Love? This wasn't love. This was a hostile takeover.

“Bago tayo dumako sa seremonya, may tututol ba sa kasalang Euan at Arkisha?”

I closed my eyes tight; my eyelashes wet with unshed tears. I prayed for a miracle, a sign, a natural disaster—anything to stop this nightmare.

God, please. Save me.