I Was The Mafia's Runaway Bride

Run 6: ⚠️⚠️⚠️

ARKISHA MIRABELLA'S POV

Muli kong itinuon ang atensyon ko kay Daddy. He was mid-sentence, launching into the history of Laxamana Tradings. Nagsimula na siyang mag-speech tungkol sa history ng kompanya at kung paano ito nagsimula sa isang maliit na warehouse.

Kung alam ko lang na makikinig lang ako sa mga achievements ng mga kanunu-nunuan namin, sana hindi na lang ako sumama. At least, hindi ko pa makikita ang pagmumukha ng Euan na ito.

“Alam niyo naman siguro kung gaano gumapang ang Laxamana Tradings mula sa ugat hanggang sa huling patak ng dahon, hindi ba?” ani ni Daddy, sounding like a wise old man, his hands gesturing theatrically. “At dahil gusto naming mapalawak at mapagtibay ang pundasyon ng aming kompanya, napagpasyahan namin na maging kaisa ang Fierro Incorporated. And that won’t be possible if our families do not become one.”

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng kakaibang kaba. A cold shiver crawled down my spine. But before I could process his words, my attention was snatched back to the immediate nuisance. I felt Euan move. Lumipat siya ng upuan at nasa tabi ko na mismo siya, his shoulder brushing against mine.

“Alam mo ba ang salitang distansya?” wika ko habang pilit na inilalayo ang plato ko. My personal bubble was being invaded, and I was losing the battle. Pero huli na ang lahat; inagaw ni Euan ang kutsara ko at walang habas na nagsalok ng pagkain. Iisang utensils na ang gamit namin!

“Yuck! Alam mo bang ginagamit ko 'yan?” I hissed, horrified.

“I know, pero masarap ang pagkain kapag may kasalo. At hindi ko alam ang salitang distansya—bakit hindi mo ituro sa akin?” He looked at me, his eyes dark and intense, challenging me to do something about it.

Napangiwi ako sa pandidiri. Seryoso ba siya? We’re sharing one plate and one set of utensils? Like, eww! Hindi man lang niya pinapalitan. Basta na lang siyang sumusubo ng pagkaing pinaghirapan kong i-rescue mula sa buffet table. It was intimate in a way that made me feel incredibly uncomfortable.

“Ugh! Layuan mo ako, Euan, baka masapak kita. You're really getting on my nerves na, ha!”

Tila nawala na kami sa reyalidad ng ballroom. The world outside our little bubble of bickering faded away. Hindi ko na namamalayan ang mga sinasabi ni Daddy dahil naubos na ni Euan ang pasensya ko. Nawalan na rin ako ng ganang kumain—how could I, when he was basically eating out of my hand? —kaya uminom na lang ako ng tubig para mahimasmasan.

“O talaga ba? Gusto mo isagad pa natin para damang-dama mo?” pilyong hamon niya, leaning even closer until I could feel the heat of his breath on my cheek.

I rolled my eyes at him, my heart hammering against my ribs. Argh! He was impossible.

“Kaya naman, napagpasyahan namin na ipagkasundo sa isang kasal ang aming anak na si Arkisha Mirabella at si Euan Steve, upang mapagtibay ang aming samahan bilang pamilya.”

The water I was swallowing went down the wrong pipe. Napatigil ako sa pag-inom, choking slightly. Napakurap ang mga mata ko nang marinig ang pangalan naming dalawa. The words felt like a physical blow. Did he just say... kasal?

Suddenly, the dim ambient lighting shifted. Biglang bumukas ang isang spotlight at tumutok mismo sa mesa kung saan kami naroon. The brightness was blinding. I squinted, realizing that the silence in the room was because everyone was staring. Lahat ng atensyon ng mga tao ay nasa amin na—on me with my messy plate and on Euan, who was still holding my spoon.

“There you are,” ani ni Daddy, looking delighted to see us together. He looked like he had just won the lottery. "Both of you, may I request your presence here in front with me?"

My heart dropped to the pits of my stomach. “B-Bakit po?” I stammered, my voice barely a whisper.

Imbes na sagutin ako ni Daddy, biglang hinablot ni Euan ang kamay ko. His grip was firm, impossible to shake off. He pulled me up from my seat, ignoring my resistance, and guided me toward the stage where our parents were waiting like a firing squad in formal wear.

“Mom, what's happening?” takang tanong ko nang makalapit ako kay Mommy. I searched her face for a joke, a prank, anything. Pero nginitian niya lang ako nang matamis, that mother knows best smile that usually preceded a disaster.

Iniharap ako ni Euan sa dagat ng mga tao. Pakiramdam ko, bawat mata sa loob ng hall ay hinuhusgahan ako. The flashbulbs of photographers began to go off. Kanina lang, tahimik akong kumakain ng chicken wings ko, complaining about a stolen spoon. Paano ako napunta sa harap ng entablado para sa isang engagement announcement?

“Ngayong gabi ay hindi lang anniversary ang ipagdiriwang natin, kundi ang pag-iisang dibdib din nina Euan at Arkisha. Muli, salamat sa inyong pagdalo at inaasahan namin ang inyong presensya sa nalalapit na kasal. Please, enjoy the night!”

Sumabog ang masigabong palakpakan. The sound was deafening, a celebratory roar for my funeral. Para akong robot na biglang natauhan. The shock began to wear off, replaced by a white-hot flare of indignation. Binawi ko ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak ni Euan and whirled around to face my parents.

“Dad, what is the meaning of this? Alam niyo namang may boyfriend ako, 'di ba?” My voice was trembling with rage. I thought of Lawrence, who was probably at home waiting for my text.

“It's for the company's future, anak,” my father replied smoothly, as if he were discussing a stock trade and not my life.

“Future ng company? Paano ang future ko na sinara ninyo nang walang paalam? Dad, I don't want to marry this thug!” Dinuro ko si Euan na nasa tabi ko lang. He just stood there with his hands in his pockets, looking bored, while his parents watched us with calculated smiles.

Call me a spoiled brat or an unrespectful child, pero hindi ko matatanggap ito. This is my life! I should be the one in control!

“Arkisha, mas matino naman si Euan kaysa sa boyfriend mong puro hangin lang naman ang dala. Mas kilala mo naman si Euan kaysa kay Lawrence, hindi ba?” ani ni Daddy, his tone hardening.

“Exactly! Euan and I know each other too well—that's exactly why I don't want to marry him!” I snapped. I knew his temper, his arrogance, and his infuriating habit of taking what wasn't his.

“Our decision is final, and you can't do anything about it but to marry him. Whether you love him or not, it's for the company's sake, Arkisha Mirabella!”

Wow? Ganoon lang iyon? Like I was just another asset to be merged?

Ni hindi man lang nila tinanong kung okay lang ba na magpakasal ako kay Euan at talagang impromptu pa nilang inanunsyo sa harapan ng alta-sosyudad? They didn't care about my heart; they cared about the Fierro-Laxamana merger.

I clench my fist, the silk of my dress bunching in my palms. The fancy food I had craved so much now felt like lead in my stomach.

“Sana naging kompanya niyo na lang din ako at hindi naging anak!” I hissed, the words dripping with all the hurt and betrayal I felt. I turned my back on them, but as I looked at Euan, he finally spoke, his voice a low, dangerous rumble.

“Get used to it, Arkisha. You're mine now.”