I Was The Mafia's Runaway Bride

Run 4: ⚠️⚠️⚠️

ARKISHA MIRABELLA'S POV:

Ang katahimikan ng mundo ko ay tuluyang nasira dahil sa lintik na mushroom ns ito. Para bang lagi siyang sumusulpot kahit saan lalo na kapag gusto ko ng katahimikan.

Euan and I grew up in the same circles, but we were like oil and water—completely incapable of mixing. He was a notorious troublemaker, the Black Sheep of the Fierro clan.

Siya ang tipo ng lalaki na laging nasa front page ng mga tabloid para sa mga away sa bar, karera sa kalye, o nakikita sa ibang starlet bawat linggo. Siya ay isang mayaman, high-society chick magnet na may nakamamatay na jawline at mas masahol pa ang ugali.

I hate his guts. Naiinis ako sa kayabangan niya. Kinasusuklaman ko kung paano niya laging alam kung paano makakuha ang inis ko sa katawan. Pero God, I hated that he was so handsome it was almost offensive. Teka—hindi! Burahin. Ang kaaway ay kaaway!

Euan shrugged, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets as he turned his gaze toward the dancing fountain.

“Gwapo ko namang stalker kung sakali,” he said nonchalantly. “Nakita lang kitang lumabas, looking like you were about to cry, so I followed. Boring ba sa loob? Or are the old men finally getting to you?”

I crossed my arms, giving him my best taray look. “Pakialam mo ba? Are you my dad? Why do you care where I go, Euan?”

“Hindi...” he leaned in slightly, his scent, a mix of expensive cologne and something rugged, filling my senses. There was a dangerous glint in his eyes. “But I could be the father of your future kids.”

My jaw literally dropped. My brain felt like it had just suffered a catastrophic blue-screen error. The audacity!

“Eww! Kadiri ka! You're disgusting!” I yelled, stepping back so quickly I almost tripped again. “Kung makakapag-asawa lang din ako ng tulad mo, mas gugustuhin ko na lang na malunod dito sa fountain. Like, yuck? You’re the last person on Earth I’d marry. Even if you were the last man standing after an apocalypse, I'd choose a zombie. Besides, may boyfriend ako, remember? Someone with actual manners.”

Euan’s eyes flickered with something—disdain? Amusement? Jealousy? It was gone before I could decipher it, replaced by a cold, serious expression.

“Be careful what you wish for, Arkisha. The world is smaller than you think. Malay mo, isang araw, nakatakda tayong ikasal nang hindi mo namamalayan.” His tone was cryptic, heavy with a meaning I couldn't grasp.

“Over my dead body! Sa lahat ng kinamumuhian ko, number one ka. Diyan ka na nga! You ruined my night, as usual!”

Nagmartsa ako pabalik sa event hall, parang putok ng baril ang mga takong ko sa sahig. Sobra para sa sariwang hangin. Ngayon lang ako nabalisa, pawisan, at gutom na gutom. Mas gugustuhin kong magtiis ng tatlong oras na talumpati tungkol sa mga margin ng kita kaysa gumugol ng isa pang segundo kasama ang asungot na iyon.

Pagbalik ko sa loob ng function hall, muli kong naramdaman ang mas nakakainis na senaryo. Dumami na ang mga tao, at ang amoy ng catering ay nanunukso sa aking tiyan.

Iginala ko ang aking paningin sa silid na parang isang mandaragit na nangangaso ng biktima hanggang sa nakita ko ang aking mga magulang na nakikipag-usap kina Mr. at Mrs. Montenegro—isa sa pinakamakapangyarihang power couple sa mundo ng negosyo.

I approached them and subtly pulled Mommy’s sleeve, dragging her a few inches away from the conversation.

“Mom, hindi pa ba magsisimula? I’m starving. My stomach is eating itself,” I whispered loudly. Instead of the sympathy I was hoping for, I got a sharp, stinging slap on the arm.

“Tumigil ka nga sa pagiging spoiled brat mo, Arkisha Mirabella! Umayos ka, it’s not very premium of you to whine in front of guests!”

I pouted even harder, rubbing my arm. My mom and I talked like best friends sometimes, sharing gossip and shopping trips, but she could be terrifying when she transitioned into Matriarch Mode.

“Ih, nagugutom na nga ako! Can't you just start the program? Everyone is already here. Let’s get this over with so we can go home. I miss my bed, Mom! I miss my dramas!” I whined, leaning my head on her shoulder like I was five years old. I knew exactly how to play her—the "cute daughter" card usually worked.

“Tumigil ka nga!” she hissed, though I could see her resolve weakening. She always had a soft spot for my antics. Before I could push further, Mrs. Montenegro noticed us and smiled.

“You must be Arkisha Mirabella?” she asked. Her voice was like silk—elegant, warm, and intimidatingly poised.

Mommy immediately pulled me back into the circle, her socialite persona snapping back into place instantly. “Ah, yes, Mare. Naku, pasensya na. Itong dalaga ko, napaka-impatient. Just like her father.”

I forced another smile, feeling the weight of their gaze.

“H-Hello po,” I said, feeling a bit shy. There was something about the Montenegros that commanded absolute respect.

“You're so stunning, hija. A perfect blend of your parents,” she remarked. “You look about the same age as my daughter, but she’s not here. She absolutely hates these kinds of gatherings. She's probably at home writing a song.”

Lucky girl, I thought. I wish I had her backbone to just say no and stay home in my pajamas.

“T-Thank you po.”

“Hay naku, Erin,” Mommy laughed, shaking her head. “Ayaw rin nitong anak ko rito. She’d rather be locked in her room, but she has no choice since this is for her father. We have to keep up appearances, right?”

Mr. Montenegro chuckled, a deep, resonant sound. I stared at him for a second—his skin was so clear, and he looked incredibly young for someone who ran a global conglomerate. Wealth really is the best skincare, huh? I wondered if they bathed in Evian water.

“Kids these days with their weird hobbies,” Mr. Montenegro remarked. “Our eldest, Reiden Grei, is over there with his friends.” He pointed toward a corner of the hall where a group of guys were standing.

My breath hitched. They were all ridiculously good-looking, like they had just stepped off a runway in Milan. Shocks! Kung alam ko lang na ganito karaming isda sa dagat na 'to, sana hindi na ako lumabas kanina! Maybe this party wasn't a total waste of time after all.

“Wala na tayong magagawa. Iba na ang generation nila,” Daddy joined in, clapping Mr. Montenegro on the shoulder. They looked like old comrades. “Anyway, I should officially start the program. Para naman hindi lang tayo puro daldal dito at makakain na ang ating prinsesa.”

Finally! Thank you, Dad!

As Daddy walked toward the stage to talk to the coordinator, I turned to Mommy one last time, my stomach literally growling loud enough for the Montenegros to hear.

“Mom, seriously. Nagugutom na talaga ako. I might faint.”

“Psh! Fine, go! Pumunta ka na sa buffet table bago mo pa makain ang tablecloth,” she whispered, shooing me away with a flick of her hand. “Pero huwag kang lalayo. Your father has a very important announcement later, and you need to be front and center.”

“Yes, ma'am! I'll be on my best behavior, I promise!” I grinned, finally feeling a spark of genuine excitement.

Tumalikod ako at dumiretso sa istasyon ng buffet table, ang aking isip ay ganap na nakatuon sa wagyu beef, lubos na nakakalimutan ang katotohanan na ang mahalagang anunsyo ay malapit nang masira ang mundo ko sa isang milyong piraso.