Sweet Surrender

Chapter 2 - Part 1 "My Unexpected Hero"

PARTY is definitely not for me, but I don't have a choice. I needed to attend Mr. and Mrs. Lambert's wedding anniversary. Business partner sila ni Daddy pero hindi makakapunta ang parents ko dahil nasa US sila ngayon. Si Kuya Lucas naman ay may business meeting daw na kailangan puntahan sa Vigan.

Sinubukan kong tumanggi sa utos ni Daddy kasi may hinala ako na may iba pa silang dahilan kung bakit ako ang gusto nilang mag-attend ng party. Ngunit walang nagawa ang pagtanggi ko.

"They are our business partner, Kristen. Hindi pwede na wala ang kahit isa sa atin doon," it was Dad on the phone.

"Why not send Kuya Lucas instead of me? Alam niyo naman na wala talaga akong hilig sa party."

"You're kuya Lucas is not available," answered Dad.

"How about Mich?" Mich or Michael is my younger brother. He is 5 years younger than me.

"No. I want you to be there. I'm sure they'll be happier if it's you who would attend instead of your brother. I heard Matthew is back, he will be formally announced in that party as the new CEO of Lambert's Electronics."

I knew it! Daddy's last sentence confirmed my suspicion.

The very reason I don't want to attend that party is because I know that they are trying to push me to Matthew Lambert. They think that Matthew and I are match made in heaven.

I knew Matthew when we were younger and before he was sent to study for his masters degree abroad. He is good-looking and smart, yes, but I don't feel anything special about him. There's no spark. I like him as a person, but I have not imagined myself to be in a romantic relationship with him. And for my parents to push me to him is so annoying.

"Dad, I don't like Matthew..." I tried to reason out.

"It's because you don't know him really well. Look, sweety... Matthew is the right guy for you. He's smart, good-looking and successful."

Totoo naman. Maraming nagsasabi na bagay nga daw kaming dalawa. The Prince of "Lambert's Electronics" and me as the Princess of "Thomas Global" match made in heaven nga naman, diba? Pero ayaw ko parin.

"Why don't you give him a chance? Get to know him..."

Why does it sound like I should be the one to do the first move?  Like, hello! Hindi po ako nauubusan ng manliligaw. Ako lang talaga ang walang magustuhan kaya hanggang ngayon ay wala pa akong boyfriend.

I clenched. "But, Dad ---"

"Make me proud, Princess!" putol ni Daddy sa sasabihin ko at nawala na sa kabilang linya.

Napailing nalang ako kahit kailan ay hindi talaga ako mananalo sa Daddy ko. He always has the last word.

Kaya nandito ako ngayon sa isang private resort na pagmamay-ari nina Mr. and Mrs. Lambert.

Wow... there's a lot of people here, but this isn't really my crowd. I'm already here. I can't back out now... Siguradong sangkatutak na sermon ang gagawin ni Daddy sa akin kapag nagkataon.

Sinipat ko muna ang aking sarili.

I'm wearing a pale yellow V-neck in an enchanting satin gown with an open back, adorned with beads. Nakataas ang mahaba kong buhok in a Top Knot style that emphasizes my shoulder and my whole back.

Manipis lang ang make up ko with a matching light pink shades of lipstick.

My only accessory is a simple 1 carat diamond earrings.

Pagkatapos kong masigurado na maayos na ang hitsura ko ay nagpatuloy na ako sa paglalakad sa red carpet.

Nahinto ako sa paghakbang sa may hagdan pababa ng malaking beach Lawn kung saan ginaganap ang selebrasyon.

Nakaramdam ako ng nervous, paano ba naman ay nabaling sa akin ang attention ng karamihan sa mga guests.

Hindi naman sa pagmamalaki pero madalas talaga akong makakuha ng attention ng marami kahit pinaka simpleng damit pa ang suot ko. Pero hindi parin talaga ako sanay. Never yata talaga akong masasanay sa attention na nakukuha ko.

May mga nag kislapang camera.

Hindi ko alam kung mga photographer iyon na binayaran para sa event na ito or mga Paparazzi na sinusubukan makakuha ng bagong chismis sa elite society.

I tried to smile. Sana lang hindi magmukhang ngiwi.

Nakakailang naman kasi. Ngayon ko gustong pagsisihan kung bakit hindi ko sinama si Mich o nanghatak sa kahit sino sa mga pinsan ko para may escort manlang ako.

Kapag may ganitong klaseng handaan sa pamilya namin mas gusto ko pang magkulong sa kwarto ko kung hindi naman kailangan ang presensya ko.

"You can do this Kristen!" bulong ko sa sarili ko. Inilibot ko ang tingin ko para hanapin sina Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. Balak ko ay babatiin ko lang sila at aalis na ako agad. Wala naman sinabi si Daddy na kailangan kong mag stay rito hanggang matapos ang party eh.

Nang makita ako ng mag-asawa ay sinalubong nila ako sa may baba ng hagdan.

"Kristen, I'm glad you came," nakangiting turan ni Mrs. Lambert at nakipag beso sa akin.

"Good evening po and happy anniversary po sa inyo. My parents can't make it here tonight, but they ask me to send their best regards."

"Oh yes, I talked to your Mom on the phone earlier and I understand," nakakatawang sagot sa akin ni Mrs. Lambert.

"How are you, hija? You look stunningly beautiful, tonight." said Mr. Lambert na lumapit din sa amin at bumeso.

"Nako, thank you po. Kayo rin po ang gwapo at ang ganda. Para po kayong young couple inlove. Ang blooming niyo po."

Hindi ako nambobola. Kung titingnan ang mag-asawa ay mukha talaga silang ten years younger than their actual age.

"Thank you, Kristen. That's what love can do and I'm lucky I have the best wife in the world," may pagmamalaki na wika ni Mr. Lambert sabay yakap at halik sa ulo ng asawa.

"And I have the best husband who loves me unconditionally," said Mrs. Lambert.

Kitang kita ko sa mga mata ng mag-asawa ang pagmamahal sa bawat isa. Hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi makaramdam ng kaunting inggit.

They are both lucky because they found their other half and despite their age and being together for many years, I can still see the fire in each other's eyes.

Hindi ko napigilan humanga sa pagmamahal nila para sa isa't isa.

"By the way, hija. I heard you opened a business, how is it doing?" asked Mrs. Lambert.

"It's doing well po. If it continues like it is now. I might be able to open a new branch next year."

"Oh right, I heard from your Dad that you refused to work for him and opened your own business instead." said Mr. Lambert.

"It's my dream po kasi, having my own business. And I also want to learn more without the shelter of Kuya Lucas and Daddy."

"Such an independent young lady," he commented.

"Come, Kristen. I'll take you to Matthew. I'm sure he'll be glad to see you."

"Maybe later nalang po, baka po busy---"

"Oh no, Kristen. He is actually waiting for you. He was so excited when he found out that you're coming tonight."

Why do I have this feeling that she's just exaggerating it? Mukhang napag-usapan na talaga nila ng magulang ko ang pagship nila sa amin ni Matthew. Sa katunayan nga ng madaanan namin ang isang grupo ng mga amiga niya ay sobrang proud niya akong ipinakilala sa mga ito.

"Finally, we get to meet you, Kristen," said one of Mrs. Lambert's amiga.

"Same here po," nakangiti kong sagot.

"I didn't know that the Princess of Thomas Global is this beautiful," turan naman ng isa.

Only few people know me in person. Iniiwasan ko talaga na makilala ako bilang anak ng mga magulang ko. Hindi dahil ikinahihiya ko sila kundi dahil gusto kong i-trato ako ng mga tao bilang simpleng si Kristen hindi bilang Thomas Global's princess.

"Does this mean matutuloy na ang pagiging ninang ko sa kasal ng pamangkin ko?" turan ng isang ginang na ipinakilala ni Mrs. Lambert kanina bilang nakababata nitong kapatid.

Pakiramdam ko ay nalunok ko yata ang dila ko. I didn't know how to react.

"Is there already a date?" tanong ulit noong nauna.

Bakit ba ang advance nila mag-isip? Hindi pa nga kami nagkikita ni Matthew ay pinag-uusapan na nila agad ang kasal. May nakapaskil ba sa noon ko na nagsasabing girlfriend ako ni Matthew? Bakit nag-aasume na ang lahat? At sa natatandaan ko ay wala naman sinabi si Mrs. Lambert na kasintahan ako ng anak niya noong ipinakilala niya ako sa mga ito.

"I'm sure you're going to have cute grandchildren, Rebecca. Ang ganda-ganda nitong mamanugangin mo at syempre ang pogi rin naman ni Matthew."

Arghhh! This is really so annoying. Hindi pa nga ako nakakamove on doon sa sinasabi nilang kasal tapos ngayon ay grandchildren na agad-agad?

Si Mrs. Lambert ay mukhang tuwang-tuwa naman. Nakalimutan na nga yata na dapat ay dadalhin niya ako kung nasaan si Matthew eh.

Hindi ba nila napapansin na hindi na ako komportable? Parang gusto ko nang mag walk out ng wala sa oras. Kung hindi ko lang talaga iniisip na mapapahiya ang mga magulang ko ay baka nga umalis na ako.

Laking pasasalamat ko ng lumapit sa amin si Matthew at ipagpaalam ako sa grupo ng Mommy niya.

"Excuse me, can I borrow this beautiful lady here?" nakangiti niyang pagpapaalam.

"Oh sure, son," nakangiting sagot ng Mommy nito."We were actually on our way to you... Kristen here is excited to see you."

Huh? May sinabi ba akong ganoon? Wala talaga akong matandaan.

"I'm sorry if Mom puts you in an awkward situation," Matthew apologized noong makalayo na kami sa grupo ng Mommy niya. "She is just too eager to see me settle down and I guess you already know that she's rooting for you."

"It's okay, I was just not prepared. The truth is I was not expecting it like this. My parents only ask me to attend your parents' party on their behalf."

"I'm speechless, I really don't know how to apologize to you right now." I saw his sincerity.

"It's enough that you saved me from the unexpected hot seat." I smiled to show him that he has nothing to worry about.

In the first place, it was not his fault. I guess we are in the same boat. Just can't say no to our parents.

---

MATTHEW is a nice guy. He's also fun to talk with. I was comfortable talking with him which I didn't expect.

Dati kasi hindi naman kami nakakapag-usap. Mostly nagpapalitan lang kami ng hi, hello and how are you.

Ang totoo kasi nayayabangan ako sa kanya dati. Now that I get to talk to him, he's not arrogant like I thought he was. Well that was my opinion about him before or maybe maturity did him good. I really didn't expect that I would enjoy my time talking to him.

"So how was your life in Canada?" I aske, trying to open a random topic.

"I love it. You know what? My first day in Canada I really wanted to shout FREEDOM, like some people we see in the movies," he grinned.

Geez. He has perfect teeth and his smile makes him look hotter.

"It was my first time living alone and far from my parents. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents so much, but sometimes I just hope I'm not an only child so that the attention won't be just mine. Do you get it?"

Right he's an only child. Kaya hindi mo masisisi ang Mommy niya kung bakit pinagtutulakan siyang mag-asawa.

"I understand what you mean. I'm not an only child but I'm telling you--- I maybe even have a worse situation than you have. You only have your parents while I have my parents plus two brothers. How about that?" I laughed. Sa totoo lang mas mahigpit pa ang kuya Lucas ko kaysa kay Daddy.

Matthew laughed with me. "You're right."

"Anyway, mabuti pinayagan ka ng parents mo na tumira ng malayo sa kanila, specially your Mom?"

"Believe me, it was not easy convincing her."

I can imagine. I had a similar experience when I told my parents I wanted to move out and live on my own.

"How about you, I heard that you live alone?"

"Yes, I do. And because of that my parents cut my allowance."

"No way!"

I laughed nodding. "Sabi nila Mommy kung talagang gusto ko daw maging dependent. Dapat matoto din daw akong maging responsable sa sarili kong bills. They thought I would change my mind if they cut my allowance but I did not. I really wanted it and I'm happy to provide for myself."

Matthew said something but I was not listening anymore. My heart is hammering, my eyes locked on the man standing on the other side of the lawn.

Kevin Carlos Madrigal.

What is he doing here? I think, panicked and elated at the same time.

He's staring at us and if I am not mistaken, he seems mad at something. It's as if we are doing something he doesn't like.

"What's his problem?" I mumbled.

"Did you say something?" asked Matthew.

"No, no. Nothing."