Prologo
"Ma! I'm not marrying Rikko!"
Walang tigil ang pagbulyaw ko kay Mommy, pagkatapos niyang ibinunyag ang balita hinggil sa pagpapakasal ko sa anak ng kasosyo namin sa negosyo para masalba ang natitira naming ari-arian.
"Thea, this matter is already over. I'm no longer entertaining your whining over this! Besides, you wouldn't worry about your future with him because he's doing better than you on all aspects!" galit na tugon ni Mommy sa akin, bago niya ako talikuran. Namilog ang mga mata ko.
"Y-you're unbelievable! Kahapon niyo lang pinag-usapan iyan, tapos ngayon, wala na akong puwedeng magawa?! Ako ang ikakasal dito, hindi kayo!" ani ko, na pilit pinipigilan ang pagdaloy ng mga luhang namumuo sa aking mga mata.
"Mommy, please!" pagpupumilit ko pa rin kay Mommy Ofelia, kahit hinahawi niya ako papalayo.
"I'm telling you this for one last time, Thea. Our decision is final," diin niya, halata sa kaniyang mukha na gusto nang makawala sa paghuhumerentado ko.
"Please, Mommy..." sambit ko, na nakahawak na ngayon sa paanan niya.
I can't stop crying. Is this what I'm worth now? I know I haven't made them proud for the past few years, but I'm still their daughter! I'm not any possession that they can trade off and about just to save their properties!
Dumaan ang iilang segundo bago ako sinagot ni Mommy.
"Quit it, Thea. It's the least.... and the only thing you can do for the family," malamig na sagot niya, bago tuluyang umalis sa harap ko.
Para akong binuhusan ng napakalamig na yelo, habang sinasaksak sa puso ng iilang beses. I stayed crying on the floor for God knows when, at nang mahimasmasan na, doon pa lang ako tumayo at pinagpag ang damit na suot — kahit ilang beses nang inalok na bumangon ng mga katulong namin.
For years, I've tried so hard to gain my family's approval and be the perfect daughter they've always wanted. But every time I try my best, they'll always find something to nitpick about, and favor someone else. Palaging may mas maganda, mas matalino, mas magaling, mas kamahal-mahal.
I'm so tired and sick of it all!
And now, they're suggesting I can fix my fault of being a disappointing daughter by marrying someone they think is better than me?
No f*cking way.
I am getting out of this, and I'm doing it one way or the other.
If I can't convince my family to cancel on the marriage agreement, I'll make Rikko Terrence Co beg his family to back out on the deal himself.