Rule no. 1: Don't Fall In Love

Chapter 1

"You may now kiss the bride!" 

Just like that, the wedding finally ended. We both smiled at the cameras before we faced each other. 

Paunti-unti lumapit si Vermone sa'kin at hinalikan na 'ko. Hindi 'man tumagal ang halik namin sa isa't isa dahil ramdam ko rin na ayaw n'ya pero para 'di kami mapansin nang mga tao ay hinawakan n'ya kaagad ang bewang ko. 

"Congratulations! Mr. and Mrs. Collins!" 

Mrs. Collins, huh? 

I saw my parents together with his family, crying out of joy. Yey, Kasal na po kami. 

Nag picture taking pa muna at kami ang huling pinaalis sa church for video purposes. We stayed and took pictures for at least 30 minutes. May ibang naghihintay saamin sa labas ng simbahan pero halos ay nasa reception na. 

"Yey! You're married!" Dinig kong sabi ni Kyla. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins! Smile for the camera!" 

Sabay kaming humarap ni Vermone at ngumiti. There's a Porsche waiting for us. After the picture taking, sa gulat ko ay si Vermone pala ang mga da-drive! 

He opened the shot gun seat at iginiya ako papasok ng sasakyan. Nang makapasok na rin s'ya sa driver's seat ay binuksan n'ya saglit ang bintana ko to wave our hands before we go to the reception. 

"Mrs. Collins, huh?" Panimula ni Vermone. 

"Why? Does your surname suit me?" I chuckled at napangisi lang s'ya. 

"Not really." Bawi n'ya at ako naman ngayon ang ngumisi. 

"Do we have a honeymoon?" 

"Do you want to?" He asked back. 

"I'm just asking." 

He slightly laughed at my statement. "We'll go out of the country for our honeymoon but don't worry, we won't have s*x if that's what you're concerned about. We just have to do it for a show." 

For a show. 

"Unless if you want to-"

"That's enough." Putol ko sa kaniya at tumawa lang s'ya. 

"I'm just asking." He said, bringing my line back to me. 

I smirked. "Baka ikaw ang may gusto?" 

Napatingin s'ya saglit sa'kin tila nagulat sa sinabi ko. He pursed his lips looking amused with what I said. 

"Magaling naman ako-"

"Tigilan mo 'ko Vermone Louisse Collins." Banta ko. 

"Okay, Adeline Thania Cruz-Collins." 

Feel na feel ata n'ya na mag-asawa kami? Akala ko ba ayaw n'ya? O nang-aasar lang s'ya?

"We're here." Anunsyo n'ya at nakita ko na walang tao sa labas kaya paniguarado nasa loob na sila. 

'Yun ang akala ko pero wala pa sila sa loob. Ang sabi saamin ay nasa waiting room daw sila dahil gagamitin namin itong reception hall for pictorial muna. 

"Mr. Collins! Please kiss your wife on her forehead." Utos nung photographer. 

Nagtinginan kami saglit at tinignan na n'ya ang noo ko. As soon as his lips touched my forehead, my eyes automatically closed. 

He's very gentle with his movements. 

"And it's a wrap! Thank you so much! We'll be taking pictures again once the reception starts." 

Nag retouch na 'ko at s'ya. Nasa iisang hotel room kami ngayon. 

Pinag-iisipan ko kung magpapalit ba 'ko ng sapatos o hinde. I looked at him and saw that he's fixing his hair. Matangkad s'ya so baka kailanganin ko muna itong heels dahil paniguradong may sayawan. 

Napansin n'ya ata na nakatingin ako sa kaniya gamit ang salamin kaya napatingin s'ya sa'kin doon at nagtama ang mata namin sa reflection ng salamin. 

"What? Do you find your husband attractive?" May panunuya sa tono n'ya. 

Bumusangot mukha ko at napangisi na lang. "Feel na feel mo ata na mag-asawa tayo?" I asked. 

I stood up and went beside him to check myself, too in the mirror. 

"But we are." Sagot n'ya. 

"But do you like it?" I looked at him in the mirror and saw that he's just looking at me. 

"No." 

"Let's plan a divorce." 

"Ah, let's just spare this day, please? Masiyado halata kung divorce agad." 

"Hmp, paano kung may mahal akong iba?" 

"Sino ba ang mahal mo?" 

Ayun lang. Wala pa pala. 

"May mahal ka ba?" I asked him. 

"I don't feel love." Sagot n'ya. 

Bago pa 'ko magsalita ulit ay may kumatok na sa room namin. Kailangan na namin pumunta sa reception hall. 

As soon as we got out of our room, we immediately intertwined our hands and smiled because we both know there are cameras everywhere for our wedding video. 

Nang makarating sa tapat ng pintuan sa reception hall ay hintayin daw namin ang emcee na i-announce kami.

"Sino ang mahal mo?" He asked again. 

"Some...one." Ayaw kong sabihin na wala. 

Nagkibit balikat lang s'ya at wala nang sinabi. 

"Now... Let us all welcome, our newlywed couple! Mr. and Mrs. Collins!" 

Narinig namin ang palakpakan nang mga tao and we immediately put our fake happy face. The two doors opened at nagulat pa 'ko na may party poppers. Natawa pa si Vermone sa naging reaksiyon ko kaya sinamaan ko nang tingin. 

As we got in the middle ay syempre, picture na naman. 

Umupo na kami at pinakilala na ang mga principal sponsors nang kasal namin. Ito 'yong mga kakilala nang mga magulang namin at magulang n'ya. All business partners. 

"Let's now have the Mother of the groom for a dance." Sambit nang emcee at napangiti ako. 

Tumayo na si Vermone at lumapit sa mommy n'ya. Wala pa 'man ay nakita ko na umiiyak na ang mommy n'ya at kino-komfort lang ni Vermone. 

I admit that he's very respectful, too. He loves his mom so much. 

"What a wonderful dance! Let's now have the Father of the bride for a dance." 

I immediately stood up and went to the middle of the stage and my father held my hand. 

"Papa," I called him. 

"Remember what I told you. You'll try but you can also tell me especially your mom if you don't want this marriage anymore, okay?" My father assured me. 

I smiled at that. At least they both respect my future decision. 

"I'm so lucky to have you as my father, papa!" Tears pooled in my eyes pero bago pa tumulo ay napigilan ko ito at ngumisi lang si daddy. 

"I and your mom are lucky to have a kind and sweet daughter like you." Ngumiti si daddy at hinalikan ang noo ko. 

"You probably took that attitude from me." He winked at natawa kaming dalawa. 

"Eh, ano po ang namana ko kay mommy?"

"Lahat din sa kaniya." Sabay pa kaming napatingin kay mommy ngayon na umiiyak habang pinapanood kami. "Namana mo lang nga sa'kin ang hindi paggiging iyakin." Dagdag n'ya kaya lalo kaming natawa ni papa. 

The song ended at kami na ni Vermone ang sasayaw.

Kinakabahan ako sa 'di ko alam na dahilan. 

"You're nervous." He stated the obvious. 

"Why? Does it matter?" I asked. 

"No. Why are you nervous though? Are you nervous because of me?" 

Ang daldal din pala n'ya. 

Umiling ako. "No. Don't mind me." I smiled. 

"But you're my wife." 

Ano? Napangiti ako sa sinabi n'ya. Akala ko ba ayaw n'ya talaga ang kasal na ito? 

"Are you falling in love with me?" I smirked. 

"Nice try, my queen." 

MY. 

"But our rule stands before me. Why? Are you?" 

Palagi niyang binabalik saakin ang mga tanong! 

"No. Gusto ko nga divorce na, eh." 

"Let's give it a month before we file one." 

Ang bilis naman? Pero... sige. 

"Isang buwan ba tayo wala sa bansa?" Tanong ko. 

"Uh-huh. So you want to-"

"Vermone." Pigil ko na sa kaniya at tumawa s'ya. 

"You have become a pervert. Where did you learn that?" 

A what did he call me?! PERVERT? 

"I was about to ask if you want to go island hopping so you won't get bored." He rolled his eyes and chuckled before he faced me. "I guess you really want it?" 

"I don't want to make love to you!" 

I don't want to give away my first for someone I don't even love. 

"But I can f**k you, too." 

His vulgarity! I can't believe this man. I slightly punched his hard chest at mas hinila naman n'ya 'ko palapit sa kaniya. 

"I'm a V!" 

"A what?"

"V!" 

"What V?" 

Oh my gosh!!! 

"A virgin for your f*****g information." 

"Oh," Bigla ay natikom n'ya bibig n'ya at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin sa'kin. "Then I must take care of my little V." 

"Oh, shut up, Vermone." Pinagalitan ko na at tumawa s'ya. 

The song finally ended! Gusto ko na ipahinga ang paa ko. Inalalayan naman n'ya 'ko at mukhang napansin n'ya 'yon. 

"What a sweet dance from our newlywed!" 

Ngumiti lang kami ni Vermone sa emcee. 

As we sat down ay lumapit s'ya sa'kin na mukhang may ibubulong. 

"Wanna change shoes?" He asked. 

"Yeah, but I forgot to bring mine. It's in our room." 

"It's under the table. I asked for it because I know you'll get tired with those heels." 

Ano? I slightly lifted the table cloth and saw my sandals. Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nakitang tinitignan din n'ya ang sapatos. Tumingin s'ya sa'kin at tumango. 

"Thank you." I smiled at seryoso lang ang tingin n'ya. 

Marahan kong tinanggal ang sapatos at isinuot ang sandals. 

"Let's now have a message from the maid of honor, Kyla Aslee Bansil!" 

Tumayo ang best friend ko at lumapit na sa emcee para kuhanin ang mic. Nako, kinakabahan ako. Confident ang gago baka mamaya ano sabihin nito! 

"Hi! I'm Kyla, Adeline's best friend since we're in high school." She started. 

She looked at me and my husband. I gave her my dagger looks to warn her na umayos s'ya. 

"Hi, Vermone! Hope you take good care of my best friend." 

Tinignan ko si Vermone at nagulat pa 'ko na nagtama paningin namin kaya napaiwas ako kaagad. 

"You know that Lia never had a relationship? Like a serious one?!" 

Tumawa ang iilang kaibigan namin dahil alam nila. 

"I thought you love someone?" Vermone suddenly whispered. 

"Shut up." Pigil ko kaagad. 

"Lia is someone who'll take very good care of you Vermone, so you don't have to worry on that part because she's really a wife material! She's the mother of our group!" 

"Will I experience that care from you?" Bulong na naman ni Vermone. 

Napatingin ako kay Vermone. I blushed when I imagined that we're in a house and I'm taking care of him like how a real wife does it for her husband. 

"And also, Vermone, Lia actually complimented you when she saw you for the first time!" 

ANO?! All I did was say negativity because I don't like him! Ano naman itong kinukwento ni Kyla?! 

"Like what?" Rinig kong sabi ni Vermone gamit ang mic. 

"Ah, like how handsome you are!" 

Tumawa lang iilan. 

Humanda ka sa'kin Kyla. 

I looked at Vermone and saw that his lips rose a bit tila pinipigilan ngumiti. 

"'Wag ka maniwala sa sinasabi ni Kyla." Agap ko kaagad to stop his thoughts at baka asarin n'ya pa 'ko. 

"I doubt that. I find myself handsome so I won't be surprised if you find me handsome, too." 

Ang kapal din ng mukha nito! 

"Lia is an amazing girl and I know she will not disappoint you, Vermone. But, she's a jealous wife, can you handle that?" 

Napapikit ako nang mariin dahil sa sinabi ni Kyla. 

Humanda ka talaga sa'kin, Ky, sinasabi ko sa'yo. Hintayin ko lang na makasal ka at siguraduhin mong ako ang maid of honor mo kung hindi ay friendship over! 

"Jealous wife, huh? I think I can handle that." Bulong nang katabi ko. 

"You're enjoying this. I said don't take everything seriously! It's all for a show! Alangan sabihin n'ya na hindi kita gusto?" Sambit ko and he smirked dangerously at wala nang sinabi. 

Mabuti naman at maayos na ang mga sinabi ni Kyla sa susunod. 

"Lia? That's your nickname?" He asked me. 

"Yeah, but only my family and friends call me that." 

"I'm your husband." 

"And so?" 

"Can I call you Lia? Adeline is too long." 

Huh? "Y-yeah. Whatever you want." 

Napantingin si Vermone sa'kin, seryoso. 

"Baby then." 

I groaned and I heard him chuckle. 

Tinawag na rin ang best man which is his best friend. 

"Hi, Adeline! Bro!" Bati n'ya sa'min. 

"First of all, like Adeline, Vermone didn't engage himself in relationships." 

So... we're each other's first? 

"I'm your first?" I asked him and he pouted. 

"A lot of women like my best friend yet he doesn't even want them! That's why I'm surprised when Adeline here was arranged with him for marriage! What's more shocking? He agreed and he even wanted it so much!" 

Napatingin ako kaagad kay Vermone. 

"Don't believe him." Sambit n'ya kaagad kaya natawa ako. 

"So... you like this marriage after all." Pang-aasar ko. 

"Shut up." 

"I mean, marriage. It's a big step for him since he didn't even have relationships and Adeline," I raised my brow. "He chose you, he wants you to be his wife... So it means he trusts you." 

Trust me? 

I looked at Vermone again and saw his dagger looks darted to his friend kaya natawa ako nang bahagya at dahil 'don ay napunta atensiyon n'ya sa'kin. 

"What?" 

"You trust me?" 

Napalunok lang nang mariin si Vermone. 

"Adeline! He even said you look so beautiful like a goddess." Tumawa ang kaibigan n'ya. 

"Don't believe him." Bulong ni Vermone. 

"I doubt that. I find myself very beautiful so I won't be surprised if you find me beautiful, too." I used his line. 

Ngumisi at mariin lang ang tingin sa'kin tila naaasar pero walang magawa. 

Marami pang sinabing kalokohan ang kaibigan n'ya kaya napuno nang natawanan ang lugar. Si Vermone ay nakangiti pero halatang naaasar sa panlalaglag sa kaniya ng kaibigan n'ya. 

"Vermone..." Panimula ko sa pang-aasar. 

"Oh, shut up, baby." 

Talagang natikom ko ang bibig ko dahil nagulat ako sa sinabi n'ya. Nag blush ba 'ko? Ah, no. May blush on ako. 

Kainan na at mayroon talagang naka-serve na pagkain sa'min. 

"Do you want this?" Alok ni Vermone sa steak. Tumango lang ako. 

"Wine please." Sambit ko habang binibigay ang wine glass ko sa kaniya.

"Wanna get drunk?" Tanong ni Vermone habang nagsasalin sa wine glass ko. 

"No. Kaunti lang iinumin ko. Thank you, Vermone." 

Tumango lang s'ya at kumain pero natigilan bigla tila may natandaan. 

"Say my name again." 

Huh? Trip nito? 

"Vermone." Sambit ko. 

"I like it." Ngumisi s'ya. "This is good." Tumatangong sabi n'ya habang linalasahan ang isang steak. 

Bigla ay inilapit ni Vermone ang steak sa'kin. Nagtataka pero alam ko ang gusto niyang mangyari. Sinubuan n'ya 'ko ng steak at mhm, masarap nga. 

"Saang bansa pala tayo niyan?" 

"Paris." 

Natawa ako sa sinabi n'ya. 

"Then you wanna go island hopping? I thought we're going to the Philippines." 

"Oh, right." He chuckled. "Then do you want to go back to the Philippines?" 

"Maybe we could stay in Paris for a week then the rest of the month in the Philippines then let's go back here for our divorce." 

I noticed he stiffened so I stared at him. Is he not agreeing with me? 

"Okay," Sagot lang n'ya at pinagpatuloy n'ya pag kain n'ya. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Collins," 

Sabay kaming napatingin sa isang matanda. 

"Sorry to disturb you both, I know you're eating but I really want to give my gift personally and I also need to leave with my wife because we have a flight to Madrid." 

Hindi ko s'ya kilala pero omg, go lang po. 

"Mr. Williams. It's okay, thank you for coming on our special day." Ngiting sabi ni Vermone. 

Special. 

Tumayo si Vermone at nakipagkamayan kaya tumayo na rin ako at ginaya s'ya. His hand was immediately placed on my back. 

"Here's my gift for the both of you." Isang envelope ang binigay saamin. "Enjoy the rest of the evening." Ngiting paalam na n'ya at nagpasalamat pa kami ulit. 

"Buksan na natin?" Tanong n'ya at tumango ako. 

Pagkabukas ay pareho kaming nagulat. 

WTF.

Mr. and Mrs. Collins! 

Congratulations on your wedding! We would like to offer you one of our biggest private planes. Hope you really use this plane for your travels. We'll be very happy to see you happy with our gift! In case you'll go out of the country, then have a safe flight. This can be useful for your future family travels, too. We named your private plane VALT 0307 again, congrats! 

From: Mr. and Mrs. Williams. 

"Putcha ta's mag di-divorce lang tayo?" Singhal ko at tumawa s'ya. 

"Changed your mind?" Ngising tanong n'ya. 

"Hm," I said in a mocking tone. "We'll see about that."