While You're Mine

Prologue  Daphne's POV "You really made an effort to be beautiful tonight, huh?" taas kilay na sabi ni Jackson habang inuusisa ang kasuotan ko habang nakasandal sa may pinto ng kuwarto ko at nakahalukipkip. Naupo ako sa dulo ng kama ko para suotin ang red high heels ko na alam kong bagay sa red dress na suot ko. I looked myself at the mirror while I'm sitting at my bed. I curled my ash brown hair, with my light color makeup. Hindi naman revealing masyado ang damit ko. Tama lang ang cleavage na nakalabas sa akin, even my legs didn't revealed that much. I used to wear sexy dresses since then, but whenever I do, I'm making sure that people would see me as a descent woman with a class, not as a slut or a w***e. I know where his sarcastic tone came from. Tonight we have a dinner with the family of one of Lolo's business partners. Lolo told me to get dress and be looks beautiful. Without telling a word, alam ko na kaagad kung saan patungo ito. Siguradong gusto lang akong ipakilala ni Lolo sa anak ng business partner niya, maybe looking for my match? Matanda na ako at napag-iiwanan na ng mga pinsan ko na ipinagkakasundo ni Lolo sa kung kani-kaninong mayayamang tao na makatutulong sa paglago ng kompanya. No wonder why Lolo wants to find me my match and to have a deal for an arranged marriage. I don't want to, but I know that I had to. "Kaedad ko raw ang lalaking anak ni Mr. Wang, so..." "I don't like him." Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay at hindi nag-abalang alamin kung bakit. Ngunit hindi ko na kinailangan magtanong dahil mukhang gusto niya rin sa akin kusang ipaalam. "He's a playboy. He isn't suits you." I flipped my hair as I finished fixing my heels. "Looks who's not." Natawa siya at lumapit sa akin. Pinanood ko siyang maupo sa tabi ko sa gilid din ng kama. "I'm playboy when I'm single, but I'm not when I'm already taken." "Well, I'm impressed," plastik kong sabi at tumayo na. Humarap ako sa human size mirror ko, doon ay nakita ko siyang nakatingin sa akin sa akin at hindi makapaniwalang nakangisi. Kagaya ko ay pormal din ang suot niya, with his gray suit and black necktie. "Do you think that Lolo's mind would change if I tell him that the guy is already a red flag?" Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay ko habang nakatingin sa salamin. Umiling siya sabay kibit-balikat. "I'm not trying to change Lolo's mind, but yours, yes." Umikot ako para harapin siya. Nagtaas lang siya ng kilay sa akin, telling me that he meant what he just said. "You know, Jackson, just be grateful that I'm still doing what Lolo told me to do, kung hindi ay siguradong iisipin nila na ikaw ang nang-iimpluwensya sa akin para sumuway sa mga gusto niya." Lately ay ako palagi ang kasama ni Jackson. He felt betrayed when he found out that Jamaica didn't tell him about his daughter and Arianna. Si Clara naman ay walang idea, but still her opinion hasn't change. She still doesn't support him to see Arianna again. Hayan tuloy at ako ang ginugulo niya kapag gusto niya ng makakasama. Inaamin ko na hindi naman ako naiirita sa kaniya. Masaya rin ako na nagbago ang relasyon namin bilang magpinsan. We used to be red flag to each other, because he's known as a black sheep and I'm the white sheep. To be honest, I just appreciate him twice in my life. One was when our Lolo got mad at me because I told Jackson about his daughter. I almost forgot how does it feel to be understood by somebody, he let me count on him. The second was a long time ago. When he helped me to see the real happiness that I can ever have... "Hadn't I ever tell you that I don't care if he thinks that I'm a bad influence?" Lumapit siya sa akin habang nakapamulsa. Inayos ko ang necktie niyang medyo tumabingi na. "You should show your daughter Elle to how to be a good daughter, Jack. Sige ka, baka paglaki niya ay hindi ka rin niya sundin, maging pasaway." "Mas gugustuhin kong sumuway siya sa akin, kaysa sundin ang gusto ko kahit hindi iyon ang magpapasaya sa kaniya. Kagaya mo, you never had a chance to have your own happiness just because you're too focus being a white sheep." Humakbang na siya paatras kaya napabitiw na ako sa kaniya. "Or maybe you had your chance, you just let that go... Long time ago." Napaiwas ako ng tingin. Minsan ay iniisip kong nakalimutan ko na ang mga panahon na iyon, pero sa tuwing makakakita ako ng bagay na magpapaalala sa akin sa nakaraan, para na naman akong bumabalik sa umpisa para kalimutan iyon... Napatingin ako kay Jackson nang muli siyang magsalita. He's now holding the doorknob while looking at me. "I'll go downstairs. We are gonna be late so be quick." Hindi niya na ako hinintay na sumagot at lumabas na ng kuwarto ko. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako. The memories of yesterday are kept on splashing at my mind, I can't stop it. Wala sa sariling lumapit ako sa drawer ko at kinuha ang isang kuwintas na may pendant na singsing. All of my accessories are in the same place at my jewelry box, ito lang ang nakahiwalay. It isn't looks expensive, especially compare to my others, but this is the most special for me. Too special that I just can't rid of it, not even it's hurting me so bad.