My Destiny (Completed)

k9

"Hello, KC." It was Alex on the other line. Medyo cheerful ang boses nito taliwas sa ineexpect niyang kalagayan nito.

"Alex, how are you doing?" Pinigilan niya ang sariling tanungin kung totoo bang break na ito at si Francis.

"I'm great, sis." And she actually acknowledged that they were sisters. "In fact, I called to invite you to my party tonight."

"What party?" Francis must be lying about the breakup, may broken-hearted bang magpaparty?

"I just want to hold a party. In my house. So I hope you can come."

"Can I ask Katrina to come with me?"

"I-" saglit itong nawala sa linya. "Sure, if that's what you want."

"Really?" Natuwa naman siya. It would be a nice time for them to bond as sisters. "What time will it be?"

"7pm... See you?"

"Yup."

She ended the call.

Katrina did not come to work so she just texted her sister about it. Kat argued pero napasuko niya rin itong pumayag.

"May I come in?" Ivan asked leaning by the door.

Hindi niya namalayan ang presensya nito.

"Aren't you busy?" She asked giving him a nod.

"I just wanted to see you before I start my day." He smiled and pulled out a rose from his back. "Good morning, Charlize."

"Thanks... Have a seat."

"No, I really just dropped by to see you."

"Well?"

"I'd go now... Uhmn wait, Alex sent me an invitation to her party tonight."

"Really?"

"Are you coming as well?" Nagliwanag ang mukha nito.

"Yes. And Katrina. We can come together. Pick us up at six?"

"Sure." He smiled widely bago umalis.

Good thing. Since it's Alexandra's party, sure siya na 'andoon si Francis. And she wouldn't know how to react when she sees him after he lied to her the previous night.

He hadn't dared talk to her after the incident. Katrina said he left frustrated. Pinilit siya ng kapatid niya na alamin kung bakit pero tumanggi siya. After all, it's none of their business.

*****

"It's not a good idea," Katrina still refused to get in Ivan's car.

"Why not? Alex is our sister," KC said, pushing her in.

"An evil sister." Napilitan itong pumasok. "Remember I'm doing this for you."

"Thanks."

"So, shall we ladies?" Ivan interrupted with a smile.

"Yes, please."

"I wonder why she would suddenly hold a party and we are invited," nakabusangot pa rin si Katrina.

"Kat," saway ni KC sa kapatid.

"Just saying."

Not long and they were at Alex's party. She personally let them in. Napakaganda nito sa suot nitong red gown. Surely Francis wouldn't leave this kind of woman.

Speaking of Francis. KC saw him seating by the bar. He had been drinking she could guess...

Alex led them to their place. Todo asikaso ito. He called Francis to join them. He obeyed though he didn't seem happy. For quite instances, he would try to look at KC but the latter would refuse to look at him.

Drinks were being served. And being the anti-party girl that KC was, hindi siya uminom. While Katrina and Ivan were already drunk.

And the whole time, Alex stayed by her boyfriend's side. Kissing and touching him. 'Yon ba ang nagbreak na?

"KC, just one shot," Alex said na kanina pa rin naman umiinom pero parang 'di pa lasing.

"Alex, I don't drink. You know that," tanggi niya.

"Okay then. I'll just get you a juice." Iniwanan siya nito.

She decided to use the rest room. Nahihirapan siyang huminga sa tugtog at amoy ng mga inumin. Parang naging club ang bahay ni Alex.

Sinadya niyang magtagal sa loob. Kaya nagulat siya nang paglabas niya ay naghihintay sa kanya si Francis.

"Can we talk?" He asked in his most sober voice.

"What, you will lie to me again?" Aniya, aware naman siyang may tama na ang binata.

"What lie?" He seemed confused.

"You and Alex, you're still together." 'Yong pagkakasabi niya ay para siyang nagseselos, did she subconsciously raised her hopes that Francis and Alex really had broken up?

"Of course not," he denied. "She said she needed this one time with me. So I agreed. That's why I'm here."

"Liar," she tried to walk out though he sounded sincere.

"Charlize, please- would you please listen to me?" Parang nawala na ang pagkalasing nito. "We really broke up."

"You know what? I don't care," she said and went back to where Kat and Ivan were.

"There you are! Where have you been?" Si Alex ang sumalubong sa kanya, dala-dala pa rin nito ang juice na ipinangako nito sa kanya.

"Restroom." She took the glass and drank it straight. Kailangan niya 'yon dahil naiinis siya sa sarili niya. What's holding her back? Francis may have not told her directly but she could feel that there's really something that he wanted to tell her.

"Hey, hinay hinay. Are you pissed? That's not wine, KC."

"No. Of course not." Bigla siyang napahawak sa ulo, she felt dizzy all of a sudden.

"Are you alright?" Inalalayan siya ni Alex.

"I -dont kn-" she passed out.

*****

"Nooooooooo!!!!!!!!!"

Nagising si KC sa malakas na sigaw ni Alex.

"How could you do this?!!!"

"Alex!" That wasn't her, boses ni Francis iyon.

"What the???" Tuluyang nagising ang diwa niya nang mapagtanto kung nasaan siya. She was in an unfamiliar room. Obviously kakagising lang niya so she must have slept there. "Francis??!" Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. There he was beside her alright. But the shocking part was, they were both naked! On one bed!

"How dare you do this to me??!!" Alex ran outside.

Mabuti kung ito lang ang 'andoon. But her scream drew a crowd. Kaya pinagkaguluhan sila.

Nagtago siya sa kumot while Francis tried to drive them away. Nakaboxers naman kasi pala ito under the sheets.

"What happened?!" Napahangos sina Katrina at Ivan na mukhang doon na rin nakatulog. "OMG! Charlize!" Kat immediately hugged her. "What's going on?"

"I don't know." She shook her head, tears flowing down her cheeks.

"That girl!" Nanggigil na tinilungan siya ng kapatid na makapagbihis when everybody was gone except Francis who was as confused as she was, remained seated by the couch. "Sigurado akong pakana ito ni Alex! Kaya pala 'di ko kayo makita ni Francis kagabi"

"Is it morning already? I don't understand... I can't remember anything," she cried.

Alex and her mom, who supposedly arrived last night didn't allow them to get out of the room.

Until everything is fixed, she said.

Katrina did not leave her. Francis never said anything but based on his actions, he was mad.

Kahit anong pilit ni KC na alalahanin ang mga pangyayari ay wala siyang maalala. Last thing she knew was the juice-

"Kat, I didn't drink, you know that," she was trying to make a point. "There's no reason I would end up here without my knowledge. Unless -"

"Unless what?" Si Katrina.

"Alex gave me a drink," she was trying to recall. "An orange juice-"

"OMG, what are you suggesting? She put sleeping pills on it?" Hindi makapaniwala ang kapatid niya.

"I don't know yet."

"Hey Francis," binalingan ni Katrina ang binatang nakahawak sa ulo nito. "Sinadya to ni Alex. I know it, hindi tayo dapat nagtiwala sa kanya. Going to her party is a very bad idea!"

Hindi sumagot si Francis. What was he thinking? Iniisip ba nito na masama siyang babae? She had been avoiding him. There was no way they would end up in bed. She doesn't even recall kissing him!

"I guess, I should leave you guys now," ani Katrina. "I'll be outside, wait for mama and papa."

Ayaw niya sana pero nakaalis na ito. They remained silent. Hindi siya tinitingnan ni Francis. Was he trying to remember anything too?

She wanted to ask him. Pero natatakot siya. He was very persuasive to talk to her so his silence was killing her.

Hanggang sa dumating ang mga magulang niya ay hindi ito nagsalita.

Alex was crying her heart out like she was the victim. She made it appear na winalanghiya nila ito ni Francis.

"How could you do this, Francis?" Tanong ng Mama ni Alex. "You are getting married to my daughter!"

Francis didn't say anything to defend himself.

"After this, do you think I'll still pursue the wedding?" Si Alex. "He must marry my sister... Kailangan niyang panagutan si Charlize."

"What?!" Panabay na wika nilang lahat except Francis.

"No!" Tanggi ni KC. "Ma, Pa, nothing happened between me and Francis!"

"Charlize, I think, Alex is right," Karlo said.

"But-"

She contested but they arrived at a decision without asking her and Francis' approval. They're to be wed, in two days!

*****

"Can we talk?" It was Charlize's turn to ask Francis for his time.

It's already the day of the wedding and they hadn't had a chance to speak with each other.

"About what?" He asked coldly.

"I want to say sorry." Yumuko siya.

"For what?"

"Because you're dragged into this. We can still do something about it- "

"I don't think so," he smirked. "You know we aren't supposed to see each other right? The wedding is in three hours."

"Francis cut that out. We are marrying each other for all the wrong reasons. We might regret this day for the rest of our lives," she explained.

She wouldn't have mind marrying Francis. She loves him pero ayaw niyang matali ito sa kanya sa pamamagitan ng kasagraduhan ng kasal pero sa lahat ng maling kadahilanan.

"You should have thought of that, Charlize." Naningkit ang mga mata nito like he was holding his anger.

"What do you mean?" Hindi siya makapaniwala.

"You didn't even have to do that, you know. I love you and I am willing to marry you. But after what you've done, I don't think I'll see you the same way ever again." He walked out.

Naiwan naman siyang nakatulala. He loves her.

Then she felt tears welled up her eyes.

*****

"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man & wife... Those whom God hath joined together, let no one put asunder. You may now kiss the bride!"

Charlize had real goosebumps all over her body when Francis bent over to kiss her lips. It was her first kiss and yet she knew that the way Francis was kissing her was somehow like she did a very huge mistake and he was punishing her. She tried hard to hold back her tears. He ended the kiss and acknowledged the greetings from their very few guests. Alex was present wearing black. She was crying all throughout the ceremony.

KC didn't care at all. Galit siya kay Alex. Every effort she did noon para magkaayos sila ay gusto niyang palitan ng equal effort o mas higit pa para bawiin lahat ng pagmamalasakit at pagmamahal niya sa kapatid. Alex used her. Hindi niya malaman kung bakit nito ginawa iyon if she really loves Francis. Because doing so would mean her losing Francis forever in a marriage to her very own sister.

Or is it?

"I still want to give you my best wishes," Katrina said, pareho nilang pinapanood si Francis habang kausap nito si Alex na daig pa ang nagluluksa ng patay.

"Thanks," mahina niyang sagot.

"At least, you still married the person you love."

"He's so mad at me," she wanted to cry.

"C'mon, Charlize... Even if he's mad, no one could compel him to marry you unless he really wanted to."

She nodded and tried to lift up her spirit. Sana nga tama si Katrina. And now that she no longer have any choice, kailangan niyang tayuan ang bago niyang role- Francis Park's wife....

They moved to Francis' condo after the wedding but slept in differentrooms on their first night. Halos 'di kinikibo ni Francis si KC and it hurts her so much she couldn't complain.

Lagi pa rin niyang naiisip how they ended up on the same bed that night.But no one offered an answer to her questions.

Francis changed. And not for the better.

"Good morning," nagkasabay silang lumabas ng kwarto, bihis na bihis na rin ito gaya niya.

He just nodded at her.

"I've prepared breakfast," sabi niya, maaga kasi siyang gumising kanina para maghanda ng almusal nila.

"I have a breakfast meeting." Nagpatiuna na ito without even offering her a ride to the office.

KC bit her lower lip to prevent her tears from flowing. Binalot na lang niya ang almusal and went to office on her own.

"Good morning," bati ni Katrina. Nauna siya sa kapatid kaya hindi nito alam na 'di sila sabay ni Francis na pumasok.

"Morning," she tried to sound as cheerful as possible.

"How's the first night?" Her sister teased.

For a while she thought na pasakayin si Katrina sa naiisip nito. Pero mas naunang nagdesisyon ang mukha niya. She looked sad and hurt.

"You don't mean nothing happened, right?" Ani Kat.

"I'm staying in his guest room."

"Francis is a jerk!" Nanggigil ang kapatid niya.

"He is still mad. But don't worry about me, I know how to deal with him." Nagtatapang-tapangan siya.

"He's impossible. And here I thought he's in love with you. Dapat nga nakabakasyon pa kayo ngayon!"

"Hayaan muna natin siya," sabi na lang niya. "This is what he wants."

Her husband didn't even ask her out for lunch. Ayaw naman niyang i-check kung nakabalik na ito mula sa breakfast meeting nito. Ang alam lang niya, naubos ang maghapon niya na naghihintay kung sisilipin man lang siya ng asawa niya.

Uwian. Still no sign of Francis. So she decided to go home alone.

Nakita paniya si Ivan sa elevator pero hindi sila nagkasabay. He just waved his handfor a 'hi' gesture. Nang makababa siya, nagmessage ito sa kanya.

'I missed you, Charlize,' he said. 'I know it's not right to come near you now that you're married. But I want to know if you're okay.'

'I'm fine, really Ivan. Thanks for the concern.'

'Call me up if you need me?''

Sure,' she waited for a taxi and went home.

Wala pa si Francis. She tried to stay up as long as possible para mahintay ito but he never came hanggang sa makatulog siya sa sofa. Umaga na ulit siya nagising. Hindi niya alam kung umuwi ang asawa niya o hindi.

She tried to call him pero naka-off ang phone nito. So once again, she went to office alone.

"Is the CEO already in?" Pasimple niyang tanong sa guard.

"Yes, ma'am."

Atleast nakampante siya na okay lang ito.

"Thanks."Nilakasan niya ang loob. Pupuntahan niya si Francis sa office nito. Hindi naman siguro masama kung kukumustahin niya lang ito. After all, she's the wife...

She was by the door already when she heard voices, giggles actually... Athindi naman siya magpapanggap na hindi niya kilala kung kaninong boses 'yon --kay Alex.

She was hurt. Hindi ito umuwi at pumasok nang maaga sa opisina para kay Alex?

x