CHAPTER FIVE
766 Words
The drive home should have been peaceful.
Should have been.
But Emerald was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Pamela, on the other hand, was annoyingly giddy in the passenger seat, sneaking glances at her every few seconds.
"Gurl…" Pamela finally spoke, breaking the silence.
"Huwag." Emerald cut her off before she could even start.
Pamela laughed. "Ang defensive mo naman! Wala pa nga akong sinasabi."
Emerald sighed, eyes fixed on the road. "I know you. At kung iniisip mong kikiligin ako sa nangyari kanina, kalimutan mo na."
Pamela smirked. "Wala naman akong sinasabing kilig, ah. Pero iba ‘yung aura niyo ni Adrian, bes. Parang nag-i-spark ang hangin sa pagitan niyo."
"Spark sa mukha mo."
"Oh, come on! Aminin mo, kahit konti, nayanig ka sa presensya niya."
Emerald gritted her teeth. "Paano ako hindi masestress kung siya lang naman ‘yung muntik nang makasagasa sa akin kanina, tapos tinawag akong baliw? At ngayon, parang sinusundan na niya ako kahit saan ako magpunta!"
Pamela chuckled. "Technically, hindi naman niya alam na nandoon ka kanina. Coincidence lang ‘yun."
"Coincidence o hindi, ayoko pa rin sa kanya," Emerald muttered.
Pamela leaned back against her seat. "Well, good luck with that. Mukhang hindi ka na niya titigilan."
Emerald didn’t respond, but deep inside, she had the same sinking feeling.
—
The night before had been nothing but a headache.
Emerald barely got any sleep after her unexpected run-in with Adrian Montenegro. The way he smirked, the way he seemed so damn amused by her, and the way he kept teasing her—it was infuriating.
Kaya nang tuluyan niyang imulat ang kanyang mga mata kinabukasan, hapon na.
Wala nang araw.
"Sht!"*
She bolted upright, heart racing as she checked the time.
5:47 PM.
"Oh my God—"
And then it hit her.
The family dinner.
Tonight, she was finally going to meet her fiancé—and his family.
Napabuga na lang ito ng hangin sa kawalan at napag-isipang maligo na.
After showering, Emerald dressed in something comfortable yet classy. She kept her makeup minimal—just some powder and lip gloss. Hindi naman niya kailangang magpaganda para sa kanila. Be yourself, sabi nga.
But she couldn't stop thinking about her so-called future husband.
Anong klaseng tao kaya siya? At ano ang itsura niya?
Knock… Knock…
"Ma’am Emerald, nandito na po ang bisita niyo."
Mia’s voice brought her back to reality.
"Coming!" she called out, taking a deep breath before stepping out of her room.
—
Dinner with the Montenegro Family.
"Narito na pala si Emerald. Come here, sweetie."
Lumapit kaagad si Emerald sa kanyang ina pagkababa nito.
"Anak, this is Mrs. Celine and Mr. Andrew Montenegro," pakilala ng kanyang ina sa mag-asawang kausap nila.
So these were her future in-laws.
"Good evening po, Mr. and Mrs. Montenegro," bati niya, bahagyang yumukod bilang paggalang.
"Good evening din, hija. You're so beautiful," nakangiting sabi ni Mrs. Montenegro, na ikinapula ni Emerald. "Anyway, just call me Tita Celine."
"And call me Tito Andrew. Kaygandang bata," dagdag naman ni Mr. Montenegro.
Alam ni Emerald na maganda siya, pero hindi siya sanay na purihin ng iba. Mas sanay siyang siya mismo ang nagpupuri sa sarili niya.
She looked up at them and smiled. "Thank you po, Tita Celine and Tito Andrew."
"Welcome, my dear," Mrs. Montenegro replied.
"Teka, pare, nasaan na ba si Adrian?" biglang tanong ng daddy niya kay Mr. Montenegro.
Adrian?
Biglang napakunot ang noo ni Emerald.
A strange feeling crept up her spine as her mind flashed back to a certain arrogant man.
"No, no way…" she whispered to herself. "Hindi maaaring siya ‘yun. Magkapangalan lang sila!"
"Nasaan nga pala iyon? Bakit hindi nila kasama? Ay, bakit ko ba hinahanap? Pakialam ko ba!" she thought, shaking her head.
"Parating na ‘yon, pare. Baka natraffic lang," sagot ni Mr. Montenegro.
Hindi na muling nagtanong si Mr. Suarez. Sa halip, nagpatuloy sila sa kwentuhan habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Adrian.
Emerald, on the other hand, tried to distract herself by scrolling through her phone.
And then—
The sound of approaching footsteps.
A deep voice breaking the conversation.
"Sorry, I’m late."
The moment she heard it, Emerald froze.
Her head snapped up, her breath caught in her throat—
And there, standing before her, was the last person she ever wanted to see.
Adrian Montenegro.
Mr. Reckless Driver.
Her arrogant tormentor.
Her fiancé.
Emerald’s jaw dropped.
"What the heck?! Don’t tell me siya ang lalaking papakasalan ko?!"
And across from her, Adrian smirked.
Like he had just won the biggest game of his life.
- Writer
