It''s past midnight already nang maalimpungatan ako. I''m thirsty and made my way to the kitchen. My forehead knotted when the light is still up in the ss. Nang magtungo ako ''run ay nakita ko si Wayde, bahagyang nakgay ang mga braso sa coffee table at ito ang ginamit niya bng unan.


    He''s sleeping peacefully. Napagod yata ito dahil sa ginagawa.


    Lots of paperworks was scattered on his table as usual. No wonder that he''s one of a he working guy. I wonder where''s his parents are right now. They must''ve been so proud to see their son working hard to earn the achievements he has


    now.


    I squatted in front of him and watched those small details from him. Nakatungong ako sa kanya at pinagmasdan siya. Iid my chin above the coffee table and stared at him. "You''re going to marry someone, Celestia."


    "Meet your groom here this instant, Celestia! Huwag mo akong galitin." Marriage.


    Yan ang pinaka-iiwasan ko sahat. Matagal ko ng naririnig kay daddy ang usapin sa mga ganun, but I just neglected that idea, thinking that it wasn''t a big deal. But no, it was even more than that now. It''s ironic to speak about it but my life looks like a drama series.


    Running away from home, marrying a stranger and meeting someone in the most important time.


    Napatitig ako sa ring finger ko. Sooner orter, they would found out where I live. Roseanna would be frantically celebrate if that would happen. Gustong-gusto niya ako ipakasal to whom ever that guy is. Bakit hindi nng siya magpakasal ''run, tutal ay siya naman ang gustong-gusto makasal ako?


    "Damn it," bulong ko.


    My eyes went to Wayde''s pointy nose and tantalizing eyes. If ever I can choose someone to marry. How lucky could I be if I could find someone as an independent, hardworking and loving husband? W na siguro akong mahihiling pa. But this is reality. Aplex word that I should emphasize in my life. If only I have...N?velDrama.Org owns this.


    "Get yourself together, Celestia," tinampal ko ang magkabng pisngi para bumalik sa kamunduhan. It''s reality after all.


    I heaved a sigh and fixed my squatting posture. Nahagip ng mata ko ang pamilyar na dokumento na naktag samesa nito. May nakapatong na folder sa ibabaw nito kaya hindi ko makita ng maayos ang pang-ibabang parte. But I''m so sure what it refers to.


    A marriage contract.


    Inangat ko ang kamay ko para kunin sana iyon nang may humagip sa kamay ko. Napaawang ang bibig ko at sinuyod ang kamay na nakahawak sa akin.


    "What are you doing?" his voice is stern and serious.


    "I-I''m sorry, I just saw that... uhm a contract about something," t naumid ang d ko at hindi maipagpatuloy ang sasabihin.


    He put my hands down and fix the papers in his table. Nang maayos at mgay salagyan nito ay humarap siya sa''kin.


    "Why are you still up by this hour?" His voice is still groggy. Umiling ako.


    "Naalimpungatanng ako. I was about to fetch a ss of water when I saw you here. G-Gigisingin sana kita, but I think you''re already up."


    "Really?" may pagdududa at panunudyo sa boses niya. He''s teasing me again.


    I stood up. Pinagpagan ko ang sarili, "Tgang-tga. Bye!"


    I hurriedly turned my back away from him and headed to the kitchen. Kumuha ako ng isang baso tubig at kaagad na ininom iyon. What I saw earlier went back through my mind. It''s a marriage contract. Are we also in the same situation? Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko at dinama ang mabilis na pag pintig nito.


    I peaked at Wayde once more and saw him standing up. Napalingon siya sa direksyon ko at ngumiti. I was fixated by his smile.


    "Goodnight... Celestia."


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    Dwang salita pero sapat na ''yun para buhayin ang kalma kong puso. My heart reacted so violently that it left me in confusion and some questions. Could it be I''m... falling for him?


    ****


    "Oh God! I''mte!" I didn''t even bother to brush my hair properly. I rushed outside while tying my hair in a ponytail. Muntik ko pang makalimutan magsuot ng footsocks dahil sa pagmamadali. Nang makbas ako ay nagt ako kung sino ang naroon.


    "yton? What are you doing here?"


    "Nman kong sa isang bakery ni Nay Tasia ka p nagtra-trabaho. At," lumapit siya sa akin at hindi ko napaghandaan ang pitik niya sa noo ko. "Late kana sa trabaho mo kaya tara na."


    Oh Yes! Muntik ko ng makalimutan ang trabaho ko dahil sa biang pagsulpot niya.


    "Let''s go! Pakihatid ako pakiusap, ayaw ko pang masibak sa trabaho ko no!" natataranta kong aniya at ako na mismo ang lumapit sa motor niya.


    "W ba yunglaking naiinggit sa kagwapuhan ko? Sayang, sasampn ko pa sana siya." Binatukan ko siya. Ang madaig si Wayde pa rin ang iniisip niya hanggang ngayon.


    "Ihatid mo nng ako, pakiusap."


    "Aray naman! Oo na, eto na, Amazona!" I rolled my eyes and made myselffortable on his motorbike.


    Marahanng ang pagpapatakbo ni yton sa motor niya which is hindi ako sanay. Oh, it''s not the same person who is driving, Celestia. I got used to Wayde''s driving if we were going to the town. Pinilig ko nng ang ulo at nagfocus sa daan. It didn''tst for an hour when we arrived. Kaagad ko siyang niyakap dahil sa tuwa. Mabuti nng tga at nandito si yton para mahatid ako.


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    "Thank you! Thank you! You''re such a saviour, yton!" mahigpit ko siyang yinakap sa leeg.


    "A-ray... hindi ako m-makahinga, C-Celestia." I immediately let go.


    "Oops! Sorry! I''ll go ahead now, yton. Thank you so much." I waved my hand at him before entering the bakery.


    "Sabihin mo sa Wayde na ''yun na hindi ako titigil hangga''y diko siya maungusan!" he wiggled his eyebrows at me. Kahit kan tga.


    Kaagad kong pinihit ang pintuan at nagt sa nabungaran ko. Shocked was stered in my face when I saw Laren, Marissa and ate Alma lining up. Ang mga tingin n ay parang nambubusisi. Uhh, I didn''t do anything right? "Uh... may problema ba?" takang tanong ko. Lumapit si ate Alma sa akin at sinuyod ako m ulo hanggang paa.


    "Ikaw..." What? Napatingin ako sa pambisig na relo at nakitang hindi pa naman akote. In fact, I just arrived five minutes before the in time.


    "Celestia.. sabihin mo nga sa amin."


    "Na ano?" ano ba ang sinasabi n?


    "Bakit mo kasama si yton?" Finally, Laren was the one who blurted it out.


    "yton? Oh, he''s my close friend way back in highschool." Napaawang ang bibig nnghat at sabay-sabay na napasigaw.


    "What?!" I was startled a bit.


    "Y-yeah," napakamot ako sa ulo."Mlate na sana ako sa trabaho kaso sinundo niya ako sa bahay at naghatid sa akin rito." Hindi ko m kung matatawa o maiiling sa mga reaksyon n. Their eyes widened in shock and the three of them rushedly went to me.