Dangerously Mine (Tagalog/Filipino)

LOURAINE took a nervous overall glance across the room and she couldn't help the butterflies that seemed to be fluttering all around her stomach as she emerged from the room. The place was open to all elements and surrounded by stunning gardens where the flowers and the trees were lit up with fairy tiny colorful lights, giving everything a magical air. Everything for her was perfect. She took a deep breath as she smoothed down her dress. The gown she wore was a V-necked and long sleeved silky dress that shimmered with a bright shades of red and orange that fell to the floor like a swirl of fire. She had tried hundred times to say, even pleaded, to wear flats tonight but to her dismay, they ignored her petty request and shoved her a pair of high-heeled strappy sandals. Louraine heaved a sigh and tried to smooth out a crease that was beginning to show on her forehead. It was a good thing they gave her face a rest and touched it only with minimal and natural make-up. She doesn't really want to look like a clown tonight. Even her hair took those people a hard time fixing it. They had fussed with it for ages and finally managed to tame it into a tight chignon above her head. Louraine knew enough she looked pinched and very pale from her wretched nerves, yet stunning enough to draw a surprise gasp from the guests. She felt so insecure about what she should wear tonight, but how could she ask someone for advice? She herself should know these things. She was an heir of a multi-million dollar worth of wealth, after all. Taking another deep breath, clutching her small gold clutch bag against her palms, she continued walking and climbed down the stairs as regal as she could. For a heart-stopping moment, Louraine had an overwhelming instinct to run far away and fast. She knew rationally that she was only being charming and pleasant because she was here to fulfill a role to please her aunt and pay her back for everything she did for her since her parents' tragic death. Yet her mind was screaming Danger!  She pasted her practiced perfect social smile on her face and ignored that idle thought. Tonight was not the time she should be thinking like that. She should focus only over one thing—to accept the reality that she would be getting married in about months from now. That was her destiny the moment she accepted this life. If she could be honest to herself, she had never thought she'd have this life six years ago. In every person's life there's always a turning point. And hers happened six years ago... She was just an ordinary girl with lots of insecurities in life. She grew up living in an average family. Her mother, Beatrice, was a plain housewife and her father, Lauro was one of the engineer of the Stanfield Empire, the biggest and wealthiest name she had ever knew. Ganon lang ang buhay sa kanya noon—masaya, simple, tahimik, at kontento sila sa kung anumang meron silang pamilya. Kahit na hindi sila nabiyayaan ng yaman at ginto, naitawid pa rin siya ng mga magulang niya sa pag-aaral niya. She graduated as the class valedictorian. Her parents were so proud of her. Kahit iyon lang ay napasaya siya ng mga ito sa araw na iyon. Kahit pa nagsisikip ang dibdib niya sa sobrang sakit ay natapos niya ang araw na iyon na may ngiti sa labi.  But days after that, her parents met a tragic accident that took away their lives forever.  Nawalan siya ng pamilya. Nawalan siya ng kasama sa buhay. Everyone she loved left her that same year. And she never felt so alone in her life. Noon lang.  But that one tragedy opened a new door for her.  She met her widowed aunt, Georgina Allegra—her father's one and only sister. At ito lang pamilya meron siya, at siya rin ang natitirang pamilya ng tiya niya.  She learned that her aunt was a widow of her late husband, James Cuertas, a young man who owned a jewelry business. He named it after his wife, Allegra Jewelry, to show his undying love for her. Her aunt was a beautiful woman, like her mother. At kahit na matanda na ito ay nakikita pa rin sa mukha nito ang hindi kumukupas nitong ganda.  And Louraine could see why James Cuerta fell head over heels with her aunt. At ngayong matanda na ang tita iya, she needed an heir... not an heiress. She was afraid Louraine couldn't handle the tough world of business, especially theirs. Malaki ang Jewelry Business nila, and a female as fragile as Louraine would be the target of  those flesh-eating sharks who wanted to take and grab the business with their own greedy hands.  Kaya gumawa ito ng solusyon sa problema. Georgina wanted an heir, so she would have one. Pero kakailanganin niya ang mahal niyang pamangkin para ma-secure ang pinaghirapan ng namayapa niyang asawa. She would have someone who would ask for Louraine's hand for marriage. Pero hindi na niya kailangang maghintay ng isang taong darating dahil mayro'n na siyang napupusuang binata para sa kanyang pamangkin. Since Louraine owes Georgina a lot, she would do anything to pay her back. Alam niya ang pangangailangan nito at ang takot nitong mawala ang kompanyang inalagaan nito para sa asawa for more than ten years. At naiintindihan niya na kailangan siya nito para manatiling ligtas ang kompanya sa mga kamay ng mga tusong tao na mapasakamay ang jewelry business nito. Kaya handa siya sa anumang kagustuhan nito. Kahit na ang kinabukasan pa niya at kalayaan niya ang isakripisyo niya para rito. Isa pa, matagal naman niyang pinutol ang lahat ng kaisipan niya tungkol sa mga bagay na may kinalaman sa pagmamahal. She knew fairy tale in real world doesn't exist. Fairy tale is a fairy tale. And reality is reality. She learned that simple fact six years ago. Kaya wala sigurong mawawala kung magpapakasal siya sa isang taong walang damdamin sa kanya. She care less if she'll marry a stranger. Isa pa, hindi niya habol ang mahalin siya at papaniwalaing mayroon ngang pagmamahal at habambuhay. She doesn't need promises. She had had enough of them. Her heart was as cold as ice, as hard as stone... wala ng makakapanakit pa sa kanya. With a final step down the stairs, she banished all those meaningless thoughts away. The past is in the past. She was not the same person as she was six years ago. She was now the new Louraine Samantha Allegra, 22 years old, the sole heiress of Allegra Jewelry. And to whoever the man she would spend her lifetime with... it would be such a shame that she would never ever give her heart to any one—not even to him. Because no one could ever mend the broken pieces of her heart. Kahit pa bumalik ang lalaking gumawa no'n, mananatiling nandoon ang sugat na nilikha ng ginawa nito. Yes. She maybe an heiress... but a heartless one.