The Billionaire's Trap

Chapter 8

"But seriously, are you really alright?" she asked for the nth time already.

"Oo nga. I'm fine, I'm okay, I am alright," I said firmly. Nagpakawala siya ng malalim na hininga.

"So ano? Pumayag ka na lang na ipakasal ka?" tanong pa niya. Alam niya kung ano ang lagay ko sa pamilya ko, sa bahay namin. She's my only friend after all so she knows almost everything about me.

"Ano pang magagawa ko?" tanging sagot ko. If I disagree, there's no way my parents will let me. It's either they force me, although they really didn't give me choices to choose from, or cage me to not let me out. Either way will take my freedom from me.

"Kasi naman. Sa lahat ng lalaking ipapakasal sa'yo, isang Vallen Garrett Alejo pa. Hindi ka ba naambunan ng pagmamahal ni Lord?"

"Hey, stop with that. Don't mention our God if we're talking meaningless," suway ko sa kaniya.

"So you mean your life is meaningless?" pilosopo niyang sagot. I glared at her. She raises her arms as if surrendering.

"Fine, fine. I'm sorry," she said.

"But kidding aside, of all men in the city, why Vallen?"

Nagkibit-balikat ako sa kaniyang tanong dahil maging ako ay hindi ko alam ang sagot.

"Like, even if he's disabled, hindi ba't marami pa ring babaeng nagkakandarapa sa kaniya?"

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Are you really asking me why Vallen? Or it's the other way?" I asked.

Tumawa siya. "Syempre, it's the other way!" sabi niya. Inirapan ko siya.

"Ewan ko sa'yo," sabi ko pero patuloy pa rin siya sa kaniyang pagtawa.

To be honest, napapaisip din ako. Kung bakit sa dami ng wealthy families within or out of the city, bakit sa Lambrente pa. It's not as if we're not in good terms, just neutral. My father is doing his own business so do Vallen. I do not know if they have prior meeting regarding this marriage thingy somewhere or what, it just happened all of a sudden.

Pero siguro? Hindi naman kasi basta-basta na lang din papayag si Dad—

Oh. Maybe he will?

If I was Lorraine, maybe hindi siya pumayag agad na basta na lang ipakasal kung kanino.

But it is me. Lesley.

So it's like hitting two birds with one stone. They have gotten rid of me as well as ride on the same boat as Alejos. Argh, wealth and power chasers indeed. Once our families are united, Lambrente's power and authority will rise in the industry.

Pero ano naman ang magiging benefit ni Vallen sa akin? Sa Lambrente? Is it to produce heirs?

"Considering that most women who approach Vallen are only after his fame and money, I think he ruled them all out until the best options came out. At isa ka do'n," biglang sabi ni Mady.

"Excuse me? Parang pinapalabas mong kasama ako sa mga naghahabol sa kaniya at pera niya?" tanong ko. Like, I am not!

Sa sinabi ko, doon niya yata na-realize ang sinabi niya. "I mean, of all his potential bride in this city, he ruled out all those who are only after his fame and money. Then, isa ka sa mga natira na hindi katulad nila. Gano'n. 'Yun," pagtatama niya. "Masyado kang sensitive, Lesley," sabi pa niya.

"Iyan, tama 'yan. Tinatama lang kita," sagot ko. Tapos parehas kaming natawa.

Napatingin ako sa paligid namin. Oo nga pala, kanina pa kaming nakapasok sa school. So far, nothing weird is happening. Hindi naman sa may nangbu-bully sa'kin or what. It is just that, sometimes Lorraine is really up to something. She's doing everything she can to humiliate me and destroy my reputation in school.

Because I am a Lambrente, came from a well-known family, I have a reputation in the society. So she's putting a lot of effort to ruin it. She's spreading fake rumors, just like how Mom used to believe that I was flirting at the bar I was working at before. Kaya mas lalong nagagalit sa'kin sina Mom and Dad kasi panigurado, nakakarating sa kanila ang mga rumor tungkol sa akin na hindi naman totoo. Pero hindi naman nila ako paniwalaan at mas pinaniniwalaan nila ang mga gawa-gawang kwento ni Lorraine.

Funny... isn't it?

Just how they are able to believe rumors but not their own daughter.

"Lesley," tawag sa akin ni Mady. Tumingin ako sa kaniya at hinintay ang sunod niyang sasabihin.

"Oh?" sagot ko.

"How's it like being with Vallen? Is he scary?" tanong niya. Hindi kaagad ako nakasagot.

"Yeah, he is." I answered honestly. Totoo, nakakatakot siya. My fear of him still hasn't disappear. The moment I saw him in our house that day, the realization that hit me when I knew he is the man I am going to marry, and the rumors that surrounds him.. it's fueling up my fear.

Kahit na he shows his gentleness, it's not guaranteed na he won't be treating me like how he usually treats other women.

And, being Vallen Garrett Alejo has an impact. Pangalan pa lang niya, alam mo na. Once you heard his name, you'd tremble in fear. And there's no exception.

"Really? So paano setup n'yo sa bahay niya?" tanong ni Mady.

"We sleep in the same bed," I said casually.

"OH MY GOD—"

I covered her mouth immediately. Ang lakas ng boses niya at alam kong isang malakas na tili ang kasunod ng sasabihin niya.

She tapped my arm. Nanlalaki ang kaniyang mata. She raised her hand, as if she's making a promise, promise that she won't squeal.

"Just do not squeal like a penguin!" sabi ko.

"Do penguins squeal?" takang tanong niya. Inirapan ko lamang siya. "But back to topic, seryoso? Sa isang kama kayo natutulog?" she asked excitedly. She shows excitement as if she's watching her favorite player plays in her favorite game or sport.

"Oo nga," sagot ko.

Nangintab ang kaniya mata. "May nangyari na sa inyo? Mag-e-expect na ba ako ng inaanak?" tanong niya.

"Baliw ka ba? We're not even married yet, tapos may mangyayari sa'min? Syempre wala," sagot ko.

Bumagsak ang balikat niya, nalungkot ang mukha at halatang nadismaya. Is she really my friend?

"You get my hopes up." Bulong niya.

"YOU get your hopes up." Pagtatama ko.

"Kailan pala kasal n'yo?" tanong niya. Nagkibit-balikat ako.

"Ewan ko. Hindi pa napapag-usapan," sagot ko.

Namarating na kami sa classroom namin. Madami na ang tao sa loob. It's a good thing that Lorraine and I are taking different courses.

Naupo kaming dalawa ni Mady sa aming upuan. Akala ko mag-uumpisa ang araw ko ng walang asungot, nagkakamali pala ako.

Makalipas ang ilang minuto matapos kaming makarating sa room, dumating din si Lorraine. Of course, with her two other friends.

"Where's Lesley?" she asked one of my classmates tapos tinuro naman ako ng kaklase ko.

Pagkaharap niya sa'kin ay binigyan niya agad ako ng nakamamatay na tingin pero kaagad niya ring inalis. Mabilis siyang nagpunta sa akin and when she gets near me, I saw her fists clenching.

"Hi, Lesley. Do you miss me?" tanong niya na may panggigil sa bawat salita pero nakangiti pa rin.

"It's no longer a good morning since I have seen you Lorraine," sabi ni Mady. Nalipat ang tingin ni Lorraine sa kaniya.

"Shut up," aniya nang may pilit na ngiti sa labi.

"Come with me." Utos ni Lorraine na muling binalik ang tingin sa akin. Galit siya, ramdam ko. Nag-aapoy ang mata niya sa galit. Siguro dahil sa pagpatay ko ng tawag sa kaniya kanina.

Hindi ako sumagot. Ayokong sumama sa kaniya. I wonder why's Dylan acting like that? Nasaan na kaya 'yun? Nasa bahay pa rin ba namin?

"What?! Answer me! No, just come with me! Dylan won't move unless he's seen you, you b***h!" Pabulong pero may panggigil niyang sabi.

Lumapit si Mady, tinakpan ang gilid ng bibig at nagsalita. "Why, you can't handle Dylan? He's your fiancé, isn't he? Unless, you stole someone else's fiancé," sabi niya pagkatapos ay nagkibit-balikat siya.

She sure likes to rile people up.

"YOU...!"

Alam din ni Mady ang tungkol sa amin ni Dylan and things happened between us and Lorraine.

"Ayoko. Makakaalis ka na," sabi ko. Mas nanggalaiti siya sa galit. Pero imbis na magwala, bigla siyang lumuha.

Ah, here we go again.

"L-Lesley..." she sniffed. Biglang lumapit ang dalawa niyang kaibigang naiwan sa may harapan nang makitang nagtaas-baba ang balikat ni Lorraine.

"Lesley! Anong ginawa mo?!" tanong ni Erica.

"Lorraine, are you okay?" Trisha asked. "Why are you crying?"

Syempre, kung mapagpanggap siya sa harap nina Mommy at Daddy, pati rin sa ibang tao. That's Lorraine.

"Lorraine came here to ask you for a favor!" Sabi ni Erica. "She's your sister, why can't you do it just once?!" Malakas niyang sabi. Ngayon, ang lumalabas ay ako ang masama. This is how Lorraine plays... always playing the victim.

"G-Guys... Y-You do not have t-to f-force Lesley..."

Bagay na bagay siyang maging artista. Her acting looks so real in the eyes of others. Naloko rin ako n'yan.

"Lorraine is right," biglang sabat ni Mady. Napatingin silang tatlo kay Mady. "Don't force other people to do things they can't do," dagdag pa niya.

Nakagat ni Lorraine ang kaniyang labi. It's not going as how you planned, is it? Of course, Mady is bright.

"It's not like Lesley refused because she doesn't want to, but because she just couldn't do," Mady said. Way to go Mady!

Lorraine secretly gave me death glares. Hindi na lang ako umimik. Ayoko muna makipag-usap sa kung sino mang miyembro ng aking pamilya.

Hindi nakaimik sina Erica and Trisha— Lorraine's friends. Kasi may point ang sinabi ni Mady.

"I-It's alright... I am w-well aware t-that Lesley couldn't d-do anything at all. So m-maybe what I'm a-asking for is too much for her...?" Balik na sagot ni Lorraine.

"Pfft." hindi mapigilang tawa ni Erica.

Ah, she sure is competitive. It looks like a normal question but no, she's insulting me.

I can see the veins in Mady's forehead popped up.

"Yes," this time ako na ang sumagot. "So please ask someone else," dagdag ko.

Tumitig sa akin si Lorraine. Her eyes are saying that she won't let this slide.

"O-Okay..." sabi niya, still playing the victim. Umalis na silang tatlo.

Napabuntong-hininga na lamang ako.

My day won't be peaceful. I know that for sure.