CHAPTER 7

SHINA POV

Mas lumapad ang aking mga ngiti. I'm suddenly thankful na mukhang hindi na ako mahihirapan on my sister's part. "Why do you choose him?" I asked.

Suzie looked at the ceiling as if she's staring at the beautiful stars. "His voice is brilliant. His face and body is too perfect. He's like a living prince from a fairytale. Para sa mga Jin's stan, he's a jewel that's too precious to touch. Kulang ang mga salitang pwedeng magdescribe kung gaano siya kaperpektong example ng isang boyfriend and husband material."

Nakangiti lang ako habang pinapanood ang kilig na kilig niyang reaksiyon. "Is he also your dream husband?" tanong ko.

"Siyempre naman ate!" Pero biglang lumungkot ang kanyang mukha. "But that's impossible to happen. Jin doesn't even know about my existence and also dating a celebrity is a very big no in our family. Di ba ate dapat mga anak din ng conglomerates ang mapapangasawa natin?" sabay bumuntong-hininga siya nang malalim.

I calmly drank water and looked at her sad face. "What if Dad chose him to become your husband and made an arrangement with his parents?"

"That's impossible. Dad won't approve him unless he came from a rich and prominent family."

"Jin is the youngest son of Chairman Shin of Fontte Corporation," wala ng pasikot-sikot na sabi ko.

Namistulang istatwa ang aking kaharap. Nabitawan niya na naman ang kubyertos at mahigit isang minutong di nakapagsalita. "S-So.... s-so... the rumor about him coming from rich family i-is true?"

I leaned my face toward her and smiled. "Yes." I whispered and winked.

"T-Then what you just said about marriage arrangement .... " she gasped then looked at the food and then me. "So this unusual dinner .... your presence... your time with me... all your weirdness about DVX... h-has something to do with it?"

"Yes," I whispered again.

Bigla siyang tumayo. Nagtatalon. Nagtitili. She's even pulling her own hair like a mad woman. Nang mapagod saka lamang siya naupo ulit. Pulang-pula ang kanyang mukha. "Ate tell me I'm not dreaming!"

"You're not."

"Tell me me you're not lying."

"I'm not."

"Tell me again regarding what you said about me and Jin."

"Dad and Chairman Shin made an agreement that you and Jin will get married sooner or later."

Tumili na naman siya nang pagkatinis-tinis. Tumayo. Lumapit sa akin. Niyakap ako at pinaghahalikan sa pisngi. "Thank you so much. This is the best thing that happened in my life."

Natatawa na napapangiwi ako sa reaksiyon niya. "Stop being too overwhelmed. Sit down. We need to talk about it more seriously. Hindi ito madali kagaya ng iniisip mo. Malaki pa rin ang chance na hindi ito matuloy kapag naging padalos-dalos tayo."

Saka lamang siya natauhan. Seryosong bumalik siya sa kanyang upuan.

"Listen to me. Sa akin pinapaasikaso ni Dad ang bagay na to. So before I start planning, let me ask you a very serious question... Do you really want to marry this famous idol?"

"Yes ate. I'm one million percent sure!"

"Alright. I'll help you and you'll help me. I'll be honest with you that this is very important to me dahil dito nakasalalay ang pagiging CEO ko. Dad won't give me the position unless you and Chairman Shin's son fall for each other."

"Don't worry ate ngayon pa lang ay hulog na hulog na ako kay Jin," kinikilig na namang sabi niya. "I can't wait to meet him in person."

"But what about Jin? Are you sure he'll fall for you?"

Hindi siya nakasagot. Sumilip sa kanyang mga mata ang pangamba. "But it's an arranged marriage already. Aren't we going to marry each other whether we like it or not?"

"Not really. Chairman Shin called me after hearing from Dad na ako ang mag-aasikaso sa kasunduan nilang ito. He said Jin is hardheaded and incontrollable kaya nga hindi niya nagawang pigilan kahit ang pagsali nito sa boy band. He can pressure Jin about the marriage but he can't assure his son will cooperate until the end. That's why he's also giving me pressure to make him fall for you. The only assurance that Chairman Shin can give us is that Jin will meet you no matter what. After that nakasalalay na sa aking mga kamay ang lahat."

"What if Jin won't fall for me?" naluluhang sabi niya.

I reached her hand and caressed it. "You're beautiful inside and out always remember that. Imposibleng hindi magkakagusto sayo ang isang lalaki lalo na kapag nakilala ka niya. And also, stop thinking about Jin's side. Think about yourself too. Maaring yang nararamdaman mo sa kanya ngayon ay simpleng paghanga lang ng isang fan. Falling in love is a different thing. Above all things, I care about your happiness the most. Whatever happens, I will support your decision whether you marry him or not. But for now, I'm asking you to cooperate until I take over the CEO position."

She nodded like a puppy. "Then what's the plan now?"

I smiled at her cute reaction. She's really 80% Jin's ideal woman. I'm gaining confidence as I stare her. "Ipapa-arrange ko na sa Fyne Entertainment ang unang date niyo."