5 - Her First Impression

Charm's POV

I'm glad the meeting ended earlier than I expected. Akala ko marami pang eme bukod sa big revelation ng church wedding. Until this moment, I could not absord their reason why we need that grand wedding. Para sa akin, that kind of wedding is only for couples who are in love with each other, getting married without being in love is definitely like a big circus.

"Kamusta ang meeting with the Faulkersons last night?" Nanay asked me during breakfast.

"Your daughter was mean to RJ and I don't like it, nakakahiya mga Faulkerson." Tatay replied.

"Naging tutoo lang ako sa sarili ko Tay, gusto ko sa umpisa pa lang alam na ng RJ na yun ang papasukin nya." I replied.

"RJ? Bakit si RJ? Akala ko si RD ang ipapakasal sa iyo?" Nanay asked.

"RD flew to LA two days ago, buti na lang pumayag si RJ sa kasalang ito." Tatay said.

"Wow parang utang na loob pa natin na pumayag ang hambog na yun sa arrangement na 'to, Tay. Hindi ba parang lugi naman tayo." I complained.

"On the contrary Charmaine, I like RJ more than RD. He is more of the businessman than his brother. Makakatulong ko sya sa negosyo." Tatay said.

"So lumabas din na this is all about business." I said.

"That is just an icing on the cake, your lolo's friendship with Uncle Danny Faulkerson is the main reason for this arrangement. I find RJ as a fine young man, you were the one who acted like a spoiled brat in that meeting." Tatay said.

"Because I don't like how that Faulkerson Jr. looks at me last night, parang walang gagawing matino. Imagine, at first meeting pa lang gusto na akong i-display sa circle of friends nya na mukhang wala namang ginagawa kundi mag-party gabi-gabi. You know that I am not into social gathering Tay. Hindi pwede sa aking magpuyat lalo na kung may competition ako the following day." I explained.

"Then you can discuss it with RJ nicely." Tatay said.

"Nicely? Parang hindi naman nadadaan sa magandang usapan ang lalaking yun. Mukhang diktador." I said.

"I think I would agree with Ricky, mukhang ngang magiging exciting ang household nyo after the wedding." Tatay said.

"I don't think so Tay, it will be a disaster kapag pinakialaman nya ako." I said.

"We will see about that." Tatay replied.

"I heard that RJ Faulkerson has this womanizer image." Nanay said.

"With the looks like that hindi ako magtataka. He is a well-breed young man imposibleng hindi sya pagkaguluhan ng mga babae." Tatay said at talagang ipinagtatanggol pa nya ah.

"I don't really care kung womanizer sya or hindi. Basta wag nya talaga akong papakialaman sa mga gusto kong gawin." I said at talagang paulit-ulit ako because I want to emphasize that to Tatay and Nanay.

"By the way make sure that you will not miss your meeting with the wedding coordinator tomorrow. That is not a request but an order." Tatay said.

"Opo Tay." I replied because I was not given a chance to complain. Ganyan talaga si Tatay, bata pa kaming magkakapatid, he already made it clear to us the difference of a request and an order. Kaya kapag sinabi na nyang that's an order, complaining will be a waste of time.

Maybe I acted as a spoiled brat last night, nakakainis kasi talaga yung Faulkerson Jr. na yun eh, sobrang confident, mukha namang puro kagwapuhan lang. Hamunin ko kaya ng karera ang lalaking yun? Malamang kumain ng alikabok yun kapag lumabas sa akin.

I am ready to leave for my practice when my phone vibrates. It is from an unsaved number and when I checked on the message it is from that jerk Faulkerson Jr. telling me to meet him somewhere in Greenbelt. Ang kapal ng mukha, tama talaga ako, diktador ang anak araw na 'to akala naman nya madidiktahan nya ako.

I immediately replied to his message. At mukhang hindi malinaw sa kanya ang text reply ko, nakuha pa kasi nyang tumawag para lang ipilit ang gusto nya. After several arguments, I decided to calm down dahil mukhang kailangan ng maayos na pakikipag-usap sa lalaking ito, kung hindi baka hindi pa kami ikinakasal eh mag-divorce na agad kami. Kawawa naman ang future generation ng pamilya namin, madadamay pa sa kalokohan ng mga lolo namin. Tama nang tumigil ang kahibangan na ito sa panahon namin. We agreed to meet halfway, tutal sya ang pumili ng oras at araw, ako ang nasunod sa lugar. Marunong din naman palang makinig ang anak araw na si Faulkerson Jr.

But I wonder what is there to discuss and compromise. Papapirmahin ba nya ako ng pre-nuptial agreement? If that happens, he should sign a pre-nup agreement as well. I also have huge bank balances therefore pareho lang kami.

"Mommy" I heard that sweet little voice calls me after I hungs up the phone and got a little pissed off with that Faulkerson Jr. But this angel in front of me makes me forget all that bad vibes.

"Hello baby, are you ready for school?" I asked.

"Yes, are you bringing me to school today?" she excitedly asked me

"I'm sorry baby, my car is on color coding today so I will be using my bike and Lola does not want you to ride on it going to school. Tito Dean will be the one to bring you to school today." I told our little Celestine

"Alright." she sadly replied

"But, I promise tomorrow, Mommy will bring you to school before my meeting." I told her and her face lightens up.

"I don't have school this weekend Mommy, can I go and watch you on your competition?" Celestine asked.

"I would love to see you watch my competition, baby. You are my source of inspiration but kids are not allowed there, saka magagalit si Lola." I said.

"Ok I'll just watch your competition on internet." She said.

"Sasabayan kitang manood sa youtube. O tawag ka na ni Tito Dean mo, have fun in school. Mommy loves you." I said then kissed her and I gain a sweet hug from her.

"Bye Mommy, don't forget to wear your helmet. I love you too." She sweetly said.

"Yes baby, I won't forget" I replied.

As I see her runs to the driveway and rode the car for school the more I am determined na ilaan ko na lang ang lahat ng oras ko sa kanya. She is the reason why I prefer to be single for the rest of my life, until this arrange marriage happens.