1 Chapter 1: Running Away

GIANNA FERRIER

Everything was perfectly perfect. When the double door opens up, I saw a bunch of people who are very happy and pleased because of this wonderful day, because of this marriage. When I started walking in the aisle, the flashes of cameras began and synchronise by the slow song instrument of the piano. A big scoop that can be put in the magazines or headlines because of a million-dollar cost of marriage. The white gown might be simple and elegant at first look but the diamonds on it are very evident how expensive it is. The church, the decorations, the foods, reception, the guests, the gifts, the dress. Everything was expensive and bought with money. Not by.. Love.

As I walk slowly, the smiles and happiness of both sides of families didn't fade. They are very happy, very pleased and exultant. Then I glanced at the man in front of the altar, patiently waiting for me and he looks very satisfied and happy too. It looks like he didn't have any regret for this marriage. As the only heir of the Ferrier ay expected na ako ang mamamahala ng aming mga negosyo pero hindi ko kayang magmanage ng mga companies namin kaya kailangan akong ipakasal sa isang lalaking may capability na pamahalaan ang buong negosyo at companies.

My parents picked the best and well-skilled in business kaya sa tagal ng panahon nitong pagpili ay dumating ang araw na nakapili na sila ng mapapangasawa ko. I wasn't against at first, but eventually, I realized na ang pakasalan ang isang taong hindi ko mahal ay hindi ko kailanman magagawa.

But my mom only said this.

"You will learn to love him, Gianna." She said smiling.

I met my fiancee last week before the marriage at the engagement party. Wala silang pakialam kung malaman man o mapansin ng mga tao na ikakasal lang kami para sa merge ng aming kompanya. For the benefits of both sides in the family but more than that ay dahil alam ni Dad na kulang ang talino at skills ko pagdating sa business, they know that I don't have any interest in handling their businesses. I pursue my career as an architect and my parents weren't against on it, akala ko makakatakas na ako at magagawa ko ang gusto ko. But the reason why they let me choose my own course in college is that they have an exchange deal about that.

Mayayaman ang mga Miller, may mga Hotels and Resorts din sila na nangunguna ngunit wala naman talaga silang background sa fixed marriage and I know they just said yes because they know how rich we are. Ngayon ay nagtataka ako kung talaga bang masaya sila na ikakasal kami ng anak nila? O masaya lang sila dahil sa business? Both sides of the family are using each other, yun ang sa tingin ko. Dad will use my soon-to-be husband's skilled and intellect in business because I lack in a skill when it comes to business, while the Miller family is enjoying the money, fame, and power from my family. Too bad, I am not naïve para hindi mapansin yun.

Napatingin ako kay Almer Miller, ang lalaking pakakasalan ko na may katandaan sa akin ng tatlong taon. Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. I heard that he didn't say yes at first dahil may girlfriend ito pero nung magkita kami sa isang party ay hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip na sumang-ayon sa kasal na ito. I wonder why? I think he really doesn't love his girlfriend because if he really does he will be against the wedding.

I can't marry him! I don't want to be married at this age! I have so many things to do on my own! I want to run but how can I? Should I run right now?

Nakita ko sa gilid si Cassandra na naghihintay sa akin, she is my bride's maid. She is the only person that I trusted in this world, ang isang katulad ko ay mahirap magkaroon ng kaibigan. Either they are fake or they are insecure. Mukhang napansin niya na may bumabagabag sa akin kaya tumaas ang mataray nitong kilay.

I'm sorry but I can't do this. Sambit ko sa isip ko at sinulyapan si daddy sa tabi ko na tipid na nakangiti. I loosen my grip to him and stopped walking kaya nagtataka siyang napatingin sa akin. I swallowed hard and shakes my head.

Bago ako tumalikod at tumakbo ng mabilis ay nakita ko ang mga mata nila na gulat at disappointment. But more than that ay ang hindi ko makalimutan ang nag-aalab na galit sa mga mata ni daddy. He is mad, for the first time in my life I disappoint him.

I ran fast. They were all surprised dahilan kung bakit nahuli silang magtawag ng guards para pigilan ako. Bago pa sila makalapit sa akin ay nakasakay na ako sa kotse ko ni Cass. Nagmamadali akong nagmaneho papunta sa isang iskinita at maliit at building tsaka pumasok doon hawak ang mamahalin kong gown. Binuksan ko ang room ko tsaka agad nilock ang pinto. Wala akong dala kahit na ano and no one can track me because I left my phone. Wala sa plano ito dahil hindi ako tumanggi sa marriage but Cass sensed that I was hesitant that's why she told me that if I changed my mind I'll go here. Then here it goes, unexpectedly I change my mind.

Ilang oras akong naghintay at nakarinig ng sunod-sunod na katok. I am swallowing hard while walking towards the door. Mariin akong napapikit and opened it. I saw Cass na mukhang galing sa pagmamadali at tensyonado. May dala siyang damit at nilock ang pinto. She sighed deeply and looked at me with disbelief in her eyes. Nakaupo lang ako sa kama habang siya ay nakatayo sa harapan ko.

"Stupid idea Gianna! Do you know what scene and embarrassment you made in the church?!" Galit niyang saad pero hindi maitago ang pag-aalala nito sa akin. "And you took the key of my car!" Iling niyang dagdag.

"You said that if I changed my mind I'll just go--"

"I didn't tell you to back out in the middle of the wedding! Sana nagdesisyon ka bago ang kasal, you have plenty of time. Now look at what you have done! Imbes na pumuno ang headlines ngayon about sa engrandeng kasal niyo ay nagkakagulo mga reporters a biglaang pagtakbo mo palabas ng simbahan." Hindi humuhupa ang galit niya.

"I don't know Cass. Akala ko okay na sa akin but when I walk in the aisle, naramdaman ko na hindi pa ako handa at takot mapakasal. You know how much I treasure marriage. It is sacred and a promise between two people who are deeply in love with each other. Marriage is all about money! Business! Connections! Good reputation.." Ang malakas kong boses ay biglang lumiit at bumagsak ang mga luha sa aking pisngi. Inalo naman ako ni Cass at hinagod ang likod ko para tumahan.

"Sana naman nagplano ka ng maayos diba? You don't have clothes and money. Tapos tingin mo hindi ka mahahanap ni Tito dito?" Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya habang nagpapahid ng luha. She's right, baka bukas ay matunton na nila ako. Dad has strong connections.

"Anong gagawin ko? I'm sure they will find me, hindi din ako pweding magbook ng flight or go overseas because Dad can surely track me. Baka bago pa ako makasakay ng eroplano ay hilahin na nila ako pabalik ng mansion." I said almost panicking. Cass stood up while thinking deeply.

"You need to go to a place that has no connection to your Dad. Kung saan hindi kilala ang pamilya mo, kung saan hindi ka nila kilala." Cass snap his fingers in the air. "I will call him, I'm sure he can help where to find a place where there are no connections or even better, no INTERNET." She said happily while I was left dumbfounded.

"No connections? No internet?" I asked confused.

"Hindi lang internet Gianna. Pati signal mismo. I'm sure that is the only way so that no one can track you out there." She explained while keeping on texting. Sino naman kaya ang kausap nito? "I hope he can help." She mumbled to herself.

Hindi na kami nagtagal pa ni Cassandra at agad na nilisan ang isang apartment then went to the small store where to buy clothes, our errands were hurried and on the rush. We are in her car. She is driving fast while I'm fixing the hat and big sunglasses that she bought me. Nagring ang cellphone ni Cass kaya nagkatinginan kami.

"Yes, Daddy?" Sumulyap sa akin si Cass habang ako ay tahimik na nakikinig. "I'm doing my best to find her pero hindi ko nga siya mahanap-- What?! No! Hindi ko alam ang pagtakas niya. Okay. Bye." Binaba ni Cassang tawag at hininto ang kotse niya.

"Hanggang kailan ka magtatago?" She asked while we are thinking deeply. Planning what will be the next actions. Tulala lang siya sa daan habang nakahinto ang car.

"Until they will realize that I won't marry a man who I don't love," I said to myself.

"Why don't you just directly say it to them? Bakit kailangan mo pang iparealized yun?" She grimaced while her forehead frowned. Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Well, it is hard. Hindi ko pa kailanman nagawang mag-object sa kanilang mga plano, lalo na ito.

"It's difficult. You know." Mahinang sambit ko. She just sighed with disbelief.

"Stop being a robot Gianna. Kailangan lang ay pag-uusap." She suggested. "You really sure about this, kasi kung ako ayoko sa plano mo. Pwedi kang mapahamak dahil dito." Dagdag niya.

Nagring ang cellphone niya kaya napabaling kami doon. Agad na naman akong binalot ng kaba. Now what? Did they found us? What is now happening in the church?

"Who is calling?" I asked nervously.

"Just a friend who can help us." She said before answering the call. Hindi na ako umimik pa. "Sigurado ka na safe yung lugar na yun? Well, I have not heard of it." Sambit ni Cass sa kausap niya. "Okay! I promise to repay your help. I know you are helping me because you can use me for some reason." Namilog ang mga mata ko sa narinig. What was that? Is that a win-win situation? She hangs up the call irritatedly.

"Sino ba yun?" Tanong ko.

"No one. Just a lunatic guy." Simpleng saad niya. Now she is being a friend with a lunatic guy?