Chione' s POV

*LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. TONIGHT FOR OUR FINALE, I GIVE YOU MS. CHIONE REENA. SHE IS THE NEW MISS UNIVERSE AND THE NEW AMBASSADRESS FOR COTTON CLOTHES CORP.*

Rumampa ako sa stage wearing the nature green halter gown from cotton clothes corp. Narinig ko ang hiyawan ng mga tao. Nararamdaman ko ang paghanga nila. I even wore my sweetest smile para sa event na to.

*Hello Ms. Chione, how are you doing tonight?*Hi Charls, thank you for having me here as an ambassadress of this amazing clothing corporation.*

*Well, is it true that you wore one of their gowns in you previous competition wher you won the Miss Universe title?*

*Yes, it's true Charls, the Mint Green gown that i wore that night was designed by Mr. Fab of Cotton Clothing Corp. In fact, that night I wore all of Mr. Fab's designs from swim wear to gowns.*

*Thank you Ms. Chione.*

Rumampa na ako pabalik sa back stage. Sinalubong ako ni Tita Vernice, my manager.

*You did well, hija.*

*Thank you tita.*

*After this, there is still a party. Pupunta ka ba or uuwi ka na?*

*Pupunta ako of course, tita. Kasi nakaka bagot sa bahay eh.*

*Oh! So youre not tired yet?*

*I am tita, but you know they offer this party to me. Kasi nga nanalo ako and i wore their product.*

* Ok, ok ikaw ang bahala. I'll accompany you tapos uwi din ako kaagad ha?*

*Thank you tita, youre the best.*

Pumunta kami ni tita Vernice sa grand hall ng hotel kung saan ginaganap ang party.

*ANNOUNCING THE ARRIVAL OF OUR VERY OWN QUEEN CHIONE.*

Napangiti ako nubg marinig ko yung address nya sakin "QUEEN CHIONE".

~ringgggg ringgggg ringgggg~

*Hello?*

*Chione, it's dad. Come home now.*

*Dad? I was still in the party, is it ok kung pupunta ako dyan bukas?*

I was astonished. Bihira lang akong tawagan ni daddy. He would not call me personally kung hindi importante ang sasabihin nya. Wait, may nangyari kaya kay Isis?

*Okay then, see you tomorrow.*

Binabaan nya ako after. Well, that's my dad alright. Fernando Reena is my dad. He runs an agricultural farm and fertilizer company.

Matagal narin hindi nya ako kinausap.

He blamed me for killing his beloved wife, my mother. Namatay kasi mama ko nung pinanganak nya ako. After that my dad always locked me up keeping me from the world outside our house.

He even hired a private tutor, para hindi na daw kailangan na pumunta pa sa school. Baka raw kasi ipahihiya nya ako.

*SNAP*

*Hey.*

*Oh! Tita may sinabi kaba?*

*Hai, nakalipad na naman yang utak mo sa ere. Syanga pala uuwi na ako. I have to prepare the contract for our new project.*

*Tita, may sched ba tayo bukas? Kasi father ask me to come home for the weekend.*

*Wala naman. Diba habbit mo na dapat rest day mo ay weekends.*

I just gave here a nod and bid my goodbye. Pumunta ako sa parking lot to get my car para pumunta sa Batanggas. I drove there for almost 6 hours matumal kasi ako mag maneho lalo na kung pagod.

*Manong Jose, please open the gate.*

Sabi ko sa nagbabantay ng gate namin sa subdivision.

*Maam Chi, ikaw pala yan. teka po.*

Pinasok ko ang sasakyan sa garahe.

*Chi, welcome home.*

Bumungad sa akin si Isis.

*Ate, do you have an idea, kung bakit ako pinauwi dito ni daddy?*

*Let's talk about that matter bukas, or shall i say mamaya. Go get some rest muna.*

Tumalima naman ako kasi pago na pagaod ang katawan ko sa pagdadrive.

Nang magising ako, i went into the kitchen to get myself a food.

*Mnang Dolor, may makakain na po ba?*

*Opo maam Chi. Pero kailan po kayo dumating?*

*Manang kanina lang ho kasi po pinauwi ako ni daddy.*

*O sya sige, ito na yung almusal mo. Kainin mo yan lahat ha favorite mo lahat yan.*

I smiled at her. Kahit matagal na akong hindi umuuwi dito naaalala parin nya yung mga paborito kong kainin sa umaga.

*OH! Your already up. Sabi ni papa, after you eat i'll take you to him.*

*Isis, don't you have a slightest idea kung bakit nya ako pinauwi?*

*Shhhh! Let's talk in the study, okay?*

I just nodded.

Isis gave a warning knock.

*Come in.*

Upon hearing the voice, we entered the room. Hai, wala paring pinag bago tong study room ni daddy. I still remember the last time i was here was the day that i chose to be a model/ beauty queen.

FLASGBACK

*Dad, i want to give it a try.*

*Try what? Huh? Chione? You know how much i hate the entertainment circle.*

Ang liit nang tingin ni daddy sakin. Akala siguro nya diko kaya ang maging isang sikat na modelo.

A week ago, tita Vernice saw me eating hotdog on the corner and was bullied by other student who dined there and tita Vernice approached me.

*Hija, hi!*

*Hello po.*

*Do you want to be a model? I mean you have the looks and the figure.*

*Thanks for the compliment maam. But i'm still a student and i am underage.*

*It doesn't matter, hija. All you have to do is to model a clothing line, or being a commercial model for cars. It's not that difficult. And you can prove to those who bullied you tgat you have something in you. Well think about it here is my calling card if you change your mind.*

She handed me her card and left. Naisip ko bakit di ko subukan diba. My father always looked down on me kesyo daw wala akong mararating.

*Please, dad. I'm begging you.*

* OKAY! I'll give you 1 year to succeed if not you will obey me and take a medicine course.*

Pagkatapos nun. I made myself famous. Hindi nga ako umabot ng 1 year eh. Naging sikat ako nung sinaman ako ni tita sa isang pelikula kung saan isa ako sa napili bilang leading lady ni Bast, isang sikat na hearthrob na ngayon ay ka loveteam ko onscreen.

END OF FLASHBACK

*Chione, come here and have a seat beside you sister.*

*Dad, is tgere a problem in the company? How can i help?*

*No, the company is doing fine. Pinapunta kita dito for some reason.*

Ha!! I've been dying to know the reason why.

*I think that i already gave you enough time para sa ambition mo sa entertainment industry.

*Why, dad? You want me to quit, don't you?

*It's not like that. I want you to marry Ammon.*

*WHAT?!!!??? THAT'S RIDICULOUS.*

What's wrong with them. Pinapunta nila ako dito just to inform me that i should marry Ammom.

AMMON. As in AMMON VASQUEZE. H e is tge last person i would spend my life with.

*Dad, if i remember it correctly Isis is the fiancee of Ammon. Then why are you pestering me to get married with him?*

*Something happened to Isis. It was unexpected.*

*Isis, tell me do you have incurable disease?*

*No, Chi.*

*Then why not marry him.*

*I can't.*

*WHY YOU CA.........*

*BEACUSE I AM PREGNANT. There you know the truth now.*

Shock is understatement. Sa pagkakilala ko sa kanya hindi sya irisponsable. How come she got pregnant knowing na hindi din naman sya careless. In fact she is very smart and clever.

Chion's POV

*Now you know the reason why Isis cannot marry Ammon. I want you to marry him. It is not a request, it is an order.*

Lumabas si daddy sa study room at iniwan ako na nakatulala at si Isis na walang imik.

*Chi, please. Sundin mo nalang si daddy.*

She take her dramatic walkout. I wonder whats tge reaction of my father when he finds out what happen to Isis. Isis is favored by my father. She is always the best in my fathers eyes. If that happens to me maybe i dont have a so called family now.

Lumabas narin ako sa study at pumunta sa room ko realizing na hindi pa pala ako naliligo.

Hai, makaligo na nga lang at naglalagkit na ako.

Ammon's POV

HOOOOHHH HOOOHHH

Pasipol sipol ako habang papasak sa bahay namin. Kumain kasi kami sa labas ni Rain. She is my girlfriend. Actually, I have a fiancee her name is Isis. After graduating kinausap nya ako at ng dad ko na we want to prove ourselves muna bago mag pakasal. Pero matagal nang panahon na hindi naungkat ang arrangement na yun.

*Hijo, you look happy.*

*Well, yes dad. Rain and i went to have a date. Anyway, where is my beautiful mom?*

*She went to the salon. Oh! I really need to talk to you son.*

*About what?*

*Well, I want you to get married. Its time para mag settle down kana.*

The thought of marrying is a great idea Wheather it is Isis or Rain. If one of them bacome my wife, I don't mind at all. Rain is sweet, kind and gentle. Isis is responsible, gentle and well-mannered. The two of them possesses the quality of a woman he wants.

*Okay? So who do you want me to gat married to? Isis or Rain?*

*Have you seen tge magazine lately?*

*No. Ano naman ang kinalaman ng magazine sa pagpapakasal ko?*

*Well, pamilyar ba sayo ang babaing ito?*

Ipinakita ni daddy sa akin ang picture ng isang magandang babae na naka suot ng gown na kulay berde.

*She looks familiar.*

*She won Miss Universe recently. Do you think she will be a good wife? I already gave my word to Fernando*

*Maybe she i.... Wait sya ang mapapangasawa ko? Teka kapatid yan ni Isis ah. Why, what happend, dad. Diba usapan noon na Isis and I will get married? Bakit nag iba na?*

I don't like the idea of me marrying Chione. I hate people in that circle.

*They have their reason son.*

*No. You must be kidding me right?*

My dad did not say a word. He just shake his head as if giving me an answer.

I'm not familiar with Chione's personality beacuse hindi kami nagkaroon ng time to have a normal talk. Can you imagine how awkward the situation was. We're not even friends let alone marrying her.

*But dad, pano si Rain. She is my girlfriend now. You don't expect me to break up with her right away, right?*

* I am giving you a week to break up with your girl.*

*Idon't want to marry Chione.*

*Bakit naman you take it as a bad idea?*

*Eh, bakit ba kasi sya ang dapat kong pakasalan?*

*Why not her? Okay, okay. Just get to know her first and when you two click then you get married.*

*And if not?*

*I will talk to Fernando. And as for you, you can marry the woman you choose. DEAL?*

* Fine, deal.*

I was sitting here in my room. I wonder what happened to Isis, bakit hindi sya yun bride ko. Hai, and as for Rain pano ko kaya sabihin sa kanya that my father wants me to settle down pero hindi sya yung babae. HAHAI.......

Nakatulog ako sa kaiisip nang paraan pano ko sabin sa gf ko ang napag usapan namin ng daddy.

(At the office)

*Sir, here is the file that needed to be signed and this one tha needed to be check.*

* Okay, just leave it there, Min.*

Min is my secretary for almost 4 years. I considered her as one of my closest friend beacuse she knows all my affairs.

I was running my own hospital since i finished studying medicine course in a prestigious university.

~tlinggg tlinggg~

*Honey, sabay ba tayong mag lunch?*

*Yeah, i have something to tell you.*

*Okay, see yahh same place ok?*

*Okay, bye.*

I've decided to tell Rain about my fathers plan. I just hope that it goes well.

(At lunch)

*What do you want to tell me, Ammon?*

*Let's eat first okay?*

*Okay.*

She smile at me as if she thinks im gonna propose to her. Damn, kung di lang dahil sa kasunduan namin ni daddy baka I already ask Rain to marry me. We've been together of 5 years so marrying her was not a bad idea.

*Rain, i have something to tell you. My father wants me to settle down, in the form of marriage.*

She looked at me with sparkles in her eyes.

*But my dad wants me to marry a family friend's daughter.*

*WHAT?*

*Rain calm down, please.*

*How am i supposed to calm down ha Ammon? Ikakasal ka sa iba.*

Her words are full of pain though she portrayed to be calm.

*Well, hindi naman talaga gusto ng pamilya mo itong relasyon natin sauna palang eh.*

*I know. pero wala akong choice. I am the heir of my family. They always expected me to obey them.*

*Ganon ba talag dapat ha Ammon? Di mo man lang ba ako kayang ipagtangol sa harap ng parents mo? Your such a coward.*

She is right. I really am a coward.

Hindi ako makaimik sa sinabi nya dahil totoo na man kasi na diko kayang kalabanin ang magulang ko.

*Pero wala na atyong magagawa dyan. It feels like I've been missing so much in my life, dahil pinagtuunan ko ng pansin itong realationship nato for 5 years. Pero ito wala rin palang patutunguhan. I hope that you will be happy sa mapapangasawa mo. Bukas ipapadala ko nalang ang resignation letter ko sa opisina. Goodbye Ammon.*

She left me in daze. Sorry Rain hindi ko kasi alam na matutuloy pa yung kasalang inarrange ng pamilya ko. I left the restaurant and directly went home.

*Well here goes nothing. Kailangan na makausap ko si Chione.*

Para akong tanga na kinausap ko ang sarili ko sa harap ng salamin. Nang makauwi kasi ako nanghilamos muna ako saka ko kinausap sarili ko.

*Isis, do you have a number of your sister?*

*Yeah, i tetext ko sayo.*

*Okay sige. IAi teka lang, bakit hindi ikaw ang mapapangasawa ko?*

*Basta. May rason kami. Anyway, I hope you will like Chione.*

* I doubt that.*

*Wag kang nega agad. Chione is kind, sweet, gentle, optimistic and she has a soft side. Oh!!! I have to go hinihintay ako ni daddy. Bye.*

After I bid my goodbyes sa telepono, nag ring naman ang cellphone ko kung saan nag text sa akin si Isis. Laman niyon ang number ni Chione.

Chione's POV

*Hello?*

*Hi! May I speak to Ms. Chione please?*

*Speaking. May i know whose on the oine please?*

*Si Ammon to. Pwede ba tayong mag meet? I need to talk to you.*

*Okay just text me the place and time.*

I hung up the phone because of my heart beating fast. Wait what happen to it? I was in the middle of shooting my film when my assistant told me tgat an unknown number called me for 5 times.

I wonder what he wants to talk about? Is it about the arrange marraige? Maybe he really dont want to. Paano na to, Iwas really happy nang dahil sa kasal nato medyo nag uusap na kami ni daddy. Paano kaya kung ayaw nya? Back to zero na naman kami ni daddy na walang imikan. Hahai.

~ting~

I recieve his message. Paper Boat at lunch.

Tiningnan ko ang relos ko to check the time. Alas 10 palang ng umaga at nasa Luneta ako.

Nagshooting kami ng pelikula na pinamagatang "The Karate Princess".

The shooting ends almost 11. I put my thing onto my bag and told TitaVernice that i have an appointment.

When i entered the restaurant, many fans wants a picture with me. But fortunately tge guards are able to stop tgem from harassing me. Then i went upstaires where one of the clerk guided me. And i saw him. He was Ammon Vasqueze.

*Hi.*

He just gave me an evil smile. What was that for?

*Is there an occasion? Why did you call me?*

*Well after announcing the so called marriage, how would your fans react if the wedding is off.*

I was shock about what he just told me.

*F Y.I I dont want to marry you either. But my dad wont allow me. And one more thing i told the press that i am getting married and i never stated your name there so why so angry?*

When i had a press conference once, someone deliberately asked me if i am getting married. And they told me that the source of that information was my father so i dont have the guts to deny it.

*So, do yoy really want to marry me?*

*Honestly, yes. I have a reason and that reason is secret because were not close enough. If thats all Mr. Vaqueze, I guess i have to go.*

I walked out and went back to Luneta where my film is being shot.

I cant stand him. Even as a child we dont have a chance to get close because he always sbobs at me.

FLASHBACK

My father holds a party in honor of his late wife, my mom.

*Hi!*

I greeted Ammon and smiled at him sweetly. But he just snobs at me.

But whenever he was with Isis, he wears his biggest smile and the sweetest too. Isis is loved by everybody around her. While me always stuck with the maids but i still love them.

END OF FLASHBACK

I arrived at Luneta and started to work. After the long and tiring taping i went home to have a rest.

*Chi, wake up! Its already 10 am.*

*My God Isis, its still morning please let me sleep first Dont you know what time i finished my shooting yesterday? Its 5:30 in the morning so please let me be.*

*Okat fine but you should be up before 5 in the afternoon for we have a dinner with Ammons family.*

I went back to sleep..

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz..........