Be My Bride 1: The War

Episode 1

Nagmamadaling lumabas sa isang coffee shop ang isang magandang babae. Pagkalabas na pagkalabas niya ay agad siyang nagtungo sa may parking lot at pumasok sa kanyang kotse.

"Good job, Ash!" sambit niya sa kanyang sarili. "From now on, this is war! So, brace yourself!"

Ashley Nicole Sarmiento, 26 years old, isang fashion designer sa isang tanyag na kumpanya. Mayaman, maganda at matalino. Sa kanyang edad, malawak na ang experience niya pagdating sa fashion industry. She's been to Europe and worked under some world class designers. Ang problema, takot ma-in love. No boyfriend since birth.

"I don't want complications in life. Love? Pampagulo lang 'yan." Iyan ang madalas niyang dahilan sa mga friends niya kapag napag-uusapan ang lovelife.

Papaalis na siya ng biglang may kumatok sa bintana ng kanyang kotse.

"Hey! Ash! What's with you? Umalis lang ako saglit to answer a call, nawala ka na. Ash! Open the car! " Sigaw ng lalake.

Tila walang nakita o narinig si Ashley at bigla na lang umalis.

"Sorry, Dave. I really hate dating. I don't waste my time with stuffs like this." She told herself with a grin.

David Castro, Jr. Anak ng isang business tycoon. Same age lang sila ni Ashley. At his age, pinagkatiwalaan na siya ng kanyang daddy na mamahala sa hotel business nila. Matalino si Dave. He graduated cum laude sa isang sikat na university. Pero ingat ka...siya ang klase ng lalakeng magaling lang magpaasa. He never dated anyone seriously.Sa buong buhay niya, he has never been dumped by a girl. Siya parati ang nang-iiwan. Ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang playboy image is a desparate man looking for true love.

Tingin nyo, magkakasundo ang dalawang ito?

8 hours earlier....

(Sa condo ni Ashley)

Ring..............ring..............

"Yes, hello?"

"Sweetie..It's mom! Are you free later?"

"Any problem?" tanong ni Ashley.

"Wala naman. Can we meet? Around 3 in the afternoon? Pwede ka ba?"

"Sure, mom! Okay, I'll see you later. I need to go na. I still have a meeting to attend. Bye! Take care!"

(Sarmiento's residence kung saan nakatira ang parents ni Ashley)

"Take care. Don't skip your meals, Sweetie? Bye!" wika ng mommy ni Ashley bago ibinaba ang phone.

Biglang dumating ang daddy ni Ashley.

"Did you even tell your daughter that you've set up a blind date for her?"

"Do you think she will mind? Hindi na bata si Ashley. She's on the right age to get married," wika ni Mrs. Sarmiento. "I really don't get it bakit hanggang ngayon wala pa rin siyang dinadalang boyfriend dito sa bahay."

Hindi nakasagot si Ramon, ang daddy ni Ashley. Ang kani-kaninang maaliwalas na mukha ay tila naging matamlay at mukhang may malalim na iniisip.

"Coffee?" tanong ng mommy ni Ash na si Mely.

"Yes, please."

"She should get married soon."

"Still, you should have told her na blind date ang pupuntahan niya mamaya."

"Don't worry. I got the perfect guy for her. For sure she'll enjoy her date later."

After 8 hours...

"Mom, where are you? I have just arrived here in the cafe. Are you not here yet?"

"Can you meet someone for me?" sagot ng mommy ni Ash.

"What? Meet someone? What do you mean? Who?" nagtatakang tanong ni Ashley.

"His father is someone I know even before I met your dad. 'Wag mo akong ipapahiya ha. Please do me this favor. Just...talk to him. Okay? Enjoy your date!"

"What....date? You set me up on a blind date?! Mom!!!!"

"I'm hanging up, Sweetie. Enjoy!"

"Wait! Mom!!!! Hello....(beep..beep..beep)Argghhh!"

(Phone rings..She got a message from her mom.)

"He's there already. Look for a guy who's wearing a grey polo. Treat him well, okay?"

"Ugh!.. I hate this! Kung alam ko lang na blind date 'to..."

Nang biglang may lalakeng papalapit sa kanya na naka-grey na polo. Gwapo, matangkad at mukha naman matino. Napatingin si Ashley sa katawan ng lalake. Napansin nyang maganda ang hubog ng katawan nito na isang indikasyon na malamang madalas itong magworkout sa gym. Pero teka... parang namumukhaan nya ang lalakeng papalapit sa kanya. Hindi sya pwedeng magkamali...

"Hi...you're Ashley, right?"

"Dav....id???"

"You know me?" Nagtatakang tanong ni David. "How did you...? Ah! I didn't know I am this popular. I wonder where we've met before. In the club? Ahmmm.. sa hotel?"

"Huh! Wala ka paring ipinagbago."

"What do you mean? Anyway... let's have a sit first."

Hindi makapaniwala si Ashley na si David ang ka-blind date niya. Of all people, ang playboy at mayabang na si David pa talaga ang napili ng mommy niya. The two of them have met 13 years ago.

Yes, it's been 13 years... Ngunit hindi pa rin nya makalimutan ang nangyari noon. Makalipas ang labing-tatlong taon, sariwa pa rin sa kanyang alaala ang mga nangyari.

Flashback....

"I didn't mean it... I'm sorry!" nagsusumamong wika ni Dave. "Look! It was just a big misunderstanding...."

"Enough of your excuses! I don't want to see your face again! Ever!" galit na sagot ni Ashley. "Don't you ever talk to me again!"

(end of flashback)

"(Sa sarili) Ang kapal ng mukha! Hindi talaga nya ako naaalala?! Arggghhh!!!!! Wala pa rin syang pinagbago! Mayabang pa rin! Sayang lang...."

"So, paano mo nga ba ako nakilala? Did we meet before? Sorry, kasi..."

"Don't bother. You don't need to know," naiinis na sagot ni Ashley.

Biglang nag-ring ang phone ni David.

"Can I leave you for a moment...I really need to take this call."

"Sure. Take your time!" sagot ni Ashley.

Nang bumalik si David matapos niyang kausapin ang tumawag, wala na si Ashley sa kinauupuan nya. Nakita nya itong nagmamadaling lumabas sa café. Tinangka niya itong habulin ngunit hindi na nya ito nagawang maabutan pa.

~end of Episode 1~

Continue reading Episode 2