Entangled

10

The hours passed with hearty Filipino dish, fresh garlic bread with cheese and herbs, and a bottle of Chianti- that her father insist on buying for special occasions despite their financial problem. By the time they retired to the living room for espresso, a nice buzz hummed in Deniahs' blood, fueled by good food and good conversation.

Lumipat ang tingin niya kay Dark nang umupo ito sa tabi niya sa lumang beige sofa nang may konting distansya.

Misery etched out his features.

Nakinig siya sa mga kwento ng kanyang mga kapatid, nakitawa, and did a perfect job of looking like a gentleman. Except tumingin sa kanyang mga mata, iiwas sa tuwing akma niya itong hahawakan, at higit sa lahat hindi siya umakto ayon sa kanilang usapan- to act like the besotted fiance he was supposed to be.

Humigop ang kanyang ama ng kanyang espresso, "so, Arkel, tell us about your job."

"Dad-" saway niya dito.

"No, it's okay." Ani ni Dark at humarap sa kaniyang ama. "Dreamscape is an architectural firm that designs buildings here in the Philippines as well as abroad. We designed the Montera Prime at the top of the mountain in Cebu."

Kita sa mukha ng kanyang ama ang paghanga. "That's a good place to stay and relax. Gustong gusto ni Daisy ang mga pagkain don." Tumigil ito pagkuway, "anong masasabi mo sa mga paintings ni Deniah?"

Tinago ni Deniah ang bahagyang pagngiwi. Oh God, this was bad. Very bad. Bat kailangan pa banggitin ng tatay niya ang tungkol sa bagay na yon. Nag start lang naman siyang mag paint as her own therapy at hindi para magpa- impress sa ibang tao. Minura niya ang sarili, bakit hindi sa apartment siya nagpasundo at hindi sa bookstore para nakita ng lalaki ang mga paintings.

As an alcoholic counselor, her Dad honed in on weaknesses like a trained vulture and now he scented blood.

Kung siya pinagpapawisan na sa kaba, si Dark naman nakangiti parin. "They're fantastic. I've always told her she should hang them in a gallery."

Pinag-cross ng ama ang kanyang mga braso. "You like them, huh? Alin sa mga paintings ang nagustuhan mo?"

"Dad-"

"The landscape one. Definitely puts you right at the scene."

Panic flirted with her slight drunken buzz as her father caught the tension between them and stalked him like a predator. She gave Dark credit for trying but he was doomed before he began. The rest of her family knew the drill and watched the process begin.

"Hindi nag-pipaint si Deniah ng landscapes." Ani ng kanyang ama.

Pero hindi parin napalis ang niti sa mga labi ni Dark. "She just tried her hand at landscapes. Darling, hindi mo ba sinabi sa kanila?"

Pinigilan niya ang sariling mag-panic. "Hindi pa, sorry, Dad hindi ko pala nabanggit nung huling dalaw ko dito na sinusubukan ko nang mag- paint ng mga mountain landscapes."

"Ayaw mo ng landscape."

"Noon yon, Dad. Hindi na ngayon. Na- appreciate ko na ang kagandahan ng landscape painting since I met an architect." Ika niya sabay lingon sa katabi niyang lalaki at ngumiti.

Her comment only elicited a snort from her father before he continued the interrogation. Tahimik ang ibang nasa living room, saka lang sila magsasalita kung tapos na ang kanilang ama. "Ano ang paborito mong sports?"

"Baseball, po."

"Really? Nakakapanibago naman, mostly kasi dito sa 'tin mga Basketball fans."

"Yeah, well I do watch basketball sometimes but I'm not really into it."

"Nabasa mo na ba ang mga tulang sinulat niya?"

"Which one, po?"

"The one about the rainstorm."

"Oh, yes. Nagustuhan ko yon."

Napabuga ng hangin si Deniah. s**t. We're screwed.

"Walang sinulat na tula si Deniah about rainstorm. Mga sinusulat niyang tula ay tungkol sa mga love or loss and experience. Hindi siya nagsusulat ng tula about nature just as she never painted a landscape."

Tinungga ni Deniah ang malamig na niyang espresso, hoping na maka survive sila ni Dark ngayong gabi. "Umm, Dad, meron akong nasulat na tula about rainstorm, I've been exploring with other ideas about my writing ang painting."

"Really? Would you recite it for us? Your mother and I haven't heard some of your new work."

Lumunok siya, "well, hindi siya masyadong maayos at kailangan ko pang irevise kasi may mga hindi akmang salita. I will share it with you when it's perfect."

"Pero pinakita mo na kay Arkel."

Sickness clawed at her gut, and she prayed for escape. Her palms grew damp. "Yes, well, Dark, maybe we better get going. It's late and I have a lot of wedding plans to get together."

Her Dad put his elbows on his knees. The circling stopped and he launched in for the kill. The rest of the fam ay tahimik lang ang hinhintay ang susunod na mangyayari. The sympathetic look on her brother's face told her he didn't think there'd be a wedding any longer. He wrapped his arms around his wife's waist as if reliving his own horror when he'd announced she was pregnant and they were getting married. Parker busied herself with blocks and ignored the crisis.

"Ah, yes, tungkol sa kasal. Bakit kailangan niyong magpakasal kaagad within the week? Bakit 'di natin bigyan ng oras para mas makilala ng pamilya si Arkel? Bakit kayo nagmamadali?"

Arkel tried to save them both. "Naiintindihan ko, tito Chris, pero nag- usap na kami ni Deniah at nagdecide na no need to wait. We want to be together and start our lives right away."

"Ang romantic kaya, Dad." Singit ni Danica.

Deniah mouthed a thank you but she was suddenly double-teamed.

"Agree ako sa tatay mo, Deniah." Sabat ng kanyang ina na nasa bungad ng pintuan ng kusina na may hawak na dish towel. "Let us enjoy the wedding. We'd love to throw you an engagement party so Arkel can meet the rest of the family. There's just not time for everyone to come down on Saturday. All your cousins will miss out."

Tumayo ang kanyang ama. "Then it's settled. You'll postpone the date."

Her mother nodded. "Excellent idea."

Hinawakan niya si Dark kamay, "darling, can I see you in the bedroom for a second?"

"Of course, dear."

Hinila niya ito sa hallway at pumasok sa unang kwartong nakita niya which is thankfully a guest room. Sinarado niya ang pintuan at humarap sa lalaki. "You've ruined everything!" She whispered furiously. "Sabi ko sayo na magpretend ka pero you suck at it. Ngayon alam na nila na hindi tayo in love!"

"I suck at it? You're acting like this is some stupid play you've put together for the neighbors. This is real life, and I'm doing the best I can."

"My plays were not stupid. We made a lot of money in admission tickets. I thought Annie was excellent."

He snorted. "You can't even sing and you cast yourself as Annie."

"You're still pissed because I wouldn't let you play Daddy Warbucks."

Sinuklay nito ang buhok gamit ang mga daliri, "How the hell do you get me on these ridiculous subjects?"

"You better come up with something quick. God, hindi mo ba alam kung paano magtrato ng girlfriend? Kasi kanina para lang akong isang istranghero sa tabi mo, ni hindi mo ako matitigan sa mata. Kaya nanghinala ang tatay ko eh."

"Malaki ka na, Deniah, at ini-interrogate pa niya ang mga boyfriend mo. Hindi natin kailangan ng permiso. We get married on Saturday and if your parents don't like it, too bad."

"I want my father to walk me down the aisle!"

"It's not even a real wedding!"

"It's the best I'm going to get right now!" The grief leaked out for one moment as the truth of her predicament hit full force. This would never be a real marriage, and something would be forever ruined once Dark's ring slipped onto her finger.

She'd always dreamed of love everlasting, white picket fences, and tons of children. Instead, she got cold hard cash and a husband who politely tolerated her. She'd be damned if her sacrifice failed because of his inability to fake enough emotion for her parents.