Chapter 3: The Offer

[ S C A R L E T ]

"Skye ..."

The man said after recovering from the shock of seeing my face. What? Skye? Isn't that a guy's name? But it seems like I've heard that name before, I just can't remember where. Aish!

He quickly stood up and suddenly hug me. His hug was so tight as if he had no plans to release me. But unlike earlier when Miguel forced to kiss me that I felt so scared, I strangely feel calm and safe in the embrace of this stranger. What am I thinking? Why does this feel comfortable? I think there's something wrong with me.

"I knew it! I knew you'll come! You're just joking about not wanting to get married right? And it's only a prank when you said that you don't love me anymore, right Skye?" The man asked who seemed so desperate to get an answer from me.

An answer that obviously I can't give because I'm not the person he's talking about. I gathered my strength once again and with all my might remove her tight grip on me. Pervert! "Excuse me?! Are you sick or what? Ah! Maybe your on drugs? But I'm so sorry to disappoint you, I can't give you an answer because I'm not the person you're looking for."

"Skye, what's wrong with you? I know you said that you don't love me, but can you please stop pretending like you don't know me at all." Said the man with a desperate voice and held my both hands this time. What the! Another one wrong move, and I'll kick his balls! How many times has he touched me in parts that only my future husband could hold!

"Wow! You still have the guts to asked me what's wrong when you're the one suddenly hugging and holding a stranger! And a WOMAN to top that! And who the hell is Skye? My name is Scarlet! S-C-A-R-L-E-T! Scarlet!" I replied, spelling it out so he can somehow understand. And honestly I don't want to be rude, but this guy is definitely getting into my nerves.

"Oh! I-I'm s-sorry, you just really l-looks like the person I knew. I-I'm so sorry for bothering you." He went on downcast, he could not even speak without stuttering but maybe because he was embarrass or maybe because he was about to cry. *Hala! Looks like I offended him.

"No, it's alright. I'm sorry too to all that I've said that might have offended you. I was just surprised that you suddenly pulled me — " I couldn't even finish what I was saying because his phone suddenly rang, he then just turn his back on me and answer the call. That rude guy! He didn't even bothered to excuse his self first ><

"Hello? Red? Where are you?! The people in here especially the media are already wondering why the wedding has not yet started! Where are you and Skye?! It's getting chaotic here and I'm having a severe headache from the stress." I overheard a guy said on the other line, because the loud speaker function is on -_-||

"I'm here at the secret garden of the church Tita Beks, as for the w-wedding ... i-its off. Skye is not coming ..." — he cut off then turn around at my direction, he stares at me intently while saying the words " ... and she said to not look for her anymore." He replied at the person  on the other line while looking at me sadly. A chill ran down my spine as I absorb his gaze. His eyes, it's full of sadness and confusion; it was asking what he should do, asking questions that he knew were now will still be left unanswered or whether it would be answered.

"What?! That witch! I knew it from the moment I met her that she will 'cause you a big problem someday! Mygod! Wait! I think I'm going to pass out! This is a big mess and a big NEWS! You will be put into shame, you will be the people's laughing stock, your reputation will be ruin! And more importantly is your mom, what do you think she'll say? Argh! Wait for me there and don't you dare leave!" That's the last and full of anger response we heard from the other line and then the call ended.

If I will patch all the things I've heard; this guy I met was called Red by his friend, I don't know if its his name or just a nickname. But also if I'm not mistaken, he is probably an artist on the media industry that supposedly to marry today but unfortunately his bride didn't appear leaving him alone and brokenhearted in here. And because when there's a media, and reputation involve, it means that this guy is very famous right? But maybe because he's a politician or a prince of another country. *sigh* My imagination went too far again.

He face me after the phone call and smile as if nothing happened, when in fact it's so obvious that his smile is force and doesn't look genuine at all. "Don't smile, it doesn't look good when its just forced. You know, it's okay to not be fine. Also you don't have to pretend in front of me that you're okay because you feel your oblige to act fine 'cause you're an artist or something. It's alright, I won't judge you 'cause you're just a normal person like me that can cry and feel pain." I told him because I knew the feeling of hiding all the pain inside, and it wasn't a good feeling.

"Thanks, but I'm really fine." His short reply that was obviously a big lie.

"These guys really don't want to show what they really feel! We won't even think they're 'weak' if they cry and weep like a baby!" I said only for myself to hear but guess he still heard it because he look at me strangely.

As he was about to reply on my monologue, there's someone who suddenly speaks behind him first. "Red! You said that she's not coming! But she's standing right in front of you! You made me so nervous! And Skye, what the hell your still doing here?! You should be on the damn hotel preparing!" Said a guy, or in my judgement, a lovely gay, who just suddenly came out of nowhere.

But wait! Is he referring to me? Why do I need to prepare myself? I know that I really look haggard right now, but is it that bad that I need to fix my appearance? I'm really confuse, what's going on in here?

"Tita Beks I will explain it to you. Can you give us a minute SCARLET?" He said emphasizing my name. When he said that, Tita Beks' forehead wrinkled out of confusion. While I smile for the first time because he had finally called me by my name.

"Oh! Don't mind me, I'm the one whose not supposed to be here so just talk comfortably. I'm not gonna pry on your conversation." I said to them and just turned to the flowers. They move some distance but not so far, 'cause I can still hear their muffled voices.

"Who the hell is Scarlet? And why is the wedding cancel when Skye is there?!" The newly arrived guy said in a whisper while throwing glances at me. They are at it again calling me Skye! Seriously? Who is that Skye?! Why they keep calling me Skye?! Argh! So frustrating! How I wish I couldn't hear them, but their voices are too loud, I'm sure they're doing that on purpose.

"I thought so too when I first saw her, but after we talked I noticed she's too brusque to be Skye."

My mood immediately went downhill upon hearing the comment of that man. The thickness of his face is really something! How can he say that I'm rude when its just normal for me to react that way because we don't know each other and he just suddenly hug me! What does he want me to do huh? Be happy about it?! I calmed myself down and pretended I didn't hear anything. Right, I'm still inside of the church premises so I shouldn't do any wrongdoings in this sacred place.

"O-kay. So how come they really look alike? Are they some sort of twins? Skye didn't tell you that she have a sister or a twin sister?" The man doubtfully asked.

"No, she didn't talk about having a sibling. And I also knew she's just the only child of Tito Warren and Tita Maureen." Red replied with uncertainty in his voice, maybe he wasn't sure either. But I am! I'm sure that I'm also an only child of my mom and that I don't have any sibling or even a twin at all.

"How could you be so sure that she's not hiding anything from you? Ugh! Whatever! I don't want to talk about her anymore because I'm just getting stress out. For now, let's get back to reality Red. We need to think of a plan that we can do so that your reputation won't be ruin and your family name won't be drown in shame just because of that petty woman!" It was obvious in the voice of the newcomer that he was so upset on Skye. Maybe he's Red's manager.

But is that really the one they should be worrying about? Shouldn't it be Red's feelings that must have been hurting so much as the main priority?

They were both quiet and seem to think deeply. While I'm still silently facing away from them and looking at the flowers even though in fact I heard almost everything they were talking about. I'm so sorry Lord, I know it's wrong to listen to what others are saying but I can't control it since their voices are so loud. My prayer was cut off when there's a hand that chuck me. I was so nervous to look back, feeling as if they caught me listening to them.

"Scarlet right? I will be straight to the point with you." I'm getting scared at the seriousness of his voice, as if he was planning to do something bad and I will be the main character on it. My chest pound so hard, probably a plus factor on the fear I'm feeling is the face of this 'Tita Beks' who looked exactly like Valak from the horror movie 'The Nun'. *Char!

"Yes. What is it?" I heard myself respond, but it comes out as a whisper because I'm still very much nervous on what he wants to say.

"I want to hire you as Red's substitute bride."

—.—

*Hala! - In the Philippines, this word can be use as an interjection that means 'shocked'

*Char! - While this one is a local Filipino gay lingo that usually said if the statement is meant to be a joke.

Additional:

* Tita = Auntie

* Tito = Uncle