Chapter 8 The Persuasion

• THE PERSUASION
• Dina had locked herself inside her room all day. This is what she has been doing ever since her father died… she hasn’t been going to school either… and until now, her mother and younger sister aren’t still talking with her. That is why Dina was speechless when her younger sister, Sunshine, knocked on her door and told her to come out one day. Dina was forced to open her door and face Sunshine.
• “The Ballestros are there, and they wanted to talk to you. You are the reason why they are here. Come out and talk to them.”, Sunshine told Dina in a cold tone.
• “No.”, Dina refused coldly as she responded to her younger sister’s cold tone. She was about to close her door when Sunshine prevented it from happening.
• “You know what… I don’t really understand why I had been tolerating your wrongdoings! If I knew that you would be the reason why dad will die, I shouldn’t have done it!”, Sunshine angrily spoke to her elder sister.
• “SHINE! ENOUGH! STOP IT ALREADY, WILL YOU?!”, Dina replied in a louder tone. She is in no mood to absorb another blame and hatred from the family.
• “YOU ARE SO RUDE! OUR VISITORS ARE OUR DAD’S BEST FRIEND! EVEN UP TO THIS DAY, YOU WILL STILL HUMILIATE OUR DAD?! ARE YOU REALLY THAT UNGRATEFUL TO OUR DAD, DINA?!”, Sunshine shouted in response to her elder sister's loud tone. For this reason, everyone in the house had heard them arguing already.
• “AND NOW YOU WON’T EVEN CALL ME YOUR ELDER SISTER?! YOU ARE THE IMPOLITE ONE! WHY ARE YOU TREATING ME THIS WAY? WHY? WERE YOU THE ONLY ONE WHO LOST HER FATHER?! DON’T YOU KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE TOLD MYSELF ALREADY THAT I AM THE REASON WHY DAD DIED?! YOU DON’T HAVE TO REPEAT IT TO ME AGAIN AND AGAIN LIKE A BROKEN RECORD!”, Dina shouted at her younger sister as well.
• “Wait a minute, kumpadre, kumare… I will just scold my daughters. They are fighting again.”, Dina’s mother said cooly to Rico’s parents, but it was apparent that she was just controlling her anger.
• “Oh wait, Mrs. Ortega… if it’s okay with you, can I talk to Dina instead? I really need to have a word with her in private. My mom and dad will just explain the further details as to why we are here today.”, Rico said abruptly when he saw Dina’s mom was about to go.
• “This is embarrassing, my child… but if you really insist on speaking with Dina, then I will just agree to it.”, Dina’s mom answered without thinking twice. Rico thought maybe Dina’s mom had enough already and had no energy to confront her arguing daughters.
• “Thank you.”. Rico smiled at Dina’s mom. Dina’s mom just nodded in return, and Rico hurriedly went to Sunshine and Dina, using the loud voices as his guide towards there.
• “PRECISELY! IT IS JUST RIGHT TO BLAME YOU BECAUSE YOU ARE INDEED THE REASON WHY DAD IS NO LONGER WITH US ANYMORE!---“, Sunshine won’t back out.
• “SO?! WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO? SHOULD I KILL MYSELF FOR YOU AND MOM TO BE HAPPY?!!---“, Dina was interrupted with what she had to say when Rico suddenly arrived.
• ”Hey-hey!!! That’s enough.”, Rico intervened between the sisters.
• “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!”, Dina yelled at Rico.
• “Let me handle this.”, Rico said to Sunshine. His tone was full of assurance. Sunshine threw a threatening stare towards her elder sister first before leaving the scene.
• “Why are you here?!”, Dina hissed at Rico. She looks annoyed, but her tone mellowed down a bit.
• “Listen… Let’s get married, Dina.”, Rico immediately and frankly said to Dina. Dina was shocked and was taken aback. She couldn’t even register any reaction to what Rico had just said.
• “I know it’s my fault. The truth is that I had been blaming myself too for why we ended this way… and why you have to lose your father... It’s because of my selfishness. That’s why… marry me, Dina.”, Rico said. Dina was able to compose herself now after the shock.
• “What’s with this drama?”, Dina asked Rico sarcastically.
• ”I’m being serious and sincere... Marry me.”, Rico answered while looking directly at Dina.
• “Why should I?! Heck no! You rejected me! Why would I marry someone who didn’t want me and refused me?!”, Dina replied angrily to Rico.
• “Because that is kumpadre’s final wish… to have Rico and Dina get married. Rico will take Dina as his responsibility. For sure, kumpadre will be at peace by doing this.”, Rico’s dad answered Dina’s mom when she asked what their reason why they wanted to go through the wedding was.
• “But Dina doesn’t want to marry---“; Mrs. Ortega was immediately cut off from what she was about to say.
• ”She agreed. Dina will marry me.”, Rico said.
• “H-How were you able to convince Dina?! “, Dina’s mom wondered asked Rico.
• “Because she had no choice.”, it was what Rico could only say. For Mrs. Ortega, it was enough reason already, and she decided not to probe anymore. It was what she wanted as well. She wanted Dina away from them as soon as possible already. She will continue to remember her anger and hatred for why her husband had to die every time she saw Dina. It will be good if Dina marries Rico and gets away from them.
• “Well… if that is what everyone wanted, especially it is also my husband’s final wish… who am I to disagree? Of course, I will allow it to happen.”, Dina’s mom said with a tone of relief. However, since she just lost her husband, there is no smile or indications of happiness that can be seen on her face. Rico’s parents’ reaction is the complete opposite of Dina’s mom’s reaction. The Ballestros couple smiled so happily up to their ears when they heard that Dina agreed to marry their son, Rico.
• When they went home that night, Rico fell asleep soundly for the first time in weeks. He felt at peace, and his burden was no longer on his shoulders. It is still fresh on his mind how he was able to convince Dina to accept and marry him.
• “I know you are blamed by everyone… and I thank you because you took it all by yourself. You preserved the friendship between the Ortegas and Ballestros, the special bond formed between our fathers… however, this is also the reason why your father died. Despite all, you took the responsibility of being humiliated and blamed. I am deeply sorry.”, Rico sincerely said to Dina. Dina just fell silent.
• ”Let me bear your responsibility, Dina. I will receive and accept all the humiliation and pain you have been enduring because of me. Let’s get married, but I promise… I won’t tie you down.”, Rico told Dina. Dina wasn’t able to understand what Rico was trying to point out.
• “We will be married legally on paper. I will take you as my responsibility… but I won’t cage you in a relationship of being a husband and wife. We won’t be a couple, and you will still have your freedom. Let’s get married for the sake of your father’s final wish. I know that he is gone already, but at least he will be at peace wherever he may be right now. Let us grant his wish, and we’ll be all at peace.”, Rico explained. Dina was still quiet as she contemplated what Rico was trying to say to her. Few silent moments had taken over both of them. Dina still seemed to be thinking as if balancing what could be her decision until she let out a loud sigh as if she had already decided what to answer Rico… a decision against her will.
• “I wished you had done this much earlier…”, Dina had finally broken her silence. Rico didn’t answer, thinking that Dina might reject him.
• “But I don’t want to hurt others anymore. Get me out of here… let us grant my father’s final wish for me.”, Dina said. Rico nodded as if a lump on his throat for a long time had been taken out at last.