Marrying Mr. Billionaire

Kabanata 2

"Sab ko na palpak, eh!" inis na asik ng naka-blonde hair na babae.

Nausukan niya pa ang mukha ko ng usok ng sigarilyo kaya tinakpan ko ang bibig at ilong ko.I really didn't bother to look at their angry faces. I know they are blaming me but they can't blame me either. I was shocked and panicked as I saw my face on someone's house—well not just someone's house but Ashton's house, my ex-boyfriend!

"Alis na nga tayo! Baka tatawag na 'yon ng police!"

Nagmadali akong tumayo at maglalakad na sana palayo pero nilapitan ako ni blonde girl at kinuwelyuhan.

"Ikaw," she spoke. "Umayos ka ah! Huwag kang magpapahuli! Buwesit na araw na ito!" asik niya sabay bitiw sa kwelyo ko.

Napapikit ako dahil tumalsik ang mabaho niyang laway. Hindi ko maiwasan ang mandiri. Nang minulat ko ang mata ko, nakita ko na sumakay sila sa motor, probably owned by their boyfriends.

I heaved a sigh and looked at Boboy who was now upset. Hindi ko maiwasan ang ma-guilty. I know I was being clumsy, pero, on the other hand, tama rin na nagawa ko 'yon kasi hindi natuloy ang pagnakaw. Mas lalong hindi ako patutulugin ng konsensya.

He sighed and tapped my shoulder. His eyes were sad at kita ko ang paghinayang niya.

"Huwag kang magpahuli," matamlay niyang sabi bago ako iwan. Bumagsak ang kamay ko habang tinanaw siyang naglakad palayo. Huminga ako ng malalim bago naglakad pauwi.

***

Nasa kwarto ako ngayon, resting my head on the headrest of my bed. I was biting my fingernails the whole time. Hindi mawala sa isip ko ang kanina. I saw Ashton again after freaking two years. Nakauwi na pala siya? I didn't know about that but then good for him. I can't help it but to feel embarrass for myself. Iyon ang unang pagkikita namin after we broke up and that was unexpected.

At hindi mawala sa isip ko ang picture ko sa dingding ng bahay niya. His freaking house! Bakit naroon ang picture ko? Pinagnasaan niya ba ang picture ko? My heart beat skipped for a moment. Ginulo ko na lang ang buhok ko at niyakap ang sarili.

Hindi na talaga ako magpapauto kay Boboy. I trusted him and yet sinama niya pa ako sa gulo niya. Alright! May kasalanan din naman ako, kasi sumama ako sa kaniya and it was too late to say no because my life was in danger and those two girls threatened me! Sino ba ang gustong makulong?

I rolled my eyes. I was about to lay down on bed nang bumukas ang pinto na agad kong ikinaupo ulit. Nakita kong pumasok si Ate sa loob and I noticed na maganda ang suot niya, maybe galing siya sa lakad. I gulped and looked away because of guilt. I am guilty right now! Hindi ko rin masabi kay Ate kasi baka itakwil niya ito. Kakaaway lang namin kahapon at ayaw ko nang dadagdagan pa. I will try my best to zip my own mouth and keep this for myself.

"Kat," she called my name. She sat on my bed and smiled at me. "May buyer na ng lupa."

I lazily nodded and looked away again. Ate, you can sell that f*****g lot! Wala na akong pakialam. Kahit alam ko na importante iyon kay Papa, ang gulo na kinasangkutan ko kanina lang ay nagpa-realize sa akin na we need to take risk!

"Okay lang sa 'yo?" she slowly asked.

Hilaw akong ngumiti at tumango. "Oo, Ate! Naisip ko na tama ka rin naman pala. Wala na si Papa at tingin ko ay iyon nga ang ikabubuti para sa atin so that Aling Marites will not gonna bother us anymore."

At para hindi na ako gagawa ng katangahan.

Ate Kalla sadly looked at me. Her eyes were sad. Tumayo siya, lumapit at niyakap ako. I closed my eyes to feel her warm. Pero napasigaw na lang ako nang bigla niyang kinurot ang tagiliran ko. Lumayo pa nga ako sa kanya at hinaplos ang kinurot niya.

She frowned. "Ikaw ah! Sinungaling ka! I know you're sad about my decisions! But please forgive me. I know that you also cherished the land lot but as what I have said last night, we need to take a risk, even if it's precious to you."

I nodded and smiled at her. "I know Ate, at alam ko na at na-realize ko na. Sorry for being a hard-headed b***h too." I smiled and we ended up laughing together.

At some point, tama rin naman si Ate. Kailangang e-take risk ang mga mahalagang bagay, kahit napaka-importante pa sa 'yo. Kahit minsan ay nag-aaway kami ni Ate, siya pa rin ang sandalan ko sa huli at ako din sa kaniya. We are not sisters for nothing. We are sisters not just by blood but also by heart.

***

Kinabukasan, maaga akong nagising dahil ginising ako ni Ate. It was weird because I saw her cooking. Tamad ang Ate ko kapay pagluluto ang pag-uusapan at ngayon ay isang himala. Maybe she's in good mood and I don't want to ruin it. Minsan kasi, pinapapunta kasi ni Ate si Kuya Jude--ang boyfriend niya para lang pagluto siya.

"Kat, almusal!" she called.

I smiled and went towards the dining area. Namangha ako dahil sa dami ng kaniyang hinanda. I pulled the monoblock chair and sat on it.

"Wow! Daming handa ah!" I commented.

I took some bread and jam beside the glass. Siguro bagong bili pa ito sa bakery shop kasi mainit pa.

She smiled at me before she pulled a chair and sat down. Kumuha siya ng kanin sa malaking plato at nilagay niya sa kaniyang pinggan.

"Ngayon na pala ang meet up namin ng buyer!" she said happily. "Ang bilis 'di ba?"

Tumango ako. Kumuha na rin ako ng pinggan at tocino. Nilagay ko ito sa pinggan ko. Nagpatuloy naman si Ate sa pagsasalita while I'm eating the bread with a jam on it.

"Alam mo naman kapag foreigner, mahilig sa tabing dagat! Hindi umapela sa presyo na pinataw ko at om-oo agad!"

Tumango lang ako at kinain ang natirang pandesal. "Gusto mo samahan kita?" I asked her.

She shook her head. "No! Huwag na! Kaya ko na 'to!" She sipped on her coffee before she continued. "Tsaka nga pala, malapit na ang resulta ng exam, ah!"

Natigil ako sa pagkain nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. Oo nga pala, I took an exam for the second time around before my father passed away. I took the exam seriously and was eager to pass since I really wanted to become a teacher but at the same time, naguguluhan na rin ako sa gusto ko.

"Naku! Kahit anong mangyari, huwag malungkot at huwag mawalan ng pag-asa!" she said. "May third take pa! Fourth take! Hindi dapat mag-give up!

***

After our breakfast, my sister went out because she has to meet the buyer and possibly the new owner of the land my father cherished the most. I don't have work today since today is my day-off. Hindi naman ako masyado gumagala and I don't have much friends—except for Cheska of course!

I tried to wash out the memories—I mean the embarrassing scenario that I had last night by watching a movie. Pero kahit gano'n, hindi ko pa rin maiwasan ang isipin ang kagabi. Yes, he is back!

Ashton Jacques Monteverde—my ex-boyfriend and now a billionaire. We broke up 2 years ago at sabi ko nga, kahapon ang unang kita namin. Sobra akong nanibaguhan sa kaniya. He finally reached his dreams while I was still reaching mine.

May feelings pa ba ako sa kaniya?

No. I proudly say na naka-move on na rin ako sa wakas. Hindi man naging madali pero habang tumatagal ay unti-unti ko na ring natanggap. Buo na ulit ang puso ko at ayaw ko nang mabasag ulit.

We broke up in a wrong time. I chose to let him go because I felt neglected. I broke up with him without hearing his explanations. Para saan pa? I had enough that time. Kaya ang resulta, bumagsak ako sa first board exam ko kasi hindi ako makafocus. Hindi ako nag-take sa pangalawang beses kasi I need to work.

"Ang boring ng palabas!" wika ko. "Wala na bang bago?"

Nilipat ko sa ibang channel and sumandal sa backrest ng sofa namin. Wala akong alam na ibang gagawin. I sold my books that I collected back when I was in college because I was in need. Kaya ngayon, wala na akong libro. Sayang nga eh.

While I was watching a cartoon movie, a door bell suddenly disturbed my watching session. I hissed and ignored it. Sino naman kaya? Hindi naman siguro si Aling Marites kasi hindi pa naman isang linggo at hindi naman si Cheska 'yon kasi may trabaho iyon.

Pero naibagsak ko na lang sa inis ang balikat ko nang may nag-door bell ulit. Lumingon ako sa may pinto at sumigaw, "Sino 'yan?"

No response.

So I took the remote on the table and increased the volume of the speaker para hindi ko na marinig ito but then muntik ko nang maibato ang remote nang mag-door bell ulit.

"Tanginang 'to!" mura ko sabay tayo. Pumunta ako sa may pinto at binuksan ito. "Sino 'yan? Kapag talaga bata ito at pinagtripan lang ang bahay! Aba! Pumapatol ako sa mga bata!"

I immediately wore my slipper and went outside the house.

Nang tumunog muli ang door bell ay napasigaw na ako dahil sa sobrang irita.

"Sandali! Sandali!" I shouted as I went towards the gate.

Sino naman ito at hindi naman yata makapaghintay?

I opened the mini gate of our gate and faced the intruder.

"Hell—"Nawalan ako ng salita nang makita ko kung sino ang nasa harapan ko.

His cold gaze. His grayish eyes and his handsome face. Sa sobrang taranta ko ay sinara ko ang pinto pero hindi natuloy kasi hinarang niya ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng mini gate kaya napaatras ako nang buksan niya ito ng tuluyan.

His jaw tightened as he stares at me. Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang paligid bago pumasok sa loob.

"Hoy!" sigaw ko nang sinara ko na ang gate. He walked straight towards our house. Hinabol ko siya at hinarang ko ang sarili sa pinto ng bahay namin. I looked at him with my cold cat eyes.

"Ano ang ginagawa mo rito? Trespassing 'to!" I glared at him.

He looked at me with his cold eyes. "You also trespassed last night!"

He pushed me against the door and went inside. My jaw dropped when he sat on our couch. He then looked at me and smirked.

"I want coffee."

I laughed sarcastically and crossed my arms. I raised my brows and glared at him. "At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon?"

My voice rose a bit.

"Because you have no choice! You trespassed last night."

Napairap naman ako. "Ano?"

What's with him, ba? I know I trespassed last night and I am guilty right now. I can't even sleep thinking about it. At ngayon nandito siya? For what?

His jaw tightened and lowered his gaze on my clothes. Mas lalo lamang sumalubong ang kilay niya and his forehead creased. Binalik niya ang tingin sa akin, with his flaming eyes.

"You trespassed last night,"he repeated. "You think I will let it pass?" Nag-iwas ito ng tingin bago nagpatuloy sa pagsalita. "And please..." he paused a bit. "...wear something decent, I can see your boobs in here!"

My eyes widened and hugged myself. I looked at him angrily but at the same time, I felt embarrassed. Baka any moment ay mamumula na ako sa kahihiyan.

"Manyak!" I shouted and immediately ran towards the stairs and went to my room. Nakalimutan ko, suot ko pala ngayon ay short shorts at sando, wala pang bra dahil nga bagong gising.

Shit! Nakakahiya!