Falling for the Broken Billionaire

Chapter 25

Landon’s POV

Yes, I tricked her into marrying me.

When I asked her about the wedding motif, I was thinking of giving her a grand wedding. But I know she wants a simple wedding. So, I’ll give it to her for now.

Everything happened fast. I borrowed money from Spade and got married to her quickly. I wouldn’t want to waste any chance. Lahat ng mga dekorasyon namin sa kasal ay binabase ko sa kanya. Simple yet elegant.

Ang akala ko ay masusurprisa siya, pero iba ang naging reaksyon niya. When I saw how sad her eyes were during our wedding, I wanted to punch myself. I could still remember when I talked to her about it.

“Sorry for marrying you like that. Ang akala ko kasi ay masisiyahan ka sa surprisa ko. It seems like you’re not enjoying the wedding at all.”

That’s what I’ve observed. Her reaction was different from being happy.

“Hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin! Pagka-uwi ko, doon ko pa nalaman na kasal ko na pala. Hindi man lang ako nakapag-imbita ng mga kaklase ko. Ang mga kilala kong bisita roon ay si Melanie, si Maya at Spade lang. Samantalang ‘yung iba, puro mga kakilala mo. Dapat ba akong masisiyahan doon?”

I laughed in my mind. She looked like a child throwing tantrums. Seeing this side of her makes me want to know her more. I want to keep her by my side forever.

I went to hug her from behind. I wanted to comfort her.

“I understand. I’m so sorry. Do you want me to massage you?”

She tried to free herself from my embrace, but I embraced her tightly.

“Once in a lifetime na nga lang mangyayari sa buhay ko, naging ganoon pa.” Pagmamaktol niya. Ang cute lang.

I still have to apologize to her for doing all the work without consulting her.

“I’m sorry, okay? Papakasalan na lang ulit kita bukas.”

“Ano?!”

“I want to make you happy, Veronica. Pero sa nangyari ngayon, mukhang mas kinamumuhian mo pa ako. Don’t worry, I’ll marry you again tomorrow.”

I hugged her even tighter. I looked at her sadly. Yes, I am sad because I failed to make her happy on our wedding day.

“Sorry,” sabi niya.

Just one ‘sorry’ and all the remorse that I felt had gone away. I was amazed by this girl… of how she slowly melted the negative feeling I currently had.

Nagpapasalamat ako kay Spade at hinayaan niyang makitira muna kami sa isang bahay na pag-aari niya.

We were staying in one room. I could sense her discomfort.

From now on, I’ll serve her everything that I have… everything that I can do.

I am content with the simple life that we had. I decided to work harder for her. I still couldn’t believe I got myself a wife.

Marketing isn’t new to me. Maaga akong namulat sa mga ganitong klase ng trabaho kaya hindi ako nahihirapan. I’ve been here. I’ve been starting from scratch, so I wasn’t afraid to begin again. As long as she stays by my side… I’ll be fine.

Stone called me, inviting me to hang out with him, his siblings, and other cousins.

I hesitated to leave Veronica, but I couldn’t force her if she didn’t want to come.

I arrived at his hotel.

“Buti naman at nakapunta ka,” sabi ni Stone.

I took off my coat. “Yeah.” sabi ko at umupo.

A figure of a woman sitting beside Selyne caught my attention. It was Ingrid. Ngumiti siya sa akin ng konti kaya tinanguan ko siya. Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit narito siya. As I’ve observed, Stone’s cousins from both sides were here except those who were outside the country.

“I saw you with a woman at the market this morning… who is she?”

Everyone became silent, waiting for my answer. They all know what’s between me and Ingrid before, so they were kind of curious about who I’m with. Lalo na at alam nila kung gaano ako kabaliw kay Ingrid dati.

Wala akong pinapansin na ibang babae noon. Noon ‘yun.

Veronica’s an exception.

Hindi ko naman balak na ilihim ang tungkol sa kanya. I just feel like nobody needs to know except my close friends who attended the wedding, Spade, and Maya.

“My wife.” Sabi ko.

Spade then stood up and offered me a glass of liquor.

“Who’s the lucky girl?” Agape Ruston, my cousin, asked. Magkaedad lang silang dalawa ni Veronica.

I laughed. “I’ll talk to you about it later.” Sabi ko sa kanya.

She smiled.

“Bakit hindi mo siya dinala rito?”

“She doesn’t want to. Mukhang napagod ata kanina,” sabi ko.

“Bakit? Pinagod mo ba masyado?” Demetrius Ruston asked.

Nagtawanan silang lahat. Napailing na lang din ako.

We were all talking with each other, mostly about business.

Sinubukan kong magpaalam kay Stone na umuwi na pero hindi niya ako pinayagan. He wants me to stay. Marami-rami na rin ang nainom ko, kaya pakiramdam ko ay unti-unti na akong nalalasing.

Nagpaalam muna ako saglit sa kanila at nagpunta sa washroom. Pumasok ako sa loob, pagkatapos ay lumabas na ako agad. I was surprised to see Ingrid outside.

I tried to ignore her, but she held my arms unexpectedly.

“What are you—”

Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang biglang naramdaman ko ang labi niya sa ibabaw ng labi ko. I was too stunned to speak.

Her kisses were gentle. Her lips were exploring, trying to get inside my mouth, but I was too stunned to react the same way as she did.

Did she just kiss me?

Why did she kiss me? f**k! We’re both married!

Mabilis ko siyang naitulak.

“I’m sorry, Mav.” She apologized.

“It’s alright,”

“I’m sorry. Lasing lang ako.”

“It’s alright. There’s no need to apologize for it,” pinagpag ko ang sarili ko at nagmamadaling umalis.

She keeps on apologizing to me. Sinusundan niya ako, but I only said it’s alright.

I saw Ingrid, and we kissed. But deep inside, I was hurting. I wasn’t hurting because of Ingrid. I was hurting because I had already cheated on Veronica. Hindi ako ang unang humalik pero pakiramdam ko ay ako na ang nanloko. I broke my promise to my wife.

Kinabahan ko paggising ko ay wala na siya sa kama, pero nagpapasalamat dahil na kina Maya lang pala siya. I almost went insane because of her sudden disappearance.

The loyalty and faith that I had promised her. Pero inamin ko pa rin sa kanya ang tunay na nangyari. I don’t want to hide anything from her. Alam kong nasasaktan ko siya, pero mas nasasaktan ako sa ginawa ko.

Repentance is not enough.

Umalis ako saglit. I wanted to breathe some fresh air. Ngunit pagbalik ko, wala na siya. Dumating ang gabi at hindi pa siya umuwi, tapos na rin akong magluto ng hapunan. Hinihintay ko ang pag-uwi niya pero wala pa rin siya. I was damn nervous and scared.

Where the hell on earth is she?

I tried calling her, but it says she cannot be reached.

My heartbeat was rising. I already have an idea in mind of what’s going on— of what’s going to happen, but I couldn’t accept it. Hindi ko kaya.

Nang gabing ‘yun, hindi ako kumain. Hinihintay ko ang pag-uwi niya.

Dumating ang kinabukasan at hindi pa rin siya umuwi ng bahay. So, I went to Maya’s house, asking her personally if Veronica was there, but she told me ‘no’. I told Maya everything, trying to get some advice from her.

“Maybe, you should let her be for the meantime. I know my sister. She won’t leave you for another man. Maybe she just needs to find peace. Babalik din siya sa’yo.”

For how long?

“Mababaliw ako, Maya. If I couldn’t see her—”

“Hayaan mo na muna siya. Wala kang dapat na ipag-alala dahil nakasanayan naman niya ang mamuhay mag-isa. Just wait for her to come back. Alam kong babalik din siya sayo.”

That’s what I’m afraid of. I’m scared that she's used to living alone. PAkiramdam ko ay mabilis lang niya akong iwanan dahil marunong siyang mamuhay mag-isa. Habang ako, siya ang kinukuhanan ko ng lakas para magpatuloy.

Sinabunutan ko ang sarili ko.

If only I’ve been careful, hindi siguro siya umalis.

Sana hindi na lang ako pumunta sa hotel ni Stone, hindi sana ako nahalikan ni Ingrid.

But it was too late for me to regret.

Veronica left me for a big reason.

Either she left me because I was still tied to my past, or she left me because I cheated on her with Ingrid.

Fuck that kiss! I didn’t ask for it! I don’t know why Ingrid did that, but one thing’s for sure. That kiss didn’t mean anything.

Veronica’s disappearance made me realize a lot of things.

I decided to delete Ingrid’s contact info. I even deleted all of her photos. Umakyat ako sa taas para kunin ang bag kung saan ko nilagay ang mga gamit na nagpapaala sa akin ng tungkol sa kanya.

Ngunit nang tignan ko sa may malapit sa kabinet, wala na ito roon.

Where is it?

Sigurado akong dito ko lang nilagay ang bag na ‘yun.

O baka na-misplace ko lang?

I don’t know. I couldn’t remember. Ang naalala ko ay dito ko lang nilagay ‘yun.

Hindi ko na pinatuloy pa ang paghahanap noon at humiga na lang sa kama.

The house has been empty since Veronica left. It’s as if everything turned dull the moment she left. My heart ached thinking where she could be.

Is she alright?

Veronica, it will be hard for me. But it was my fault that you left me.

For now, I’ll let you be. But if I get impatient of waiting, I’ll find you.

At kung makikita man kita, sisiguraduhin kong hindi ka na makakaalis pa. Kung kailangan itali kita sa gilid ko, gagawin ko, manatili ka lang sa tabi ko.

I will try my best to become the best person for you.