Heartless Billionaire

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Ang mga sumunod na araw ay naging abala ang mansion ng Corrins dahil sa paghahanda ng birthday ko. Tita Aleign asked me kung anong gusto ko para sa birthday party ko at sinabi ko na gusto ko sana ng simpleng birthday party lang pero she insists na gawing engrande daw iyon. She looks so happy about planning my birthday party kaya hinayaan ko na ang mga gusto nito kahit na masiyadong overwhelming ang mga ideas nito para sa birthday party ko.

“Foods, check!” Ishelle joyfully said

“Decorations, check!” Selene smiled at me.

“Invitations, check. Naibigay ko na sa lahat ng invited sa lists.”si Gretta at nagthumbs up pa saakin.

“Looks like you girls are busy. Excited about Zoey's party?” Kuya Pierre asked.

Kadarating lang nila. Dumako ang tingin ko kay Elysian. He seems distant and cold. Nang magtama ang mga mata namin ay hindi ko 'man lang ito nakitaan ng kahit anong emosyon. Looks like his in his usual self. Although, I admit I'm not used to Elysian that everyone sees. Kapag kasama kasi ako nito he never failed to amuse me with his different moods that I'd never seen before. Dati kasi akala ko he's just cold and heartless...kagaya ng mga nababasa ko sa magazine, sa balita at ang madalas kong makita noong palagi siyang iniimbita ni Sasha sa bahay namin. He always look uninterested in everything except in handling their business. Kaya namuo din ang takot ko sakanya but when I got the chance to live in their mansion nakilala ko ang other version ni Elysian na tanging mga malalapit lang sakanya ang nakakaalam.

He's sweet...

He's caring...

He's charming...attractive...lovable. He’s so perfect na pakiramdam ko ang isang tulad niya ay masiyadong mataas para saakin. Hibang na siguro ako kung papangarapin ko ang isang tulad niya. 

“Yup. We wanted to help!”Selene answered cheerfully.

“What happened to kuya Ely? He seems a bit off?” nagtatakang tanong naman ni Ishelle ng walang salitang umakyat sa taas si Elysian at iniwan kami.

“That's his usual self, Ish.” Kuya Ashen answered. 

Napanguso si Ishelle bago tumango sa sinabi ni kuya Ashen.

“So how are you, Zoey?” Ashen turn his gaze on me.”The birthday celebrant.”he wiggled his eyebrows.

I gave him a shy smile. 

“Oh well, magpahinga na kayong apat. Goodnight girls!”nakangiting sabi ni Park.

“Yawn! I'm sleepy!”Selene yawning.

“Goodnight everyone!” The four of us said then headed to our rooms.

Just as I'm about to lay on my bed a soft knock interrupt me. Nang buksan ko iyon si Elysian ang bumungad saakin. Nakasuot siya ng sweatpants at white t-shirt. He looks so fresh in his outfit.

“Matutulog kana?”his eyes bore into mine and I sense goosebumps tingle up my arm.

I gulped before answering his questions.”Sana.”

“I just want to ask you...”he licks his lower lips.”I have a surprise. Wanna come with me?”his voice dropped to a whisper.

He look a little bit tense. Hindi niya inaalis ang tingin saakin.

I can't say no.”M-magbibihis lang ako.”

He shake his head disagreeing at what I said.”No need. You look perfect as always, Zoey. Let's go.”he held my hand and then started to walk.

“Saan ba tayo pupunta?”I inquired.

Saglit siyang huminto at tumingin saakin.”It's a surprise.”he slightly chuckled then continue walking.

We stop at his car.”Aalis tayo ng mansion?”

He look at me sternly. 

“You don't want to go? Okay. I get it. Let's head back. Maybe you're sleepy.”he sounded disappointed. 

Natataranta ko naman siyang pinigilan sa paghila saakin pabalik.

“N-NO! I'M SO EXCITED ABOUT THE SURPRISE!”napalakas na sabi ko. Pinamulahan naman ako ng marealize ang nagawa.

“Is that so?” even though his expression held nothing but seriousness, there was a hint of playfulness in his voice.

I bite my lower lips as I feel the awkward summoning between us.

“We need to go somewhere quiet and away from the people.” he told.

Pinagbuksan niya ko ng pinto sa passenger seat. At nang makasakay ako ay umikot naman siya sa driver seat side.

“Ready?” he started the engine and then he look at me giving me a wink.

That made me gasped. He never do that before! I notice a small curve making its way to the corner of his lips in response of the way I acted a while ago. That double the embarrassment I feel at the moment at kung hindi lang siya pekeng umubo ay baka tuluyan na talaga akong nilamon ng lupa mula sa kinatatayuan ko.

Somehow, something change in me simula ng malaman kong crush ko siya. I couldn't look and treat him like the rest of the Corrins anymore because he would always be special and exceptional in any case that's because I have feelings for him. And I wonder if he's noticing my sudden change behavior towards him. I hope not!

“Spacing out won't bring you anywhere.”he glanced at me before settling his eyes on the street.

“Ah...m-malayo pa ba tayo?”tanong ko. Trying to change the topic.

“We'll be there, soon.”he happily answered.

True to his words, ilang minuto nga lang ay huminto na ang sasakyan niya. Nangunot ang noo ko dahil wala naman akong makitang kahit na ano sa labas dahil madilim tanging liwanag na galing sa buwan lamang ang nagsilbing ilaw sa labas. Napalingon ako sa gawi ni Elysian ng lumabas ito ng sasakyan at maya-maya pa ay bumukas na din ang pinto sa passenger seat.

“Hindi ka ba lalabas?”nakasimangot na tanong niya saakin.

Awtomatiko akong napalabas ng sasakyan at nilibot ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar.

“Take my hand.”inilahad niya ang kamay niya sa harap ko.

Ilang segundo ko muna iyong tinignan bago tinanggap ang kamay niya. He leads the way since madilim at wala naman akong makita. I'm surprised to see na parang sanay siya sa madilim. 'Ni hindi 'man lang siya natitinag sa mga dinadaanan namin na mga hagdanan.

“Okay. We'll stop here.”Aniya.

“Asan ba---“

I heard he snap his fingers at biglang umilaw ang buong paligid.

Napanganga ako sa nakikita ko ngayon. Who did this? May mga petals sa grass, may dalawang poste na may ilaw na heart shape at kulay pula ang ilaw noon at may mga balloons na may ilaw na nakasabit sa buong paligid. Dumako ang tingin ko sa unahan. May table doon at dalawang upuan. Sa gitna noon may tatlong candles at wine.

“Anong ginagawa natin dito?”manghang tanong ko kay Elysian. Nang bumaling ako sakanya he's looking at me intently. Hindi niya binibitawan ang tingin saakin.

“Celebrating your birthday.”

Nagtaka naman ako.”Pero sa susunod na araw pa ang birthday ko?”

He smirked.”I want to be the first one to celebrate your birthday. In-advance ko na. This is your first time celebrating your birthday in our house. I wanted to make it special.”

“Wow! So you did this? Ikaw lang?”

He nodded.

“All by myself.”he said proudly.

Dinala niya ko sa table at pinaghila ng upuan.

“Wait me here.”pagkatapos ay bigla siyang umalis.

Maya-maya pa pagbalik niya ay may dala na siyang pagkain. Inilapag niya iyon sa lamesa at namamangha akong napatingin sa mga pagkaing nakahain sa harapan ko. Puro paborito ko ang mga iyon kaya hindi ko maiwasan ang matakam.

“Hurry up and have a bite. Kakasimula ko palang mag-aral magluto. Before, I think its unnecessarily to learn but I guess change of plans.”kibit-balikat niyang sabi.

“Ibig sabihin ikaw ang nagluto ng lahat ng 'to? Paano mo nalaman lahat ng paborito ko?” I asked a bit surprise.

“I have my ways.”he winked at me.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagulat ako ng biglang may tumugtong na kanta.

“Can I?” nang lingunin ko si Elysian ay nakatayo na siya sa gilid ko.

It feels like a dream. Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang turing saakin ni Elysian. Alam kong iba. Alam kong hindi normal katulad ng trato saakin ng ibang Corrins. To him...I don't know but everything feels special and wonderful. 

“I chose this place so I can have all of you. I want you mine tonight, Zoey. At this time and this situation I can't afford to lose you.” he looks so afraid. Punong-puno ng pangamba ang mukha nito habang nakatingin saakin.”Zoey, you know I can never accept you as a part of the Corrins family unless you'll gonna marry me.”he said softly, a small smile appear on his lips.

“Papakasalan kita?”a mix of emotions enters my whole being.

“Don't think too much about it. Like what I've told you. I'm fine waiting for another five years.”he chuckled looking at my confused and surprised reactions.

Bago matapos ang gabi...

Before we go back, Elysian pulled me back and kissed me. Yes, he's stole my first kiss and I didn't regret that.

“I just want you to know. You are mine. I'll wait 'till you're eighteen and have you all for myself.”