Billionaire Diaries #1: Gray Pereira

Chapter 10

AGAPE looked down at the tile while walking. Pababa na sila ng rooftop at sigurado siyang hindi lang siya ang nakakaramdam ng pagkailang. Her boss were quiet too.

"D-Dito na 'ko.. " imik niya nang marating ang pinto ng kwarto niya.

Ano bang dapat sabihin niya?

She cleared her throat. "T-Thank you for tonight.. " alanganin niyang pasasalamat.

She doesn't know where the part she's thankful. Sa ginawa ba nitong sorpresa sa kanya o ang paghalik nito.

Wait, hindi ba't ikaw ang humalik Agape?

Napailing na lang siya. Ayaw niya nang pangalanan ang sandaling iyon.

Nakita niyang walang imik ang lalaki kaya't napatango na lang siya at akmang tatalikod na ng may marahang braso ang humigit sa kanya.

She stared at her boss. He's still holding her arm. And her eyes followed his movements when he took a red wine colored box in his pocket.

Taka siyang napatingin roon at napasinghap siya ng iniabot sa kanya ng lalaki ang box.

"A-Ano 'to?" she asked, still confused. Sa itsura 'nun ay parang alahas. Ngunit hindi naman niya alam kung bakit at kung para saan.

She doesn't want to hope that it's for her.

She's not a materialistic girl. But jewelries are extra special if it's from the one you love.

"Open it when you entered your room.. " he started. "I know you know what I mean Agape.. " he said.

She looked away. Oo nga't may idea siya ngunit paano kung mali pala?

And why is he doing this?

"I need someone to marry me. It's too sudden but I have a reasons for it.. " he fired.

Biglang ang kaunting saya sa puso niya ay nawala. He needs. That's too far from he wants.

"And that someone is me?" she directly asked.

Tumango ang lalaki. Natatawa niya itong binalingan ng tingin.

And what's with her? She's just Agape. There's nothing special with her.

"It would be east if it's you.. " he answered. Ang traydor niyang puso ay tumibok muli. She doesn't want to accept his reasons but..

"I have read so many stories like this, sir. Eto ba yung mag-ooffer ka ng kasal dahil kailangan mong makuha ang mana and you will offer money to the girl? Tapos may mga contract? Tas may due date yung hiwalayan?"

He chuckled. Nanliit ang mata niyang tumingin sa lalaki. Is there anything funny?

She's telling the truth! Gano'n na gano'n sa mga binabasa niya dati. May mga rules pa nga 'yun e!

"Silly.. It's not.. " ani nito. Napataas ang kilay niya. Then what is it?

"It's true that I need to get married so I can have the money from my grandma... " he said. Napanguso siya. She's right! "But it's not all about the money, Agape. I have lots of it. I don't need more.. "

Natahimik siya. If it's not about the money, then why is he still pushing on it? Ang gusto yata ng lalaki ay gamitin pa siya.

Oo nga't sinabi niyang desperada siyang magpakasal ngunit hindi sa ganoong rason!

"You see... my grandma blackmailed me. I rejected her offer at first but she wants my sister to do it instead. She's just 19 for fuck sake.. " he said with frustration in his voice.

Would she believe him? But he doesn't have a reason to lie.

"You successfully rejected your grandma, sir. Hindi ba pwedeng gawin rin 'yun ni Red?" takang tanong niya.

Umiling ang lalaki. Laglag ang balikat nito. "Abuela accepted my rejection because that's not her main plan. She wants to use Red so I can agree to that marriage. Red can't reject her. She must be a brat but she's scared to our Abuela. And worst, she can target your bestfriend, Clare. Matagal na 'yung sinasabihan ni Abuela na magpakasal.. "

Naisip niya ang kaibigan. She doesn't want Clare to suffer a loveless marriage. Her bestfriend loves freedom. Kaya nga iyon nanatili sa Pilipinas dahil sobrang higpit ng magulang niya. She strived hard so her parents can grant her the freedom she wants. At ngayong nasa kanya na ay hindi iyon pwedeng mawala.

Are you sacrificing your freedom Agape?

"This is so sudden... but I want you to think for it. I can help with your family's financial problem.. "

Sumeryoso siya. Ang ayaw niya sa lahat ay ang humingi ng tulong kahit kaya niya naman.

"Clare told me.. " agap niya nang makitang seryoso na siya. "It's not a bad intention, Agape. Hindi iyon bayad dahil sa nagpakasal ka sa 'kin. But don't forget that I'm a businessman, and if you will be my wife... you own what's mine.. " He blurted out.

Napaiwas siya ng tingin. Alam niya sa sarili niyang kunting kibot na lang ay bibigay na siya. The guy he loves is offering her a marriage. Kahit sabihing casual ang lahat, hindi naman maiiwasan na maapektuhan siya.

"But you can find another woman.. " she said and heaven knows that even if she said that, she's deeply jealous. That green bastard called jealousy enveloped her.

He can find another woman. Hindi magiging mahirap para sa lalaki ang maghanap ng iba. And it's scaring her. But she's also hesitant with the offer. It was too sudden that she can't think about anything else.

"If I'm really getting married, then I should find a decent woman atleast. And you are the most likely fitted to that term. Sa tingin ko naman ay magiging maayos 'yun para sa'ting dalawa. Considering what happened earlier.. "

Napatungo siya. Ramdam niya ang pang-iinit ng pisngi. How dare he? He doesn't have to said that!

Nakalimutan nga niya iyon ng ilang sandali ngunit agad namang pinaalala sa kanya.

He chuckled. Bakas sa mukha nitong natutuwa ito kaya't mas lalo siyang nainis.

"It's getting late.. you should rest.. " he said before he took a step to reach her and she gasped when he held her palm with the box she's holding. "Kapag suot mo 'yan bukas, then you're accepting my proposal. But if not, then you're rejecting me and I will gladly accept it.. "

He patted her head like a puppy making her pouted in annoyance.

"Good night, little art. Can't wait to see that ring in your finger tomorrow ... " he said and shamelessly planted his lips in her forehead.

Napaatras siya at napahalakhak naman ang lalaki. Kaya't bago pa niya makita ang pang-aasar nito ay agad na siyang pumasok at pabagsak na isinarado ang pinto.

She closed her eyes. And ba 'tong napasok niya?

She stared at the red wine box and placed it in her bed side. She needs a shower! Mukha yatang hindi siya makakatulog ng maayos ngayong gabi.