Billionaire Diaries #1: Gray Pereira

Chapter 30

"PEREIRA! The fudge! You're alive?!" Napasapo siya sa noo dahil sa sinabi ni Lucian. "We fucking mourn for you, you dumbass! I even say my fucking cringe message at your eulogy!" Lucian dropped his eyes to the plate. "And now you're here, eating that fucking pasta?!"

Agape looked at Clare with helpful eyes. Nakatanga lang din ang kaibigan at hindi alam kung anong gagawin.

"Man, where the hell are you hiding? You wouldn't want to imagine how hard it was for your wife and daughter-

Saved by Wine's cries! Halos magpasalamat na siya sa anak nang bigla itong umiyak. Iniwas niya ang tingin kay Archer at kunwari pinatahan si Wine.

Clare dragged Lucian somewhere. Thanks to that.

Binabawi na niya! Hindi na niya idol si Lucian!

Thena remained silent. Pero hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang pagpapalit-palit ng tingin nito kay Wine at Archer.

"Shh.. baby, that's Tito Lucian, okay? Daddy's.. " she immediately stopped. "H-He's m-mommy's friend, " iniwas niya ang tingin.

"Da.. d-da.. " Wine whimpered.

Her heart hammered inside. Then, Wine's always giggling if she's seeing the picture of her father. At ngayong umiiyak ito sa harap niya, biglang hindi niya alam kung paano ito papatawarin.

"Thena, yung tissue nga, " utos niya sa dalaga na agad naman nitong sinunod. She wiped Wine's clenched palms. Kinukusot-kusot kasi nito kanina ang mata.

"Do you want to come home, Wine? Uwi muna with mommy?" she talked. Wine just hugged her. Napabuntung-hininga siya at niyakap na lang din ang bata.

Natanaw niya ang papasok na si Clare at Lucian. She stared at Lucian and he nodded. Looks like Clare made him understand the situation.

"I'm sorry, I misinterpret you for someone, " Lucian casually said like he didn't made a scene earlier. Napasapo na lang siya sa noo. What would she expect to her husband's bunch of friends?

"That's okay, " Archer said, eating his pasta.

"Oh. You also sound like him, " tumango-tango si Lucian. Tinaliman niya ng tingin si Lucian at nagbikit-balikat lang ito.

"Who?" Napatigil siya sa pagpupunas sa luha ni Wine nang biglang nagtanong si Archer.

Lucian's lips pursed. "Some fucker, " he answered.

She sighed. "Lucian, can't you see? Wine's here, don't cuss, " she warned.

Lucian only nodded. "Alright, " he went near them. "Hey, Wine, do you want Ninong to carry you?" Halos walang emosyon nitong sabi. Sanay na siya sa gano'n, pero kahit talaga sa bata, hindi man lang inaayos.

Wine stared at Lucian, observing him. But then, Wine suddenly hid at her neck.

Agape laughed and Lucian frowned. "No gift for you this Christmas, Wine, " he said, and Clare laughed.

"Kahit wala na daw sa Christmas, pero bahay ang gusto ni Wine ngayong birthday niya, " ani Clare.

"Hmm, do you like that, Wine?" he asked again.

Mas lalong natawa si Clare nang hindi ito pinansin ni Wine. Ganoon din si Thena. Siya naman ay napangiti na lang. And Archer, remained silent, just listening to them.

Wine keeps on stretching her arms. Sa sobrang likot tuloy ng kamay nito ay naaabot na si Archer na nasa tabi niya. Archer would just stare at Wine. Tila hindi naman naiinis ang lalaki at hinahayaan lang nito si Wine.

"Wine, " Agape warned her daughter when Wine fully stretched her arms, almost reaching Archer's shoulder blade.

Wine just giggled. Lucian just shrugged his shoulder and left the table. Sigurado siya na ibabalita nito ang nakita sa mga kaibigan nito.