Taking The Risk (Risk Series #1) (UNDER MAJOR REVISION)

Prologue

Prologue

My eyes roamed around the venue nang makarating ako doon. Today's the 50th anniversary and gala of the St. Miguel Hospital. Kakauwi ko pa lang din ng Pinas last week at inimbitahan kaagad nila ako. Tatlong taon din akong hindi umuuwi dito sa Pinas.

Familiar and unfamiliar faces were everywhere. Most of them were doctors of the hospital and some were stock holders that was invited.

I didn't know where to go. I was lost in the crowd. I wanted to stay in one place and just watch everyone having fun because I wasn't in the mood to join them.

I've become more of an introvert these days. Nawawalan na ako ng gana sa mga social gatherings at mas lalong nawawalan ako ng gana makisalamuha sa tao.

I once again wandered my eyes around the hall full of people wearing their most expensive clothes. Men wearing tuxedos and women wearing gowns or dresses.

While I was wearing a simple backless and sleeveless red mermaid dress. The satin mermaid dress hugged my small waist and curves. It was simple yet elegant and it suits me well. My hair was in a tight bun to make me look more extravagant.

Taas noong naglakad ako papunta sa kasa-kasama ko kaninang pumunta dito sa gala na 'to. I walked closer to him, he was busy talking to his Dad and his Dad's colleagues.

Tumikhim ako para kunin ang atensiyon ng limang lalaking nakaupo at abala sa paguusap. Isa-isa silang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin. 'Yung lalaking nilapitan ko naman ay agad na tumayo at lumapit sa akin.

"So, you must be the beautiful Dra. Paulina Bautista?" tanong ng isang lalaking sa tingin ko'y nasa kaniyang 40's na, nakasuot ng mamahaling itim na tuxedo. I think I've seen his face somewhere before.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. "Yes," I answered casually.

The man beside me glanced at me with a smirk on his face. "Yeah, she's with me."

"Your date is very beautiful," a young man sitting next to the man on his 40's said. He was smiling at me.

"Take a seat, baka mangalay ka diyan, hija, ikaw din hijo," natatawang sabi naman ng tatay ng katabi ko.

Pinaghila naman ako ng katabi ko ng upuan at umupo na rin naman ako. He took the seat beside mine.

"Where are your parents, Paulina?" The owner of the hospital, Rafael the father of my date who's looking good in his tuxedo, asked. He didn't looked like he was old, instead nagmukha pa siyang binata dahil sa ayos niya.

"I've heard from Kuya na nag out of the country trip sila Mom," sagot ko.

Speaking of my brother. Nasaan kaya siya ngayon at bakit hindi ko siya makita ngayon dito? Sabi niya kasi pupunta siya, ni-hindi ko man lang nakita.

"Hindi ka kukuha ng food?" bulong ng binatang katabi ko sa tenga ko.

Umiling ako.

"Diet?" he laughed.

I frowned and shook my head.

Busog pa kasi ako. Kumain na ako bago umalis kasi akala ko traffic papuntang hotel at baka magutom lang ako sa biyahe pero hindi pala.

"So, Rafael, when are you planning to transfer the hospital to your son?" tanong ng isa pang matandang lalaking nakasalamin na nakaupo sa harapan ko.

"Well, it will be announced later. He'd be taking over my position as CEO," Rafael answered.

"Congratulations then," anang lalaking nag-compliment sa akin kanina.

Nakaramdaman naman ako ng tawag ng kalikasan. "Uhm, excuse me." Tumayo ako.

"Where are you going?" tanong ng katabi ko bago pa man ako makalakad paalis.

"Comfort room," I answered and quickly walked to the CR.

Malaki ang venue sa hotel at hindi ko alam kung nasaan nga ba ang comfort room at medyo naliligaw na yata ako. Malayo na ako mula sa mismong venue at napadpad na ako sa lobby ng hotel.

Ipinalibot ko ang tingin sa lobby pero tumigil 'yon sa isang taong hindi ko inaasahang makikita ko ngayon dito.

My heart stopped beating and my vision just focused on the man standing, his back rested on the wall while he was busy with his phone. He looked so handsome on his expensive tux. A nostalgic pain struck my fragile heart when I got a glimpse of his face. His effortlessly handsome face.

There was a lump in my throat. Nagtagal ang tingin ko sa kaniya at hindi ko namalayang nakatingin na rin pala siya sa akin. Nagtama ang mga mata namin. Matapang na sinalubong ko ang tingin niya. His lips parted. Napakurap-kurap pa siya. Habang ako walang emosyong tumitig sa kaniya. Umayos siya ng tayo at akmang lalapit sa akin pero pumihit agad ako papaalis doon sa lobby.

That was a stupid move, what the hell is wrong with you, Paulina?

Hindi na ako nag-abala pang hanapin 'yung CR kaya bumalik na lang ako sa venue. Lumapit na lang ako sa isang dessert table na nasa gilid lang.

I was about to pick up a piece of chocolate when another hand wanted to pick the chocolate I wanted to have. He held my hand. Napa-angat ako ng tingin sa taong 'yon.

Natulos ako sa kinatatayuan ko. My system started to panic and it was like it's about to shut down, my hands started sweating even though it was cold.

"Koen," I said almost out of breath.

Ang mata niyang nakatingin sa akin ay malungkot. He let go of my hand and just stared at me for a second. He looked at me and didn't want to look somewhere else, parang kapag lumingon siya ay mawawala na ako sa paningin niya.

His mouth opened and it seems like he wanted to speak but he couldn't. I didn't want to hear his voice, wala akong lakas. Makita pa lang siya ay hindi ko na kaya, marinig pa kaya ang boses niya?

"Paulina, I want to talk to you," halos bulong na sabi niya. His eyes were pleading.

"Talk about what,Dr. Sanchez?" I asked, I tried to make my voice sound more casual to hide my nervousness.

"Us..." he uttered. Pain, there was a glint of pain in his eyes but I wasn't sure.

I furrowed my brows and gulped. "As far as I remembered there was never an us to begin with."

Bumuka ang bibig ni Koen para sana magsalita muli pero biglang tumunog ang mikropono.

Natuon ang tingin ko sa lalaking nasa gitna ngayon at sentro na ng atensyon ng lahat. Pero 'yung lalaking nasa harapan ko ay nasa akin pa rin ang tingin at ramdam ko 'yon.

"Well, I just wanted to introduce myself," anang gwapong binatang lalaki. "I will be taking over my father's hospital and his pharmaceutical this up coming month, my Dad wants me to take over already, masyadong atat," he laughed and the people around him laughed too. "I am Rafael Zobel's first born, I know you've heard of my name, I am also a neurosurgeon here, so you all know me. I just wanted to introduce myself as a CEO." He smiled.

"And I wanted to announce that I am engaged," he said then glanced at me. His gaze landed on me and stared at me like I was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. "That girl over there wearing a red dress is my soon to be wife, I don't know, I'm just so proud of her that I wanted to tell everyone about it."

Then everyone's attention was now on me. Sa gilid ng mga mata ko'y napatitig sa akin ang lalaking nasa tabi ko. I glanced at him.

His eyes were now on my hands.

I was wearing the ring that my fiancé gave me.

Napa-angat siya ng tingin sa akin. Walang lumabas na salita sa bibig niya pero sapat na ang emosyon na nakabalatay sa mukha niya para malaman ang reaksyon niya.

He was hurt and so was I.

But I had to. I had to do it...