Her Billionaire Boss

Chapter 53

"There are candles," I spoke, "Pumasok na tayo. Naghihintay sila."

I didn't wait for him. I immediately got inside pero hindi ako dumiretso sa lamesa namin. Pumasok ako sa bathroom.

With heavy heart, a single tear escaped my eye. Normally, I should've walked out, leave him there. But, I realized, this is his birthday. We're celebrating together, probably the last. Nasasaktan ako. Gusto kong magwala pero pinipilit kong maging kalmado. Gusto kong marinig ang side niya pero umaapaw ang galit ko sa kanya.

He was one of the people who ruined my life. Ang dami kong pinagdaanan. Hindi ko inaasahan na ang isa pala sa mga kaibigan kong minamahal, siya pala ang isa sa mga kasabwat.

I trusted him.

I stared at my reflection. I looked tired. Ang saya-saya ko pa kanina tapos binawi kaagad.

For years, I've been lying to myself that I'm okay. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi. Ang daming nangyayari, hindi ko na alam anong uunahin ko. Gusto kong maging totoo. Gusto kong umiyak kung gusto kong umiyak. Gusto kong magalit kung gusto kong magalit.

But, once again, I lied. I decided to wear that mask and pretend that everything I just knew minutes ago never happened.

I forced a smile and wiped the tear that rolled down on my cheeks. One last lie.

I got out of the bathroom and exhaled. Kaya ko 'to.

Naglakad ako patungo sa lamesa at nakita kong nandoon na si Luke. Ngumingiti siya sa mga kaibigan namin pero nawala agad nang dumating ako. I gazed back at him and he bit his lip.

"Happy birthday to you," Dianne started singing tapos sumunod kami ni Cristoff. Luke was smiling, like nothing happened. I get it.

"Pikit ka," I said after singing. Luke looked at me, guilt starting to creep into his eyes but I smiled, "Make a wish then blow the candles."

He broke our gaze and stared at the cake. Hindi kami nagsalita nina Dianne. We're waiting for him to wish and then blow the candles. I stared at him. This guy made me fall for him, before. He made me trust him, which I really did. Sumisikip ang dibdib ko nang matanto kong nakaya niyang itago ang sekreto na may karapatan akong malaman. Sobrang sakit. Napaisip ako kung paano niya kayang itago ang lahat.

"What did you wish for?" tanong ni Cristoff sa kanya nang na blow niya ang candles.

He then, looked at me in the eyes once again and spoke, "I wish I can fix everything to the way it was before."

Umiwas ako sa tingin niya. Sasabog na ang dibdib ko. My eyes are starting to get watery.

Dianne seems to notice us kasi napansin ko siyang nakatitig sa akin tapos nilipat niya naman kay Luke. Gusto kong sabihin sa kanya pero hindi ko pa kaya.

I want to hear every bullshit that comes out of his lying mouth.

Hindi ko namalayan na aalis na kami sa buffet. Gabing-gabi na at plano pa sana ni Cristoff na mag-club kaso pipauwi na siya. Si Dianne, hindi rin kasi may inuutusan ang papa niya. Naiwan kaming dalawa sa parking lot. Naroon ang sasakyan niya at nag-aantay ang driver niya roon para makauwi.

"You have ten minutes to explain," I broke the silence, "Ten minutes, Luke. Sabihin mo sa akin ang lahat. There's no point of lying anymore kaya please, huwag ka nang magsinungaling."

We just stood there. A wind gently brushed my arms. It all makes sense now. Naaamoy ko ang perfume niya. Ito iyong perfume na naamoy ko noong na droga ako. This is the same perfume, the perfume that haunted me.

Giniginaw sana ako pero umaapaw ang init ng galit sa puso ko. I didn't mind the coldness of the air, I just want to know and leave him here.

He faced me and sighed, "It was when we first met, Deseree. Emily and I were dating before nang naghiwalay sila ni Blake. She broke up with me nang malaman niya na kasama mo na si Blake. I was stupid in love, Deseree. I was stupid enough to believe her na babalik siya sa akin kapag susunod lang ako sa mga utos niya. But when I met you, at the beach, I realized how stupid I was. Gusto kong magback-out kasi na-realize kong masama ang ginawa ko sa'yo noong na droga kita. Oo, ako yung nagdroga sa'yo sa CR. Believe me when I said na ponagsisihan ko iyon. That day, I also realized na hindi ko na mahal si Emily. She was just using me to get back at Blake.