The Captivated Billionaire

Kabanata 23

Tahimik akong nakaupo rito sa loob ng opisina ni Mr. Bonneville. Sa gilid ko ay si Lake na ngising-ngisi lang. Habang si Mr. Bonneville at ang Daddy niya na nakakatakot tumingin ay umalis.

I asked Lake and he told me that they need some quiet place to talk and that place is not here.

Kaya heto ako at naiwan. Hindi rin ako makaalis dahil binalaan ako ni Mr. Bonneville. Binalaan niya rin si Lake na 'wag aalisin ang paningin sa akin.

"Your sighs' making me uncomfortable, Haines. Are you okay?"

Nilingon ko si Lake na nasa swivel chair ni Mr. Bonneville nakaupo.

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You sighed countless times in just an hour, Haines. You seem problematic. Is it about your family?"

Ang kaninang ngisi niya ay nawala na at napalitan ng kuryuso ngunit seryosong mukha.

"Yeah," bahagyang tango ko.

"What about them? I mean, I'm sure Daegan informed you about what he discovered."

"He informed me." Tumango ako. "That's why I am so bothered because why would they lie to me?"

Tumawa siya bigla sa sinabi ko na ipinagtaka ko. Kinunotan ko siya ng noo para malaman niyang seryoso ako at hindi nakikipagbiruan.

"Oh, I'm sorry about that." Natatawa pa ring aniya pero pinigilan niya.

His laugh doesn't seem real, though.

Tumayo siya mula sa swivel chair at naglakad papunta sa akin. Umupo siya sa tabi ko na nasa sofa at inakbayan ako.

"You know, Haines, people lie."  Of course, I know that. "Everyone lies. Your family is not an exemption to that."

"No." Umiling ako. "My family won't lie to me!"

"Oh, come on. Wake up, Haines." He rubbed my shoulder. "You're not a teen anymore."

"No," desperadong akong umiling.

Hindi ko na alam kung si Lake ba ang kinukumbinsi ko na hindi kayang magsinungaling sa akin ng pamilya ko o ang sarili ko.

"Baby, I'm sorry to tell you this, but yeah, your family lied to you. They are fine. They are healthy. They are...happy. While you." Tinuro niya ako. "You are here, worrying about them and miserable."

My heart ached at what he said.

Gustuhin ko mang umiling pa at ipaglaban ang sa akin, alam kong wala nang halaga.

Sino bang pagsisinungalingan ko?

Pinahid ko ang luhang nalaglag sa pisngi ko. Ang gulo ng buhay ko.

"Don't cry, Haines. My brother will kill me if he sees you crying." Tumawa siya ng bahagya bago tumayo at bumalik na naman sa inuupuan niya kanina.

Inilagay niya ang dalawang paa sa mesa ni Mr. Bonneville at tumingin sa akin.

"But because I am such a good man and a good brother-in-law, I will help you."

"H-Help me?"

"Yes. I'll help you find them."

"Talaga? I mean really?" Nanlaki ang mata ko. "You'll help me?"

"Yes, Haines. I'll help you even if it means starting a war with my brother."

Kumunot ang noo ko. "If you think he'll get mad, you're wrong. I even think he will be happy because you'll help me."

"Tsk." Umiling-iling siya. "You really don't know my brother."