BILLIONAIRE SERIES1: NO STRING ATTACHED

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A FEW DAYS LATER, I’m lying in bed and staring at the ceiling when I recieve a message from Renata.

[REN]

― Hey, darling! I know you’re on leave today.

― But I just recieved news that there’s a business deal we have to follow up on in LA next week.

― Tell me if you’re interested to come along!

A business trip to Los Angeles? Biglaan naman ata. But am I in the right mind space to leave everything behind? After some hesitation, I text back her.

[ME]

― Pwedeng pag-isipan ko muna.

[REN]

―Sure! Alam kong biglaan ito, pero kailangan kong malaman ang sagot mo bukas din, okay.

― But before then, go ahead and enjoy your brother’s big day! I’m only sorry dahil hindi ko magagawang makadalo sa kasal ni Caleb, pakisabi nalang.

Huminga ako ng malalim saka nilagay ang cellphone ko sa side table at binalik ang tingin ko sa kisame.

Renata’s right. We waited too long for this day to screw it up. Agad nga akong bumangon at nagmadaling nagbihis na.

．．．．．．

When the march starts, Megan starts to walk towards my brother standing at the altar.

Tears gather in my eyes when Kuya Caleb and Megan look at each other lovingly. When they exchange their vows, I’m actually move to tears.

____

After the ceremony, as the wedding party heads out to the church entrance, I glance at Tyler and find him looking at me too. Tyler walks toward me.

“You look good today.”

I can tell that he means it. Pero nong umiwas ako ng tingin at makita ko ang masaya na sina Kuya at Megan, nasaktan nanaman ako dahil narealize ko na hindi si Tyler ang lalaking maghihintay saakin sa altar.

Ano nanaman bang iniisip mo, Coleen? Kalimutan mo na siya, dahil baka pati ang natitira niyong pagkakaibigan ay mawala nadin. Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang pagluha ko.

“It‘s pretty touching, huh? And a little intimidating too. From now on, our lives―all four of us―will be changed forever.

Nanatili lamang akong tahimik ng sumigaw si Megan. “Ready? Go!”

Megan tosses her bouquet, and comes flying right at me! Did she do that on purpose?!

“Yay, Coleen!” masayang sabi nito ng makitang hawak ko na ang bulaklak na binigay niya.

“Does this mean we can expect good news in the future?” tanong ni Kuya at napalingon ako kay Tyler na pinilit na ngumiti.

“... Congratulations, Coleen!” napangiti nalang ako ng mapait.

“Thanks for the blessing!” walang ganang sabi ko saka ito tinalikuran.

Kumakain lang akong magisa sa isang sulok ng pinili namin na cake ni Megan, nang lapitan ako ni Kuya Caleb at may kasama itong lalaking hindi ko kilala.

“I don’t think you’ve met before, right? Sonia, this is my supervisor, Adam.” sabi niya ng nakangiti saka ito tumingin muli sa katabi. “Adam, this is my younger sister, Sonia Coleen, pero halos lahat ay tinatawag siyang Coleen, so you can call her Coleen, kung gusto mo.” pakilala nito at ngumiti naman saakin ang lalaki at nilahad ang kaniyang kamay.