Runaway Heiress

Chapter Two

MR. STRANGER

RYDER'S POV

"Ryder, sagutin mo nga ako." namumula ang mata at sinisinok na tanong sa akin ni Rhed.

He's wasted. I've been watching him since 8 p.m. drowning himself with alcohol because his girlfriend for two years cheated on him. I met his ex-girlfriend once when I was in a coffee shop and they happened to be having a coffee date. Obviously, naging third wheel ako which I don't really mind. But what made me dislike her was when Rhed excused himself to go to the comfort room and she started making advances on me. I told Rhed about it the moment he came back but he just brushed me off. We had a fight after that but made up two days later.

Ikinabit ko ang seatbelt niya bago nag-jog papunta sa kabilang side ng kotse kung nasaan ang driver's seat.

Pagpasok ko ay ngumangawa pa rin siya at umiiyak.

"I did e-everything for her... I gave h-her every...thing. I... I t-treated her right naman, ah? T-tapos ganito ang g-gagawin niya sa'kin?"

I started the car and went on driving him home. I looked at my watch and saw that it's already 1AM. Damn. Baka ma-late pa ako nito bukas.

"You didn't deserve that, Rhed. She knew it and yet she kept her relationship with you while she was fucking another guy. I understand that you love her but you have to let it go and move on. Heal yourself. Sooner or later, you'll find someone who will treat you the way you want to be treated."

I know it sounds cringe coming from a man but he needs to hear it. OA pa naman ang isang 'to kapag brokenhearted. I wanted to tell him, "I told you so," kaso alam ko na ang isasagot niya kaya hindi ko nalang ginawa.

"Iuumpog ko nalang ang gwapo kong mukha sa pader. Wala rin namang silbi dahil niloko pa rin ako. I should've listened to you. Huhuhu!"

Favorite line niya 'yan tapos kapag binalaan ulit hindi na naman makikinig. Napailing na lang ako. Pagkarating namin sa kanila ay inasikaso na agad siya ng mga kasambahay.

"Ay jusko ang batang ito! Aba, hindi ka ba nagsasawa kakainom? Kulang nalang ay gawin mong tubig ang alak!" rinig kong sermon sa kanya ni Nana Meds. Simula pagkabata namin ay siya ang tumayong pangalawang ina ni Rhed.

"Hehehe. Hello, Nay Meds!" nakangiting sabi ni Rhed habang kumakaway pa at halos hindi na makatayo.

Inalalayan naman siya ng iba pang maids at iniakyat sa kuwarto niya.

"Nay Meds, n-niloko na naman po ako. Huhuhuhu! Kapalit-palit ba ako? *hik* H-hindi po ba ako... k-kamahal-mahal para m-magawa niyang l-lokohin ako? *hik*"

Napatingin ako kay Rhed at kay Nay Meds na ngayon ay nakatayo na sa ikalawang palapag. Tumigil sila at hinarap ni Nay Meds si Rhed saka sinapo ang mga pisngi nito na basa na naman ng luha. Nay Meds used her thumb fingers to wipe his tears.

"Ang batang ito. Ayaw mo rin kasi makinig sa mga payo at babala namin! Tumahan ka na at sayang ang luha mo. Lagi mong tatandaan na kamahal-mahal ka at hindi kawalan ang isang taong manloloko. Hayaan mo, hindi natin sila bati."

Parang batang tumango si Rhed at yumakap kay Nay Meds.

Iniwas ko ang tingin at nagtungo sa opisina ni Tita, ang nanay ni Rhed. I knocked three times before coming in. Nakita ko siyang may binabasang libro sa study table niya. Probably another novel. Nag-bless ako sa kanya before sitting down.