Under His Sheets

Chapter 30

It wasn't that long when we entered a very big gate that automatically opened as soon as he stopped his car in front of it. As he drove to the garage, my eyes wandered around the place.

Sobrang lawak ng pagitan ng gate at ng mismo ng bahay. The car drove around the big fountain before it reached the garage. This place screams billionaire and I don't know what to feel right now.

Hunter unbuckled his seatbelt before turning to me, holding my left hand.

"As we enter that place, I want you to trust me, okay? I want you to hold my hand if things gets hard for you. Alam kong para sa 'yo, we're not officially in a relationship, but I can wait. Sa ngayon, this thing won't wait. I need you to help me on this one."

I gulped as I watched him went out of the driver's seat while I unbuckle my seatbelt. Ilang sandali lang, pinagbuksan na niya ako ng pinto. Lumabas ako ro'n saka siya hinarap.

"Can you please, at least, tell me what war we're going at? Para naman alam ko kung anong gagawin ko."

He smiled. "Tonight, my father will give me a list of women I'd go on dates, and from there, I'll find the woman I'll marry based on my preferences." He took my hand and caressed it slowly. "They want RES Telecommunications to merge with one of the companies na sa tingin nila, makakapag-secure ng malaking investment for future projects."
Napalunok ako sa narinig.

One thing I don't understand about rich people is that, they already have everything in life . . . but they want more.

They were already on top . . . but it's still not enough.

Ano pa ba ang kulang para sa kanila?

"No one in our family marries out of love, Areeya. Even my father who's now married to my mother now, wala pa ring love na namamagitan sa relasiyon nila. For them, marriage is one of their duties to secure the stability of business . . . and I don't want that for me."

I stopped protesting and let her take me inside. He was holding my hand so tight . . . na para bang malalang gulo itong papasukin namin ngayon.

Hindi ko alam sa sarili ko kung bakit hinahayaan ko siya na dalhin ako rito . . . gusto kong tumalikod at tumakbo paalis . . . palayo sa lugar na ito.

Pero kapag ginawa ko 'yon, pakiramdam ko, malaking parte ng pagkatao ko ang mawawala sa akin.

As soon as we entered the double door of the mansion, the extravagant chandeliers welcomed my eyes. The sound of my stilettos in this place were different. It sounded so expensive. Everything is so flashy. I can almost see myself on the floor sa sobrang kintab. It felt like everything here is so fragile, na para bang mababasag ang kahit na ano mang mahawakan ko sa isang maliit na pagkakamali lang.

We continued walking inside until we reached the long table at the dining area. There were only a few people sitting there, eating their fancy foods. They all looked at us with confused and surprised face . . . na para bang ang lahat ng nangyayari ngayong araw ay hindi pa nangyari noon.

"Hi, Mom. Happy happy birthday."  Hunter let go of my hand then kissed her mom's cheek. "My gift is already at your room."

The woman stood up and hugged him tight. "Oh, Hunter. I've missed you!"

While the two were catching up, I looked around the place. Hunter's two brothers doesn't seem to mind me. Their wives are glancing at me from time to time, tapos ngingiti kapag nahuli ko silang tumitingin sa akin.

I slightly raised an eyebrow to let them know that I don't care about them. But as soon as I did that, napalingon ako kay Chairman na nakatingin pala sa akin, mukhang kanina pa! Bahagya akong nag-bow bilang paggalang at pagbati sa kan'ya. Tinaasan niya lang din ako ng kaliwang kilay bago itinuloy ang pagkain.