That Billionaire is My Guardian

Chapter 12: Stay

“Didn’t mean to take you for granted. Didn’t mean to show I don’t care. Didn’t mean to throw away this once in a lifetime of chance being with you.” –Kismet by Silent Sanctuary








SUHO

Endings. Death. Tragedy.


It feels like all the wounds of yesterday got opened again. Sila nanay, tatay at tito Luther…lahat sila nasaksihan ko ang pagkamatay nila. Why do I always find it difficult to let go? Alam ko na nung nakaraang buwan na hindi na magtatagal si Aya. I talked to many expert doctors and they told me to just be ready. My money and all I have was worthless. I have nothing in life…and I can’t have her too.





“Suho, ito nga pala yung naiwan na gamit ni Aya.” Katatapos lang ng libing niya.



It was so painful that Aya was gone and it was also a relief that Aya’s now in her safest haven. Ayokong nang nahihirapan siya. Tatlong taon siyang lumaban and I can see that she’s the strongest girl I’ve ever known.  “Salamat po. Salamat po sa lahat.”




“Maraming salamat din sa’yo Suho. Magpahinga kana muna.”








Binuksan ko ang box na binigay ni Sister Emy at una kong nakita yung larawan namin noon sa pampang nung unang beses kong isinama si Aira sa Orphanage. I’m so lucky to have both of them.











~****~



“Suho?” she hurriedly ran through me and gave me a hug.



“I’m sorry for what happened.”


“It’s okay. She’s with her strongest guardian now.” Ngumiti ako ng mapait at tiningnan ko siya.


Kung may mature version man ni Aya ay si Cess iyon. She’s bubbly and can make me laugh for some weirdest reason. “Strong ka naman ah! Don’t ever underestimate your human stupidity Suho.” at pinitik ako sa noo. Ah! Nakalimutan ko, laitera pa pala siya.




“I’m in pain right now. Pwede bang damayan mo nalang ako?”


“Order ka muna ng pagkain. Gutom nako Suho.” and then she pouted. I facepalmed. Kahit kailan talaga napakachildish ng babaeng ‘to tapos masyado pang spoiled sakin.


I ordered the foodssss she wanted. Madami talagang S yan kasi matakaw.




Pero mas matakaw parin si Aira. I laughed at that thought. “Oh, ngingiti-ngiti mo diyan?”



“Wala.”

“Akala ko ba namatayan ka? Kung makangiti ka diyan akala mo parang teenager na inlove e.”


I just stared at her and then she covered her mouth as if she were shocked. “Si Aira?! Inlove ka kay Aira?!”



As expected nagtinginan ang ibang customer sa amin. Ang ingay talaga nito! Tss! “Lower down your voice Cess, nakakahiya oh.”


“Oh, sorry naman. Nakalimutan ko pala na may kasama  akong bilyonaryo.” She rolled her eyes. “Pero seryoso Suho? Nakikita ko e, inlove ka talaga sa baklang yun! Omy no! Crush pa naman kita e! How dare her!” pinandilatan ko lang siya. Hindi naman talaga halatang nagbibiro siya.




“What did you tell to her?” lumapit siya ng konti sakin na para bang ineeksamin ako.



“I told her that I like her.” Sabi ko at uminom sa wine na nasa harapan ko.


“Yun lang? Seryoso? Ang hina mo naman dude!”



“I kissed her. Lips.” And then her mouth was hanging open. I don’t know if it’s just an illusion but I saw sadness and pain in her eyes and then it is placed with a sympathy and happiness in the end.


“Chee-cheers! Para sa inyo ni Aira!” she smiled.





It was a long and tiring week for me. Aya’s death, I guess I need a break.



And then there’s Aira. I saw her packing her clothes. Para akong sinampal at binugbog ng ilang beses. Alam ko basted ako pero hindi niya ako kailangang layuan.


Naguguluhan ako. I can see in her eyes that she loves me too.  Eyes can’t lie right?






“Suho tama na, you’re drunk. Ihahatid na kita sa inyo.”


“Anong oras na ba?”


“It’s 10PM. Umuwi na tayo, hinahanap kana ni Aira. Gusto mo atang masermunan ka na naman nun.”



“Sa tingin mo mahal niya ako?” I held Cess’ both cheeks.







I thought her alcohol tolerance was high? Then why is she getting red this time?



Umiwas siya ng tingin sa akin. “O-oo naman. Ma-mahal ka nun….sobra.”

"Pano mo naman nalaman na mahal ako nun? Hindi naman ikaw si Aira." Inirapan niya ako at parang may ibinulong. "Kung pwede nga lang ako nalang si Aira."



"May sinasabi ka, Cess?" Sumimamangot ito at hinila ako palabas ng bar.

"Halikana nga. Sabi ko ang bantot mo. Hmp!"


Kitamo! Baliw!










AIRA


Ilang oras nakong palakad-lakad dito sa sala. Hindi  naman siguro nagpakamatay si Suho diba? Pero….may possibility rin. Suho looked so wasted these past few days lalo na nung libing ni Aya. Ni hindi nga siya nagpapaalam sakin kung saan siya pupunta. Don’t get me wrong, I’m his PA so kailangan ko talagang alamin kung saang lupalop siya pumupunta.


Hindi na rin siya masyadong nakikipagbiruan kagaya ng dati. Office, bahay. pero ngayon parang may kasamang lakwatsa.


I looked at the wall clock. It’s 11PM. Oh crap Suho!



Ba’t ba ako masayadong nag-aalala sa lalaking yun!? It’s just so frustrating!



Halos mapatalon naman ako nang may narinig akong bumusina sa harapan ng bahay. I hurriedly run and I saw Suho with Cess.






Wait, Cess? Magkakilala sila?!




“Bakla tatayo ka nalang ba diyan? May balak ka bang patulugin sa kalsada ‘tong si Suho?” nataranta naman ako at agad-agad na inakbayan si Suho. Kung pwede nga lang sa riles nalang ng tren ideretso e.




“You guys know each other?”




“Yes bakla, we’re friends.” she grinned and get on to her car. Minsan talaga ang sarap batuhin ng fying slippers tong si Cess




I think I need an explanation----don’t get me wrong again. Syempre kailangan ko ring malaman ang mga kaibigan nitong Pokemon na’to!




“Uy, Aira. Hindi moko sesermunan?” ngising tanong ni Suho. Leche! lasing na pero nagawa pang dumaldal!


“Huwag kang makulit! Ibabalibag kita mismo dito sa hagdan!” naiinis ako! Friends ha?!




“Ang ganda mo parin kahit masungit ka.”


“Walang palaka ‘tong kwarto ko ha?”



Binagsak ko siya sa may kama niya at pinamaywangan ko siya. I don’t feel like to waste my saliva. “Tatayo ka nalang ba diyan?” he tapped the space on his bed. “Dito kana matulog sa tabi ko.”






At nakatulog na siya. Walangya talaga tong lalaking ‘to! argh!





I was about to leave his room when suddenly he spoke. “Aira, please stay.”



Tiningnan ko ito pero nakapikit lang siya. “Wala na si Aya pati ba naman ikaw iiwan ako?”


“Maybe I was drunk but still, I can’t forget about you. I really like you and please give me a chance to prove that. I’m not asking you to love me back, Aira.” I just want to shut his mouth because every word he’s saying makes me being guiltier. 







“I love you.” and then I closed the door.






Why do I even have to choose?