The Billionaire's Case

22-The Ball

Sandra

I tried to ignore the call but all of three of them were looking at me. I took the phone from my bag and answered.

"Hi Rome. . . .Yes. . . . I'm with Karen now and some friends. We're on our way to get my car. I'll tell you more about it later." I thought everything would be fine and he wouldn't hear their voices but Luke and Karen had to quarell again. Karen was trying to take stolen photos of Luke while he wasn't looking but her plan failed when her phone camera's shutter sound alerted him.

"Tigilan mo nga 'yan Karen! Bakit kasi sumama ka pa. Hindi naman ikaw ang niyaya magbreakfast. Tigilan mo na ang kakasunod sa'kin dahil wala kang mapapala. Hinding hindi ako papatol sa'yo."

"Luke, stop it." Franz tried to control his cousin but he really looked mad. I looked at Karen and saw her shocked face on the verge of tears. This is the first time I saw her like this.

"Rome, I'll call you later." I had to hang up. Thankfully, the car stopped and I didn't wait for them to open the door for us. I took Karen's hand and got out of the limo. Franz followed us but his cousin stayed behind. He didn't even looked our way.

"Thanks for the breakfast Franz."

"Karen, pasensiya ka na sa pinsan ko. Hindi ko rin alam bakit ganon siya sa'yo. He's really not like that. Maybe because you look like his. . ."

"Franz! Alis na tayo tumawag si Blake."

"Sandra, pumunta pa rin kayo bukas ha. I'll be expecting you. Sorry again Karen." He handed me our bags before going back inside their limo. When they left, Karen let her tears fall.

"Hey. Come here." I hugged her and she cried on my shoulder.

"Wala naman ako ginagawang masama sa kaniya gusto ko lang ng picture bakit ang sungit niya sakin. Akala mo kung sinong gwapo! Pero gwapo naman kasi talaga. Kaso lang kung makapagsungit naman sakin parang ang pangit ko naman. Friend, pangit ba 'ko?"

"Of course not! You're very pretty. Walang pangit kaya stop crying. And please don't ever doubt yourself just because someone was horrible to you. Karen, don't let him get to you. Just ignore him if he's like that."

"Sige friend, try ko na talaga siya iwasan pero pwede after the party na lang? Gusto ko kasi siya makita ng naka tux. Please?" She gave me her puppy dog eyes look and I had to roll my eyes at her.

"Fine! Whatever you want. I just don't want to see you crying."

"Thanks sa pag-aalala mo Sands. Tara na sa bahay? Baka magalit si Attorney mo pala kasi di ka pa nagreturn call sa kanya."

"He'll understand. Come on. Let's go home." We walked to my car and went home to Karen's place. When we got there she went straight to her room while I stayed outside to video call Rome. He picked up after just one ring.

"Rome."

["Sandy, ano nangyari kay Karen? Who was that guy I heard shouting at her?"] He looked really worried.

"She's fine. That's her ultimate crush who turned out to be the cousin of an old friend whom we met at the gym earlier."

["Sinong friend?"]

"Franz. . . Rome, anyways, they invited us to an event tomorrow night, a charity ball. I don't want to come but I have to accompany Karen. She's really into that other guy and I can't leave her with him."

["Okay. Just don't forget about me. Baka sobrang enjoy ka kasama sila makalimutan mo na 'ko."] He looked jealous so I asked.

"Don't tell me you're jealous?"