Mr. Billionaire

Kabanata 15

Night-blooming Cereus

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"Who are you?" tanong nito matapos siyang ituro.

Nainis naman siya rito. Mukhang wala man lang itong balak na tulungan siya kaya tumayo na lamang siya mag-isa at pinagpag ang sarili.

"Welcome back, Master," she greeted sarcastically.

Mukha namang nagulat ito. What? He didn't recognize her? Saka lamang niya naalala. Hindi niya nga pala suot ang eyeglasses niya tapos bago pa ang hair do niya.

Tumikhim ito at lumunok bago magsalita. Natawa naman siya sa kaloob-looban. Nahihiya ang antipatiko niyang Master!

He put his hands in his pockets. "I thought you're someone else."

Napatango na lamang siya. There was an awkward silence between them. Nagkaroon naman siya ng pagkakataong titigan ang lalaki. Guwapo talaga ito at wala kang maipipintas kung pisikal na anyo ang pag-uusapan.

Hmp. Kaso medyo magaspang ang pag-uugali.

"Do you need anything, Master?"

Umiling naman ito at hindi pa rin tumitingin sa kaniya. Nainis naman siya sa hindi malamang dahilan. Siguro ay normal na talaga iyon kapag tungkol kay Scott ang pinag-uusapan.

She continued on her tracks when he called her name.

"Fate," tawag nito. Huminto naman siya at nilingon ang kinatatayuan ng lalaki.

Nagtaka naman siya. He looked troubled. Like he's about to confess a sin to her.

Intrigued, she answered, "Yes? Is there anything you want to say?"

He gulped as he stared at her. His mouth opened but eventually closed again. It went on and on. He was like fighting an inner battle. In the end, he just closed his eyes and massaged his temple.

"Nothing. Take your rest now," he said and walked away. Fatima just stared at his retreating back.

Okay, what was that?

***

"Ugh!" Kanina niya pa pinipilit matulog ngunit hindi siya dinadalaw ng antok.

Sighing, she stood up. She finally gave up on trying to sleep.

She put on her slippers and went to the kitchen. She needed a glass of water to relieve her dry throat.

Gusto niyang tuktukan ang sarili dahil mas lalo lamang siyang nagising matapos uminom ng tubig.

"Geez, tanga mo talaga girl. Dapat gatas ang ininom mo e," she reprimanded herself. She looked around the dimly lit kitchen. She suddenly remembered the first time she met their Young Master. She shook her head to shrug the thought off.

Bawat hakbang niya pabalik sa kaniyang silid ay siya namang pagkawala ng antok niya. Napaikot na lamang siya ng mga mata dahil sa pagkakataong iyon, alam niyang tuluyan nang nawala ang diwa ng pagtulog sa kaniya.

Kinuha na lamang niya ang cellphone at tinungo ang isa sa paborito niyang lugar sa mansyon- bukod sa kaniyang kuwarto, and of course, ang banyo.

She typed in her mother's number while trying to remember the way to her destination. Damn hallways, dark hallways. She should've been scared by now had it not because of the continuous ringing on the other line.

"Ma, bakit hindi mo sinasagot?" She sighed. Baka tulog pa ang kaniyang pamilya. Sabagay, four a.m. pa lang sa Pilipinas.

Hugging herself immediately as the cold breeze touched her skin, it was only then she realized she was already outside the warm walls of the mansion. With the help of street lanterns lining the alley of the garden, multihued flowers caught her breath, just like the first time she saw them in broad daylight.