The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Okida, Tokyo, Japan

December 24, 2015

"Relax your shoulders." Narinig kong bulong niya sa akin. I did as what I have been told and furrowed my eyebrows. "Focus on the target, Mallory." Dugtong pa niya. After a few seconds of settling the weight of this heavy metal in my hands, I aimed at my target. "Okay. Fire."

I pulled the trigger and aimed at the target. The gunshot echoed inside the empty shooting range.

"Bullseye!" Gideon cried and did a little happy dance. Hinihingal kong ibinaba ang baril at tinanggal ang electronic headset mula sa aking ulo. Isang malaking ngiti ang sumilay sa aking labi.

"I really hit it?" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong sa kaniya.

"Yes, you just did! Now pack up your things because we're going home."

Kaagad akong sumimangot. "Pero Gideon—"

"No buts, Mallory. For God's sake, it's holiday today!" iminuwestra niya ang kaniyang paligid. "The only reason why we're still allowed here is that I am friends with the owner of this shooting range. We should be at home, eating soup and getting all cozy with our loved ones."

But I don't have any loved ones anymore... I thought inwardly and my heart sank.

"So?" he nudged me repeatedly.

I sighed. "Fine. I can't stay here if you're going away."

"Yes, of course. Shooting class is over. Let's go home!" he sang and started picking up his bag.

Binalingan kong muli ang target mula sa di kalayuan. I still have to squint my eyes to ensure that I really hit the center. When I had made sure that, yes, I really did hit the center, that's when I slipped out of my track suit and slipped into my coat.

"It's freezing outside." Ani Gideon sa akin habang isinusuot niya ang kaniyang boots.

Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon at isinuot ang aking pulang coat. Even with my four layers of coat, the cold is still seeping in. And to think that this shooting range already has a heating system. The temperature will really drop low once we're outside.

Hinintay ako ni Gideon habang nagsusuot ako ng boots. He frowned when he saw mine.

"Heels? Really? You're going to wear a goddamn pair of heels at the thick snow?" tanong niya sa akin.

"I have no shoes that has no heels." Simple kong sagot.

Matagal niya akong tinitigan bago siya humalakhak nang malakas. "Oh, Mallory. You've really turn into a woman. Dati-rati'y flats lang ang suot mo—"

"Shut it, Gideon." I snapped and walked past him.

"Wanna go to the Nezu shrine before we go home?"

"No thanks."

"Or shopping?"

"I'd rather buy it myself." I gave him a sheepish smile. "Where's the fun in that? You're going to see your gift."

He frowned at me. "You're just going to buy me a gift because I reminded you to do so. Last year, you even forgotten that it's Christmas time."

Tumawa ako. "Well, yeah. I was so busy at work."

Sabay kaming lumabas ni Gideon sa shooting range. He thanked the owner again and when I first stepped outside, I immediately wanted to go back inside.

The snow is only two inches when got there and now it's over five inches. Pinagmasdan ko ang paglubog ng aking suot ng boots sa nyebe habang naglalakad kami. Gideon held my arms, trying to keep me steady as we crossed the busy streets of Tokyo.