Her Worth

Chapter 2

Chapter 2
Surprise
Khaeri Lei's Point of View

I woke up feeling happy than usual, maybe it's because of the thought that Kian and I shared the same bed last night, and will be sharing the same bed for a long time. I felt happy. And I can't help myself from thinking selfish thoughts.

And for a brief moment. I forgot how we got here. How we ended up marrying each other.

I'm not supposed to be the one who will marry him. It's supposed to be my cousin, Alyzie. Alyzie Buenaventura Sandoval. But knowing Zie, she's a reckless and a stubborn child. Ayaw niyang sumusunod. She only follow her rules. And one of her rules is not to follow other's rules.

Dumagdag pa na alam ni Zie ang lihim kong pagkakagusto kay Kian, dahil bukod sa pinsan ko siya, siya na rin ang tumayong nakatatandang kapatid at bestfriend ko.

That's why she ran away. So she doesn't have to marry Kian, and I will be the one to replace her position.

And when Dad and Tito Jeth decided to just marry me off instead of Zie, I was the happiest. Because I can finally see and meet him again after such a long time.

The day came when I get to meet him again. Totoo nga ang sabi ng iba, "Hope but never expect.". Nag-expect kasi ako, na baka ganoon pa rin siya katulad ng dati. Yung sweet at caring na Kian, na ako lang yung hinahayaang tumawag sa kanya ng Kian, habang yung iba Lay na ang tawag sa kaniya. He preferred to be called Lay. Ang sabi pa niya mas gusto niya ang Lay, because we somehow share the same pronunciation for our second name. Lei and Lay. That's why everyone calls him Lay and I call him Kian. And he calls me Ree, which is the abbreviation of Khaeri, masyado raw kasing awkward sa pandinig ang Khaeri.

I saw him, being stunning and hotter than before, and I also saw him, being colder and stoic than before. I know that we have a 5-year gap, and before I can't exactly feel it, but now. I don't know what to say.

Of course, nag-expect pa rin ako na baka maging warm siya pag nalaman niya kung sino ako. But I was wrong, dahil he just became colder and more stoic the moment he found out who I am.

And before I get too emotional, I immediately brushed off the thoughts that were running inside my mind.

Matapos kong makabangon ay nilingon ko ang pwesto kung saan nahiga si Kian.

Wala na siya doon..

Bakit ba kasi umasa pa ko na madadatnan ko siyang katabi ko. Of course lalayo na siya. That's because, he hates me.

I don't know why or when. I just knew that he hates me.

Matapos kong magmuni-muni ay tuluyan na kong bumangon. Agad kong hinanap ang mirror sa kuwarto namin at inayos ang mga di kaaya-ayang kung anu-ano sa mata ko. Nang masigurado kong presentable na ang itsura ko ay bumaba na ako sa living room.

And that's when I saw an old lady with her back facing me kaya hindi ko siya masiyadong makita. Di na ako nakatiis at nagsalita na ko.

"Magandang umaga ho." Magalang na pahayag ko habang papalapit sa kanya, at nang makita ko na siya ay di ko mapigilang magulat."Nanay Cecil?!"

She's Nanay Cecil, Kian's Nanny. Siya na halos ang nag-aruga kay Kian. Kaya't bilang isang matalik na kaibigan ni Kian, napalapit na rin ang loob ko sa kanya. Dahil minsan rin akong iniiwan ni Dad sa bahay nila Kian pag may lakad siyang importante, o kahit sa trip lang niya, or trip ko lang. At home naman na kasi ako sa bahay nila, since magkapitbahay lang kami, kaya lagi nga akong nasa kanila at kung anu-ano ang ginagawa. Sometimes, we sleep together, in his house or mine.

"Lei, ikaw na ba yan?" Tanong niya habang naniningkit ang mga mata na para bang kinikilatis ako. "Aba'y kay ganda mo na palang talaga!" Nakangiting puri pa nito with matching hampas pa sa braso ko. "Hindi na ako magtataka kung bakit ka pinakasalan ng alaga ko! At naku! Bata palang kayong dalawa'y alam ko ng kayo talaga ang magkakatuluyan!" Sabi niya pa. At di ko maiwasang malungkot sa sinabi niya.