Ruling The Senator's Son (High Class Issue Series #2)

PROLOGUE

Prologue

Sa bawat paghakbang ay lumilikha ang tunog ng takong na saglitang bumabaon sa tiles ng airport. Taas noo at hindi pinapansin ang mga taong naagaw ko ang pansin.

I knew it. The corners of my lips curled up as the crowd took over with their cameras and phones. The security blocked and secured the way for me to walk with ease.

Flashes and eagerness filled the airport. I was expecting this to happen after being hailed as one of the richest bachelorettes here in Asia. Crazy rich Asian, I could say.

"Miss Sienna, is it true that you got pregnant?"

"Gossips are spreading that you aborted your child for your career, is it true?"

When I heard that, my feet automatically stuck on the spot. I was paralyzed, and my body started to get cold. Why should I be affected if I know that it's all not true?

"Miss Sienna, we must go," Aliyah, my secretary mumbled to me, and I think she felt that I was cornered by that question.

Sinubukan kong ibalik ang diwa ko at taas noong pinagpatuloy ang paglalakad. Walang-imik at pilit na pinapakita ang matapang at eleganteng babae na umagaw ng atensyon nila.

Kakauwi ko lang ng Pilipinas pero nakalimutan ko atang naiwan ko pa rin ang mga alaalang o dapat kong sabihin na isang pagsisisi na sumira sa pagkatao ko.

"Ma'am, do you want me to take action? We will find out who's spreading this issue--"

I raised my hand and leaned my back with a sophisticated look. I took a glance at my secretary, and she was determined to know who's spreading the news about me.

I sighed and took off my sunglasses, "Don't mind them, Aliyah. People are easy to be fooled these days, and it's easier for them to judge than to believe. I don't want to waste my time on people's ignorance." 

"But Ma'am, they are spreading a fake news that you aborted--"

"Wala na akong pakialam kung anuman ang sabihin nila dahil sarili ko lang ang pagbibigyan ko ng pansin."

All of a sudden, those memories crawled like a hungry beast inside me. My sanity was already lost in the woods, and I was crumpled with anxiety.

You shouldn't be feeling this way Sienna.

"I don't give a fuck on what they are saying. I do believe that people were busy looking for others' mistakes rather than focusing on their self-growth. Hindi ako papatol sa mga taong mangmang na hindi ginagawan ng paraan ang pagiging mangmang nila."

I already closed the gates of my past. I learned to let go of people who only want to take advantage of me. I'm not blind to not see their intentions, so it's better to cut them out of my life early.

Wala na akong pakialam kung ano man ang maging tingin sa akin ng tao dahil sa dulo ay sarili ko lang dapat ang kapitan ko. Natauhan na ako at hindi na ako kagaya noon.

I learned through my mistakes, and I didn't deprive myself of self-growth. Sa mundong ginagalawan natin ay bihira lang ang mga taong mananatili sa'yo pero hindi mo kailangang maghabol dahil balang-araw ay sarili mo na lang rin ang kakailanganin mo.

"What's my schedule for today?" pilit kong binalik ang sarili sa ulirat at tinanggal ang bumabagabag sa aking isipan.

Kakauwi ko lang ng Pilipinas at hindi dapat 'yon ang iniisip ko. Iba na ako ngayon at yung dating ako, binaon ko na iyon sa hukay.

"You have a company meeting this evening, Ma'am," Aliyah informed, and I just nodded. Well, I guess I need to gain my composure to face those people who degraded me.

"Do you want to go there? Mister Alyster--"

"I'm professional, and I think Aly won't matter my presence there."

"He won't?"

"Yes, it won't matter to him that I'm there. He loathed me, and my presence doesn't overwhelm him unlike before."

***

Humubog ang katawan ko sa suot kong gintong bestida at nagawa ko pang hawiin ang buhok kong hanggang leeg. Nakita ko ang sariling repleksyon sa salamin at halos hindi na maipinta ang mukha nito dahil sa bahid ng samu't-saring emosyon.

I shouldn't be feeling this. I should be at ease and be fiercer, but why do I feel odd and bothered?

I sighed and gained my composure for the last time. I'm here at the party all by myself, and this will be the first time that I will face the crowd again after years of healing.

Tuluyan na akong pumasok sa venue at hindi ko pinakawalan ang isang taas-noo at sopistikadang presensya. This is me, Mariella Sienna Gallegos, an empowered woman without a man.

They are all looking at my head to toe, but I give them the sweetest smile that shuts their insanity.

Kaagad akong kumuha ng isang baso ng wine at akmang didiretso sa gitna nang biglang maagaw ang pansin ko sa lalaking nakatayo sa veranda at malalim ang iniisip.

Even though I can only see his back, it was a realization to me that it was the person that I left to put myself first. He was wearing an Armani suit, and his well-sculpted body made my lips curled.

I didn't hesitate to approach, but this heart of mine sank like a ship because it can't rule the wild waves of the sea. I know he somehow hates me, but can he give me a chance to prove that I'm not like the person he thought I was?

"Bakit mag-isa ka lang dito?" iyon lang ang lumabas sa bibig ko pero ramdam ko pa rin ang kaba lalo na nung unti-unti itong humarap.

I was at ease when I saw his face but deep down, I was hurt too.

I walked towards him, and he was stunned to see me the reason why I flashed a smile. He still looks handsome, and his face is still the art that I kept for years, even though he didn't keep mine.

Napansin ko ang necktie niya na magulo kaya lumapit ako dito para ayusin ito. Ramdam ko pa rin ang tingin niya sa akin at hindi pa rin siya makapaniwala na heto ako nasa harap niya pagkatapos ng ilang taong pagpapagaling.

"Hindi ka pa rin maayos mag-suot ng necktie."

You hated me, Alyster. You despise me because of what I did, and I'm regretting that I kept quiet for years. I became silent, the reason why I lost you.

At that time, words came out through his mouth, and I was still hurt. Years passed, and I'm already facing what I fear and what I ran away from. The tower I built for years suddenly shattered into pieces as he became visible.

We talked and disregarded our shortcomings. Architect Alyster Monreal, the Senator's son, the one who sculpted and made me strive harder to be a better person. We've taken different paths, but I was still hoping and rooting for a man that I lost, that I can't rule anymore.

Bigla namang bumungad ang isang negosyante at nagsalit-salit pa sa aming dalawa ni Alyster ang kanyang tingin.

"Magkakilala kayo?"

My eyes shifted to Alyster and we locked eyes for a second before answering the question that made my depth turn into chaos.

"Yes, she was supposed to be my wife."