Zeno's Sapphire

Chapter 20

Agad akong napayakap kay Zeno nang lalong lumapit ang press, He tightly encircled his arms on me habang palakad kami papunta sa sasakyan niya.

The guards were having a hard time stopping the press. Kaya lalo akong kinakabahan, I often see press coming up to our family during gathering but not like this. Hindi ko pa nararanasan ang ganitong sitwasyon.

"Totoo po bang ikakasal na kayo sa babaeng anak ng Davids?"

"Is it true that you are now a man because of the Davids's heiress?"

"Totoo bang hanggang ngayon ay lalaki pa rin ang hanap niyo?"

"Are you willing to forget who you are for convinience?"

Maraming mga tanong ang patuloy na ibinabato ng mga ito na ikinakapagtaka kung saan nanggaling. But this is how it works right? Even the things that are meant to be secret ay nalalaman nila.

"Kaya niyo pa papakasalan ang nag-iisang babae ng mga Davids para sa merging ng CJ Davids' at Imperial Co.?" tanong ng nasa unahang reporter.

To specific reason, we suddenly stopped. Parang bombang itinapon sa tenga ko ang sinabing iyon, ang kaninang pinipigilan kong isipin ay inihanda na mismo sa harapan ko.

Does he agreed to be with me just because he need to?

Do we became a couple dahil... kailangan niya magsettle? The reason why his parents' reaction were like that?

Kagat labi kong iniisip ang kanina ko pa pinipigilan. After all, I was the one who ask him to be in a relationship with me.

But what if that's the real reason? What will I do? I.. don't know of I can manage to leave him...

"What?" tanong ni Zeno sa kanila. Tuluyan na kaming huminto at saglit na kumalma ang mga reporter dahil naroon na lang kami.

"Is it true that you two are going to marry for merging of your business? We all know tht CJ Davids' and Imperial Co has a great bond in business partnership,"

Blanko lang ang mukha ni Zeno na nakaharap sa kanila, while the camera lights are already blinding me. "No. We don't marry for convenience,"

"Hindi naman ho lingid sa kaalaman ng lahat na bakla kayo 'di ba?" deretsahang tanong naman ng isa. I can't take the overwhelming situation kaya't napapayuko  lang ako sa kanila.

Zeno tighten his grip on my waist kaya't napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya. "And so what? The reason I'm marrying the girl beside me is because of love. No one has the right to question our love just because of who you think I am. That's all, Stop from asking stupid questions," deretsong sabi niya sa mga ito na nagpawala sa damdamin ko.

I hope it's real.

I resisted myself from showing any reactions. Dumeretso na kami sa sasakyan at dinagdagan ang mga naghaharang sa press para hindi kami masundan.

"Are you okay?" maya-mayang tanong niya. Wala naman sa sariling napatango ako. Parang hanggang ngayon lumilipad pa rin ang isip ko.. I wanted to believe to what he said but part of me is still hesitant.

We never really talk out about us in a deeper level, in the futuristic situations like marrying each other. Of course, I want to marry him but I wanted to assure that he's doing it not just because of a favor.

Not just because I love him, I don't want to be unfair.

Maya-maya pa ay ipinarke niya ang sasakyan sa kung saan. He sighed and faced me, "Baby.. I'm sorry for what happened earlier,"

Tumango ako at tumingin sa kanya, "It's fine... w-wala ka namang kasalanan,"

"I didn't know that they will talk about marriage," He admitted frustratedly. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang ganito.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita, Ayaw niya bang magpakasal sa akin kung ganoon? Thinking of our relationship is just because I ask for it, pains me. Hindi ko kayang tanggapin na hanggang sa huli hindi niya ako magugustuhan man lang.

"Baby—"

Pinutol ko ang sasabihin niya. "A-at least they l-liked me right?" pikit mata kong sabi.

I don't want to cry, please. Can I just not? Just for this time.

"I will not force you. If you're not ready—"

Napakagat ako ng labi nang tumulo na ang luha ko. Hindi ko na napigilan kung ano talaga ang nasa loob ko, "But I want.. to.."

"Look at me, baby." Sinunod ko iyon. "I'll marry you even if I have to wait, I love you and I don't want you to feel rushing,"

Saglit ko oang inalisa ang sinabi niya. Tama ba akong narinig? Nang mapagtantong sinabi niya talaga iyon ay napalaki ang mata ko,"Y-you do?"

Kumunot ang noo niya sa naging tanong ko. Pinagmasdan niya ang buong mukha ko bago pinalis ang luha sa aking pisngi. "Of course, I do. Why would I— Don't tell me you believed the press?"

I didn't speak. Nakagat ko ata ang dila ko dahil doon. Iniiwas ko ang mga mata ko sa mata niya nang magsimulang magkaroon ng malungkot na ekspresyon doon.

He sighed. "Okay, this is my fault. I didn't make it clear that I love you but I truly am . I don't see you as a little girl, hindi naging tayo nang dahil lang sa hiling mo. I want to marry you because I am inlove with who you are, baby girl. Don't ever think I'm doing this all for just anything because you're the only reason,"

"I'm sorry, I doubted your actions. You never said you love me—"

"You never did too, ang sabi mo pa... Gusto mo lang ako," balik niya.

Ngumuso ako sa sinabi niya. Eh nakakahiya kasi, natatakot ako na baka ako lang ang nakakaramdam, "I... I love you too," napayuko ako. "Gusto ko naman ikasal sa iyo e. Just promise me na ako lang dapat,"

Ngumisi siya. "Of course, so you're just waiting for me to say I love you first, huh?" aniya. Humiwalay muna siya sa akin at umayos  ng upo, may kinuha sa likuran kung saan ang gamit niya.

Napaawang ang labi ko ng maglabas siya ng red box. Is this real? Bakit parang biglaan, parang kanina lang nagda-doubt ako tas sa harapan ko kinukuha niya na 'yung singsing sa box.

"Wala ng bawian baby girl, you're now soon to be Mrs. Arczeno Imperial," He declared and put the ring on my ring finger. "I'm always ready for you,"

Manghang mangha pa rin ako sa singsing na isinuot niya sa akin. I'm really getting married? Naramdaman ko naman ang pag-angat ng baba ko, sinalubong niya ang labi ko ng kanya at masuyo akong hinalikan. Ginaya ko iyon at kusang umikot ang braso ko sa leeg niya.

He's mine, sorry to those boys hihi.