Owned by a Billionaire (Monteverde Series 1)

17

"Mag-asawa pala kayong dalawa, hindi ko alam.  Ang akala ko ay magkasintahan lang kayo," Aling Pacing commented over dinner.

I awkwardly smiled while Aaron was grinning at her. "Akala naming ay alam niyo na," he said as he put rice on my plate.

"Ako na." I stopped his hand but he just gave me a heart-melting smile. "No, sweetheart. Ako na. I wanna do it for you."

I straightened in my seat. Aerold smiled at me and I smiled back. He looked nice.

"Anak, ga'no ka katagal dito?" Mang Carding queried as he munched down his food.

"Baka three weeks lang po. Hindi po p'wedeng mawala nang matagal sa trabaho." He works as a bartender abroad. He flew to the US three years ago and was fortunate to be given a job in one of the newest clubs in New York.

"May girlfriend ka na ba, anak?"

Aerold laughed and looked towards me. He dropped his gaze and focused his eyes on his meal. "Wala po, Nay. But there's this girl I really like."

"Aba, torpe ka pala anak! Sa'n mo ba nakilala 'tong babaeng 'to at ano ang pangalan?" Mang Carding playfully nudged his son's elbow and the latter just laughed heartily.

"Sikreto, Tay."

"Malihim ang anak mo, Pacing." Saad ni Mang Carding.

Aaron and I are busy eating and listening to the three of them conversing. Mang Carding gazed at me. "Hija, ga'no na kayo katagal na kasal nito ni Aaron?"

I swallowed uneasily.

"Four months pa lang po," Aaron said, quickly cutting me off. I nodded in agreement but I kicked his foot under the table.

"Ow!" bulalas ni Aerold.

"Anak, bakit? May problema ba?" Aling Pacing asked, worry etched on her features.

"May nakasipa po yata sa paa ko," he answered.

My eyes widened. "Sorry! Akala ko paa ni Aaron!" I explained to my defense. Aaron fixed Aerold with a bored stare.

"It's okay, Cassidy. Hindi naman ganoon kasakit ang sipa mo. Ganyan pala 'pag bagong kasal, nagsisipaan under the table," Aerold jested.

My cheeks turned crimson. I can't think of a smart comeback so I kept my mouth shut. Nang makabawi sila sa pagkagulat ay itinuloy namin ang pagkain ng hapunan.

"Ba't pala kayo napadpad dito sa amin?" Aerold asked while he sliced the beef on his plate.

"Wala na kasi kaming matuluyan. Pinalayas kami sa inuupahan namin dahil do'n na raw titira 'yong anak no'ng may-ari. Tagakabilang bayan lang kami," Aaron explained while eyeing Aerold warily.

Why do I feel like there's this hidden animosity between the two of them? Or was it just Aaron who doesn't like Aerold?

"Alam mo, hijo. No'ng una ko kayong makita, nagulat ako. Lalo na no'ng sinabi niyong uupa kayo. Kasi mukha kayong mayaman." Aling Pacing commented before she passed the dessert.

"May mga tao talagang mukhang mayaman. Ganyan 'pag maganda at guwapo, Pacing. Tingnan mo 'tong anak natin. Aakalain mo bang ganito ang bahay na inuuwian niyan sa Bicol? Maliit at masikip. Hindi 'diba?" Saad naman ni Mang Carding.

After dinner, Aaron offered to help Aling Pacing clear the table. He also offered to wash the dishes and Aling Pacing accepted his help.

"Maglalakad-lakad lang ho ako," paalam ko. Kailangan kong magpababa ng kinain.

Aaron quickly turned. "No. Baka mapaano ka. Madilim na Cassidy," he said.

I sighed. "I just want some fresh evening air and to gaze at the stars for a while."

But KJ Aaron shook his head. "I said no."

Aerold approached and looked at me. Even his eyes seem to be smiling. "Samahan na lang kita to make sure you're safe," he offered.

I shook my head politely. "I can manage. Well, if Aaron will let me."

Aaron pursed his lips. Aerold glanced at his direction. "Hayaan mo na si Cassidy. She just wants to take a stroll," he defended me.

"At paano kung may mangyaring masama sa kanya?" he shot back, displaying his obvious distaste towards the idea.

"Walang mangyayaring masama sa kanya, because people here are friendly. I grew up here and I know every single one of them. I know them enough to guarantee that they will never hurt anyone," Aerold said with so much conviction that even I believed him.

"Stroll lang naman. Payagan mo na ang asawa mo, Aaron," Aling Pacing butted in. I could see Aaron's annoyance building but he forced a smile in my direction, "Alright."

I was about to turn my back when he spoke, "You're forgetting something, Cassidy."

Kinagat ko ang labi ko bago ako lumingon, "I love you, Aaron Ceyx."

---

Naglalakad-lakad na ako pabalik sa bahay nina Aling Pacing nang marinig ko ang isang pamilyar na boses. My hand flew on my chest because I was startled. I turned only to see a grinning Aerold. "God, you scared me."

"Sorry. I followed you."

I kept silent because I don't know what to say.

"When I saw you earlier, I was dumbstruck. You look like someone I know."

"Who?" I asked, confused.

He chuckled. "My first love."

"Oh." 'Yon lang ang sagot ko sa kanya. I continued to walk and watch the pebbles I kick out of the way. His presence makes me uneasy, for some reason.

"I'm too late," he said. "She's in love with someone else now." Malungkot ang boses niya nang sambitin iyon.

"Maybe there's someone else out there for you," I advised.

"Yeah, I think so, too." Saad niya bago ako muling nginitian. 'Pag sa 'yo, sa 'yo talaga. 'Pag hindi, then marami pa r'yang iba.

We walked in silence until we can already see their house again. Humalukipkip siya bago ako tinignan. "I see her in you, Cassidy."

"Bakit naman?" Nagtatakang tanong ko.

"You have the same eyes." He paused to glance at the sky. "You know what? I have this weird feeling that we were destined to meet."

"And I have a feeling that my fist and your head are destined to meet, too." Hissed Aaron's voice from behind.

Gulat na napalingon ako. Nakabakas sa mukha ni Aaron ang matinding iritasyon habang nakatingin kay Aerold. Aaron held my hand and led me away, but before we were out of earshot, he turned.

"If you know what's best for you, you will stay the fuck away from my wife."