Billionaire Diaries #1: Gray Pereira

Chapter 11

"The ring is not for fashion... i-it's something else.. " she confessed.

She closed her eyes when her bestfriend suddenly stood up. Hindi man siya nakatingin rito ay alam niyang gulat na gulat na ito. Wala nga siyang naging boyfriend tapos bigla na lang na may magbibigay ng singsing para sa kanya? If it's not for fashion, then it's obvious that it's the world's smallest cuff. Sigurado siyang maintindihan agad 'yun ng kaibigan.

"Wait... " tuliro pa rin nitong sambit. "You mean you dated someone without me knowing?" Clare fired and she immediately shook her head.

"No! It's not like that.. " agap niya agad.

"Santisima Agape Clementia.. " Pabulong na nitong sambit habang nakatayo pa rin at nakatutop ang bibig. "D-Don't tell me you had a... a one night stand and you're... y-you're pregnant?" dugtong nito at ibinaba pa ang tingin sa tiyan niya.

Nanlaki agad ang mata niya. Agad siyang lumingon sa paligid kung may nakarinig at nakahinga ng maluwag nang makitang solo parin nila ang paligid. Agad siyang tumayo at hinawakan ang braso ng kaibigan at tulala naman itong sumunod sa kanya.

"Hindi 'yun gano-"

Naputol ang sasabihin sana niya nang biglang hinawakan ni Clare ang kamay niya at sinserong tumingin sa kanya.

"Hindi ako galit. And I'm happy that you're pregnant. It's a blessing. And I think I would be a pretty and rich ninang to your baby girl... " she paused while shooking her head. "Mas maganda siguro kung lalaki, right? Yeah, I think it's a boy-

"Claresta... " she uttered. Napatingin naman sa kanya ang kaibigan niya. "I'm not pregnant. Walang nangyaring ganon. Nakaselyo pa ang bataan. " sambit niya.

Nakanguso naman siyang nilingon ni Clare. "Wala? Sayang.. " sambit nito kaya't napasapo na lang siya sa noo.

"Oo wala, dahil wala naman akong jowa.. " sagot niya.

"Alright.. and what about the ring?"

She sighed heavily. Hindi niya talaga alam kung paano sasabihin sa kaibigan. O kung dapat ba niyang ipaalam ang bawat detalye.

"H-He needs someone to marry him at.. at ako ang gusto niya.. " Wait, that's sounded so wrong. "I mean, ako yata ang pinili dahil medyo.. medyo pasok daw ako sa pagiging desente.. "

"Oh? Don't tell me it's for business?"

"That too... but he has some deeper reasons.. "

Clare stared her. Tila sinusuri siya. Napaiwas naman siya ng tingin at pinaglaruan ang daliri.

"You like him?" she asked. Napaayos naman siya ng upo at hindi umimik. "You like him.. " she said and this time, it's not a question but a matter of statement.

"What kind of guy he is?" Mukha namang kalmado ang kaibigan niya kaya't nabawasan ang kaba niya.

"He's.. well.. uh.. I v-visually enjoyed him and.. " Napatigil na lang siya. What is she saying? Oh god, she's crazy.

"Don't make a fool out of yourself just because of his looks.. " seryoso nang sambit nang kaibigan kaya't nakanguso siyang umiling.

"No, I'm not.. " she prompted. "He's sunless. He lacks sunshine. Ang totoo niyan ay masyado siyang madilim. He's one dark handsome man.. " Natatawa niyang sagot at nakatitig lang sa kanya ang kaibigan. "But he's blazing and full of light if you know him more. He's naturally sweet and I happened to see that kind of his side.. " she said. Napapangiti na lang siya sa tuwing naaalala ang mga nangyari sa kanila. It maybe just a spur of moment for him but it's everything for her. And maybe that's the reason why she's falling-so hard that sometimes, she's not thinking anymore about getting hurt. Nasa isip niya na sa sobrang lalim ng pagkahulog niya ay hindi na siya makakaahon. And it would just numb her until she can't feel it anymore.

"This is crazy.. " Clare blurted out. Napayuko naman siya. "But this is the first time that I saw you with that shining eyes. And it's a shame in a sense to stop it's shine. " she said.

Umangat ang tingin niya rito. She's smiling at her and she can feel how supportive her bestfriend is. Na kahit anong maging desisyon niya ay hindi ito magagalit at susuportahan lang siya.

"Do you know that every girl has a story with their first relationship?" she stated. "Kahit sabihing hindi seryoso o naging casual lang ang lahat. It might not be the first love but it will always lingered in your mind everytime you entered an another relationship.

"In your case, you haven't experienced that first relationship. That's why I understand that you're afraid. But look at us now. After passing that stage, we're happy and sometimes afraid too but the experience completed us. "

She closed her smiling lips. "It wouldn't be an experience without experiencing that experience.. "

That was so nice to hear.

"What I mean is, everything you started will be an experience. And you're a woman. They say that woman don't need a man. But I don't think so. " she said. "You see, kahit ang mga babaeng tumandang dalaga ay may istorya sa una nilang naging pag-ibig. At kahit sabihing tumanda nga sila ng walang lalaki sa buhay, do you think they didn't thought about getting married? Or having a children on their own? Siguradong naisip nila iyon. But at some circumstances, they preferred to not need a man. Eventhough they wanted it, and they longing for one.. "

"Follow what your mind say. Wag mong susundin ang puso mo dahil wala naman talagang sinasabi 'yan. A heart would just always remain as a confusing organ. It just beat because of your mind. Don't even think to follow your heart. Kasi magmumukha ka lang tanga kasi wala ka naman talagang susundan.. " she said and stood up. "Maybe my words of wisdom are enough. I'm going back to the hospital now.. "

Hindi siya nakasagot. She's lost for words. At hinayaan niya lang na tingnan ang bulto ng kaibigang palayo sa kanya. But knowing Clare, she expected something. And yes, her expectations come true.

"And oh, don't forget to invite me in your wedding! Kahit sa huwes 'yan o sa divisoria!" sigaw nito nang makalayo na. Napasapo na lang siya sa noo. Any minute, rumors will spread about her. At sino namang isasagot niya kung magtatanong sila kung sino ang papakasalan niya? Clare and her big mouth.

NAPASANDAL siya sa upuan at wala sa sariling hinawakan ang kwintas na sinadya niya talagang itago sa damit. She made the ring as a pendant. Hindi naman kasi niya puwedeng ilagay iyon sa daliri niya dahil hindi pa naman talaga siya nakakapagdecide.

Ilang beses na niyang tiningnan ang singsing ngunit hindi parin niya maiwasang mamangha sa disenyo. It has a gold ring band, with a pear-shaped moonstone with a delicate diamond crown. Each side of the moonstone has a two rose cut diamond. Nang makita niya iyon noon ay muntik na niyang maitapon dahil sa napakaraming batong nakapalibot.

But it's not the time to appreciate the ring, ang problema niya ay kung anong gagawin niya sa singsing. If she put it in her finger, then she's accepting the proposal. And if she reject it, obviously, she will give back the ring to the owner.

This is really hard. Mas mahirap pa yata sa lahat nang pinagdaanan niyang examinations mula elementary hanggang college.

She closed her eyes as she removed the ring from her necklace. At nang matanggal niya iyon ay nagmulat siya ng mata. She then slowly put it in her finger. Her hands were shaky. And she can feel her sweat streaming down from her face. When it's already in her finger, her heart hammered. The ring matches her paper white skin.

If I would get hurt in this at the end, then I'll say sorry to my heart in advance.

You're free to blame me if you will be hurt and break into pieces.

And I'm sorry, because I'll sacrifice you now.