Billionaire Diaries #1: Gray Pereira

Chapter 12

GRAY'S forehead creased when her secretary immediately went outside after giving the folders. Mabilis itong umaalis pagkatapos gawin ang mga iniuutos niya. His eyes wandered to her finger but he can't properly see the ring, o kung meron man 'dun. Kanina pa nakatago ang kamay niya o kung hindi ay laging may tabon na folders.

Did she wear it?

"Stay at my office for now, Ms. Montrez. I need to discuss something with you.. " He plainly said. Wala naman talaga siyang sasabihin. He just want some time to check her fingers. At kapag nasa opisina ang sekretarya ay madali niyang makikita iyon.

"Sit.. " He mentioned the couch in his office. May dala-dala nanamang folders ang sekretarya niya kaya't naiinis na umupo siya sa katapat nitong couch.

"What's with that folder? Hindi mo ba 'yan maiwan sa desk mo o mabitawan man lang?" puna niya sa babae.

Alanganing tumango ito at ibinaba ang folder. Magsasaya na sana siya ngunit umupo ng pade-kwatro ang babae at inilagay ang kamay sa hita. Dahil mataas ang pagkaka-dekwatro nito, hindi niya maaninag ang kamay ng sekretarya.

"May sasabihin po kayo, sir?" she said.

"My grandma is going back at the end of this week. And I want to give her a welcome party.. " he immediately answered. Thanks to his impromptu skills. Hindi pa naman talaga uuwi ang Abuela niya. Or maybe the right term is, hindi niya alam kung kelan ito uuwi. Knowing her, she loves surprises.

"Then I'll contact some organizers, sir. " she answered.

He cleared his throat. How can he open up that thing?

AGAPE glanced at her finger. Siguradong hindi pa iyon nakita ng lalaki. Not that she doesn't want him to see it. She was just embarrassed on how to open it up. Kaya't hihintayin niya na lang sigurong may himalang mangyari. Yeah, that's so crazy of her.

"Kuya!" A shout from the door enveloped the area. Red was smiling widely while walking to their direction. Agad itong umupo sa sofa na malapit sa kanya at nakangiting ibinaba ang bag.

Binalingan siya nito at agad na ibinaba ang tingin sa daliri niya. Nakanguso itong tumingin sa kanya.

"You're getting married na pala, Ate. Sayang, I like you for Kuya pa naman.. " sambit nito.

Gulat siyang napatingin kay Red at wala sa sariling napatingin sa boss niya. Humiling lang naman siya kanina ng himala. Eto ba 'yun?

Wala sa sariling napatingin siya sa boss niya at madilim na ang paningin nito. Agad niyang iniwas ang tingin dahil tila sasabog na ito sa galit. Hindi ba dapa't matuwa siya sa sinabi ng kapatid?

Fear consumed her. Did he changed his mind? Siguro nga ay nakahanap na itong ng papakasalan niya. Hindi yung tulad niyang pinapatagal pa ang lahat. She forgot, her boss doesn't want waiting.

"Wait, hindi mo ba alam, Kuya?" tanong ni Red sa kapatid. Hindi ito sumagot at seryoso lang na nakatitig sa kanya.

"Hala, Ate Agape didn't tell you pala. Pity... I think you need to find a temporary secretary, Kuya. I'm sure Ate will get pregnant soon and she can't come to work for months.. " she added. Napasapo na lang siya sa noo at binaba ang tingin.

"You're getting married? I thought you're single.. " her boss blurted out. She looked at him confused. Wait, hindi niya ba naintindihan?

Nakakunot noo niyang itinaas ang kamay at ipinakita ang singsing. He looked at it for a couple of second before he stood up and went to her direction. She gasped when he kneel and held her hand. It looks like she's checking the ring.

"Is this.. " he whispered. She nodded immediately.

Of course! He was the only one who gave her a ring. Akala naman nito ay marami siyang manliligaw na maguguluhan pa siya kung sino ang nagbigay sa kanya ng singsing.

"Kuya, what are you doing? Naiinggit ka ba kasi ikakasal na si Ate? Then get married too! I badly want pamangkins.. " Red exclaimed. Tiningnan niya ang dalaga at nakanguso lang ito. Mukha namang hindi niya naiintindihan ang nangyayari.

He stood up and faced her sister. "Go home, Red Allisia. " utos niya sa kapatid. She chuckled when Red just crossed her arms.

"I don't want.. " she answered.

"Fine, ibabalik ko ang ilang cards mo sayo. Just go home.. "

Agad na tumayo si Red. Nakalahad pa ang kamay nito sa kapatid. "Give it to me.. "

Nang maibigay iyon sa kapatid ay malawak na ngumiti sa Red. Humalik pa sa pisngi ng kapatid. "Thanks, Kuya! You're the best!" she even made a thumbs up with her fingers.

Lumingon ito sa gawi niya at kumindat. "I'll go to your wedding, Ate! Maghihintay ako sa invitation!" she exclaimed before running outside the office.

The loud bang from the door was the last sound who enveloped the area. Agad siyang nag-iwas ng tingin ng muling lumapit sa kanya ang lalaki.

"Are you sure with this?" He asked. She nodded her head. Wala na nga yatang makakapagpabago ng desisyon niya.

"Hindi ko alam kung paano nalaman ni Red. Clare and I was talking earlier and she got a bid loud. Baka 'dun.. " she said to make the ambiance more lighter.

"But they doesn't know who you will gonna marry with.. " he said. Napatango siya.

"Hindi ko sinabi kay Clare. " she answered. "Kailangan ko bang sabihin 'yun?"

"You should. She's your bestfriend after all.. "

"Sige, sasabihin ko sa kanya.. " she said. Agad silang nagkatinginan at sabay na nag-iwas ng tingin. Namangha pa siya ng makitang sabay silang natawa.

"What are we doing now?" He said, chuckling.

"I don't know. Diba dapat may plano ka na sa umpisa palang?" natatawa niya ring tanong. "Maybe we can just get married secretly?" she suggested

Napatingin sa kanya ang lalaki. Tumaas ang kilay niya nang makitang nakakunot ang noo nito.

"You deserved a grand wedding.. " he uttered. Lumukso ang puso niya. Hindi na nga niya alam kung paano iyon pahihintuin.

"I-I'm fine with simple things. Kahit sa judge nga lang pwede na. I mean, we doesn't need something grand with these arrangement of ours. "

Alright, she dreamed a fairytale-like wedding. That's the time when she doesn't know how love works. Ngunit ngayong tinamaan na siya ng pag-ibig, hindi na niya inisip ang mga pinangarap niya noon. It was amazing that she's suddenly contented with simple wedding.

"I thought a romance writer wished for a romantic wedding?" he asked.

Napangiti siya. "With simple clothes and all, it would still be romantic.. "