Billionaire Diaries #2: Caleb Acosta

Chapter 21

Nasa gitna siya ng paniningin kay Caleb nang biglang umingay ang phone niya. She excused herself to answer the call.

"Kelly, hija.. " Tito Rex called. "You're already in the airport, right?"

"Yes, Tito, " sagot niya.

"I'm sorry to say this Kel but I don't think I can go with you. Baka bukas pa. There's an emergency in Davao so I don't think I.. "

"Ayos lang, Tito. I.. can manage. "

Rinig niya ang pagkalma ng manager niya sa kabilang linya. "Thank you, hija. I'll just text you with your hotel details.. "  Napatigil ito, nag-aalinlangan pa yata. "And oh.. I'm not really worried with you because you have a.. a company, right?" 

Kelly bit her insides and glanced at Caleb who's just watching her talk.

"Uh, Tito. Hindi naman—

Tito Rex laughed. "No worries, hija! Kahit ako rin naman! I also find him hot.. "  Humagikhik pa ito.

Ngumiwi siya at ilang minuto pa ay binaba na nito ang tawag. Bumalik siya sa puwesto at saktong narinig ang details ng flight  mula sa speakers.

"What's your seat?" tanong ni Kelly dahil baka magkalayo naman sila.

"Just expect that it will be near yours. "

True to his words, he is really near her! Just beside her!

"I pulled some strings.. " sagot nito nang tanungin niya kung paano nito nalaman ang plane seat niya.

"Do you want coffee? Or tea?" she asked.

He shook his head. "I'm fine. I had a heavy breakfast with my sister. "

Hindi rin naman siya gutom kaya't hindi na rin siya kumuha. Malapit lang naman ang Hongkong so by afternoon or so, they can just have a late lunch. She's sure that hotels does have meals.

Wait.. where would he stay?

Unable to ask him that, Kelly just let it stay on her tounge.

"Did you have a girlfriend before, Caleb?" she asked to divert her thoughts but immediately regretted it when Caleb stared at her.

Umiwas siya ng tingin. "I-I'm just asking. Ako kasi.. I had a few share of boyfriends.. " she confidently said. Kahit na sa mga naging boyfriend niya ay wala naman talagang seryoso. Ang pinakamatagal nga lang ay halos isang buwan!

She isn't a playgirl. It's just that.. of course, your exes would multiply because you didn't find the love you want. Hindi naman sa madami kang naging karelasyon ay malandi ka na.. or if it's the right term. Kasi siyempre.. hindi naman lahat ng relasyon nauuwi sa maayos. I mean, until you still don't feel the need or the want to settle down.. your number of exes won't just stop at the number you decide.

"I did not have any serious relationship with anyone before, Kelly. But I won't deny that I've been with lots of women too. Flings and physical, that's all. " Caleb honestly answered.

Kelly nodded. She's open-minded with things like that. Iyon nga lang.. siyempre.. hindi niya rin naman maiwasang mag-isip at masaktan kahit.. papaano.

"So what about your boyfriends, hmm?" He whispered near her ear.

Her cheeks reddened. Sigurado siya doon. Puwede niyang sabihin na hindi siya naging seryoso sa lahat at wala naman siyang minahal doon pero..

"What about them? They're fine, I think. " Iyon ang mas pinili niyang isagot.

Unang-una, ayaw niyang isipin nito na parang baguhan siya sa ganito. Iyong may feelings involved. Pero sandali, sila na ba? Hindi naman! Wala silang label! Oh god.

Hindi naman nito inuungkat ulit ang bagay na iyon kahit gusto niyang pag-usapan. Alam niyang gasgas na ang linyang, '21st women can now make the first move and there's nothing wrong with that'. No matter how she wanted to show how women can do the same thing as man when it comes to initiation, she can't just bring up that! Talagang nakakahiya para sa kan'ya! It might work on some women.. probaby they have the guts.. but in her case.. for now.. she can't.

"I heard you went out with the Scott actor and the singer. Also with the basketball player. " Pumirmi ang labi nito. "You have a thing with Hollywood stars, huh?"

Nanlaki ang mata niya sa tinuran nito. Totoo naman iyon pero hindi niya aakalaing alam ng lalaki!

She went to a date with Hans Scott twice,  a Hollywood actor, but it was all friendly! Well, he's a bit kind of advanced but they never had a relationship! The Hollywood singer, Levi, was her boyfriend for two weeks. He was fine but he suddenly confessed to her about his true sexuality. So who is she not to accept it. They also became good friends after that. And the basketball player, Marcus, was his ex boyfriend who lasted for almost a month. She broke up with him because he suddenly talked about marriage and it sounds ridiculous. Ilang taon siya noon? 23?

Yes, it's a marrying age but not for her! Ang 25 nga ay napakabata pa! But she's 27 now so..

"I'm abroad so of course it's not rare that I'll find a foreigner boyfriend.. " she hissed.

"I'm a foreigner too, you know. " Bigla nitong sabi. Nanliit ang mata niya dito. "My mom's a Japanese-Latina. And my father's a Fil-Australian. "

Hindi niya naman tinatanong.

And he's talking like she doesn't know it. Alam kaya niya iyon! She was a stalker of him, after all. Informations like that are just basic to her.

"Then what should I say? Congrats?" sarkastiko niyang sinabi dahil hindi niya naman alam kung paano sasagutin ang huling tinuran nito.

He licked his lips. "I'm just saying that I'm a foreigner, too. "

Ngumiwi siya at nagbasa na lang ng mga home magazines. Halos kuminang pa ang mata niya sa mga nakikita. She suddenly want to go shopping! Hindi para sa mga damit o accessories but home tools and equipment! She's now memorizing the hotline of the shop of kitchen products that she wanted to buy! Para kapag natapos ang flight ay mag-oorder siya!

She doesn't really know that much about cooking. But it's cute! And those stuffs would suit well in her house! Iyong sa States!

"The vases and pots I bought in Vietnam looks much better than that.. " turan nito nang mapadpad siya sa outside gardening area ng brochure.

She rolled her eyes. "I don't even know how to plant. Why would you gave me those.. "

Ngumuso ito. "I thought it's just easy. As far as I know, if stems, you will just fill the pots some soil and then stick the stem into it. Water it and it'll probably grow. "

"It isn't always the case! Merong hindi tumutubo at nalalanta lang ang stems—

"Then seeds. You can use seeds. Hindi iyon nalalanta."

She glared at him. "But there's no assurace it'll grow! Puwedeng sira na ang seeds!"

He sighed. "Why are we fighting over petty things.. "

Tumigil na siya kahit gusto pa sana niyang sumagot pa. Hindi na lang dahil naiingayan na din yata ang matanda sa may likod nila.

"Lower your tones, kids. " Iyon ang sabi ng matanda. "Mga kabataan nga naman, " dugtong nito. Hindi na iyon bago sa pandinig niya. Ganoon naman lagi sinasabi ng mga may edad na. If she reached that age, she'll probably said that line unconsciously too.

"Just sleep, Kelly.. " Caleb said.

Tumango siya, closed her eyes and attempted to sleep. Pero kahit suot na niya ngayon ang blazer ay nilalamig siya. Siguro dahil nasa business class sila at hindi masyadong crowded. She have a scarf but it's inside her suitcase. Wait, there's a free blanket!

"Cold?" Caleb asked when he saw her unfolding the blanket. She nodded.

Kinuha ni Caleb ang kumot sa kan'ya at ito na mismo ang naglagay noon sa katawan niya. He then scooted and gently held her head. He placed it to his shoulder so she can have a pillow. Pagkatapos ay pumasok ang kamay nito sa blanket at hinawakan ang palad niya.

She sighed in satisfaction as she comfortably lay at his shoulder. A smile crept on her lips as her consciousness left her.

—
Unedited.