Flickered By Innocence (Crossing The Line Series 4) ✅

F.B.I-32

Dad took a glance at me. "Did you get your friend's last name? I don't want you to get along with just anyone, Gellian. You must be friends with your schoolmates instead, since most of them have connections with businesses. You understand?"

Tumango nalang ako kahit labag iyon  sa aking loob. Businessman si Dad kaya inasahan ko na 'yong marinig sa kanya. Siguro'y nasanay nalang ako sa paulit-ulit niyang habilin na pilit niyang tinatatak sa utak ko.

"Gellian, remember what you have to say when dad calls you on stage, alright?" Mom reminded me while fixing the bow tie on the collar of my long sleeve shirt.

Nandito kami sa isang Corporate Event at napakaraming taong dumalo. As expected, puno ng mga businessman at mga bigating personalidad ang buong venue. Nangangatog ang aking mga tuhod dahil hindi naman ako sanay na humarap sa maraming tao.

"Let me call my good son and the future successor of all of my businesses, Gellian Ross Zamora, on stage. Come here, anak." Ani ni Dad habang hawak ang mikropono.

Nang makatuntong ako sa stage ay mas lalo akong binalot ng kaba. Bata lang ako at ang mga kaharap ko'y mga maimpluwensyang tao. Nanginginig ang aking mga kamay habang nakatapat sa akin ang mikropono.

"H-hello, l-ladies and... g-gentlemen. I'm G-Gellian Z-Zamora." I bit my lower lip when some of them laughed upon seeing me pee in my pants.

At that time, when I felt like the world was mocking me, I saw him again. He waved at me with a smile on his face. I chuckled as I saw him take off his father's suit and run towards me to cover me up.

Simula nung araw na 'yon, pinangako ko sa sarili ko na hindi ko na siya papakawalan. Tadhana nga sigurong maituturing na muli kaming magkita. Sinabi kong hahanapin ko siya pero nahanap namin ang isa't-isa.

Naging magkaibigan ang pamilya namin. We discovered that our fathers were colleagues. Our moms' easily get along with each other too, since they both have the same sense when it comes to fashion and luxury stuff. 

Growing up with Zein, my feelings for him began to deepen. Siguro kasi lagi kaming magkasama at hindi pa nga kami mapaghiwalay kung minsan.

"Zein, ayoko ng binibigyan mo ako ng love letters na galing sa iba. Nakita mo naman kung paano ako tumanggi 'di ba?"

I will only accept a love letter from you, baby.

 

Napakaraming beses ko nang pinakita sa kanya ang aking pagmamahal pero ang hirap niyang makaramdam. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya niya bang balewalain yung feelings ko o hindi niya lang talaga ma-gets, which I understand since he's still a baby in my eyes.

"Who's that, Gellian? Is he one of your friends?" Zein pointed at Aaron, who's one of my friends too.

Mapang-asar na tumawa si Levi. "Bakit? Crush mo, Zein?"

Parang pinagsakluban ako ng langit at lupa nung nakita ko ang pisngi ni Zein na namula. Handa naman akong maghintay kahit gaano katagal basta wag lang siyang mahulog sa iba.

"Zein, kaya mo 'yan!" sigaw ko nung makita ko siyang nanginginig sa stage nung Science Quiz Bee.

That's also the first day that I ditched my class because I wanted to witness my baby win that contest. My dad would probably scold me at home once our principal told him what I did, but I don't care. Zein is very important, above all. And I'm willing to sacrifice everything as long as it makes him happy.

 

"Kunwari, isa akong Genie tapos meron kang isang wish, anong gusto mong hilingin, Zein?"

Sumulyap siya sa akin. "Isa lang? 'Di ba dapat... tatlo 'yon?"

Napangisi ako. "Isa lang kaya ko. Kahit ano, basta wag pera. Nagtitipid ako ngayon."

My dad forbade me from being too close to Zein since we're both guys, and I knew for a fact that he noticed that I didn't see Zein as just a friend. I disobeyed him, so he cut off my credit card as a result.

Zein sighed. "Gusto kong matapos na ang problema ng parents ko. I feel pity for them. If I could just work to help them out, I wouldn't hesitate to do it, but I can't."

I swallowed my pride and asked my dad to help the parents of Zein with their resort's financial issues. I just found myself accepting his condition to avoid Zein, since we're going to Germany after my graduation. I will continue my studies in that country without assurance that we will come back here in the Philippines. My mom just cried when I asked her to persuade Dad to change his mind.

They leave me no choice.

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🌈💅