Billionaire's Untainted Love

16. Happy.

Tumayo si Ethan tapos inilahad ang kamay sa kanya. She held on to his hand as he helped her got up.

"Gwapo ba ako?"

"Ha?" Seryoso ba 'to? He could ask her many things and even ask her to become his girlfriend and she would answer yes to him without a second thought.

"Gwapo ba ako?" Ulit nito.

"Oo naman," she still smiled at him. "Bakit mo naman naitanong?"

"Kasi lagi na lang akong iniiwan ng mga babae," nagsimula itong maglakad ng mabagal sa bahaging humahalik ang alon sa buhanginan.

"Ows?" Amused niyang tanong habang inaalis ang pansapin sa paa so she could feel the wet sand under her feet.

"Hindi ka naniniwala?"

"Ethan Montenegro, those girls who left you are crazy."

"You think so?" Nakangiti siya nitong binalingan. Halata namang hindi ito seryoso at gusto lang nito sigurong marinig ang opinyon niya.

"And besides, hindi naman itsura lang ang basehan para magustuhan ang isang tao. Say for example, dahil mabait ka at mabuti kang tao."

"What about money?"

She took a while bago sagutin ang tanong ni Ethan. Parang alam na niya ang gustong ipahiwatig ng binata.

"Never because of money," she answered. "One does not love because of what the other person could give. If it was the case, then it's not love in the first place," hindi ito sumagot kaya bago pa niya mapigilan ang bibig niya, nasabi na niya ang hindi dapat. "Hindi ka minahal ni Felicity kung ipinagpalit ka niya sa pera."

She braced herself for a violent reaction from Ethan sa pagbanggit niya sa pangalan ng ex nito. But it never came. Instead, hinawakan nito ang kamay niya at mahinahong sumagot.

"My mom paid Felicity to stay away from me. She took the money and left."

"I'm sorry."

"No. I'm sorry if my mother had to come to you too and offer you something para layuan ako."

So Ethan already knew... She thought and he felt bad about it.

"Ten million pesos Ethan." She laughed to assure him na balewala iyon sa kanya. "Five million na paunang bayad! If I accepted it, milyonaryo na ako ngayon!"

"Why didn't you accept the money?" Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak nito sa kamay niya. She could sense his fear.

"Because our friendship is not for sale Ethan," huminto siya at ngumiti sa binata. "Besides, did your mother think I'd go for millions when I know she's making billions?!" Inexxagerate niya pa ang pagkakasabi niya.

He laughed heartily bago ito sumeryoso at tiningnan siya.

"I'd give you more than that if you would promise to stay with me," idinikit nito ang noo sa noo niya pagkatapos.

"You do not have to."

"I always knew that you're different, Allison," he cupped her face habang magkadikit pa rin ang mga noo nila. He was too close but she's not backing out. She loves his proximity to her.

"Ethan, can I also ask you a question?"

"Of course."

"The house. Did you buy it for me?"

"Ally-" bahagya itong dumistansya na parang hindi sigurado sa isasagot nito. "I'm sorry if I didn't tell you. Iyon lang ang paraan para makampante ako na ligtas ang tinitir'han mo. Alam kong hindi mo tatanggapin if I just gave it to you randomly. Please don't be mad."