BS2: Chained by the Billionaire (On Hiatus)

Chapter 13

[Paula messed this up big time! That woman is really something!]

"Direk Joe, I'm sorry," nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

He was silent for a while. Nagpabuga siya ng marahas na hininga. [Kaya mo bang maglakad the day after tomorrow?]

I pursed my lips. "I don't know, Direk," matapat kong sabi. "But there has to be a back-up plan in case my foot will not cooperate by the day of the runway."

[I'll try to see what can be done. But for the mean time, pagaling ka muna. Use this time to give yourself a break,] malambing niyang sabi sa akin.

This man has really become a very good friend of mine. Tinuturing ko na rin siyang parang pangalawang magulang.

I couldn't walk properly yet. There's still constant and throbbing pain in my sprained foot. At lumalala lalo ang sakit kapag tumatayo ako, naglalakad at gumagalaw. It completely limited my movements.

Ngumiwi ako at tinuloy ang pahlalakad hanggang makalabas ako ng kuwarto. I was surprised when I saw Mang Tasyo not far away from the room.

"Ah, Ma'am gising na po kayo! Magandang umaga ho," bati niya at mabilis lumapit sa akin.

"Morning, Mang Tasyo," ngumiti ako pabalik. But my frown was still there.

Napansin niya ata ang pagtatanong sa mukha ko kaya nagpaliwanagsiya agad. "Napag-utusan po ako na alalayan po kayo."

And I'm not that slow not to realize who ordered him that.

I bit my lip.

"Salamat, Manong," tinapik ko ang likod niya. "Ako na po bahala pumuntang kusina. Thank you po."

Napakamot ng ulo si Manong. "Ma'am kasi ho..." Nag-aalangan niyang bigkas.

"Samahan ko na lang po kayo, Ma'am. Medyo malayo pa po konti 'yung kusina e."

Tama nga naman. Ansel's mansion is huge. So I still have to walk meters to reach the kitchen. He's a billionaire. What can I even say?

"Good morning, Ma'am!" Bati nila Helena sa akin.

"Talaga namang inutusan pa si Manong Tasyo na alalayan si Ma'am. Masyadong worried naman si Sir," panunukso ni Helena sa gilid.

I faked a cough. Gusto ko sanang tanungin if pumasok na ba si Ansel sa office niya kayo tinikom ko na lang ang bibig ko. Baka sabihin pa nila na concerned ako sa lalaking iyon kahit hindi naman.

From: Monique
Sis, papasok ka ba today?

To: Monique
Baka hindi muna.

From: Monique
Shocks girl. Pagaling ka agad please! Kailangang ikaw mag-open ng runway!

Napaangat ako ng tingin nang marinig ang malalim na boses ni Ansel.

"I'll check it later. For the mean time, reschedule my meeting with the boards," the way he spoke was so formal.

Ngunit bahagyang prinoproseso pa lang ng utak ko na andito siya. Hindi siya pumasok? Bakit? Ang alam ko base sa ilang news articles tungkol sa kanya ay isa siyang napakaworkaholic na business man.

I almost stopped breathing when our eyes met. Ramdam ko ang mabilis na pagpintig ng puso ko. There's something hammering inside. Hinigpitan ko ang hawak ko sa phone nang walang emosyon niya akong tinignan.