Avlaire's POV
Matapos 'yon sabihin ni Aki 'eh agad n'ya akong binuhat na parang bride at dere-dertsong lumayo kung nasaan kami ni Pit. Mukang sinadya n'ya na hindi na lumawak pa ang usapan at agad na ilayo ako doon. I am thankful how he ended it immediately kasi anytime, I'm sure, I'll collapse or worse 'e maging pabigat pa sa kanya. I don't know what to feel anymore. Nakakatakot si Pit, nakakabigla ang lahat, para akong napaglaruan.
Hinayaan ko lang na buhatin ako ni Aki habang I'm leaning on his rough chest. Even though matigas 'yon na halatang batak na batak, there's still the comfort na nagbibigay sa'kin ng assurance. He's holding me like I am his only treasure at ramdam na ramdam ko ang init ng mga kamay n'ya na nasa hita at likuran ko. I can still feel his stiffness pero I can also feel na pinapakalma n'ya ang sarili for me.
Nang makarating kami sa sasakyan eh dahan dahan n'ya akong pinasok doon. Hindi ko na alam kung paano n'ya 'yon nabuksan. He put me down sa kotse then he make sure na okay ang lahat. He's also staring at me while inaayos n'ya 'yung seatbelt.
"Are you okay?", malambing n'yang tanong habang naka lean sa upuan ko. Ang lapit lapit ng muka n'ya na hindi ko maatim.
After lahat ng nangyari, naisip kong Aki does have fault in here too pero I can't just blame him because I know for sure na may reason s'ya. I just nodded at umiwas ng tingin sa kanya. Ang bigat bigat pa din ng lahat and I can't forget the way I scream earlier sa kanya. Sinecure n'ya rin ang paa ko before sinara ang pinto then umikot na para magdrive.
"Aki, my car.", mahina kong sabi before n'ya buksan 'yung engine.
He looked at me and smile. "Leave it. I'll buy you ten if you want.", he said and I just ignore him.
Napabuntong hininga naman ako because hindi ako sanay na ganito si Aki. I like the more innocent him where he's like a cute little boy. Looking at him now with a car which is seven times more expensive than mine, naninibago ako at nalulula sa taas n'ya. Iniiwasan ko talaga s'yang tignan at nananatili lang na sa road buong byahe. I felt like mamatay na ako sa silence kaya sinimulan ko nalang na magtanong.
"Why did you hide everything?", I asked out of curiosity. Tinignan n'ya ako base sa pagkakapansin ko at saka bumalik ulit sa pagda-drive.
"I wanted to protect you.", he said na dahilan para mapatingin ako sa kanya.
Natawa naman ako. "Protect me, Aki? How come you 'protected' me tapos looked at what happened? Nawala sa'kin ang lahat.", naiinis kong sabi at hindi naman s'ya nagsalita. Maya-maya 'e niliko n'ya ang car at tumigil sa isang gilid.
Bumuntong hininga s'ya tsaka tumingin. "I know.", mahina n'yang sabi na mas ikinagalit ko. He's aware but he still chose to hide everything until the end? "I tried to save everything, Avlaire. Believe me.", pagpapatuloy n'ya na hindi ko na maatim pakinggan.
"You tried, Aki? How come? When did you do that? Nasaan na 'yung sinave mo?", sunod sunod kong tanong.
"Nung nawala ako sa farm. I did everything to save you.", nagsusumamo n'yang sabi habang nakatitig sa'kin ang mapupungay n'yang mata. "I know, this is not a valid reason for me for you to forgive me but I didn't expect Gioni's son is Pit. Simula palang, he planned it all. Alam n'yang ikaw ang kahinaan ko. He tried—"
"Ako ang kahinaan mo?", bulong kong tanong at gustong malinawan sa lahat. "How did you know me, Aki?", I asked while suppressing all my emotions. I need to know where everything started.
"I met you the first time when we were 17. Do you remember that one ball where I asked you why are you crying? You said na you wanted some rich man who's greater than your father and someone who can save you.", pagkukwento n'ya. Inisip ko naman 'yon at hindi ko ma matandaan. Bumuntong hininga s'ya ng mapansin na wala akong naaalalang ganoong senaryo. "I fell in love with your puffy face and red nose.", he said habang pinipigilan 'yung ngiti n'ya.
"No way.", I said and he just laughed.
"It's true. The problem there is, I don't have the power to be the man who you wanted that time.", pagpapatuloy n'ya. "Then, years passed and I heard a lot of things about you. I am admiring you from afar and still seeing the 17 year old girl in all your appearances. You never change. Then, I happened to met you in a party. There, I discovered that you hated the smell of perfumes. You sneezing non-stop sa balcony and I again fell in love with your puffy face and red nose. You're so adorable that I can't stop myself from smiling the whole time. I—", I interrupted him.
"It sounds like it's a confession. This is not the time for that.", I said then tumingin sa road. I'm trying to stop the smile that wanted to escape my lips. Even though Aki is too different now in appearance and such, he's still that sweet, rough, and kind man that I fell in love with. I just didn't expect that he's in love with me for a long time na.
Looks like Aki just realized what he did and fell into silence. I looked at him and saw that his ears is too red and he's avoiding my gazes. How cute he can be? Awwww. EHEM! Anyway, he's still at fault.
"Why did you disappear like that Aki?", I asked, referring to what happened in the farm. "Are you the one who did that in the farm?", I asked and he looked at me immediately.
"No!", mabilis n'yang sagot. "Why would I do that in my farm?", he said and yes, it all makes sense. "I guess it's also part of Gioni's plan. He's trying to mess with me. After n'yang i-reveal ang identity mo, he tried to attack all my other businesses kase alam n'yang I'm in london, trying to save your name.", he explained and I just listened. "Same goes with your company.. he wanted to get you and your father. He's trying to get on the top."
"Top? Are you in the top Aki?", I asked and umiling naman s'ya. "Then Gioni is better than you?"
Sumama naman ang tingin n'ya at umiwas ng tingin. "What do you take me for, Avlaire? I'm not in anything because no one can be compared to my company. I'm in the top of all.", he said na nagpanganga sa'kin.
"No way.", bulong ko at hindi pa din makapaniwala. He's the one that everyone wanted to have as their stockholders or any businesses, they wanted this man to invest to them in any amount as long as it's him.
"Do you still wanted to know more?", mahinahon n'yang sabi at tumingin sa'kin.
Nag isip naman ako at wala nang pumapasok sa isip ko kaya tumingin nalang ako kung saan at umiling. Wala rin namang magagawa ang pagtatanong ko sa ngayon.
"Don't worry about your company.", he said at napatingin naman ako sa kanya. "I'll invest to you."
Hindi naman agad ako umimik. "No, Aki. Leave me. I'll handle this.", sabi ko na mukang ikinagulat n'ya.
"What? Why?", tanong n'ya na parang bata. Pinigilan kong matawa. "What's the use of my power if I cannot help you?", he asked and umiling lang ako.
"I don't need you Aki.", I said na ikinatahimik n'ya. "I want to survive this all by myself. I'll start with a plan and succeed with revenge."
Hindi s'ya muling sumagot at mukang iniisip ang ibabato sa'kin.
"I want you Aki.", sabi ko kaya agad kong nakuha ang atensyon n'ya. "I only want you. Not your power, not your money, but you, Aki.", I said and I saw how his smile widen and his eyes became brighter.
"Alright, I'll respect your decision. But, please remember that I'm always here for you, I can give everything you want.", masayang sabi n'ya na nagpangiti naman sa'kin.
"Okay. Now, drop me there.", I said at itinuro ang isang hotel. It's one of my buildings kaya I can just barge anytime. "I need to go home.", I said at tinignan lang n'ya ako. "What?"
"Who says I will drop you there?", he asked and I got confused.
"Ah, me?", I asked and he just started the engine.
He looked at me and smirked and said, "You're coming home with me."
