The Billionaire's Bond

18-The Promise

Private plane naman ang gamit ni Warren kaya't may sarili itong waiting area sa airport. Doon ko na lamang siya hinintay.

Sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip ko, muntik ko nang mabitiwan ang cellphone nang tumunog ito.

Warren: Denisse, I'm here.

Denisse: I'm waiting at the lobby.

Warren: I know. You look pretty.

Napatingala ako at nakita ko na siyang papalapit sa akin suot ang mega-watt niyang ngiti, tulak-tulak ang trolley na puno ng mga bagahe. Bakit kaya ang dami niyang dala one week lang naman siya doon?

Paglapit niya ay bigla niya akong niyakap. Namiss din siguro ako. Kumawala na ako sa yakap niya dahil nakakakilig na masyado.

"Why do you have so many luggage?"

"Ahm." Napakamot pa siya sa batok at namula.

"I only have one bag, the rest are yours."

"What!?"

"Sorry. I can't help it. Come on. I have a surprise for you."

Binitiwan na niya ang trolley na kinuha naman ng isang lalaking nakauniporme. Isinakay ang mga bagahe sa isang sasakyan at kami naman ay sumakay sa isa pang kotse. May paconvoy pa pala.

Pagsakay ng kotse ay parang excited na excited siya.

"I have something to give you which I hope you will wear."

"What?"

Inilabas niya ang isang little red box. OMG. Kalma lang Denisse. Fake lang ito remember. Fake!

"Denisse, will you wear this ring as a sign of our engagem. . . agreement?"

Okay na sana eh. Pinalitan pa ng word. Binuksan niya ang kahon and I saw the most beautiful ring. Isang platinum ring na may malaking malaking diamond. Hindi ko alam kung ilang carat pero sigurado akong mamahalin ito. May maliliit ring bato na nakapalibot sa singsing. Pero the size of the ring is not enough for me when I know that this is just for show. Kahit alambre o tingga lang okay na ako basta totoong mahal ako.

"Ah. Sure."

Napansin niya sigurong nag-iba ang mood ko dahil kinuha niya ang kaliwang kamay ko. Hinalikan muna niya ito bago isinuot ang singsing.

I shivered not because of the kiss but because of the way he was intensely looking at me. Kung hindi ko lang alam na peke lang lahat ng ito, iisipin kong totoong proposal ang ginagawa niya ngayon.

"Sir. Nandito na po tayo."

What a way to ruin a moment Kuya Atong.

"Come on, you must be tired." Nauna na akong bumaba ng sasakyan. Hindi ko na hinintay na pagbuksan nila ako ng pintuan.

Na sana ay inintay ko na lang dahil sa nakita kong nag-aabang sa akin sa Receiving Area ng mansyon.

"Kris. . toff?"

"Denisse. Flowers for a very beautiful lady."

Nakatitig lang ako sa mga bulaklak. Nangangatal ang buo kong katawan dahil alam kong ilang minuto na lang ay papasok na si Warren.

"Paano mo nalaman? Paano ka nakapasok?"

"I followed you last night. And I told the maids I was your friend's brother."

"Denisse, do you want to. . . Who's this?!"

"Warren . . ."

Nagitla ako sa malakas niyang sigaw kaya't nilapitan ako ni Warren at hinila papunta sa kaniya.

"Oh. You must be the fiance. I'm Kristoff, her suitor."Parang nanunudya pa si Kristoff at inilahad pa ang kamay niya kay Warren na hindi naman pinansin nito.

"Do you know that I've been wooing this girl for more than 8 years before you arrived ang snatched her away from me!"

Sana may magpatay na ng TV para matapos na ang mala teleseryeng tagpong ito.

"What!? I don't know who the hell let you in here but you are not welcome here."

"I came here to give this to the woman I love." Iniabot niya ang bulaklak sa akin na hindi ko naman gustong kuhanin. Hinatak ni Warren ang mga bulaklak at ibinato sa may pintuan.

Hindi naman natinag si Kristoff na tumawa lang.

"I also came here to let you know that I will not let you have her. I will not give in without a fight! May the best man win. And I am very sure you are not the best for her. Mark my words."

With that, umalis na si Kristoff habang nanginginig sa galit si Warren. Kung hindi ko siya niyakap baka natuluyan nang sinugod niya si Kristoff. Hindi ko mapapatawad ang sarili ko kung sakaling nagkasakitan silang dalawa.

"Denisse. Tell me. Who was that guy to you?!"

"Tell me!" Napapitlag at napaurong ako sa malakas niyang sigaw. Wala pang sumisigaw nang ganoon sa akin. Napansin siguro niyang natakot ako kaya't lumapit siya at hinaplos ang aking pisngi.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I just. I'm. . . "

"He's my friend's brother. He wanted to marry me before he went to Australia a few years back. I told him that I only treat him as a friend and brother but he doesn't want to believe me. I don't want to hurt him, they've been my family since my parents died so I told him I will give him a chance after I graduate from College."

"And now, he's back."

"Yes. I saw him last night when I went to Karen's place. Sorry. I didn't know he was there."

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako nagpapaliwanag pero parang iyon ang tamang gawin.

"Denisse. Will you please promise me one thing?"

"What?"

"You may not have known me for most of your life like him. But if the time comes that I ask you to hear me out and listen to me, will you please do it? Will you trust me?"

"What?"

"I'm scared that there will come a time that I will not be given a chance to explain myself to you. That you will just believe everything they say."

"I don't understand."

Sinakop ng dalawang kamay ni Warren ang aking mukha at tinitigan ako sa mata. Nagmamakaawa ang kanyang tingin na para bang takot sa maari kong isagot.

"Just promise me that you will listen to me and try to believe me."

"Okay. Whatever it is."

"Thank you. Believe it or not Denisse. I care about you deeply. Just hang on until I sort things out."

"You're confusing me."

"I know. Sorry. I am also confused myself. I don't know what to do anymore."

Kitang kita nga ang pagkabalisa sa kaniyang mukha. Parang sobrang bigat ng problemang dinadala niya.

"Warren?"

"Let's just talk tomorrow. Thank you for being honest. I am lucky that you are here with me and not with him."

"Good night!"

Ngumiti lang siya sa akin at tuluyan nang umakyat sa kanyang silid.

Habang tumatagal, nagiging mas kumplikado ang dating simple at boring kong buhay.