The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 12

Chapter 12

I did as what my mother told me. Iniwasan ko si Sage. I didn't know if he's aware that we're attending the same college but it didn't matter anymore. As much as I want to talk to him, mas mabuti nang sundin ko si Mama.

So here I am, walking home with my books against my chest. Mag-aalas kwatro pa lamang ng hapon ngayon. Hindi katulad noong high school pa ako na pwede ko pang gamitin ang shortcut sa gubat, sa highway na ako dumadaan ngayon.

The community college is not that far from our home. Sumasakay lang kami ni mama ng tricycle tuwing umaga kapag malilate na kami. Pero madalas ay naglalakad lang ako.

I passed the Monterio rice field again. Tearing my gaze away from their endless property, I stared ahead of me as I walked down.

"Mal?"

Nanigas ako sa kinatatayuan ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses ni Sage. Naghintay pa ako na tawagin niya akong muli bago ako tuluyang lumingon.

"Hey, Mal!" he smiled at me as he climbed out of his matte black wrangler jeep. Bumaba din dito ang kasama niya noong isang araw na lalaki. Both of them are wearing tattered jeans and blue thin long sleeves. The other guy gathered the prunes and scythes from the back of the jeep as Sage approached me.

"Going home?" he eyed my books.

"Ah, oo eh." By then, the guy had finished unloading the tools. Pinagpagan niya ang kanyang kamay at nilapitan ako.

"Whoa, man, who's this chick?" inakbayan niya si Sage at nginisihan ako. Malaki ang ngisi niya sa akin. Sage scowled.

"This is Mallory." Simpleng wika ni Sage.

"Mallory, Mallory!" he stepped out and took my hands, shaking it longer than necessary. "My name is Aaric." wika niya sa akin.

"That's enough." Sage frowned and grab his hands from me. I shot him a grateful look and secured my hands around my books. Bahagya din akong umatras mula sa kanila.

I glanced at the tools behind them. "Mag-aani kayo ng palay?"

"Yep! Wanna join us?" Malaki pa rin ang ngiti sa akin ni Aaric.

"Hindi na." I smiled at him. "Uuwi na ako eh."

"Oh, that's too bad. Or you can just sit there and motivate us." He whistled meaningfully.

"Just start the damn harvest, Aaric!" Sage barked. "All you ever think is flirting."

"Whoa, whoa." He held both his hands and stepped back from Sage. "I angered the boss." He whispered, directing his eyes to me. I chuckled and Sage's frown deepened.

"Umuwi ka na, Mal. Baka gabihin ka pa sa daan." He said, waving his hands in dismissal. Sage picked up a scythe and examined the sharp tool before he joined Aaric on the rice field.

Ilang minuto ko silang pinagmasdan dalawa. Mayamaya pa ay dumating na ang iba pang mga trabahante sa palayan. Umalis na kaagad ako bago pa man ako makita ni mama o ni Don Monterio na nakamasid sa kania.

Later that evening, while I am preparing the table for our dinner, my mother searched for my expression. Now that my stepfather is gone, our house had become a lot cleaner and peaceful. After a lot of convincing, I finally managed my mom na hiwalayan siya.

Bumuntong-hininga siya. "I know you're upset about not being friends with the young Monterio."

Nagulat ako sa sinabi niya. Inilapag ko ang tinidor at kutsara bago ko siya hinarap. "Po?"