The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 13

Chapter 13

I drummed my fingers against the plastic material of my desk. Kanina pa ako palingon-lingon sa pintuan. Baka late lang siya? O di kaya'y absent na naman ngayon?

Sighing to myself, I pulled out my book when I saw our professor entering the classroom. Mukhang hindi nito napansin na mag-aapat na araw nang absent si Sage. I last saw him on Friday, when he insisted on having lunch with me again. But this time, wala na ang dalawang magkapatid. Si Aaric at Sage nalang.

Did something happen to him while he's on Mati with Aaric?

I couldn't shake the horrible thoughts away. Lapitin pa naman ng gulo si Sage. He's short-tempered and will automatically ask for a fight whenever he can. Baka naman napaaway na naman siya?

For the rest of the class, my mind drifted back and forth to Sage. I couldn't concentrate on the lesson. Hindi ko rin siya nakikita kapag dumadaan ako sa palayan nila tuwing uwian. Is something wrong with him?

As soon as my last class is over, I hurriedly gather my things and scurried out of the room.

"Mallory!"

Nahinto ang mabilis kong paglalakad nang marinig kong tawagin ni Leon ang pangalan ko. I pasted a smile and turn to him but it soon vanished when I saw something on his hand.

"I... uh..." he scratched the back of his neck, his ears turning pink. Isa sa mga kakilala niya ay itinulak pa siya palapit sa akin at hiniyawan. Malaki ang ngisi nitong palipat-lipat ang tingin sa aming dalawa. He also earned some yells and tease from his classmates.

"Umalis nga kayo!" he muttered angrily to mask his embarrassment. I shifted on my weight. Ibinalik niya ulit ang tingin sa akin at alanganing ngumiti. Saka niya iniabot ang bulaklak sa nanginginig na mga kamay.

"P-Para sa iyo..."

"Salamat, Leon."

"Gusto ko sanang manligaw... kung ayos lang?" he searched for answers in my eyes.

Kinagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko at tinanggap ang bulaklak. "Leon kasi..." I trailed off, desperately thinking of a valid reason to deny him. "Si Mama..." nasabi ko nalang. "Ayaw niyang nagno-nobyo ako."

"I-I'll talk to her!" mabilis niyang tugon. "Kilala naman ako ng mama mo, diba? I can talk to her. Alam naman siguro niyang malinis ang intensiyon ko sa iyo."

Napakamot ako sa ulo. "I don't think that would work. And besides..." I glanced down at my books. "Gusto ko munang mag-focus sa pag-aaral. You know why I'm striving hard, right?" I gave him a kind smile. "Gusto kong maging proud si Mama sa akin."

His face fell in disappointment. Alam ko nang matagal na may gusto si Leon sa akin. But I ignored all his hints and bombs. Palagi na nga kaming tinutukso dalawa ni Mia pero hanggang kaibigan lang talaga ang turing ko sa kanya.

If only there's some kind of way to reject someone without hurting them.

I sighed. "Pasensiya na, Leon."

"Hindi, ayos lang." he smiled tightly at me. "I hope this wouldn't get things awkward between us." He chuckled nervously. "Ayaw kong masira ang pagkakaibigan natin dahil sa kahibangan ko."

"Ayos lang, no." tinapik ko ang kanyang braso. "Sige, mauna na ako ha? Salamat nga pala sa bulaklak." Bahagya ko itong itinaas at kumaway na sa kanya. Leon waved goodbye as I strode outside the hall and started walking towards the only gate of the tiny campus.

Walking on the outskirts of the Monterio's rice field, bumalik muli ang isipan ko kay Sage. My mother prohibited me from seeing him again but I couldn't help myself. Imbes na dumiretso sa bahay ay pumasok ako sa gubat at sinubukang hanapin ang daan patungo sa mansion nila. If I take the route from our house, paniguradong makikita ako ni mama at baka mapagalitan na naman.