The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

Laking pasasalamat ko nang bahagyang umulang pag-uwi namin nang makita kong bukas ang pintuan ng aming bahay. Sigurado akong magtataka si mama kapag nakita niyang basang-basa ako ngayon.

I frowned when I saw a pair of man's shoes the moment I stepped on the patio. Squinting my eyes, I tried to determine the owner of the shoes. Para kasing nakita ko na iyon noon pa, hindi ko lang talaga maalala.

"Ma?" I called out, placing my slightly damp bag on the table. Ibinaba ako ni Sage kanina sa highway patungo sa bahay namin tapos umikot ulit sila papunta sa mansion. Aaric keeps on complaining na sobrang bagal daw naming dalawa at giniginaw na daw siya.

"Mallory!" my mother's faint voice came from the kitchen. I quickly removed my boots and stepped inside the house. Sinundan ko ang boses niya sa kusina at nakita si Leon na prenteng nakaupo sa dining table namin. His face lit up when he saw me.

"Nandito ka na pala, Mallory..."

I blinked. "Oh, so the shoes outside belong to you..." I said dumbly.

"Yup." He nodded his head. "I came here for a visit."

Nilingon din ako ni mama sa wakas mula sa kaniyang niluluto. She frowned when she saw me dripping wet. "Bakit basang-basa ka? Umaambon lang naman ngayon ah? Hind bagyo..." she squinted her eyes suspiciously at me, scrutinizing me.

Ibinaba ko kaagad ang aking tingin dahil alam kong basang-basa na ako ni mama. "Tumakbo kasi ako papunta dito sa bahay galing palengke." I lied. "Wala akong masakyang tricycle kasi punuan na."

"Sana ay nag-text ka nalang para nasundo kita." Leon's voice is coated with genuine concern that I immediately felt bad for lying.

"Hindi, ayos lang ako." I smiled tightly at him.

"Mallory, kinausap ako ng batang ito." my mother keeps on glancing at me as she stirred the pot. "Gusto ka daw niyang ligawan."

Namilog ang mga mata ko sa kaniyang sinabi. Leon politely smiled at me.

"Pumayag naman ang mama mo, Mallory. So, okay na sa iyo?" he prodded.

"Ah, eh..." I trailed off.

My mother raised an eyebrow at me. "Unless you have someone else in mind. Are you seeing someone, Mallory?"

I shook my head. Pero pumasok sa isipan ko si Sage. Am I seeing him? It's not considered dating. Hindi ko alam kung anong mayroon sa aming dalawa. It's not even considered a kiss earlier. But my goodness! I could still feel his warmth on my lips.

"Namumula ka..." my mother noticed. "I think you should go take a bath. Baka magkasakit ka pa niyan."

"Opo." I mumbled, thankful that I don't have to answer Leon's question. I avoided his gaze and excused myself from them. Dali-dali akong naligo at nagbihis. Kinuha ko ulit ang bag ko na nasa labas ng bahay. I know it's rude but I didn't come out of my room until my mother called me for the meal.

Siyang-siya si mama habang nakikipag-usap kay Leon. Sino ba namang hindi? He's polite, witty, and not to mention, quite handsome as well. Isa siya sa mga apo ng gobernador per dahil anak siya sa labas ay hindi niya dala ang apelyido nila. Ayaw niya ring ipaalam sa iba pa naming kakilala na konektado siya sa gobernador.

I sighed. He keeps on glancing at me every now and then. Sinusuklian ko na lamang siya ng tipid na ngiti. Nang matapos kaming kumain ay tinulungan kong magligpit si mama ng mga pinggan.