The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

"Mallory..."

Nilingon ko si Aaric at awtomatiko akong ngumisi. But my smile faded when I saw the gloomy look on his face habang papalapit siya sa akin.

"Ayos ka lang ba, Aaric?" tanong ko sa kaniya. I scrunched up my nose in disgust when he finally reached me. "Amoy-alak ka..." I mumbled.

"I know," he sighed. Ginulo niya ang kaniyang buhok at bumuntong-hininga sabay sandal sa pader na naghihiwalay sa aming classroom at hallway.

"The guidance counsellor won't be too happy if she learns that you went to school drunk." I pointed out.

"Oh, aren't I such a good student? I still attended my class even though I'm drunk." kaniyang sagot at hilaw na humalakhak. I stared at him blankly. Even his laugh is a pain. Hindi ako sanay na makita si Aaric nang ganito.

"What's your problem?" itinagilid ko ang aking ulo at pinagmasdan siya. Si Aaric ay isang happy-go-lucky na tao kaya naman nakakapagtakang nade-depressed siya ngayon. Whatever he must be going through right now, it must be tough. Maging ako ay hindi komportable na nakikitang nagkakaganito si Aaric.

He lowered his gaze on the ground and started drawing circles lazily using his heavy boots.

"It's Sierra..." he said silently.

My brows shot up in surprise. "Si Sierra?"

Nahihiya akong binalingan ni Aaric. Tapos ay nagtiim-bagang siya. "She won't talk to me anymore and now she's dating a dickhead."

"Aaric!" namula ang aking pisngi sa kaniyang sinabi.

"What?" tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. "It's true. Wala namang binatbat ang Drake na iyon sa akin. He thinks every girl would worship him just because they own a piece of land." Tapos ay napakuyom ang kaniyang kamao.

"Did you two had a fight? Because the last time I saw you with Sierra, you were..." I trailed off as the heat crept up to my cheeks. "You were doing s-something on the ladies room."

Humalakhak si Aaric sa aking sinabi at ginulo ang aking buhok. Magaan ang kaniyang halakhak ngayon kaya medyo nabawasan din ang lungkot sa aking dibdib. "You are so innocent, Mallory." Then his eyes twinkled in amusement. "Bakit? Hindi niyo bay an ginagawa ni Christian?"

My entire face burned in embarrassment. Aaric grinned widely at me as he studied my face.

"I-It's not w-what—"

"Aw, heck. You're blushing, Mallory!" he teased. Humalakhak ulit ito habang pinagmamasdan ako. I turned my gaze away as the embarrassment crept into my bones.

"Aaric naman, you're so—"

"What are you doing?"

Kaagad na inalis ni Aaric ang kaniyang kamay sa aking balikat at tumuwid ng tayo when Sage suddenly appeared, looking pissed. I blinked and swallowed. Aaric cleared his throat.

"Nothing to worry about, cousin. I'm brokenhearted right now and the girls like Mallory..." binalingan niya ako at umiling-iling pa. "Too innocent. Not my type..."

Sage glared at his cousin before he turned to me. Dahil sa kaba ay nag-iwas agad ako ng tingin.

"Let me bring your books." aniya.

Tumango ako. "Okay."

Aaric sighed loudly and squinted his eyes at us. "I'm starting to get bitter, guys. Huwag nga kayong masyadong cheesy dalawa."

"Shut up, Aaric." wika ni Sage habang kinukuha niya ang mga libro sa aking braso. Naka-kulay abo siyang shirt ngayon at faded jeans. Just like Aaric, he's also wearing a pair of black Dr. Martens to school. Both of them are sporting it perfectly as if they were asked to endorsed the shoes in public.