The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 28

Chapter 28

My father is a seafarer. When my mother is still in her last year in college, the two of them eloped because my grandparents are opposed to him. Papa is five years older than my mother at that time. They lived in a small apartment and while my mother is still finishing her degree, they had me.

That's what I know of their love story. It all started when the two of them decided to run away and build a family of their own against the will of their parents.

Tulo pa rin nang tulo ang aking mga luha habang tumatakbo ako. I panted heavily and looked around. Pinara ko kaagad ang pinakaunang tricycle na aking nakitang dumaan. Nagtataka akong tiningnan ng driver habang pinupunasan ko ang aking mga luha.

"M-Manong... sa terminal po..." wika ko sa pagitan ng aking paghikbi.

"Ayos ka lang?" nag-aalala nitong tanong bago niya pinaandar ang kaniyang tricycle.

I sniffed. "Ayos lang po..." I silently answered and fidgeted with my fingers. Hindi pa rin tumitigil sa paghuhumerentado ang aking puso. I swallowed a couple of times and tried to calm myself until I arrive at the terminal. Kaagad kong binayaran si Manong at tumalon mula sa tricycle nang makita kong papaalis na ang bus patungong Davao.

I waved my hands frantically to make the bus stop. The driver scowled at me but stopped the bus and let me in. Humahangos akong pumasok. Hindi pa man ako nakakaupo ay umandar na ulit ang bus.

I scanned the surroundings, looking for Sage but he's not inside the bus. Inisa-isa ko ang mga pasaherong nakasakay pero wala talaga siya.

"Manong!"

The conductor turned to me and rose an eyebrow.

"P-Pakibaba nalang po ako please..." nahihiya kong tugon sa kaniya.

Sumimangot sa akin gang konduktor ng bus. "Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo, Miss?"

Nangilid ang mga luha ko at dali-dali siyang nilapitan. "P-Pasensiya na po talaga. Kailangan ko pong bumalik sa terminal."

He let out an annoyed sigh before he signaled the driver to stop the bus. Masama rin ang tingin ng driver sa akin habang bumababa ako. Paulit-ulit akong nag-sorry sa kanila at dali-daling bumaba ng bus. Tinakbo ko ang natitirang distansiya patungo sa terminal.

The bus terminal is packed with people. I scanned the surroundings, looking for Sage once again. Hindi ko siya makita. Natatakot akong baka masundan ako ni Mama dito kapag hindi ako nagmadali.

Tears prickled my eyes. I don't understand! If she eloped with my father when she was still younger, why can't she understand my situation right now?

Pigil ang aking hininga habang sinusuyod ang buong terminal. Pero hindi ko makita si Sage. Due to extreme exhaustion, I plopped myself on one of the seats to rest a little. Kinakabahan pa rin ako.

What if he decided to run away alone? What if his father's men have found him or what if he's in danger right now?

I couldn't shake the bad thoughts from my mind. Nanatili akong nakaupo sa silya at naghintay sa kaniya.

Sage told me to meet him at the terminal. He told me to wait. He's going to come. It's all right, Mallory. He's going to come any moment. Sage is going to come for you.

I took a deep breath and decided to wait instead. I tapped my feet against the cement nervously. 30 minutes passed. Wala pa rin si Sage. And the 30 minutes turned into an hour.

Yumuko ako at pinigilan ang pagtakas ng aking mga luha. It's okay, Mal. It's okay... Paulit-ulit ko itong sinambit sa loob ng aking isipan.