The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I didn't feel like climbing out of bed today and going to work but I forced myself. Ilang buwan lamang ang aking kontrata sa trabaho, tatakasan ko pa ba? At isa pa, death anniversary ng aking ina ngayon. I want to passed by the church before going to work.

Dressed in a brown maxi skirt and black ribbed top, I headed out of my room, not bothering to put any make up on. I found Leon sipping from his cup of coffee while reading the newspaper.

Binalingan niya ako at nagtaas ng kilay nang makita ang aking suot. "Wow. Your outfit today looks refreshing. Have you got any plans?"

Tinitigan ko lamang siya. Marahil ay hindi niya maalala na ngayon ang araw ng death anniversary ni Mama. I shrugged. "No, just going to work."

He placed his cup on the table and pulled himself up. "You want some coffee?"

"Yes, please." humalumbaba ako sa lamesa. Dumako ang aking tingin sa diyaryong binabasa ni Leon. My eyes squinted when I saw Sage's picture on the Business page but before I could even make out the headline, Leon grabbed the newspaper and replaced it with a cup of steaming coffee.

"Here you go."

"Thanks." I mumbled.

Tahimik lang kaming dalawa ni Leon habang nag-aagahan. He insisted to drive me to work but I declined. Baka maabutan ko pa ang unang misa kung bibilisan ko ang pagmamaneho.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" he glanced at me once again as we walked towards the condo's parking lot.

"Yes, I am." I answered, gripping the sling of my rattan bag tightly. When I saw my car parked next to Leon, I waved at him. "I'll see you later."

He stood there, probably expecting a kiss but I continued walking. Pinagmasdan niya lamang ako hanggang sa makapasok ako sa kotse. Nang paandarin ko na ito ay saka lamang siya nagtungo sa sarili niyang sasakyan.

I sighed inwardly. Sooner or later, I won't be seeing Leon anymore. I don't deserve to.

---

The traffic wasn't so bad, thank goodness. Since it's still early in the morning, there were fewer vehicles milling around the streets. I parked the car hurriedly when I saw that the mass is about to start. Dali-dali akong bumaba ng kotse at pumasok sa loob. Halos puno na ng mga upuan kaya't nagtungo ako sa pinakalikod at nakitayo kasama ng ibang mga nagsisimba.

The priest together with the altar servants entered the church. I kept my gaze ahead but someone caught my eyes. Muntik na akong mabuwal sa aking kinatatayuan nang makita ko ang isa sa mga altar boy. Si Sage!

My eyes widened as I watched him, Sage, in his full 6'2 height, wearing a black cassock as he marched down the aisle with a serious face. Pansin ko din ang panakaw na tingin ng mga teenagers na katabi ko sa kaniya.

Imbes na makikanta ay napako na kay Sage ang aking tingin. He stood in front of the altar with his hair neatly combed and his lips in a thin line. His adams apple bobbed up and down when he started singing along to himself. Halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita.

"Ang gwapo nung altar boy, magkakasala naman tayo nito . . ." narinig kong bulong ng isang dalagita sa kaniyang katabi at naghagikhikan silang dalawa.

I swallowed hard. When we were ordered to sit down, Sage and the other altar servants went to their positions. Kahit nakatayo lamang siya ay talagang agaw pansin ang kaniyang hitsura at malaking pangangatawan. And by gosh, black really suits him well!

I wrecked my brain a little, trying to remember if Sage ever mentioned being an altar boy to me before. But he didn't. Never had I imagined that a business tycoon like him would actually serve inside a Catholic church.