The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 16

Chapter 16

The year just started when I landed in Haneda international airport. Pagod akong napatingin kay Gideon na kanina pa tahimik sa aking tabi. He gave me a small smile before he stood up and joined the queue of passengers.

January's cold breeze slapped gently against my cheeks as we joined the sea of crowd. Lahat sila ay makakapal pa rin na jacket ang suot at naka-bonnet. Manipis na ang nyebe sa daan, di tulad noong umalis kami na halos hindi na madaanan.

"You should call Leon," wika ni Gideon habang ina-unload ang aming mga maleta. "Tell him you're already here."

"He's going to get mad," I murmured under my breath, producing a thin smoke from my mouth because of the cold weather.

"At least he knows where you are. His campaign is about to start."

I heaved a sigh. So he really wants to run as the governor, after all?

"I'll just take a rest and will tell him." Wika ko.

"Ihahatid na kita sa inyo." Ani Gideon nang makuha na ang pang-huling bag na may lamang mga electronics naming dalawa.

"Doon ka na din matulog sa aming bahay, Gid. You're going to be lonely, alone at your apartment."

"Huwag na—"

"I'm sure you wanted to see Suki." I teased him.

Namula ang dulo ng mga tainga ni Gideon sa aking sinabi. He's trying to fight a smile from breaking off his face. "Just cut it out, Mallory."

Tinusok-tusok ko pa ang kaniyang tagiliran habang tumatawa. We hailed a cab and instructed the driver to our address. Pinaghalong kaba, saya, at excitement ang nadarama ko nang makabalik ako dito sa Japan. I've never missed this country so much than now.

Malayo pa lamang ay kitang-kita ko na ang pigura ni Suki na nag-iigib ng tubig papasok sa loob ng aming bahay. Gideon's eyes shone but he kept his mouth shut. Iniwan niyang nakabukas ang gate. The taxi slowed down, catching her attention. Kumunot pa ang kaniyang noo nang makita ito pero nang lumabas na ako ay isang malaking ngiti ang sumilay sa kaniyang labi.

"Mallory!" she cheered, dropping the wooden pail on the ground and running towards my direction. She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into a tight hug. Sobrang lamig ng kaniyang dalawang kamay.

"Suki . . ." natatawa kong wika.

"Nanite kotoda! You never said that you're going home today!" she pulled away from the hug and grinned widely at me.

"It's a rush decision, sorry."

I stared at her black orbs and bob cut hair. I can still remember when we first found her, almost freezing to death in the streets because her abusive parents abandoned her. Suki is only 5 years younger than me. But because her parents didn't allow her to study, she barely know anything. I became her guardian ever since then.

"You have someone waiting for you. It's a yoi tomodachi of yours."

Kumunot ang aking noo. "Huh? Sino?"

Tahimik na ipinasok ni Gideon ang aming mga bagahe. I helped him unload all of our suitcases followed by Suki.

"Secret! It's a surprise, nee-san!" she giggled.

Napailing na lamang ako. Suki understands a bit of Tagalog but can't speak of it properly. Buti na lamang at madali siyang matuto kaya naman hindi kami nahihirapang makipag-usap sa kaniya. Although the girl has a dialect, she sure is a smart girl.

Suki slide the door open, revealing a woman who was just getting up from her seat. Her eyes widen when she saw me. Pati ako ay sobra ding nagulat.

"Sierra!" I cried, dropping all of my bags and stumbling my way to hug her.