The Billionaire's Son

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

I've waited. I've waited and waited for him that night. But Leon never came home.

"Mallory . . ."

Napatayo kaagad ako mula sa aking kinauupuan nang pumasok na sina Suki at Sierra. Based on the gloomy expressions on their faces, I could tell that they never found Leon.

"His cell's off," mahinang sambit ni Suki.

I lowered my gaze to the floor. He'd been gone for almost 12 hours already. Mag-aalas dos na nang madaling araw. Where would he go?

"Maybe I should look for him myself—"

"No," Sierra cut me off, scowling at me. "You're pregnant, Mallory. Hindi ka puwedeng basta-basta nalang lumabas ng bahay. And it's not even good that you've stayed up this late. Ang mabuti pa ay magpahinga ka na muna . . ."

My lips trembled. I tried to blink back the tears that started forming in my eyes already. "How can I sleep knowing that I've hurt someone as good as Leon?"

Nilapitan ako ni Sierra at niyakap. "He just needs some time, sweetie." She whispered on my ears and stroked my hair. "Just give him some time . . ."

Lumunok ako. What if he never comes back? Paano kapag wala na siyang balak kausapin pang ako muli?

Morning came and I woke up exhausted. Ayaw ko pa sanang bumangon mula sa aking futon ngunit nang makita kong wala na ang dalawang futon sa aking tabi ay pinilit ko ang sarili kong gumising. I silently folded and stored my futon inside the closet. My eyes are red and puffy. I couldn't stop crying earlier this morning of the thought that I've hurt Leon so bad. Tahimik lamang akong umiiyak habang nakatago sa aking kumot.

I sighed. This is all my stupid fault. I should've ignored Sage while I'm still in the Philippines. I shouldn't have created a stupid revenge plan against him. The plan backfired. It was me who is suffering right now. And Leon.

"Sierra?"

She poked her head from the kitchen. There are dark circles under her eyes. Alam kong nakikiramdam lamang siya sa akin kaninang madaling araw. The both of them insisted we all shared a room because they don't want to leave me alone. I'm really glad Sierra did not try to talk me out about it. She just listened to me swallowing a sob until I fell asleep.

"Wala pa rin ba si Leon?" mahina kong tanong sa kaniya.

She shook her head sadly.

"Okay." Bumalik ako sa aming kwarto ngunit bago ko pa man maisirado ang sliding door ay tumunog na ang doorbell. Nabuhayan ako ng loob at dali-daling tumakbo palabas.

I crossed the yard hurriedly and threw the gate open. "Leo—"

Natigilan ako. It was not Leon in front of me. It's Sage.

Tiningala ko siya. He only has a small black backpack and he's wearing a black turtleneck long sleeved shirt with pin-striped pants. Just like the rest of us, there were dark circles under his eyes.

"S-Sage . . ."

Hindi siya nagsalita. Basta niya nalang akong hinila at niyakap. Sage hugged me so tight I could barely breath. He buried his face at the crook of my neck. I placed my hands on his broad shoulder blades and lifted myself on my toes to gasp for air.

Just then, the wind blew. The old cherry blossom tree in front of our house swayed gently, scattering petals of the flower like that of confetti. I watched it danced with the wind, falling five centimeters per second.

"Sage . . ."

"I've missed you so damn much," he whispered on my ears.

Nangilid ang mga luha ko sa mata. This looks like a scene ripped straight from an anime manga. And it made my heart explode every time. Niyakap ko siya pabalik.