Running Away from the Billionaire (LOB series #4)

Chapter 25

"Riona, go home with lola first. I'll catch up later, alright?" She nodded her head and I kissed her before she left with my mother. Kitang kita ko ang pag sunod ng tingin ni Klaus kay Riona, ganon din ang pagsalubong ng tingin nilang dalawa habang hawak ni Mama ang kamay ni Riona palayo.

But my daughter, being the good girl that she is didn't ask me any question.

I walked towards Klaus and sat on the vacant seat beside him.

"H-How's her wrist?"

"Sprain lang daw sabi ng doctor. It will heal within 2 to 3 weeks." Tumango siya pero nakatingin parin siya sa direksyon kung saan lumabas si Riona. "Doon na muna sila sa unit ko." He was quiet for a moment before he took a deep breath and asked.

"Is she—is she...?" Gusto kong umirap. Gusto kong itanong kung seryoso ba siya sa gusto niyang itanong. Napaka obvious naman na anak niya si Riona.

"Yes Klaus, She's our daughter." Napapikit siya at napahilamos ang kamay sa mukha. Natahimik kami pareho.

Ang bilis ng kabog sa dibdib ko sa sobrang kaba habang hinihintay na sigawan niya ako... na sumbatan, pero hindi parin siya kumikibo. Hindi ko rin magawang magsalita. I don't know what to say to him.

"Why? Why didn't you tell me?" He asked breaking the silence between us. His voice almost a whisper.

"I did try to tell you. Twice." Inangat niya ang ulo niya upang tignan ako, but when our eyes met he immediately looked away. "Before and after I left you." Wala siyang kibo at nakatingin lang sa kawalan.

"I tried to tell you the night I left your house. Sinubukan din kitang puntahan dalawang buwan pagkatapos kong umalis dahil na-realize ko na nagpadalos-dalos ako at nagpadala sa emosyon ko pero nung pumunta ako sa opisina mo nakita kita na may kasamang babae." Napapikit siya.

His chest rising and falling plenty of times while his eyes are still closed. Maybe he's calming his self. I'm ready for this. Alam kong magiging ganito. Tatanggapin ko kahit anong sabihin niya dahil alam ko na mali ako.

"Galit ka ba?" Lakas loob kong sabi sa kanya. "Hindi ko nasabi agad sayo kasi... kasi—"

"Mad? I'm not mad. I have no reason to be mad. I just... don't know what to feel." Napatakip siya sa mukha niya. "I don't know."

Silence enveloped the two of us again. All I hear are the footsteps of the people around us but my eyes remained on him. Hanggang ngayon wala parin siyang kibo. His hands are on his face as he leans his elbows on his knees. Ilang beses ko na din siyang napansin na bumuntong hininga.

"Do you... want to meet her?" This time ako na ang nag lakas ng loob na magtanong sa kanya. He slowly removed his hands on his face as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Of course. I do want to meet her." Tumango ako ngunit hindi ko alam kung nakita niya iyon dahil nakatingala lang siya sa kisame at tulala. "Her name's Riona right?"

"Yeah." Hindi parin siya kumibo. I was about to ask him if he wants us to go to my unit tonight to meet our daughter but he suddenly stood up.

"I'll let her rest for tonight... maybe tomorrow." He looked at me for a split second before looking away. "You should rest too. I'll drive you."

He means well. I know he means well... but why am I disappointed? Mali ba na malungkot ako dahil lang sa ayaw niyang makita si Riona ngayon? Am I being childish again?

The whole ride was another deafening silence between us. All he said when we got into his car was to put my seatbelt on and after that he didn't even say a word.