Running Away from the Billionaire (LOB series #4)

Chapter 26

"Can I take Riona out tomorrow?" A smile instantly formed on my lips as I heard him. We just tucked Riona in her bed and I can't describe how happy I am to see her like that.

Ang sabi pa ni Rio ay ayaw niyang matulog dahil pakiramdam niya nananaginip lang siya. I almost cry out of happiness when I heard her. I know she have been longing to meet her father, kaya naman ganon nalang siya kasaya ngayon.

"Of course Klaus, she's your daughter too." I told him as I handed him a coffee. Ilang sandali pa siyang natahimik. "May problema ba?"

"I was thinking," He started as he stare at his mug in his hands. May kakaiba talaga sa kanya, it's not his hobby to stare blankly—not when his with me. He took a deep breath before he talked again. "Do you want to marry me?" I stared at him dumbfounded of what I heard.

Did I really hear it right? Did he just asked me for marriage?

"W-what?" Tinignan niya ako sa mga mata.

"Let's get married, Kaye." Ngayon ay nakatingin na siya sa mga mata ko na para bang yun na ang goal niya sa buhay. "I don't have a ring right now, but I want to marry you."

Nang hindi parin ako nagsalita ibinaba na niya ang mug at hinawakan ang kamay ko. I can see how hopeful his face is. I don't want to ruin that. I don't want to disappoint him. I want to hug him and tell him that yes, I want to marry him.

But...

"Why?" His brows furrowed, confused by my question. "Bakit gusto mo akong pakasalan?"

Halos kumawala ang puso ko mula sa dibdib ko sa sobrang bilis ng tibok nito habang hinihintay ang sagot ni Klaus.

"What do you mean? We already have a daughter. It's just right that we get married."

May karapatan bang masaktan ang kagaya ko?

Hindi ko alam kung hanggang kailan ko kayang pigilin ang mga luha na nagbabadyang tumulo ano mang oras kaya kailangan ko nang sabihin sa kanya agad ang sagot ko bago pa man niya ako makitang nasasaktan. Dahil ang tanong sa sagot ko... wala.

Walang karapatang masaktan ang taong unang nanakit.

"No." Nakita ko kung paano nawala ang liwanag sa mga mata niya at parang bigla ay gusto ko nang bawiin ang sinabi ko.

Alam kong hindi pa ako napapatawad ng buo ni Klaus, ni hindi nga siya makatingin sa akin ng deretso. I need to give him more time to forgive me.

And marriage.

It's a lifetime commitment. Hindi iyon isang bagay na basta nalang kapag naisip mo, gagawin mo. It takes too much process. Too much time. Yes, I love him but I will never use my daughter to pressure him into marrying me.

He let go of my hand and stood up. I started to panic, when he started walking out the door.

"Klaus, wait. Hindi sa ayaw ko, ano lang kasi..." He stopped walking and faced me.

"Then what, Kaye?!" His voice started to rise but he immediately glanced at my room where Riona is already sleeping. Naglakad siya palapit sa akin at mas nakita ko ang bakas ng galit sa mukha niya.

"Let me understand, kasi nahihirapan na akong intindihin ka." He said through gritted teeth while pointing at me. "Paubos na ako Kaylareen. I'm starting to lose my shit here."

Hindi ako nagsalita at nanatiling nakayuko. This is it. Siguro nga naubos ko na ang pasensya niya pero ginagawa ko lang naman ito para sa kanya.