TLBS1: Lost With A Haughty Billionaire

Chapter 9

ALTHED was sitting magnificently in a long sofa at the VIP lounge of a high-end firing range facility somewhere in Quezon City. He was eating snacks with his family. Ainah just finished the the lectures about guns and firing. Binigyan sila nito ng ilang minutong break para makapag-merienda bago sila mag-actual firing.

His eyes were on Ainah and Cedrick who were just few meters away. The two seemed to be talking intimately, while they were eating their snacks. Simula pa lang ay nahahalata na niya ang closeness ng dalawa. And, Ainah always looked happy whenever she was close to him.

Hindi alam ni Althed kung bakit may kung ano'ng hindi niya maintindihang pakiramdam ang umuusbong sa sistema niya habang patagal nang patagal niyang pinapanood ang dalawa. How could she be so happy ang charming with other guys, while she was like an annoyed chicken when she's with me? Iyong tipong manunuka na lang kapag nilapitan mo kahit wala kang bad intention. An image of Ainah crawling sexily towards him registered his head again. He shook his head slowly.

Ego lang ito. Hindi ko lang matanggap na ang pangit ng trato niya sa akin just because of whatever our past is. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung ano exactly ang nagawa ko.

This should not make any sense for him but for some reason, he was affected.

"You know what, bro? If you like her, just say the magic word. Hindi iyang hanggang tingin ka na lang sa malayo," buska ni Ian Sol.

Pinagkunutan niya ito ng noo. "This isn't about her," pagde-deny niya. "I'm just thinking about those names in the list that they gave a while ago."

Earlier that day after that explosion incident, Ainah gave him a list of possible suspects. Sinabi nitong malinis ang record ng lahat ng taong konektado sa kanila, kaya isa-isahin nila lahat ng may posibleng motibo. And he felt a little confused with the names. Ang ilan sa mga iyon ay malapit talaga sa kanya. Iyong tipong parang pamilya na ang turing niya sa mga iyon. Kung sila ang nasa likod ng chaos na ito, for sure, a part of him would be disappointed.

"Just be careful with everyone," sambit ng kanilang ama. "Sa ngayon, wala tayong mapagkakatiwalaan except ang pamilyang ito at sila," tukoy ng kanyang ama kina Ainah at Cedrick.

"I hope this will end as soon as possible," sabad naman ng kanyang ina. "At sana wala nang mapahamak. This is starting to make me feel so worried about you, Althed."

Hinawakan ni Daddy Geo ang kamay ng asawa. "Matatapos din ito."

"Don't worry, 'Ma. Since we have the Code Black with us, I believe we are in safer state," sabi ni Ian. "And sure ako na hindi naman tayo pababayaan nina Ainah. Lalo na si Kuya. Feeling ko may percentage of feelings pa siya para kay Kuya." Bumaling ito kay Ainah na walang kamalay-malay na siya ang pinag-uusapan nila.

Bumungisngis ang kanyang mga magulang nang tingnan niya ang kapatid. "Galit sa akin iyong tao. Kung ano man iyong klase ng rejection na ginawa ko sa kanya noon, hindi ko talaga maalala."

"Ang naaalala ko lang, sinabi mong hindi mo siya type dahil mataba siya. Napahiya siya sa harap ng maraming tao kasi sa gitna ng basketball court siya nag-alok maging prom date mo. Dahil pinagtawanan mo lang at tinanggihan, na-bully siya ng iba, pinagtawanan din, and eventually, nagalit sa 'yo kasi 'di mo siya na-appreciate lalo na iyong efforts niya. Iyan, sinabi ko na sa 'yo kahit nangako ako sa kanya na hindi ko sasabihin. Bahala ka na mag-discover ng mga effort niya. Kaya mo na iyan."

"Why would I?" he tried his best to sound like he didn't care.

"Because you're affected, and she's just right there."