Tamed by the Billionaire (LOB series #2)

Chapter 28

I decided that whatever his reason is, I'm going to listen to him. Hindi ko alam ang mga sunod kong gagawin, maybe it's based on his reason pero may pakiramdam ako na kung ano man ang rason niya ay papatawarin ko siya. Dahil yun ang gusto ng puso ko.

I already admitted it to myself. Keith is the only one who makes me feel this way. He's the only person who can make me feel different things and so alive.

We sat on the front porch of his cabin with a beer on our hand. We were silent for a while just watching other tourists passing by.

"Karina," basag ni Keith sa katahimikan. I looked at him and raised both my brows creating an arch waiting for him to continue. Mukhang nahihirapan siya. "I don't know where to start."

"Then why don't you start at the beginning?" He sighed and nodded his head.

"Do you remember Edwin?" Tumango ako sa kanya. Of course I know him, we've been together for eight years. Pero hindi ko na siya naaalala, ngayon na lang ulit nang banggitin niya. "That bloody bastard really did have his revenge."

"What?"

"When I told you I went to London for work, I was really there to help my sister with the company. Hindi ko talaga balak hawakan ang Dawson Enterprises because for me, it's boring. Being in the office is borinng. But my sister needed my help and I'm the only one who can help her. Ayaw niyang bumagsak ang kumpanya na pinaghirapan itayo ng ama niya. Malaki ang utang na loob ko sa kanila, Karina. Tinanggap nila ako sa pamilya nila."

Hindi ako nagsalita. Sumulyap siya sa akin. Napansin niya yata na nakakunot ang noo ko at naguguluhan. He gave me a sad smile.

"I will tell you a story," He drank on his beer first before he continued. "May isang batang lalaki, iniwan siya ng tatay niya at namatay naman ang mama niya dahil sa depression pero kahit ganon, masaya parin siya dahil kasama niya ang lola at kapatid niya. One day, when his sister was out of town he was left with his grandmother. Kinatok niya ang kwarto ng lola niya pero walag sumagot, akala niya natutulog pa ito kaya hinayaan nalang niya at nagluto na ng agahan."

As I was listening to him napagtanto ko na buhay na pala niya ang kinukwento niya sa akin. Na siya ang batang lalaki na tinutukoy niya sa kwento niya. Naalala ko noon na sinabi niyang ampon lang siya at si Maris ang totoong kapatid niya.

"He was busy cooking when his sister came home. Alam niyang may nangyari sa kapatid niya. She looks terrible. Pero mukhang ayaw naman magkwento kaya hinayaan nalang ng batang lalaki at pina deretso ang ate niya sa kwarto ng lola nila para gisingin ang natutulog nilang lola. Hanggang sa marinig nalang niya na sumisigaw at umiiyak ang ate niya." His voice broke. He looked at me with tears. Pain is visible in his eyes. He's still hurting.

"Wala na pala ang lola ko Karina. I was.. I was just there pero wala akong ginawa. Akala ko.. akala ko natutulog lang siya." Tumayo ako at lumapit sa kanya upang yakapin siya. I wrapped my arms around his head and he hugged me by my waist. "I lost my grandmother. Pakiramdam ko wala akong kwenta. Nandoon lang ako pero hinayaan ko siyang mamatay."

"Ssshhh.. tama na. Hindi mo naman alam Keith." He shook his head.

Who would have thought that behind those happy smile and friendly attitude ay may itinitagong lungkot si Keith? He was blaming his self all this time. Nakaya niyang bitibitin ang kinikimkim na kalungkutan sa loob ng napakahabang panahon.