Running Away from the Billionaire (LOB series #4)

Chapter 27

"Why didn't you tell him?" Alex asked when I finally had the guts to talk to someone about what happened. I stared at the food in front of me. Bakit nga ba? "Sabihin mo na nga."

I am a coward for not saying what I truly feel. I know. Maybe I was too afraid that he won't feel the same way anymore. Nakakatakot na marinig mismo sa kanya na hindi na niya ako mahal. Ayokong marinig dahil hindi ko matatanggap kung nagkataon.

"It's not that simple." He exaggeratedly rolled his eyes and groaned.

"Nakakaloka. Mahal ka niya, mahal mo siya so anong complicated dun? Ikaw lang naman gumagawa ng paraan para maging complicated eh." I sighed.

Yes, Klaus told me that he loves me plenty of times but that was before he knew that we have a daughter. Even though I wanted to marry him, I still can't say yes because he can't even look me straight in the eyes.

"Hindi ko talaga kayo maintindihan." Napahilot sa sentido si Alex at sumubo ng pagkain mula sa plato sa harap niya. I looked at my watch.

"Bakit ang easy mo parin diyan eh malapit nang matapos ang lunch break mo?" He shrugged and took a sip from his orange juice.

"Okay lang yan, lately nga palagi din namang late pumapasok si sir. Siya nga hindi ko pinapagalitan kahit late tapos ako papagalitan niya?" Sabi ni Alex sa mataray na tono. Binato ko siya ng isang piraso ng beans mula sa pagkain ko.

"Malamang boss mo yun. Matanggal ka na sa trabaho, siya hindi. Baklang to." He just rolled his eyes at me.

Then he started talking about how Riona is whenever she's goes with Klaus in the office. He told me that everyone in the company loves her. I know how Riona is with people, masiyadong masayahin at malambing ang bata na yun.

"Alam mo ikaw, masiyado kang ma-drama eh. Dami mong arte. Why don't you give both yourself a chance?" I sighed.

"Like I said Alex, it's not that simple."

I looked at my phone when it rang. Mabilis na sinagot ko ang phone nang makita ang pangalan ni Klaus na tumatawag. Napahawak pa ako sa dibdib ko sa sobrang bilis ng tibok.

"H-hello?" Maybe I'm too excited cause my voice was high pitched and I stammer with a simple hello. I heard him sigh. Why? Why does he always do that when he talks to me? Ganon ata siya ka-dismaya sa nangyari para maging pabigat ako sa kalooban niya.

"Are you busy?"

"Ha?"

"I had an urgent meeting I can't leave Riona to Alex because I need Alex there. Can you stay with Riona here in the office until the meeting's done?"

"Ah." Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Alex. For sure alam niya na ang nasa isip ko. Bwiset, sarap kalbuhin ng kilay. "Oo naman. Pupunta na ako diyan."

"Really? Thanks Kaye." Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang marinig ang itinawag niya sa akin at kung gaano kasaya ang tono niya. I missed that kind of voice from him. "Oh, Alex's with you right? Tell him that to be here in an hour for the meeting. Thanks!"

"Ano daw? Para kang umasa ka na aayain kang makipag date tapos biglang binawi niya." Alex asked as he sipped from his juice trying to hide his smile.

Nakakainis talaga itong bakla na to, nakakainis kasi tama siya. Akala ko talaga tinanong ako ni Klaus kung busy dahil gusto niyang makipag date. I kept a straight face.

"May meeting daw si Klaus." Nagkibit balikat ako.

"Baby sitter nanaman ako ni baby girl?" He asked. I shook my head and finished my food before I talked.

"Pinapapunta niya ako doon para samahan muna si Riona." Kumunot ang noo niya. Usually kasi siya ang nagbabantay kay Riona kapag umaalis si Klaus. "He had an urgent meeting at dapat daw nandoon ka. Kapag wala ka pa within 10 minutes tanggal ka na daw sa trabaho."

He looked at his watch at limang minuto na yung lumipas pagkatapos nung tawag kaya ayun, yung bakla ang bilis nakatayo at nakalabas ng restaurant, kinalimutan pang mag bayad ng kinain niya. Napailing nalang ako at tinawag ang waiter para hingiin ang bill. May utang siya sakin ngayon.

I texted my officemates that I sudden diarrhoea. Syempre paminsan-minsan kailangan din gamitin ang sick leave. Sayang naman.

I stopped as I saw a woman talking to Klaus inside his office. Nagtatawanan silang dalawa. Para akong napako sa sahig nang makita yung masiglang ngiti ni Klaus. Ngayon ko nalang ulit siya nakitang ganyan.

"Oh bakla nandiyan ka na pala." Hindi ko pinansin si Alex at nanatiling nakatitig sa babae. Tumabi sa akin si Alex at tinanaw ang kanina ko pa tinititigan. "Yan si maam Tasha, anak ng isa sa board members ng company. Ganda niya noh?" Hindi ako nagsalita.

I swallowed as I saw the woman wiped something from Klaus lips after he sipped from his coffeee.

"Dapat kapag pinakawalan mo handa ka nang makita siya na hawak ng iba." Alex held my shoulder and tapped it. "Ngayon Korina, Handa ka na ba?"

I ignored his joke and muster all my courage to knock on his glass door until they both turned my way.

"Ah Kaye, you're here. Riona's sleeping." He pointed at the door to where his room is. May kwarto kasi siya dito sa opisina niya. "Thanks for doing this."

Nakangiti siya. Nakangiti siya sa akin. Pero bakit pakiramdam ko hindi para sa akin yung mga ngiti niya? The woman cleared his throat kaya napatigin kami sa kanya.

"Oh, right. Kaye this is Natasha. Natasha this is Kaye." I offered my hand to her and she took it.

"So is she Riona's nanny?" Agad kong binawi ang kamay ko kay Natasha at huminga ng malalim upang makapag timpi. Kumunot ang noo ni Klaus.

"No, she's Riona's mother." Shock registered at her face and she looked at me from head to toe before she put her eyes on my face.

"Oh my gosh! I'm sorry! I didn't know." I gave her a tight smile para matahimik na siya. Ayaw kong makipag plastikan my goodness.

Nang makaalis si Klaus at si Natasha sinilip ko si Riona na mahimbing na natutulog sa kama ni Klaus. Inayos ko ang kumot niya bago ako nagsimulang magpulot ng mga laruan niya na nakakalat. Nakakatuwa dahil may sarili na siyang cabinet na punong puno ng laruan at mga damit dito sa kwarto. It used to be my cabinet with my clothes, but it's fine. As long as it became my daughter's.

I was tempted to look around his room and his office. Hanggang ngayon konti lang ang nabago sa opisina niya. I never thought I'll be inside his office bedroom again. It used to have special memories about me and him. We used to plan here about our future while we cuddle.

I opened his closet and didn't expect to see pictures there. Tatlong litrato ang nakadikit sa loob ng closet door. Isang litrato naming dalawa nung high school. We used to be friends back then before the whole Calla and Demitri happened. Another is a picture that we both took five years ago.

I took the last picture at the bottom where I was soundly sleeping on his bed. Hindi ko alam na may ganito akong litrato sa kanya. I only saw this today.

For many years, Klaus has loved me with little hope that I will love him back. Ngayon na mahal ko na siya, maybe it's time that I give his efforts back. Maybe it's time that I'll be the one to show him how much I love him.