All Chapters of The Billionaire's Mark: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

He stayed for hours. “Why did you suddenly run off? Did something happen?” biglang tanong ni Ethan. Tiningnan ko siya, how did he know that I suddenly ran out of the house? “How did you know?” tanong ko He looked at me like I was asking something ridiculous. “ After the accident I couldn't wait any longer, I was in the meeting at that time. After Brandon texted ma na naaksidente ka, I stopped the meeting. I was about to approach the ER but your parents and Brother are there so I just listened to them, what happened. But I only heard your brother if it didn't happen you couldn't end up in an accident. So what exactly happened? Tell me.” he said Medjo naguguluhan ako sa sinabi niya. He rushed here in the middle of the meeting? Why? “ I…..” hindi ko masabi sa kanya pero, lumunok ako huminga ng malalim. “ Umalis ako dahil kay Daddy.” diretsong sabi ko “ Why? Did you fight again?” “No.. we were having a small dinner party at the house at that time because of mom. But he suddenl

After I returned I never saw Ethan. The last time I saw him was in that hospital room. The way he looked at me like he was afraid to breathe too loudly, like I might disappear again if he blinked. I hated how his name still carried weight. At first, I told myself he was busy. That his work demanded silence. That not everything needed closure. But silence stretches differently when it lasts for months. May mga gabi na minsan nag s-scroll ako sa mga dating messages. The repetitive ones. Eat. Drive safe. How's work? They felt hollow, yung parang echoes of us na hindi na nag-e-exist. I never messaged him first. Siguro dahil sa pride o takot? I didn't know which one was stronger. Simula nung huli ko siyang makita hindi na siya ulit dumalaw sa hospital, hanggang sa makalabas ako. He's like a bubble that suddenly vanishes. At lunch one afternoon, while absentmindedly poking at my food, I finally asked. “Lianne,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Have you seen Ethan lately?” Bigla siy

Nagising ako dahil rinig na rinig ko ang hampas ng alon sa dalampasigan. Yung tunog na paulit-ulit, steady, parang tibok ng puso ng isla hindi nakakairita, kundi nakakakalma. It’s telling you to breathe, it's a safe place. Bumangon ako at saglit na tumingin sa oras. Maaga pa. Ang liwanag ng araw dahan-dahang pumapasok sa kwarto, dumadaan sa manipis na kurtina, nagbibigay ng golden glow sa paligid. Ngumiti ako. First time in a long while na nagising ako na hindi agad mabigat ang dibdib. Nag-ayos ako, hindi minamadali ang sarili. Gusto kong maglakad-lakad ngayon. Hindi na masyadong busy ayos na ang halos lahat kahapon pa lang. Kung may gagawin man ngayon, siguro double check na lang ng details. Bukas na ang launching. Kinakabahan ako, oo, pero mas nangingibabaw ang excitement. Yung klaseng kaba na gusto mong yakapin, hindi takasan. Kinuha ko ang black two-piece bikini ko at sinuot ito, saka pinatungan ng manipis na see-through na cover-up. Simple lang, pero presko. Hinayaan kong naka

Nang makarating kami sa may resto, natural na walang tao doon. Sobrang ganda ng ambiance ng lugar kahoy ang sahig, may mga malalaking bintana na bukas sa dagat, at yung hangin, dumadaan lang nang malaya, dala ang amoy na maalat pero nakakalma. Tahimik. Parang sinadya para sa mga pag-uusap na hindi minamadali. Binati ng staff si Ethan na parang matagal na nila itong kakilala pamilyar ang ngiti, sanay sa presensya niya. Kami ni Brandon, nakasunod lang, parang dalawang bisitang panay ang pag-uusat na parang walang pakialam sa presensya ng mga tao sa paligi. Brandon and I weren't close we just met once in a past months, si Brandon yung tipo na komportable ka agad kahit hindi pa kayo gaano ka close at magkakilala. He was jolly, relaxed, charming and knew how to blend everywhere. Naghahanap kami ng pwesto, at sa may bintana kami naupo. “ I flew over here last night, just to witness how the launching will go,” sabi ni Ethan habang umuupo kami sa isang mesa malapit sa bintana. “Wow,” sag

Habang nagsasalita ako sa harap ng maraming tao, unti-unting humuhupa ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Sa simula, ramdam ko pa yung bahagyang panginginig ng kamay ko habang hawak ang mic, yung tibok ng puso ko na parang gustong lumabas sa dibdib ko. Pero habang tumatagal, habang tumatama sa tenga ko ang sarili kong boses, parang may switch na kusang nag-on sa loob ko. This is my space. This is what I prepared for. I looked around. Nakita ko ang mga bisita investors, partners, local officials, staff lahat nakatingin sa akin. Yung iba nakangiti, yung iba seryoso, pero lahat nakikinig. Sa gilid ng paningin ko, nakita ko si Ms. Crisa na bahagyang tumatango, parang sinasabing, you’re doing great. Nakita ko rin si Mr. Martinez na nakatiklop ang kamay, attentive. At kahit ayokong tingnan, nandoon si Ethan, nakatayo sa medyo likod, tahimik, diretso ang tingin sa akin. I continued talking about the vision of the resort kung paano ito hindi lang basta negosyo, kundi isang lugar kung saan pwedeng huming