MY ALPHA BODYGUARD

CHAPTER 6: THE INTRUDER

“Good evening, sir Eris” Anjo greeted me. He is the guard since I moved in here at the condominium. He’s kind and thoughtful. He respects all of our privacy who lives here at this building, especially when he knew the person is a celebrity.

“Good evening too, sir Anjo” I greeted him back with a smile that squinted my eyes.

“How’s the concert?” he asked.

“It’s tiring but.. it’s super amazing and fun” I smiled wide.

“It’s because you’re the best sir, that’s why many people love you” he said. He is really kind and I appreciate his compliments each time. He really always makes sure that I smile before going home to my unit.

“Thanks, you are the best too” I walked backwards and waved goodbye to my friend. I immediately pressed the button when I reached the elevator and entered as soon as it opened before me.

***

TomMy, Brandon approached me the other day :Me

MyTom: Why? What did he say?

Does he know about our relationship? :Me

He threatened and he said to me to stay away from you :Me

MyTom: Look Bran is kind maybe he is not just in the right mood that time.

I just thought maybe this is the right time for us to tell everyone about us :Me

MyTom: Erick we had already talk about this

But TomMy, how long did we stay in hidden?

Aren’t you tired of this kind of relationship? Aren’t you

tired of being scared? :Me

TomMy: So, are you tired?

Don’t return back to me the question. Brandon threatened me and hurt me.

Will you not defend me against the friends you say? :Me

MyTom: They are my friends if you just got along well with them then there will be no problem.

You know, you really a coward person…I’ve ever met.

You never proud of yourself and of our relationship :Me

***

“Bran!” Kyle called his teammate after Tom leaved the pool to shower. Brandon looked back and faced him with already irritated eyes. “Did you talked to our Captain about his girlfriend” Kyle chuckled.

“Oh I think Kyle, it’s not a girl but it’s a boy” one of their teammates teased which further inflamed the fire. “It’s a Boyfriend?” they mocked and they all laughed. Brandon closed his fist and punched Kyle straight to the face. His cheek reddened and the lower lip bleeds. He really don’t think the consequences of his actions.

“What your problem!” Kyle shouted while he is still sitting down on the floor.

“When will you stop slandering our captain?” Brandon shouted in anger like his head is going to burst. Brandon and Tom were friends since grade school that’s why he sees Tom as his own brother.

“Slandering?” Kyle stood up, eyes wide opened and gritted his teeth.

“We all know you envy Tom a lot!” he continued. Kyle smirked because he knew he can’t win to Brandon in physical combat.

“So, Tom lied to you” he smirked again, “Wait here” Kyle walked out from the scene and enter the locker room. He opened his locker and gets his phone in his bag. He immediately headed outside but before that he went into the shower room. “Hey, cap, you might want to see this!” he called Tom who is taking his bath. The captain didn’t know what his teammate’s meant. Because of the sound of rushing waters of the shower, he didn’t hear the commotion outside. Tom had no any idea that there was a big shock all about him.

Kyle straightened his hand, holding his phone directly to Brandon’s face. Slowly, Brandon’s eyes widened like it will gonna pull out of its place. He can’t say any words and can’t do any movements. He can’t believe it. Tom lied to him. His fingers bent into fist and trembling.

“What’s going on here?” Tom asked while walking towards the crowd. His hair was wet and a backpack clinging onto his broad shoulder.

Brandon instantly took Kyle’s phone out of his hand and showed it to his bestfriend. Tom was undeniably shocked. It was a video of him and Erick walking while their hands and fingers knitted together. He even kissed Erick on his head. One of the day that he feared the most, now come to pass. He knows how Brandon hated a gay person and to be with a bi or gay friend, it is totally a disaster. Brandon was molested when they’re in grade school by his own maternal uncle. Tom didn’t know about it ‘til high school because Brandon was threatened that if he will tell his friends or his parents, his uncle will hurt him and Tom. Tom felt he didn’t do anything for his friend that he was a failure as Bran’s bestfriend. But at the same time, he also felt indebted and thankful for his friend’s courage and that he protected him from harm though its replacement is own innocence and safety. Soon, in their early high school Brandon was able to protect and defend himself. The truth came out and his uncle got punished. Since then, he hated and despised gay people because of what he had gone through.

“Now tell me, what is the meaning of this? And don’t lie to me!” Brandon yelled that echo in the whole school natatorium. Tom wanted to explain but he couldn’t open his mouth. He didn’t know what to say.

“Stay away from that faggot, once and for all! He’s infecting you” Brandon is not thinking straight in anger. He is still trembling in hate and shock. “I am warning you, you don’t know what I can do to that freak!”

One by one, his teammates walked out of the scene and Tom was left there standing and motionless.

***

While on the elevator, I leaned against the metal wall of the machine and exhaled due to tiredness. I closed my eyes and wait to open the door to the seventh floor where my unit was. Few moments later, the elevator stopped and the door opened on the fifth floor. As it opened, a man taller than me is standing just behind the door. He entered and stood in front of me. Really? In front of me? He can stand on the other side. And what’s with the black? He was wearing black jacket and pants and white rubber shoes and the one thing I also wondering is that he also wearing black gloves. Actually, he seems familiar. No! Don’t tell me he’s…

The man slowly faced me and it was obvious in his eyes and behind his black mask he is smiling. I looked at him. Now I am sure it is him. What is he doing here? Stalking and following me here? What will he do to me? He took off his mask and grinning before me. Immediately, I had goosebumps all over my body, from my feet up to my head. My internal organs started to tremble in fear and shocked. I couldn’t think of what I need to do. My heart started to panic in a fast pumping and my skin forming sweats all over.

***

I am alone in the comfort room washing my hands on the sink when suddenly the door sprung opened heavily. On the mirror I can see, Brandon and three others behind me. They then circled me to block my exit. They were all looking at me fiercely with a smirked. I exhaled and gather all the courage I could find in my body and said, “Can I help you?” No one answered.

I tried to escaped but Brandon blocked my way by putting his hand against the wall. “Didn’t I tell you to stay away from Tom, you fag!” that word again. But I think it’s more suited for him.

“I don’t know what you’re saying” I lied, still to protect Tom by his imaginary prime and integrity. Brandon swiftly throttled me. I couldn’t breathe.

His face closer to me and said, “Those like you are the plague of society” and that I could even feel his breath to my face.

In hardships, I stuttered, “Talking to yourself” and then I kicked him using my knee at his groin. He yelped and bent forward causing his grip in my neck to loosen. One of his friend, punch me hard on the face that made me fell down the dirty floor. Then the other kicked me on the stomach that made my lungs tightened. Another kick then another, finally, Brandon stood up and he kicked me hard and firm on the face. Then everything went dark.

Soon, I found myself lying on the bed at the school clinic. Lily sitting beside me and helped me sat up. Suddenly, Tom entered, “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Are you okay? Really?” Lily’s eyebrows rose in irritation. “Your friend beat my bestfriend helplessly!”

“I am so so sorry” he held my hand and immediately released it also when he heard someone opened the door. It was Brandon.

“Why did you come here?” he said in a loud voice. Brandon and his three friends were suspended from the school. “Let’s go, he doesn’t deserve any sympathy!” Brandon proudly said. “Tom!” he shouted. Tom stood up and leaved the room without looking at me.

***

Days had passed, Tom neither message nor called me. Weeks he didn’t even looked or talked to me at school and at classes. He was not suspended because there is no direct assault or evidence telling him that he was an accomplice. “Tom, can we talk?” I approached him again after our class. But he didn’t respond and continued to walk away from me. Is this his way of telling me we’re breaking up? Whatever, we still needed to end it properly. Is he still ashamed of me? Many of Tom’s supporters and fans in sport hate me and condemned me for all what was happened. At the same time, many of the students knew what happened and they don’t even care about us, about the issue and, or about our sexuality. He is the only one left who cares what others think of him.

Brandon’s beatings and bullying didn’t stop there. He sometimes flogged me of hit me with his car enough to get me bruises and cuts. He threatened me that if I tell anyone, they will also hurt Lily and Tom, but all along Tom knew the beatings and he do nothing. Whoever turns a blind eye to the abuse is more worse than the abuser. Few months, Lily noticed the change of my behavior and she saw my bruises and cuts that Brandon made sure to hurt only my body parts hid under my clothes.

Lily and my parents informed the school so Brandon and his friends were permanently expelled from Rocky Hills University. Few days before our year end party, Tom texted me saying, ‘You going to the party?’ like why does he care? Anyway, whether he like it or not, I still going because of Lily. She convinced me that if I’m going to transfer to another university next school year, I need to attend for it will be our last party together at the same college.

“Let’s get this party started!” the host shouted from the stage and the DJ start the music that made the crowd cheered and grooved. I saw Tom from the distance and he then approached me. “You need to leave!” he said and held my arm.

“Hey! Yow what’re you doing?” Lily grabbed his hand to take away from mine.

“You shouldn’t be…” he said and paused when someone shouted from the stage. “Good evening Rocky Hills, are you enjoying the party?” it was Brandon and he’s drunk. He took the microphone from the host out of force. All eyes were on him.

“Why is he here?” I looked at Tom. “We need to leave” he grabbed again my arm but I took it back.

“You knew he’s here that’s why you want Eris to leave” Lily said and her voice started to became big.

“You let him in? What is it this time, huh, Tom?” I asked him and my voice started to crack. Whatever they planned, it gonna be worst. I already felt the tension of the atmosphere.

“I’m sorry, Erick, he framed me to do it” he said in teary eyes.

“Enough for your scapegoats” I said and looked at Brandon on the stage now making a scene.

“Now, let’s make the night hotter and unforgettable” he announced in a loud voice that echoes around the hall. “DJ, play it!” one of his friend was now on the DJ and the student council tried to stop them but they were beaten by his other two friends.

The crowd were shocked in what they are witnessing right now. Many laughed and looked at me and others were disgusted. If I didn’t saw this myself, I wouldn’t believe it. The guy on his knees giving blow job was look like me. His face wasn’t shown but his back and side view really like me. The video was a little bit dark but it’s obvious that the setting was in the teacher’s office.

My surroundings started to spin. I could hardly breathe and my feet were too hard to move. They were all looking at me and though they weren’t sure if it is really me, they believe what they wanted to believe. I almost stumble but Lily helped me to stand still. Tom tried to help me but Lily stopped him, “Are you happy now?” she paused “Don’t ever show me your face again or else…” She guided me to exit the horrific scene. “It wasn’t me” I cried and tears wet my face. “It wasn’t me”

“Of course it’s not you” she comforted me all the way and drove me home.

***

Tom stepped close to me, “You said I’m a coward, well not anymore” then he pulled out of his jacket’s pocket a handkerchief. I stepped backwards but I can’t I already pressing the wall and instantly he covered my nose and mouth. I struggled but he punched me at my torso. I felt dizzy and my eyes stared to be heavy.

***

“I’m here!” I announced as soon as I entered his unit. Why the lights still off? “Eris?” I called him again and put down my stuffs to the kitchen. I look at his bedroom, no one was there. It really seemed that he didn’t get home. But, where did he go?

I went down to the guard and asked him, “Sir Anjo, did you see Eris leave?”

“No, sir” Anjo answered and also wondering, “He went up to his condo but I didn’t see him go down and leave”

“Thanks” I dialed his number but it’s out of coverage. I started to be worried seriously. This is unusual; he doesn’t leave without telling me. “Sir, can you tell the security to check the parking lot and the perimeter”

“Sure, I will” said Anjo who called immediately his colleagues.

I went back to the seventh floor and Eris still wasn’t there. I waited patiently inside Eris’ condo and coordinated with the security once in a while. When, suddenly Anjo called me saying a stranger ran and entered the building directly headed to the stairs. I hurriedly, went down to check who it was. Two securities and I followed the man and Anjo checked the CCTV as I requested. Few minutes later, Anjo called me to go to the fifth floor. We hurriedly went there and saw an opened door that looks like a force entry was happened but no one was there anymore. The security continued the search and I then felt to check his condo again and ran to the seventh floor. There I found Eris sitting against the wall asleep near the door. I carried inside to his bed and watched him through the night.