MY ALPHA BODYGUARD

CHAPTER 3: THE BASEMENT STRANGER

Eris’ POV:

The next day, my head hurts as I woke up. I headed to the sink to wash my face and teeth.  Since I have no schedule today of anything, I decided to clean my place because it looks like it really needed some scrubbing and mopping and washing; not mentioning my laundry.

While doing all this, I felt the spirit of hungriness possessed me. I look to my fridge and found none and to my cupboard but a little leftover of coffee in a bottle. With no choice left, I brewed my coffee for it to satisfy my hunger even just for a bit.

 I dialled my phone to call Marco to help me buy for me food supplies in the grocery. But no one answer. I dial again and again but nothing happened. Maybe he’s still asleep. Well, he deserves some rest, so I let him be.

I change my clothes with white t-shirt and a black red checkered above it. Semi fit black jeans and brown shoes. I also wear a mask, you know, to prevent stampede.

I went to the nearest grocery store and buy some food and other supplies that I needed in my house. It’s still unavoidable that people look at you and said that I look like Eris but I just bow down and ignore them. Thanks to my black face mask. But I feel something’s wrong, I feel someone’s following me and taking pictures of me. I am not sure because when I look around I saw no one suspicious. Maybe I just being paranoid or maybe Tom is right here, somewhere. I need to hurry and finish this right away and get out of this store before someone really recognizes me.

In the counter, my phone rings and as I look into the screen, and saw this words ‘The Jerk, the Bastard, the Lunatic’. Again I feel a little bit scared, I don’t know why I feel this way. I don’t have to be afraid, so I answer it but I don’t speak.

“Hello, I’m glad you answer the call” he said, and I am still looking around, moving my head left to right.

“I just want to know how you doin’. I know you’re doing good, actually great. I just want to apologize to you” he explained while talking in the other side of the phone. Oh come on, Tommy, you won’t fool me anymore; APOLOGIZE YOUR ASS!!

My eyes is obvious that it’s making a fierce expression when having this thought, the cashier said to me “80 dollars and 42 cents Sir”

“Oh yeah” I took the money out in my wallet at give it to her.

“I see, you’re in a grocery store” he chuckled, “I can help you with your stuffs” my eyebrows crossed when he said those words.

“How you?... Thank you” I said to this jerk in the phone and then to the cashier, making my eyes obvious that I smile behind my mask.

I get my groceries, and said, “You need to stop what you’re doing, you jackass. If not, help me God, you’ll regret this” then turned my phone off. It is useless talking to him; he’s not worth my time. I growls.

Walking in the basement of the store, my phone ring again and answer it. “You really can’t do anything right, huh?”

“Why? Why you so angry with me? I mean you no harm.” He said in an annoying voice. I sounds like it creeps to my skin and I was disgusted.

“Really? No harm? f**k yourself! You stalk me since few days from now and its making my blood boils in irritation, now you saying me ‘You mean no harm’!” I said while putting my things to the car’s trunk and then I close it.

“Don’t you still forget what I did you back then? That’s why I want to say sorry to you” he explained

“So say it! I’m listening!” I said in a hard tone, still standing outside at the back of my car.

“No, personally” he said like he was crying. Oh really, you think I will pity you like you are the victim here!

“You know Tommy, whatever you’re up to, stop it. I’m living nice on my own, trying to forget those memories. I forgive you so leave it there. Don’t bother me anymore!” I said, walking to my car and as I open my driver’s seat’s door, he said “I’m coming to you, now”

“No, n.. noo! You’re kidding me right? You’re here?” I said looking around the parking lot, here on the dim basement. I started to feel my heart is beating fast, my body feels weak and it begin to tremble. I still don’t see him. Where will he come from? Is he really here? I try to open my car but I can’t, it seems my strength was drained out.

Then, suddenly, a man comes out of his car beside me that made me stopped and breathless. What should I do? Is it Tom? Of course it is him. I still don’t try turn around. I can’t, my knees won’t move.

Seconds later, I hear his voice, “Are you okay?”

The voice sounds like not Tom’s. No, no, maybe it’s just because of fear that I misheard it. Maybe these past two years his voice becomes more deep and manly. No, no I cannot be mistaken, it is not him. I know every tone, every note and timbre of his voice. I am sure it is not Tom. I turn around.

“It seems you’re startled. Are you okay?” the man said in his perfect knight-in-shinning-armor- voice. He is wearing a dark navy blue long sleeve shirt with a grey pants and a white shoes. He also has a black face mask.  Nice outfit huh.

Who is this tall, huge and perfectly well built bachelor? And I’m sure behind that mask is a nice and good looking man. Thanks to him there’s someone beside me and that lunatic Tom are here on the basement. Nice timing that he cause an interruption in Tom’s reaching on me.

“Uhhm, yeah!” I exhaled and turning my phone off when I realize that I didn’t turn it yet because of panic.

“Let me help you with that” he said moving to me closer to help me open my car that made me half-enclosed to his torso. I can’t move even a bit. Yeah I don’t want to move.

Then, without notice, I just felt the door of my car bumped into my buttocks that wake me up in my day dreaming.

“Ohh, Thanks” I smiled.

“You look familiar” he said as he open wide the door. I nodded and smiled again without parting my lips. “Yeah, of course I am” I said but before I enter my car, “Thanks” I concluded, sitting on my car and then I started to drive and he waves at me.

******

What is this place? Where am I? It looks like I was in a deep forest in a middle of the night. But how did I got here? It is strange, the woods is so quiet. I need to get out of here; it creeps me so badly that I hardly could make a step and I feel like some is watching me. In what direction should I go? This is serious; I’m not imagining someone’s really looking at me. The air began to thin that I could not breathe properly. My body sweat out coldly and tremble to the unknown creature in front of me. I saw two huge eyes with fiery white glow from the distance looking straight on me without blinking. Then a huge black and grey wolf comes out of the dark, slowly approached me then stopped, standing in his four feet few meters away from me in a full 50 inches height. And I’m sure its length is about or more than 6 feet that if it will sit, it’s taller than me. It is not a usual wolf, it’s enormous and scary.

The next thing I know, I am running for my life then I stumble and fall to a downward slope and hit to a tree.

“Gosh, that nightmare again!” I get up suddenly, panting and full of sweat. I hugged my knees and buried my face.

My nightmares become more frequent but it’s that the same strange dream. I know what I saw in my dream but every time I woke up I forgot what I saw in the forest and last thing I remember was running from something or someone. Does it have anything to do with what happened to me two years ago? But no matter how hard I tried I can’t remember what happened on me the time I disappeared.

******

Tom’s POV:

Five years ago, Erick and I met when we were in college. We both took and graduated in Multi media Arts though he graduated in different school but still of the same course, yeah and it’s because of me. I admit I am such an ass for hurting him. Not just hurting him, as in HURTING him badly that broke him into pieces, physically and emotionally and mentally. That time that we dated, I knew in myself I’m not ready in this kind of relationship. I have fears and doubts about people will say about me. I fear that my family and my friends in school and my teammates in swimming will not accept me and stay away from me. All of these, I know, were and are not giving me any rights to humiliate and harm someone, especially Erick.

After he left our school, Erick and his family grounded me for meeting or talking to him. Since then I’ve never seen nor heard from him. And then, just then, when he’s not around me anymore, when I don’t see his smile and hear his voice, the only time I realized I love him, really love him. But it’s too late now.

I just surprised that he wrote a song that became viral in the internet. One thing I realize, he became famous and released his first album that hit the country.

Since then, since the time I saw him in the video, I look for him and find any ways to contact him. Few weeks later, I heard in the news that he bought a condo at the Capital so I went there and since then I don’t stop following him and watch him from afar.

I got his number from friends of friends and texted him when I was drunk. Well, I couldn’t think of anything how to message him or approach him because I know he will freak out.

I just wanted to talk to him and apologize to him personally and formally but he won’t, why? I know he don’t trust me anymore but don’t he think that I can change.

Just like what I said earlier, I can’t think how I can finally convince him to meet me and talk to me. That’s why I still keep stalking him and texting him and calling him.

I’m just wondering, who is this guy that keeps ruining my plan? Out of nowhere and all of a sudden, he just keeps on appearing ruining my plan. I’m really annoyed and pissed off. I must say, I‘m really not good in patience.

I’m sure the guy from the mall’s parking lot at the basement and the one that crushed my camera when I took pictures of Erick at Sammy Cooks Korean Restaurant are the same. I still remember his grip to my arm and pulled me on my shirt from behind then took me to a tree to hide. With his bare right hand, he smashed my camera into pieces without uttering any word nor any cuts or scratches in his hand. I only saw his greyish eyes for he is wearing a face mask that time and his glare to me makes me tremble and move without an inch. But this time, I will not let anyone intrude my plan and stop it to waste, even that intimidating stranger.

******

Marco’s POV:

“Marco, do you remember the one that I told you who bullied me in college?” Eris asked from the kitchen making juice. It’s the first thing he said when I just got to his condo and sit in the couch. He walked towards me and handed me a glass of pineapple juice. And I noticed that he used the word ‘bullied’ instead of humiliation and betrayal, that, that’s more fit and exact description of the incident. Eris sat as he still waited for my response.

‘Yeahhh, of course, your one only senior high crush and college ex-boyfriend! How could I forget that dumbass?’ “Hmmmm” I mumbled as I sip on the drink.

He doesn’t say anything. I knew there’s something wrong but I let him take his time to share what’s bothering him. He exhaled. “You know you can talk to me” I try to comfort him with this word. I know he is concern with me that whatever it is I will be worried and stressed. And that I might tell it to his parents. “It’s no big deal actually but don’t tell my parents and you don’t have to worry of me too much” see I tell you, he’s the one who got problems and need some friends to talk to but still he think of other’s feelings.

“Okay, okay, so tell me, what’s with your ex-boyfriend” I said calmly.

“He keeps on texting and calling me few days from now” he said making his face looks fine and strong.

“What? Why are you telling me that just now?” I said in a father-like manner but in a loving way. I don’t want to scold him or what, because I know he’s just scared. “Did he hurt you?”

“No… no.. I.. he can’t, he shouldn’t or else I will sue him” he smirked then look at me, trying to act like a grown man.

“Eris, look, I’m not just your personal assistant. I am also your friend and your brother, things like this you must immediately say it to me. At least I know what’s you’re going through and how to help you. I know you can handle yourself. You can protect yourself but still there’s nothing wrong to ask for help. There’s nothing wrong to feel afraid but let us, me help you and protect you” I explained, face him in the couch and held his hand.

He nodded. “If he disturbs me again I will tell you right away” he said. I patted him in the shoulder.

“You hungry?” I asked. “I will cook for you” he made a big smile and nods.