Who's My Bodyguard?

[One]

"No. I promised to my late wife and two sons that I will never involve that person you're talking about in this kind of business," the man said fiercely, it's like no one can break what he just said.

Mr. Drei sighed. He never thought that he's hard to convince. But he already made a decision and he will do everything just to convince this man in front of him. He's not here for nothing.

"I understand but I really like h—" Mr. Drei cut off his own sentence when he feels that the man's aura is changing, he's looking at him deadly.

The closed room started to fill with a dark aura. It causes Mr. Drei to feel suffocated and feel a little fear. Usually, he's not feeling any fear whenever he's in a life and death situation, but this one is way far different. He knows that one wrong move and he will be a dead body. But he should not let it end just like this.

"Please do listen to me first," he said, putting aside the building up of fear in him. 

"This offer is much safer than your job." He finished his sentence, trying to lighten up the tension that keeps on forming and growing in the room.

The man just stared at him. No trace of any emotion can be seen. He continued to talk, "Besides, this won't break your promise to them."

"What do you mean?" the man asked, still not giving away any emotions.

"What I mean is...this is a secret job," he said while the man frowns. Mr. Drei slowly shows his smile of victory. He knows that the moment this man shows a bit of emotion he already got the 'yes' as an answer.

*****

Umalingaw-ngaw ang isang malakas na tunog sa paligid ng silid. Nayanig ang pader na animo'y masisira na ito.

"Pa!" sigaw ng isang binata na siyang dahilan ng nangyari matapos nitong pabalibag na binuksan ang pinto.

Tinignan lamang siya ng kanyang ama. Alam na nitong malalaman din ito ng kanyang pangalawang anak lalo na't malapit ito sa kanyang nakakabatang kapatid. Agad na lumapit ang binata sa kinaroroonan ng kanyang ama. Marahas nitong ibinagsak ang dalawang kamay sa lamesa ng ama.

"Totoo ba?" tanong nito na halatang pinipigil ang sarili sa kung ano man.

Isang malalim na buntong hininga lamang ang nakuha niyang tugon.

"Bakit? Malinaw ang usapan natin Pa, execption siya! Di ba ipinangako mo rin iyon kay Mama noon?" malungkot na sabi ng binata sa ama.

"Tinupad ko ang pangako ko anak," sagot nito sa kanya.

"Tinupad? Hindi niyo tinupad iyon Pa!" puno ng pait at galit na sabi nito at naihampas ang kanyang dalawang kamay sa lamesa.

"Tinupad ko, hindi ko siya sinama sa mundo natin," sagot nito at tumayo, napatindig ng maayos ang binata.

"Hindi nga siya magiging assassin pero magiging bodyguard naman siya. Ano ang pinagkaiba? Nakabuwis pa rin ang buhay niya!"

Tinignan lang siya ng kanyang ama.

"Trust me, son, this is much safer than being one of us."

"I hope so Pa, I really hope so," at umalis na siya sa silid.

"This is safer," napaupo ulit ang ama "I hope so...too."

__________________

[New York City]

I looked at the three kinds of weapons in front of me. I'm done dressing up and this is the only left before I enter the piste. I picked up the epée and looked at it and check it—this is the heaviest sword. I looked down at the next one on the table, the foil. It is a lighter thrusting weapon. I looked at the one next to it, the sabre. It is a cutting and thrusting weapon derived from the cavalry sword.

"It's a foil fight dude," I just smirk when I heard him.

"Yeah, I know," I said as I put down the epée and pick the foil. I walked in his direction. He smirks at me and puts his mask on then followed by his helmet. I put my mask on as well and my helmet. We both entered the piste at the same time. Fencers compete on a piste, it is 46 feet long and around 6 feet wide. There is a centre line with on-guard lines 6 feet to either side across the width of the piste.

We'll be having our fencing competition today. We choose to use the foil. The foil can only hit the torso, neck, and groin, and back area. If we use epée, the entire body is the target. If the sabre, the strikes beneath the waist do not count. Also, points in fencing can only be earned by using the tip of the weapon and not the side of the blade.

We position ourselves first then we salute one another. We don't have a referee here. After the salute, it only took about 1 second before we attack one another. I attack him by pointing him at the tip of my weapon— foil. I aim to strike his torso but he dodges immediately. I continue my attack and aim for his neck next but he won't let it happen easily. He attacks me as well, aiming for my neck too. I dodge.

We continue to attack one another. If we will base it on the rules, I will be given a point for attacking first. But since we don't have a referee here who will use the right of way there's no use.  

We stopped for about a few seconds and we hear an audible tone. I notice a light that illuminates. I smiled. I hit his neck. And it registers as a point. The audible tone and the light that illuminates are the sign.

I took steps backward when he moves forward as he continues to attack me. I also do the same. We heard an audible sound and both of our light illuminates. We both hit one another. I hit his torso and he hit my groin.

We both looked around when the alarm starts to ring. I put down my foil and remove my helmet. I lowered my mask.

"What's happening?" I asked. He put down his foil as well and does the same thing of removing his helmet and mask.

"Neither did I know," we both looked at the entrance when we heard some commotions.

"I have a bad feeling about this," I blustered out. I tighten my grip on my weapon.

"Ditto," we both stand in our position. Waiting for what will happen next.

The entrance door forcefully opened. There are about five to seven guys standing. I saw one of them point at me.

"The gray head," I cursed silently. They're after me!

"Damn it! They're after you," I saw how Blakely throws his helmet to the floor and move towards me. He hides me behind his back.

"What the heck are you doing?!" I know what he's trying to do. But I can't help to ask.

He didn't answer. Where the hell are my guards? I throw my helmet on the floor. I move to his side. I won't let him fight alone. After all, they're after me.

I feel his gaze but we have no time to fight. They're already in front of us. We wait for them to step closer. When they did, we immediately step forward and strike them using the side of our weapon.

Those men took a step backward. They're clearly in pain. These weapons are surely painful especially when you're not wearing any protection.

"Don't kill 'em nor hurt them. Stick with the plan," one of them ordered. He seems to be their head.

More men come forward passing the first two men who went near us. I moved sideward to create some space for me and Blakely. At least we can move quite freely. Some men went near me. I attack them using the foil sword.

I just continue to attack them when I heard Blakely's voice. When I looked at him his body is already falling to the ground. I hit the man who tries to block me but before I can do another strike I felt some strong electricity throughout my body. I lost grip of my foil sword and I can feel my body starting to lose its balance. I felt some impact as if I hit something solid. My vision starts to blur out. And then everything went black.

*****

"One point five million dollars for his head," I felt the familiar feeling of something. It's a gun. Caliber 45 I guess. 

I heard a loud sound of a chopper. I looked up and saw that I'm right. It's starting to lower its distance from the ground. I firmly close my eyes as the chopper's blade causes strong wind that blows the sand around.

I heard a click from the gun. "I warned you! No cops!" the man pointing his gun to me shouted.

"It's not cops, they're our co-security! They're bringing down the money!" I can't hear it clearly but I guess this kidnapper does.

I felt that the gun was no longer pointed at me. I heard some creak sounds as if something fell. I can also hear the sound of the chopper going quiet. The wind isn't that strong too.

I slowly open my eyes. There, in front of me, I saw a huge vault-like made out of glass filled with money.

"Count them if you want. But release our master first!" Peter said. He's the head of security.

I felt the familiar thing at the side of my head. "Are you f*****g kidding me? I won't release him until I'm 200% sure."

"Then no vault code for you," Peter answered back. The guy beside me laughs loud and then he suddenly shoots the vault made out of glass.

"Damn! What the f**k?!" the kidnapper angrily shouts at Peter—or more likely to himself.

"Bulletproof. Any firearms won't work, not even explosives," Peter said with a straight face. I felt a strong push from my back.

"Go to hell with them!" I looked at the kidnapper. "Just f*****g go!" he shouted angrily at me.

I walk towards Peter's position. I brisk walk.

"The code?!" I'm just a few steps away from Peter and others.

"33156."

"Stupid ass," I feel the pain in my right arm. I look at it. It's bleeding. I heard another sound from a gun. I fell to the ground. I was shot at my right waist.

"Move! Faster!" I heard some screaming and the sound of a gun. I felt someone lift me. I can't identify who it is. My head starts to throb and I can barely think straight. I might be the effect of the gunshots.

*****

"Dad," he looked at me. I saw Peter behind me. He nods at me then leaves the room. Just by the looks of the room, I know exactly where I am. Hospital. Again. It's not the first time I got hospitalized due to my security failure. And just the way Peter looked, I know exactly that he got fired.

"Do listen to me son. This won't affect your living," Dad said. I can barely understand his point. What he just said again? A bodyguard? For 24/7? Not the usual?

"But how?" I asked.

"Your bodyguard will guard you secretly."

"What?" I asked, confused.

"You'll understand soon but for now you need to rest," he said then tap my shoulder and live the room.

I just close my eyes. It's tiring already. I don't know how many times I've been here for the same reason. I was interrupted by thinking when someone knocks at my hospital room door. I didn't say anything; I just wait for that person to come in.

"Stone?" he entered the room and closes the door behind him.

"Blakely," I called his name; he went near me and sat at the chair beside my bed. "Don't worry. I'm fine." I said reassuring him.

"How long will it last? You're always in a situation like this. You're always in a critical situation," this situation doesn't make me feel bad. This is what makes me feels bad— people worrying about me. Blakely might look as if he doesn't care but I know him too well. This kind of silence is a sign that he indeed is worrying.

"Sorry dude," that's all I can say to him. That's all I can. I sighed deeply; I think I should make my decision.

"This might be the last time we can meet," I feel his gaze on me.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll be thrown somewhere."

"Somewhere? Dude, we're not solving some puzzle here. Just say it."

I looked at him, "I'll be thrown somewhere, somewhere in the Philippines."