CHAPTER 3
840 Words
Bryce POV
Hanggang ngayon naaalala ko pa rin ang paghalik sa akin ni Eden. That little woman. She have a soft and sweet lips. Damn! I still feel the softness of her lips that was pressed against mine. Fudge! I admit it. She's very beautiful, kahit boyish siyang manamit, a petite woman. But she's too young for me. Like what the heck?! She's just twenty-three years old while I is already thirty-one years old. Ilang buwan na lang mamamaalam na ako sa kalendaryo.
"The wedding will be next month." Sabi ni mommy habang magkaharap kaming nakaupo sa sofa dito sa living room.
"What?! Mom, hindi pa nga ako pumapayag. You just told me to meet her and that's all." Reklamo ko.
Ibinagsak ko ang folder na hawak ko sa center table.
Mom raised her eyebrow. "So? I like her for you. Hindi siya maarte katulad ng mga naging babae mo—"
"Babae ko? Mom, i'm not a womanizer."
Mom rolled her eyes. "Whatever you say, son."
"And mom, she's too young for me." I said.
"So? Age doesn't matter."
Napabuga ako ng hangin at tumingin kay mommy na nagbabasa ng libro. Napailing ako at napabaling sa cellphone ko na nakapatong sa center table ng magvibrate ito.
It's a text from unknown number again ... reallly, huh? Hindi ba talaga sila titigil?
'I will make you kneel and beg for your life.'
I tsked. Never ... I won't do that.
"I already talked to the director of SSIA, you will have now your bodyguard." Sabi ni Dad na kadadating lang at tumabi ng upo kay mommy. He kissed mommy before he looked at me.
"But dad, I don't want to have a bodyguard. I can manage myself."
"Don't worry, son. You will not see him."
Tumango ako. "That's good then. Ayaw kong may nakabuntot sa akin at nakikialam sa bawat galaw ko."
"And Bryce?"
"Yes, mom?"
"Huwag ka munang mag bar hopping. It's for your safety."
"Okay."
Tsk! Kung hindi lang sana sa mga death threats na natatanggap ko, wala sanang bodyguard at hindi malilimitahan ang galaw ko. If whoever sending me death threats, f**k him! He's a psycho. I mean sa pagkakaalam ko ay wala naman akong nasaktang tao para padalhan nila ako ng mga death threats na 'yan.
"So what do you think about, Eden?" Dad asked and grinned.
I shrugged. "She's not my type."
Tumaas ang kilay nilang dalawa ni mommy.
"I'm a businessman, dad, mom. I want a real wife, a wife who knows how to prim herself. Did you see how Eden dressed? Daig niya pa ang lalaki." I said.
"You're being judgemental, my son. Remember, don't judge the book by its cover." Sermon ni mommy.
"I'm just stating the fact. Eden is not my type."
Napailing si Dad. "Okay. Pero wala ka ng magagawa, settled na ang kasal niyo sa susunod na buwan. Hinihintay na lang ang desisyon ni Eden. And Bryce, don't try to escape because I still have a lot of connections."
"I know." Sagot ko. "I hope Eden will not agree to this f*****g arrange marriage."
Eden POV
"Light, pinapatawag ka ni boss sa opisina niya." Sabi ni Katana.
"Okay. Thanks, Katana."
Agad kong tinungo ang elevator and I pushed the last floor. Pagdating ko sa office ni boss ay kumatok muna ako bago pumasok.
"Boss?"
"Have a seat, Light?"
"Thank you, boss."
Agad akong umupo sa visitor's chair.
May inilapag si Boss na folder sa harapan ko. "Your new mission."
"Really, boss?" I excitedly get the folder and opened it.
Kumunot ang nuo ko nang makita ko ang picture ng anak ng mag-asawang De Fazzio.
"He's your mission. You need to protect him." Boss said. Tumaas ang isang kilay ko. "Why, boss?"
"Nakatanggap siya ng mga death threats coming from unknown. Then one time, walang preno ang kotse niya so his parents decided to get him bodyguard."
"Ako?" Tinuro ko ang sarili ko.
"Yes. He don't want to have bodyguards but his parents insist it."
"Boss."
"Hmm?"
"Can I reject it?"
Boss smiled. "Whether you reject or accept it. You will be still his bodyguard."
Bumagsak ang balikat ko.
"And one more thing, don't introduce yourself as his bodyguard. Ayon kay Mr.De Fazzio, ayaw niyang may nakabuntot sa kaniya."
Napailing ako. "Fine. And ano pa ang gagawin ko, boss?"
"Find out who was sending him death threats."
Tumango ako. "Okay." Tumango ako.
"Good luck with your missiom, Agent Light."
I just waved my head and closed the door behind me.
Habang naglalakad ako papupunta sa cafeteria ng Agency ay binabasa ko ang profile ng taong babantayan ko.
"Name, Bryce Tyron De Fazzio ... half-Filipino, half-Italian ..."
"Age, thirty-one ..."
What the hell? Eight years ang age gap namin. My god. Kung sakaling pumayag akong magpakasal sa kaniya—teka, kasal?
Mas madali yatang matapos ang misyon ko sa iniisip kong ito.
"MOM."
Hindi ako umuwi sa condo ko at sa mansion ako umuwi.
"Bakit?" Tanong ni mommy habang nagbabasa ng libro.
"Pumapayag na ako."
"Pumapayag saan?" Tanong ni Dad. He remove his eyeglasses.
"I will marry Bryce Tyron De Fazzio."
"Talaga, anak?"
I nodded.
"Thank you, anak." Niyakap ako ni mommy ng mahigpit habang si dad ay may tinawagan.
"Yes ... she agreed, Amigo ... what? Next two weeks na ang kasal? ... sure, Amigo ... bye." Humarap sa akin si Dad pagkatapos niyang makipag-usap.
"Your wedding will in the next two weeks ... in Italy."
"Okay." Was all I said.
Goodbye single life.
- Writer
