CHAPTER 9:THE SHIELD
962 Words
The peaceful bubble I’d lived in for two months popped with one vibration.
I was in the Engineering lab, hunched over a structural fluid mechanics problem, when my phone lit up. Unknown number.
Cold dread crawled up my spine.
*From: +63917-XXX-XXXX*
_Hi, Malia. It’s Mark. Your Auntie Tita was more than happy to give me your contact details. I’m here in San Fernando right now, just outside DMMMSU-MLUC. Let’s have dinner and talk about your future. I’ll be waiting at the café near your campus._
My fingers tightened around my drafting pen until it nearly snapped.
Mark.
Just his name dragged ghosts out of my past life. His manipulation. That cold Manila apartment.
_Not this time, you piece of garbage._
The scared 20-year-old girl was dead.
I typed back, cold and precise:
*To: +63917-XXX-XXXX*
_Mr. Manzano, I have a strict laboratory class until late tonight. If you think your money gives you the right to harass me, you are sorely mistaken. Do not wait for me. If I see your car near MLUC gates, I will call campus security and the police for stalking._
---
Class ended late. The sun was gone.
I gripped my backpack straps, ready to head to my boarding house.
I thought my warning was enough.
Predators don’t handle rejection well.
Passing a black SUV under a dim streetlamp, I heard it—
_Click._ A car door.
“Malia,” Mark’s smooth, arrogant voice cut through the night.
I froze. He looked expensive. Clean-cut.
But all I saw was the monster who took my baby.
“Sabi ko sa’yo, ‘wag mo akong paghihintayin,” he said, forced smile in place.
“Hindi ako sanay na tinatanggihan ng isang scholar lang. Sumama ka na sa akin.
Mag-hapunan tayo at pag-uusapan natin kung paano kita matutulungan... para hindi ka na nagpapakapagod dyan sa library.”
“I already gave you my answer, Mr. Manzano,” I said loud enough for nearby students to hear.
“Get out of my way. Hindi ko kailangan ang pera mo.”
I tried to walk past. He stepped in my path. His hand shot out for my wrist.
“Huwag mo akong pakitaan ng ganyang ugali! Pinagbigyan na kita sa Agoo, pero ngayon—”
“Bitawan mo siya.”
Cold. Commanding.
Before Mark could touch me, a tall figure stepped between us.
Reuben.
Mark’s hand froze mid-air.
Reuben’s face was blank, but his eyes were terrifyingly intense.
“Sino ka namang pakialamero ka?” Mark spat. “Umalis ka kung ayaw mong masaktan. Pamilya ko ang kinakausap ko.”
“Hindi mo siya pamilya,” Reuben said, voice deadly calm.
“At kung hindi mo aalisin ang kamay mo sa espasyo niya, hihilahin ko ang guard mula sa gate para ipag-drive ka diretso sa presinto.”
“You arrogant piece of—” Mark stepped forward.
I moved from behind Reuben’s shoulder.
“Umalis ka na, Mark,” I said, disgust clear in my voice.
“Sabi ko sa’yo, hindi ako ang Malia na madaling mauto. I am not for sale. Bumalik ka na sa Maynila.”
Students were watching. Reuben didn’t budge.
Mark laughed, bitter and sharp.
“Fine. Masyado kang naging matapang porke nakatapak ka lang dito sa San Fernando.
Pero tingnan natin kung hanggang kailan ka paninindigan ng pagmamataas mo kapag nagipit ka na.”
He slammed his door and sped off, tires screeching.
---
The tension bled out of the air.
I exhaled, shaky.
Reuben turned to me, hands gently on my shoulders, eyes full of worry.
“Are you okay, Malia? Nasaktan ka ba? Sino ba ang lalaking ‘yon?”
“I’m okay, Reuben. Salamat... he’s just someone my Auntie Tita is trying to force on me,” I said softly.
“How did you even know I was in trouble?”
“I told you, didn’t I? I’m always here to support the Queen,” he said, relieved smile breaking through.
“Nakita kitang lumabas ng gate na parang balisa, kaya sumunod na ako.
Sa ayaw mo at sa hindi, ihahatid na kita. Baka nariyan lang ang ulupong na ‘yon.”
“Okay,” I agreed quietly. “Sige na nga. Humarang ka na rin naman.”
We walked side by side.
Every time a car passed, Reuben shifted—placing himself between me and the road.
No words. Just shielding.
“Reuben,” I called out in the narrow alley. “Salamat talaga. Kung hindi ka dumating...”
“You don’t have to thank me, Malia,” he said, voice soft.
“Sabi ko naman sa’yo, hindi kita pababayaan. You don’t have to face people like him alone anymore.”
At my boarding house gate, the yellow porch light glowed warm.
“Dito na ako, Reuben,” I said.
“Pumasok ka na at i-lock mo agad ang pinto,” he urged, scanning the street.
“Huwag mo nang isipin ang ulupong na ‘yon. Rest well tonight, Ms. Engineer.”
“Ikaw din,” I replied. “Babalik ka pa ba sa campus? Gabi na.”
“Oo. Sa university dorm naman ako. Madali lang. Hihintayin muna kitang makapasok bago ako umalis.”
Warmth spread in my chest.
He lived on campus. Walking me here was completely out of his way.
But he did it. No complaints.
“Okay. Mag-ingat ka sa pagbalik,” I murmured.
I stepped inside and locked the gate.
Through the grills, I saw him—standing under the yellow light, watching like a silent guardian.
He gave me one last nod, then turned into the night.
For the first time since my rebirth, my heart didn’t feel like a lonely fortress.
With Reuben around, it felt like someone was finally willing to help me guard the gates.
- Writer
