THE COLD BODYGUARD'S TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 2

"Hindi mo ako nakikilala?" I asked Faven while we are on the car.

Papunta na kami sa school at hindi ko matanggal ang mga mata ko sa aking new bodyguard.

I ALMOST got rape 2 years ago.

Kung hindi dahil kay Faven, maybe that asshole made way inside me.

He is my savior that night.

Hindi ko alam kung paano pero bigla na lang siya sumulpot out of nowhere and get me out of that filthy room.

I immediately recognized him because of his tattoo and his voice. Alam ko kaagad na siya iyon.

Unti-unti ding lumilinaw sa akin ang kaniyang itsura.

Naalala ko na pinahanap ko siya dati dahil gusto ko siyang makita at formal na mapasalamatan kaso para siyang bula na biglang naglaho.

Kaya naman sobra ang gulat ko na makita siyang muli and at the same time, sobrang saya ko na makilala siya at maging bodyguard.

Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na gusto ko nang may bantay. Maybe because I knew him and trusted him. Kung naligtas niya ako 2 years ago, alam kong poprotektahan at ililigtas niya ako ulit if ever na may mangyaring hindi maganda sa akin.

"You are Mr. Santiago's younger sister" malamig niyang sagot sa akin kaya naman tinigil ko ang lahat ng aking iniisip para magpokus sa usapan namin.

I scoffed. Hindi niya naaalala?

"Alam ko pero may natatandaan ka ba sa nangyari two years ago?"

"I don't know what you're talking about." magalang niyang sagot.

Disappointment washed through my face. Wala siyang alam? Nakalimutan niya ba ang lahat ng 'yon. Pati...'yong ginawa ko?

"Wala ka talagang naalalala? Imposibleng wala"

Hindi sumagot ang aking bodyguard. His eyes were focus on the road.

"Hey!" Pangungulit ko pa.

Sumingit ako sa gitna ng upuan na naghihiwalay sa driver seat at front seat.

His eyes turned side ways to look at me. Pinalakihan ko siya ng mata while pointing myself.

"Try to think harder, naalalala mo ba ako?"

I gave up when he shook his head.

Bagsak balikat akong bumalik sa upuan. I crossed my arms and sighed repeatedly.

I can't believe it.

Nagtatampo ako na hindi niya ako matandaan.

But later on, it make sense din naman.

I'm so mess that day. Ang pangit ko! Hindi niya nga ako makikilala kung gano'n.

But still! I'm so upset that he didn't recognize me.

"Then it's your assignment from now on" muli kong sambit.

Sakto at tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat ng aking school.

I saw him looking at me coldly at the rear mirror.

"What do you mean ma'am?"

I flipped my curly hair before answering. "Remember me. That's your assignment from now on. Kung hindi mo ako matatandaan, wala kang thank you"

"My task is to keep you safe, nothing more" sagot niya pa sa akin.

I rolled my eyes in frustration.

"Basta try to remember okay?! Magagalit ako sa'yo!" Ulit ko bago ako lumabas ng sasakyan.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako ay narinig ko ang pag-andar muli ng kotse. Napatigil ako saglit nang mapagtantong hindi niya ako sinundan.

Hindi siya sasabay sa akin pagpasok? That's new.

Lahat ng bodyguard ko ay sinasamahan ako kahit sa pagpasok. Hindi sila nawawala sa tingin ko.

Pero kung siya naman ang bodyguard ko, It's definitely okay.

Hinayaan ko na lang. Atleast, walang sumusunod at ma-we-weirduhan sa akin pagpasok.

"Hmm I noticed something different" It was my friend, Jesica. She squinted her eyes while observing me but she couldn't figure out what is it.

"Wala na akong bantay" ako na sumagot.

"Oh?" Mukhang na-realize niya na. Buti naman.

"Oo nga ano? Wala ka ng bantay? Anong ganap?" Ani naman ni Bianca na nagli-lipstick sa gilid.

"I still have. Hindi lang sumama sa akin"

"That's odd. Your bodyguard let you off the hook?"

I shrugged my shoulders. It irritates me a bit.

"Pero at least hindi ka na maiinis." She smirked.

But I feel the opposite.

Nagsimula na ang klase nang pumasok ang prof ng una naming subject.

Walang masiyadong nagpo-process sa utak ko. Good thing, walang recitation this day kaya naman kahit hindi ako makinig, okay lang. Masipag naman si Jessica mag-notes so I'll study na lang later.

Vacant na kami for two hours after the second subject. Gutom na rin ako kaya nagyaya ako pumuntang canteen.

Hindi pa nga kami nakakalayo ay may humarang sa akin.

A tall and handsome guy blocked our way.

His name is Jefferson. Isa siyang sikat na basketball player. From what I heard, MVP siya this year.

Humawak ako kay Bianca ng mahigpit nang makaramdaman ng panginginig sa aking katawan. Ayoko lang ng ganitong may sumusulpot na halatang may balak. Halata pa lang sa mapaglarong mata ng lalaking nasa harap ko, alam ko na ang ginagawa niya.

But feeling this made me realize that I'm still not okay.

"You are Reishan right? Tourism?" Tanong niya sa akin.

So ako nga ang sinadya.

"Yes. What do you want?" Mataray kong saad.

He brushed up his hair while giving me his creepy smile. "Are you free later? I mean, I find you so pretty and I wanted to ask you out if you want..."

It's not new to me. Kahit sa dati kong school, may mga sumusubok akong ayaing mag-date. I always decline.

Isa na do'n ang gagong lalaking iyon. Hindi niya matanggap na ni-reject ko siya kaya niya akong plinanong...gahasain at ikulong sa mahabong lugar na iyon. Nakakainis lang dahil hanggang ngayon ay nag-iwan siya ng mantsa sa akin.

Buti na lang at bago pa ako makasagot ay pumagitna na si Bianca. She pushed me to step backward and hid me behind her back while Jessica tapped my shoulder.

"Tigilan mo ang kaibigan ko, Jef. Hindi ba may girlfriend ka? Kapag kami pinagbuntongan ng freak mong girlfriend, isasampiga talaga kita"

Hinila na ako palayo ni Bianca. Sumunod sa amin si Jesica. They asked me if I'm okay. Tumango ako sa kanila. Medyo namumutla daw ako kaya sumaglit kami sa banyo para mag-retouch bago nagtungo sa canteen.

And just like that, parang normal na lang ulit.

They knew what happened to me 2 years ago. These two are my treasured friends since highschool.

They help me through my recovery and I thank them because they help me a lot. Kung wala sila sa tabi ko dito sa school, hindi ko na alam gagawin.

"Kinakabahan na ako para sa'yo Shan"

"Why?" I asked.

I ordered a vegetable meal at isang hard boiled egg. I'm on my diet pa naman.

Bianca gestured us to come closer. Dali-dali naman kaming lumapit ni Jesica.

"Do you know Ruby?" She whispered.

Umiling ako. "Nope. Who is she?"

"Siya lang naman ang freak girlfriend ni Jefferson!" She was referring to the guy who asked me out. "Well, ayon sa mga chika, warfreak daw ang babaeng 'yon. Lahat nang magtangkang lapitan o kaya landiin si Jefferson ay binubully o kaya sinasaktan niya. Dahil nabalingan ka rin ng basketbolistang iyon, I'm sure na hindi ka niya palalagpasin"

Tumaas ang aking kilay. I maybe traumatized with boys but I can be bitchy when it comes to girls. Ate Cheena told me to be strong because you'll get trampled on when you're weak. Ayaw kong nita-take advantage since gano'n ang ginagawa sa akin noon.

"Just mess with me. She'll taste her own medicine" banta ko pa.

Bianca smirked before looking behind me. "Ehem speaking of"

"Ikaw ba 'yong Reishan?"

Mariin akong pumikit nang marinig ang boses nang sa palagay kong si Ruby.

Ang ganda ng umaga ko kanina dahil nakita ko na ang savior ko pero sirang sira na ngayon. I sighed heavily before turning around, giving this girl a glance.

"It's Reishan" pinaelegante ko ang pagkakabigas. Mukhang dugyot kasi sa boses niya. "Why?" I keep my intimidating look. 'Yong katulad ng sa bago kong bodyguard na malamig ang titig.

Ruby has the beauty. Understandable sa mga hilig ng boyfriend niya pero halata sa mukha niya kung gaano siya ka-maldita.

"I'm Ruby. Do you know Jefferson?" Introduction niya sa maangas na paraan. The sleeves of her uniform were fold like she was ready for a fight. She looked annoyed.

Me as well!

I elegantly pushed my chair. I gracefully stood up to face her.

"Are you talking about the guy who asked me out because he finds me pretty?" I smirked.

She glared at me. "Dahil malandi ka"

I scoffed. Sobrang bulag naman nito sa kaniyang boyfriend.

"I don't even know your boyfriend"

She stepped forward. I alerted my body. Kahit sina Jessica at Bianca ay napatayo na din.

"Sikat ang boyfriend ko at maraming nagpapansin sa kaniya. Hindi ka na naiiba do'n so don't tell me that you don't know my boyfriend! You slu—"

I slapped her hard.

I received an 'oww' to my friends. It will definitely hurt. Base pa lang sa tunog, alam kong lumagutok.

"Don't call me that f word" I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

Gulat ang mga mata ni Ruby na tumingin sa akin.

"How dare you—"

I slapped her again. Her face turn side ways because of the impact.

"Ayan, sana magising ka sa sampal ko. Open your eyes, b***h. Mali ka ng sinusugod." I massaged my hand a little. Nangalay bigla.

She looked at me with her burning eyes. Alam kong sa puntong ito, galit na galit na talaga siya kaya naman I ready myself when she throw her fist into me but before it landed, a man dodged it for me.

None other than my bodyguard. Faven.

My lips parted as I look at him, surprised!

"Faven!" I called.

He look at me while holding Ruby's hand.

"Are you okay ma'am?"

Ilang beses akong kumurap bago tumango.

"Good to know that" Binalik niya ang tingin kay Ruby na ngayon ay nakatunganga sa aking bodyguard.

"Try to hurt or touch her, you'll regret it after"

My body shivered at his cold voice. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang lamig sa paligid.

And I guess Ruby felt it too.

She immediately folds like a cat and leave the canteen peacefully.

Like nothing happened, Faven turned around to face me and gave me a bow.

"I'll take my leave ma'am"

"Wait" I'm still shock from what happened. Akala ko wala siya sa school!

Hindi siya gumalaw sa kinatatayuan kaya nagsimula na akong magsalita.

"Are you here all the time?"I asked.

He nodded.

"How come I couldn't see you? You surprised me. Talent mo ba ang pagsulpot out of no where?"

"Sorry to surprise you ma'am. I didn't mean that. I'm only following your brother's orders. He told me to keep my distance since you don't want someone following you. Rest assured you will not be disturbed"

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa nang yumuko siya muli bago siya umalis. Nakatingin lang ako sa likod nang matikas na binata.

Hindi ko maiwasang kumorte ang ngisi sa aking labi.

He's interesting.

When I woke up from the hospital, the first thing that came to my mind is to know who my savior is and now that he's here, I'm eager to know him deeply...

"Is he...your bodyguard?" Tanong sa akin ni Jessica.

"He's....hot huh?" singit naman ni Bianca na pumukaw ng aking atensyon.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kaniyang tinuran. Lumingon ako kay Bianca at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"He's mine. Back off"