Along With The Odds

Chapter 3- Bodyguard's Guard

"I hope you're guarding me on your dreams huh." ang tinig na iyon ang gumising sa akin mula sa aking pagkakahimbing. Oh! Masisisi mo ba ako? Your f*****g sofa is too soft to keep me from reality. Dahan-dahan kong iminulat ang aking mga mata at nagulat ako sa lapit ng mukha ni Mr. Aruedin sa akin. I maintained my bitchy face at hindi pinahalata ang gulat sa aking mukha.

"Oh, yah I even had a combat while you're behind me, whining." pang-aasar ko pa sa kanya. Inilayo nya ang mukha nya sakin saka nagdire-diretso sa pinto.

"Continue fighting in your combat then, I'm going." saka ko narinig ang pagbukas ng pinto. That asshole really don't know how to respect women. Dahil wala na din naman ang magaling kong boss ay umalis nako sa office nya. Pagkalabas ko ng pinto ay binati ako ng guard na naghatid sakin kanina. I glanced on my wrist watch and saw that it's already 9 pm. So that asshole works until 9 pm huh. Kaya pala I can hear the grumbling of my stomach, I didn't f*****g eat something the whole day but only the cereals from breakfast. Dahil wala na din naman akong magagawa, sumakay na ako sa elevator at pinindot ang ground floor, I feel like I'm too exhausted even though I didn't do any much work today. And even my stomach wants me to eat, my body can't afford another minute to stay in sane. Pagkabukas ng elevator ay nagdire-diretso ako palabas ng pinto at pumara na taxi. Mga 4 pm ako nakatulog sa sofa because it's too boring in his office and that asshole was out for his meeting at exactly 12 am and asked me to stay in his office. Nabasa ko na lahat ng magazines nya in the office when he arrived, he just attended pala a lunch meeting and didn't even reminded himself that I'm also human who needs to eat lunch. Geez, f*****g asshole.

When I arrived home, ay dumiretso agad ako sa kwarto ko and took a bath then after, I plunged into my bed and slept.

The alarm clock on my side table kept ringing that it made me open my eyes. It's already 6 am and I need to go to my boss' office. Bumangon na ako sa aking kama at saka naghalungkat ng pwede kong suotin. At the end, I wore a black halter top, black leggings, and my black nike shoes. Itinali ko ang aking mahabang itim na buhok ng mataas and put my make up, I used my maroon matte lipstick and I'm good to go. Pero before hopping in into a car, I first ate my heavy breakfast which is tuna sandwich and carbonara, then after, sumakay ulit ako ng taxi papunta sa company ng mga Rolen. Hindi na ako nag-abalang gamitin pa ang sasakyan ko sapagkat I'm a bodyguard and I'm suppose to ride every vehicle that my boss will ride. And in my boss' ego, he won't let a woman drive for him. He's maybe proving people that he can handle himself. Pagkarating ko sa company ay nagbayad ako sa taxi atsaka pumasok na sa pinto, dire-diretso ang lakad ko at tingin sa dinadaanan ko, I'm aware of the glances that were being throwned to me by people in the company. Agaw pansin ang aking black outfit na suot sa puting-puti na company na ito. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang kanilang mga titig at sumakay ng elevator. Pagkarating ko sa fifth floor ay nagdire-diretso ako papasok sa office ni Aruedin. Hindi din naman ako pinigilan ng guard for he knows that I'm his boss' bodyguard.

Pagkabukas ko ng pinto laking gulat ko ng makitang may mga kasama pala sya kaya naman lahat sila'y napatingin sakin. There are men who is the same of his age. There were 5 of them on his office, with glasses of wine on their hands. I even heard a whistle from one of my boss' friends but I didn't mind throwing him a glance.

"Yow, yow, yow, our friend has a girl now huh?! " one of his friends teased him. Huh! If he only knows how arrogant and ungentlemanlike his friend is, he'll be shy to say that.

"Shut up, Cole." my boss said and gently put his wine glass on the glass table. " I forgot to tell you yesterday that I'll be going on a trip today for 4 days in Batangas."

"Ahuh." I gently creased my forehead and took a quick glance to the man near me, because since I got here, his eyeballs didn't left my face.

"So, as I was saying, pack your things, my driver will wait for you for an hour. And since we're ready, mauuna na kami sayo." pagpapatuloy niya at saka kinaladkad ang maleta nya papuntang pinto.

"Woah, wait, Ruedin, why are you like that towards your chic? " a man behind Cole said.

"Cut off Jac, we'll be late for our flight."

"i***t, we'll be riding on your f*****g plane." the man who is staring at me said.

"Why don't we just wait for your chic since it's still too early in the morning Aruedin?" his other friend stated.

"Fine, and for god's sake she's my bodyguard not my chic." dagdag ni Rolen. Inis naman akong binalingan ni Aruedin saka nagsalita, "What now? Aren't you going to mov-"

"Yesha, yes." I spoke to my phone and turned my back on them for they are too noisy.

"Woaaaah, nasty girl!"

"Man, that's f*****g cool! HAHAHA"

"Someone broke his egooo!"

"Could you pack me things for a 4-day trip in Batangas?" I continued.

"Ofcourse, Ma'am. Where will I send your baggage?"

"Give it to my driver and drive here."

"Okay, Ma'am. Noted!"

Pagkatapos ng tawag ay ibinaba ko na agad ang tawag at saka bumaling sa mga lalaki sa likod ko.

"Give me 15 minutes." sabi ko saka umupo sa sofa sa gilid ko. I am aware by the blazing eyes eyeing me, but I chose not to look at it.

"So, miss, how old are you?" the man named Cole asked me.

I gently smiled a bit and answered, "24".

"Woah, so you're younger. "

"By the way, I'm Cole. " he smiled then offered his hand.

"Reesha." and accepted his request for a handshake.

"Hello! I'm Shan." pagpapakilala pa nung isa pang kaibigan ni Aruedin.

"Nice meeting you Shan." sabi ko saka tinanggap rin ang kamay niya. Lumapit din yung isa pang kaibigan ni Rolen na si Quiel at nagpakilala. I even had fun talking to them for they are funny and comfortable to talk to. But, I noticed that their other friend looks at me, in a different way. Weird.Then suddenly, my phone rang.

I quietly excused myself then answered my phone.

"Ma'am your things are already on the plane you'll be riding. I already sent it there."

"Thank you." saka ko at ibinaba ang tawag. Sinalubong ko ang mga nanlilisik na mata ni Ruedin saka tumayo mula sa aking pagkakaupo.

"I'm ready. Let's go?" nakangisi kong baling sa asar na asar na Rolen.

"Let's go babe! " sigaw ng kaibigan ni Ruedin na si Quiel. Nginitian ko na lamang sya ng bahagya dahil I don't know what to say.

"Tss." sabi ni Ruedin saka hinila ang maleta papuntang pintuan. Sinundan naman namin sya ng kanyang mga kaibigan. I maintained my bitchy face all through out our walk on the basement kase doon ang daan namin papuntang helipad where the plane is located.

"Reesha right?" the man whose been looking at me since I got here asked.

"Yeah." saka ako ngumiti ng bahagya. Hmm, from what I can see, he's definitely has a crush on me.

"Well, I'm Ric by the way." pagpapakilala nya saka unti-unting pinadausos ang kanyang palad sa aking bewang. Saka siya unti-unting ngumiti sa akin. Hmmmm.

I flashed my sweetest smile to him at dahan-dahang inalis ang kanyang kamay sa aking bewang.

"We're not f*****g close boy, f**k off." nakangiti kong sinabi saka inirapan siya at binilisan ang lakad papunta kay Ruedin. Ramdam ko naman ang tingin sa akin ni Ruedin saka tiningnan ng masama ang kanyang kaibigan.

Sakay na kami sa eroplano ni Rolen. Nagsiupuan na ang mga kaibigan nya sa eroplano, tinanaw ko naman kung saan umupo si Ruedin saka naglakad papunta sa kanya ngunit bago pa ako makapunta ay may humarang sa akin kaya naman napatigil ako sa paglalakad.

"Reesha, come sit with me." that f*****g Ric is really pissing me off.

"I'm a bodyguard, and he's my boss, I'll be sitting with him." sabi ko habang turo-turo si Rolen na masama na ngayon ang tingin kay Ric.

Pinadaan nya muna ang kanyang dila sa kanyang mga labi saka humalakhak ng mahina.

"Then I'll pay you, name your price. Magkano ka ba?" sabi niya habang nakatingin sa aking mga mata pababa sa katawan ko.

"f**k you." nanginginig na usal ko habang mahigpit na nakakuom ang mga kamao ko. Ramdam ko na rin ang pamumuo ng luha ko dahil sa gigil ko sa mga taong ganito. Nagsilapitan na ang mga kaibigan niya para kunin siya ngunit hindi pa rin niya inaalis ang titig niya sa akin.

Ngunit bago pa uli makapagbitaw ng salita si Ric ay may kamao ng lumapat sa panga niya na siyang naging dahilan ng pagtumba nya.

"Shet na malupet! "

"Lintek bro, awatin nyo!"

"Ruedin, stop! "

Sigawan ng mga kaibigan nya saka dumulog sa amin. Nandoon na rin ang piloto ng eroplano para umawat sa kaniyang boss.

"Don't mess with my bodyguard, she's mine, idiot." madiing usal nya saka ako hinila papunta sa upuang inuupuan nya. Nagpahila na lamang ako saka namalayan ko na lamang ang malambot na kutsong inuupuan ko.

"Are you okay?" my boss asked. Sinalubong ko ang kanyang mga mata saka nakita ang labis na pag-aalala doon.

"Yeah." tanging naiusal ko saka tumingin sa bintana. Wtf.