THE GOOD PROTECTOR

CHAPTER 3

After arriving at the hostel, Michelle hopped from the driver’s seat, leaving the engine on. She sprinted into the door, barged inside, and she met the two familiar faces standing beside Xien. The employees stayed on the counter, and their eyes are wide-opened as they watched the ongoing commotion. They were Xien’s bodyguards, which implied they have already got out from the scheme Rick set up for them. She knew they are unarmed but dangerous seeing one employee lying on the floor, unconscious. These men were faster than she thought. They tracked their master in a day before she could hide for good.

“Michelle!”

Xien lifted her foot, but the man pulled her before she could have another step.

“Let her go. Go from where you came from and tell her father, to leave her alone,” she stepped forward.

“Stop there! Mind your business. Our lady has to go with us or we will lose our heads,” she said, moving closer to them.

“Stay put or we’ll hurt her!” warned the man. She looked at the Chinese girl, resisting all she can. Though they can threaten her, they won’t be able to break her limbs or they have to face the consequences upon their return to their country.

“Makinig ka,” she said in Tagalog. “Kumuha ka ng buwelo, sikuhin mo siya sa taas ng puson at tumakbo ka sa taas. Kunin mo lahat ng mga papeles mo at hintayin mo ako sa sasakyan.”

Translation:

(Listen, get your chance and give him an elbow on his upper abdomen, then go upstairs, take your papers and wait for me in the car).

She nodded, and in a sudden, she gave a good wallop to the man behind, and he lost control over her.

“Ughh!” he screamed, holding his stomach.

Before Xien got a hold of the stair’s railing, the other one grabbed her hand but she flew towards her. They fell to the floor, and she landed on top of her enemy. She swung her small but powerful fist, leaving an immediate bruise on her temple. It dazed the female bodyguard for a moment, but she bashed her on the head and swept her in a distant. She tasted a surge of coppery blood, but she put on a good stance and darted at her, giving her a bone-crashing blow on her stomach. She moaned in agony.

Before she knew it, the man came to rescue his companion. He dived on her with his immense body but she gave him a batter in his legs followed by her fist slamming his jaw. In a second, he collapsed, shaking as she towered over him.

“Report them to the police for kidnapping!” she told Alicia and ran to the exit door.

The other employees mobbed the bodyguards, both lying on the floor.

As soon as she jumped in the car and checked on Xien, they fled. She glanced at her wrist, took her phone from the dashboard and instructed the client to dial number one.

“Yeah?” answered a muffled voice.

“Rick! Where are you? How many minutes do we need?”

“I'm here at the embassy. You should be here in by now, otherwise they will process her deportation papers. I bought you that time, but if you wouldn’t be here, then I can’t help you anymore.”

“We’re on the way, but in case, buy us more chance. I promise I’ll give you a ticket to Switzerland,” she said and fastened her seatbelt.

“That’s my girl! Okay, gotcha!”

After she ended the call, she turned to Xien, looking at her with a wrinkle on her forehead.

“You heard that? We will secure your new visa so you can stay here and plan your next step.”

She smiled, opened her backpack and brought out her documents as she looked at it with sparkling eyes. Her desperation is enough for her to risk everything just to free herself from her tyrannical father.

#

It was five minutes before the time lapsed, so Michelle pulled over the vehicle near the curb of the road because she can’t squeeze it on the condensed parking area. She let her ran on foot to the Embassy and met Rick waiting at the entrance.

They vanished from her sight before she could alight, but she painted a smile on her face as she followed them. Upon entering the consulate office, she could not take a glimpse of them so she waited in the lobby scouring at the crowds and checking messages from her phone.

She roamed around for hours, waiting for them. Before she got bored, they went out from the elevator.

“What took you so long? What happened?” her eyeball enlarged, looking at both of them.

“Guess what? They will grant me a new visa, but I have to process my clearance and get back in 14 days. I can stay here longer!” Xien hugged Michelle so tight.

Rick scratched his forehead, watching their faces.

“Well, I’m happy for you but can we please grab a bite, I ain’t use skipping my meals and I feel lethargic right now,” he said and inhaled so deep.

Michelle put her arms over his shoulder and dragged yanked him away as the other woman follow them behind.

Xien could not stop smiling while they were having their lunch, but she remembered her guards and her father.

“Listen to me. What is your plan?” she asked staring at her enjoying the food.

“I don’t know, but I won’t go back.”

“Wait, why you’re so desperate to stay here?” Rick asked, looking puzzled by their conversation.

“Oh, sorry. I forgot to say thank you for helping me,” Xien said to him. “I’m running from my family. They forced me to become an idol in the Korean industry but I disobeyed them. They’d rather disown me than defy their wishes. Now they wanted to marry me off for fame and wealth, in exchange for donating my kidney to that man.”

“What? I mean, is that for real?” he blinked three times and turned to Michelle, who nodded her head. “That’s an absurd idea! I’m sorry, but your parents are bunch of assholes!” he covered his mouth and looked at her, teary-eyed.

“You’re right. They do not accept gender equality, especially my father. He looked down on my mother and my sister and even me. He said we are weak emotionally, physically and mentally and we could not be of any help to our family except marrying persons of great significance to the society,” she wiped her tears.

“I don’t believe they should treat you like that! Look at agent Santarez, she has a toxic personality, but in terms of work, you can trust her more than the guys I knew,” he said.

Among the things she hated the most, Michelle can’t withstand domineering men who oppress women because of their weaknesses. It boils her blood to the point of getting into trouble because of it.

Xien Zu sent a request for protection under Gent Security Agency through her advice. She ended the old contract and signed a new one under team Bravo. However, she informed them about her plan to leave the country for few days to settle a personal matter and Rick will take the led in her place.

They escorted her to the new hotel she would stay for the meantime.

#

She was excited reading the information but as she go through the content, she found nothing intriguing. She informed the unknown number despite uncertainty. Later, she received a message demanding her to flight to Osaka Japan in next 24 hours or she will not find what she wanted.

She was lucky to secure visa the previous days. In a hurry, she packed her things and left her unkempt apartment.

It was quarter to midnight, and she abode the airplane. She took a nap, and the attendants awakened her when they announced their take-off.

The airplane landed at Osaka International airport. As soon as she got off, the cold climate welcomed her. The new environment and races she met on her way satisfied her eyes as she board the next transportation. It took her less than an hour to reach Osaka, and find Hotel Keihan in Shimaya, Konohana-K.

Upon arriving at the place, she texted the messenger; but did not receive a response. She forwarded another message, but waited for nothing.

She strolled to Dotonbori and found a restaurant where she could gratify her hunger. She seated on the left corner near the glass door and ate her food while enjoying the view when a stranger sat in front of her. He was wearing a sweatshirt and a black facemask.

“Hey, excuse me Mister but there are lots of vacant seats there,” she jerked on the spare tables, but the man ignored her. He glanced side to side, and he covered his eyes from the other customers.

“Hey, can you speak English? Did you understood what I’ve said?” she asked while peeking at him. He did not reply, but he took his phone and wrote something.

A notification distracted her in the middle of her questions when she received a message but upon looking at the unknown number and the content; she moved her head closer to the guy in front.

“Are you the messenger?”

“Follow me.” He stood, and went out. He was faster than his words and Michelle could have lost track of him if she hasn’t to doubled her time to catch his pace. While they traverse the streets back to Keihan hotel, she often glimpsed at him. From his gaze, his gait and behavior, he was hiding his face from every person they met on the way.

“Stop! Who are you?” she asked and blocked his way.

He halted, and his eyes evaded hers.

“Follow me,” he said in a husky voice. She paused for a while, but then she followed him still as they enter the hotel and took the elevator for a lift going to the 8th floor.

Before she could open her mouth to interrogate him, he snatched the bag from her hand surprising her in the process, and she interpreted it as a violent attack so she gave him a swift smacked on his face but he avoided it. Instead, he locked her from behind, depriving her of any free defense from the moment. She swung her body considering he was about 5 feet and five inches tall and with all her might; she pulled him. He tumbled forward, reeling from the force. He lay flat, and she took the chance and grappled him. With her lean muscular arms, she choked him. The man floundered in her grasp and the thudding sounds of the elevator’s floor and wall showed his struggle.

“Who are you? What do you know about my brother’s death?” she asked.

He was out of breath. His eyes are turning red, blood pounding in his ears, and in a second, he tapped her arm. She released him instantly, but she maintained her distance from him. The elevator opened, and he catapulted outside coughing. He tilted his head, and filled his lungs with air.

“Hey! You tried to trick me!” she said.

“I-I don’t mean to hurt you! I just… want to make sure you have the information!” he answered, panting.

“How can I trust you?”

He gathered his strength, “I’m…. s-sorry if I scared you, but I don’t trust you too.”

“I have what it, but no need to rush ‘cause I’ll plucked your eyes if you’re lying to me!” she said and chuckled.

“I’m no liar! C-come with me.” He limped and unlocked the first room.

The floor has six rooms, and the elevator is located at the center.

Michelle walked in but she counted her pace as she step inside. The place was bigger and cozy, and the designs showcased Japanese origin. However, it was as messy as her apartment, but she got another impression.

“I’m sorry, my-my room was dirty. Someone just broke in here a few days ago,” he said, decluttering some clothes and books on the floor.

“W-why? Did they take anything?”

“Nope, ‘coz’ they couldn’t find it here.”

“They want something form you?” she was staring at him and his movements.

“Yes, but where is the information? I need to see it first.”

She took the envelope from her bag and threw it on his lap.

He teared the seal to open it, while his hands are shaking. He swallowed a few times before reading the content. His bizarre behaviors on top of his mysterious identity puzzled her to which she wanted to interrogate him for hours.

After studying it, his shoulders dropped, and he looked down.

“I don’t know what you were looking, but I did my part. I have gone through a lot of troubles because of it. It’s your turn. Show me your face, tell me who you are and everything you know.”

He removed his hood and his facemask and looked at Michelle straight in the eye.

She couldn’t believe what she saw. She waved her hands in the air.

“What?” she said, holding her hips.

Her eyes are not deceiving her. He was a skinny lad, with a fair complexion, his eyes are of same shape as hers, his nose is sharp and his cropped hair is brown.

“My goodness! You're a kid? Did I just beat up a kid?” she exclaimed, shaking her head.

“My name is Kai Santarez.”

“W-what? Say it again? What’s your surname?”

“Santarez, your brother adopted me when I was 12 years old.”

“Whoa! Are you kidding me? So you’re saying you know David and you became his family without my knowledge. You’re lying!” she raised her voice, but doubt lingers on her mind.

“Listen, if you don’t believe me, here’s the proof.” He gave her the phone containing pictures of him and her dead brother. Out of curiosity, she scanned all of it and she can’t deny the evidence she was looking.

She sat on the sofa and kept silent for a moment. She messed her hair and browsed the pictures for the second time.

“O-okay, let’s say David adopted you few years ago, now why did you send me that message? What do you know about him and his death?”

"I hesitated for a long time before I decided to call you here."

Kai put his hand in his pocket and brought out a badge. He threw it to her, and she caught it with her nimble hands. She scrutinized it and it stunned her seeing the blue diamond logo on its front part.

“I told you to find anything related with that one because he entrusted it to me before he disappeared.”

“Did you get initial information about this?”

“No. I’ve been searching for many years, but it seems only your brother knows.”

“How did you meet him? Why did he adopt you?”

“I’m an orphan living at Shuki Orphanage. When I was 12, a middle age man came looking for children to support. He chose me, but after a week, he sold me to another person. I was young and innocent and I can’t understand what’s happening, but I remembered they took me to a hospital. The man said I’m sick so they have to operate me and remove my kidney. Though I’m young, I knew they were lying to me. There are doctors wearing a white gowns and holding knives, and I heard they operated two children, but they died. I picked up the knife from the table and stabbed the doctor. He bled, but I ran away,” Kai cleared his throat.

“I don’t know how I escaped from them. While running, I bumped into your brother on the street. He was wearing that badge on his waistline, so I thought he was a police. I told him everything, and he took me to the nearest station but then I was afraid to he will leave me alone so I clung on his arms until he brought me with him to this hotel. I stayed here for an entire night. The next day, he processed my adaptation papers. He said I don’t need to worry ‘cause he’s a good man, and he’s a protector and that we’re family,” he rubbed his eyes with his hand.

“I lived with him within a year in this room, but on that December, he texted me he won’t be able to go home for a week. Then he disappeared.”

He grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge. He gave the other one to Michelle.

“And the incident?” her voice is brittle.

“I-I don’t know what happened, but his friend came here and told me that your brother was dead.”

She kneeled in front of Kai and held his shoulders.

“W-which man? Which friend? What’s his name or what does he look?”

“I-I can’t remember and I’m scared. Those men will kill me if they find me here,” he said and wept.

Michelle was eager to make him talk, but her conscience couldn’t take her to push him to the end. She embraced him as he sobbed on her shoulders.

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