Mr. Bodyguard

Part VI

As the day had just started, Andrea awoke to the morning sun, its gentle rays casting a warm glow through her bedroom window. Her life feels a little different. For the last few years, she was a sheltered and privileged young woman, living a luxurious life but feeling empty inside. Suddenly, today, out of nowhere, she feels excited to start her day, one that she feels will be filled with adventure and maybe a little bit of romance.

As she got ready for the day, Andrea couldn't shake off the memories of the conversation between her and Gabriel, the stranger she met yesterday. He was unlike any other men she had ever known before. He was ruggedly handsome, with beautiful piercing green eyes, and chiselled jawline. But it wasn't just his looks that captured Andrea's attention.

It was his sweet smile and infectious laugh over the joke he made that made Andrea feel alive again. Andrea decided to take a chance and call Gabriel. To her surprise, he answered on the second ring. As the call connected, a mixture of nerves and excitement coursed through her.

"Good morning, Andrea." he said with his deep sweet voice.

A smile graced Andrea's face as Gabriel's voice resonated through the phone. "Good morning, Gabriel."

He chuckled. "Actually, I have to admit that I wasn't expecting to hear from you ever after yesterday. But would you love to spend little time of yours with me today?"

Andrea, whose bubbled up with excitement replied, "I would love that."

"Then, how about a little adventure in the ocean today?" he proposed, the promise of hidden gems in the city hanging in the air.

"That is casual but fun and I have to keep it safe anyway."

"Then, the ocean it is."

She can tell that this could be the start of something between them. They talk for hours making plans for the day, deciding on doing sea diving in their area nearby and other water activities then having lunch on one of the beach's popular cafe.

*****

Andrea was about to walk out, set off for the day's plan, she encountered Xavier returning from his morning jog. The air between them carried a palpable awkwardness. a residue of the intense encounter that unfolded yesterday's evening. Their eyes briefly met, as they both standing by the door, frozen.

A silent exchange laden with unspoken tension. Andrea hesitated, caught between the desire for freedom and the lingering complications that surrounded her protector. As she was about to step out, Xavier's firm grip closed around her wrist, halting in her movement.

"What?" Andrea shortly speak.

His eyes held a touch of possessiveness as he asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

An irritated edge laced Andrea's response, "Out, Xavier. It's none of your business."

The conflicting emotions from the previous day's encountered fueled her frustration, and desire for independence clashed with Xavier's protective stance.

"Where? With whom?" The possessiveness lingered in his tone, and in attempt to maintain control, he suggested, "Wait here. I'll come with you."

Andrea, feeling confined by his watchful gaze and suffocated by the prospect of constant supervision, snapped back, "I don't need a babysitter, Xavier. I will go alone. Plus, I can take care of myself now. I'm not a little kid as I was back then anymore."

Frustration dripped from her words as the desire for freedom clashed with Xavier's unwavering protectiveness. Andrea's words halting Xavier's movement. He turned around and stood back in front of her with fury in his eyes. The air thickened with unspoken tension.

"Are you out of your mind? How can you make sure that you'll be okay with you going alone and without me coming along?"

Andrea whose boiling with frustration, confronted Xavier, "I need space. I can't live wit someone watching my every move all the time, all my life."

Xavier's protective instincts countered her in full force, "I'm just doing my job, Andrea. Your safety is my top priority."

She retorted, "Safety? Or suffocation? I can't breath with you constantly hovering."

Xavier trying to ease the tension, offered, "I just want to make sure nothing happens to you. Let me come along."

Andrea, feeling her independence slipping away, shook her head off, "No. I need a day without the walls closing in."

Xavier's eyes flashed with fury at the thought of Andrea spending the her time alone with a stranger she had just met. The corner for her safety battled with his frustration, and he snapped, "You barely know this guy. I can't let you go off alone with him."

With defiant and determination, she shot back, "I can take care of myself, Xavier. I need a break from this constant surveillance! Haven't I told you that he is not that kind of guy who do you think he is!"

"How do you know? You just met him yesterday. And you don't even know him like how you know me."

"That's the point!"

"What?!" the room filled with silence for a moment. Andrea breathes out heavily, pulls her hair back and looks straight at Xavier.

"He's not like you, Xavier. At least he is someone else and nothing like you."

Xavier standing, frozen as the weight of Andrea's words struck like a heavy blow. The pain etched across his face was evident, freezing him in place. Andrea's declaration cut him deep, the comparison leaving a lingering ache in his chest.

Without wasting time, Andrea took the chance to walk away., closing the door behind her. As she was stood still, she saw Gabriel standing two feet away from her front door porch waiting for her with his diving suit on and a big sweet smile on his face as he looked at her. Andrea walks towards him with a happy smile on her face.

Meanwhile, Xavier could only watch with full of jealousy and furious by the window. His gaze send them both away. Her laughs look genuine while talking to the guy named Gabriel.

As they arrived at the beach, there were few people and an instructor that's getting ready for their diving activities same as they. Andrea feels excited and happy. The sun was just starting to rise over the crystal-clear waters of the sea as Andrea stepped onto the deck of the dive boat.

She never dreamed she would do this back at her home, she never even go to this kind of place or even does this kind of thing. She only saw those beautiful fish, colourful coral reefs that lay hidden beneath the oceans from one of the television documentary shows. She couldn't wait to explore them.

After they both prepared for their dive, Andrea couldn't help but feel nervous. She had never dived before, especially with someone new, let alone it was the guy she met yesterday that somehow, she found attractive. But Gabriel on the other hand, seemed relaxed and confident, which put Andrea to ease.

As they both descended into the water, Andrea felt a sense of excitement she hadn't experienced in her whole life. The colours of the coral reefs were more vibrant than what she saw on the television. She saw many types of schools of fish swimming around them in harmony.

Gabriel led the way, pointing out other hidden treasures of the sea that Andrea would miss out. As they swam deeper, Andrea felt a little hint of connection with Gabriel that she didn't know how to explain it. They even communicated through hand signals and gestures, their bodies moving in synchronisation. Andrea somehow felt alive in a different way she never felt before in years.

After hours of exploration, they finally emerged from the water, both exhilarated and exhausted. Gabriel grinned at Andrea as they pulled off their gear.

"You look like you really enjoyed it there. I've never seen anyone as excited as you being in the water before."

Andrea blushed as Gabriel continued to talk about how excited she was. She couldn't even believe that she could understand him talking in the water that easily. It was as if they were two halves of a whole, connected by something other than words could express.

They walked back to the shore together and kept talking and she would laugh at every joke he said. Gabriel also told her that he's been diving for years and loved nothing more than exploring the depths of the ocean. As they continued talking, Andrea felt a sense of hope that she hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe there will be something more between her and Gabriel than just companionship. Only time can tell.

To be continued...