Chapter 2 – Unwanted Reunion

”Alexandra?” Gulat na banggit niya sa pangalan ko. I firmed my stand and face him.

“Alex Vega, your personal bodygu—”

“What the hell are you doing—do you think you can protect me?”

The arrogance in his voice sliced through the air like a knife. Typical Damian Cross—confident, sharp, and condescending in every word he spoke.

Nakatayo ako sa harap niya, naka-cross arms, walang kahit anong reaction sa mukha ko. Matagal ko nang natutunan na huwag patulan ang mga taong kagaya niya—especially him.

“Kung gusto mong mamatay, puwede rin naman akong umalis ngayon,” sagot ko, kalmado lang. “Pero kung gusto mong mabuhay, you’ll listen to me. Period.”

He smirked, He sat at his chair, leaned back na parang tinatantsa ako. “Still bossy, huh? A girl? my bodyguard? wow...”

“I’m paid to keep you alive, not to entertain your ego,” sabi ko bago ako tumalikod at lumabas ng opisina niya.

I heard him chuckle behind me, low and amused, the same sound that used to drag me closer years ago. Damn it, Alex. Focus. This is just another job. Just another client.

Pero kahit anong pagkumbinsi ko sa sarili ko, hindi ko maalis ‘yung fact na every time he looked at me, my body remembered things it shouldn’t. His touch. His lips. The nights that started wild and ended with silent goodbyes.

i close my eyes, ’Damn’ i whispered.

---

“Vega, the convoy is ready,” sabi ni Rafi, isa sa mga kasama ko sa ops team.

“Good. Let’s move.”

Paglabas namin sa main building, Damian followed, wearing that smug expression that probably made half of Manila fall for him. Designer suit, sleek watch, that faint trace of perfume I used to hate because it reminded me of what we weren’t supposed to be.

I opened the SUV door for him. “Inside.”

“Wow, very commanding,” he said, smirking again. “You sure you’re not compensating for something?”

I met his eyes, steady. “I’m compensating for the fact that you can’t follow simple orders.”

Rafi choked back a laugh, pretending to check his earpiece. Damian raised an eyebrow but got in anyway. I followed, sliding in beside him. The rest of the team took their assigned vehicles, forming the usual formation — two at front, two behind.

Gaya ng kinagawian. Kaniya-kaniyang trabaho at focus sa ginagawa.

The Manila skyline blurred past as we drove. I tried to ignore the thick tension inside the car. His gaze was heavy, following every small movement I made. I could feel it even when I wasn’t looking.

“So,” he started, voice low. “Where the hell did you disappear all these years, Alex?”

“Not your business,” I replied flatly, eyes still on the road.

“Not my business?” he repeated, half amused, half offended. “I’d say we were pretty close for that to count as my business.”

“Were, Damian.” I turned my head, meeting his eyes with a look that could freeze fire. “Past tense.”

He grinned slightly. “Still have that mouth.”

“And you still have that attitude,” I muttered

“Do you know each other?” Tanong ni Rafi.

“No”. “Yes” Sabay naming sagot. Rafi look at the mirror and me. A weird look and asking for an answer.

I clear my throat at umiwas ng tingin. "Let's get back to work.” tanging naging sagot ko. Mabuti nalang hindi na muli pang nagsalita ang mga kasama ko sa sasakyan.

---

I was checking my sidearm simula ng bumiyahe kami. Kanina ko parin napapansin ang dalawang nakamotor at isang kotse na nakasunod samin. I look at them, wearing black helmet and gears, perfect outfit for riding in tandem kung tawagin. “Rafi try to slow down.” Utos ko.

He looked at the mirror, “Is there something wrong?” He asked. i was about to reply when the first bullet hit the windshield.

“DOWN!” I shouted, instantly pulling Damian to the floor of the SUV as glass shattered. The driver swerved, pero mabilis akong umaksyon. “Rafi, evasive maneuvers!”

“Copy that!”

Automatic gunfire rattled through the convoy. I peeked up, spotting two motorcycles tailing us and one black van trying to cut from the right.

I grabbed my handgun that i hide at my back, rolled down the cracked window, and fired two quick shots — one tire exploded, sending the bike skidding across EDSA traffic.

“Holy shit, fuck! ” Damian muttered, ducking as another bullet grazed the side mirror.

“Stay down!” I ordered, my tone sharp, professional. “Don’t move unless I tell you to.”

“Fuc—” “Kung gusto mong mamatay, ako na ang gagawa pero kung hindi sumunod ka nalang!” Sigaw ko nang akmang lilingon siya sa likod.

The SUV swerved again as I reloaded, sliding another mag in one clean motion. My pulse was steady — the kind of calm that only comes from years of combat training. I leaned out the window, firing at the van this time.

“Boom!" The bullet hit the driver’s side. The vehicle jerked, hitting a post before it spun out and crashed.

“Two down!” I shouted to Rafi through comms. “Status sa likod?”

“Clear na, Isa na lang!”

I looked at the rearview mirror, spotting the last motorcycle coming fast. I pulled a small grenade from my vest.

“What the heck? you have that all along?!” malalaking matang tanong ni Damian. I pulled the pin with my teeth, and tossed it out the window at just the right timing. It rolled under the bike — boom. Gone.

“Piece of cake!” I proudly said.

The sudden silence after the chaos was deafening.

Damian slowly sat up, eyes wide, chest heaving. His shirt was covered in glass dust and a bit of dirt, but he was alive. My ears were still ringing, adrenaline pumping through my veins.

He stared at me, disbelief flickering across his face. “What the hell was that?”

I looked at him calmly. “Tuesday.”

He blinked. “Tuesday?”

“Typical Tuesday in my line of work.” I holstered my weapon and leaned back, catching my breath. “You’re welcome, by the way.” Narinig kong bahagyang tumawa si Rafi.

---

The convoy pulled over in a secured parking area for regrouping. I stepped out first, scanned the surroundings, and gave the all-clear signal. The other guards followed, setting a perimeter.

Damian got out slowly, straightening his suit like the chaos earlier didn’t just happen. Pero halata sa mga mata niya — he was shaken. Hindi lang dahil muntik na siyang mapuruhan, but because of what he saw me do.

“You... handled that,” he said quietly. “Like it was nothing.”

“It’s my job,” I answered simply.

He walked closer, studying me. His eyes traveled from my holster to the scar on my arm, then back to my face. “You weren’t like this before.”

I smirked. “People change.”

He tilted his head. “No, you hardened.”

I shrugged. “You would too, if life kicked your ass as hard as it kicked mine.”

He wanted to say something, pero nagbago ang expression niya — softer this time, like he saw a glimpse of something familiar in me. I quickly looked away.

---

Pagbalik namin sa sasakyan, tahimik lang ulit. I could feel him watching me again, pero this time, hindi arrogance ang nararamdaman ko. It was curiosity. And something else he was trying to hide.

“Where the hell did you learn to fight like that?” he asked finally, voice lower now.

I turned my head, meeting his gaze. His eyes searched mine — and for the first time since I walked into his office, his confidence faltered.

The corner of my lips lifted slightly. “Hindi mo na kailangang malaman.”

But he leaned closer, his voice barely above a whisper.

“No, Alex. I do.”

His breath brushed against my cheek, close enough to stir old memories I tried so hard to bury.

I held his gaze, my pulse steady even if everything else inside me wasn’t. And that’s when I realized—this was just the beginning.