Chapter 2: The Bodyguard 2

Nagmamadaling lumapit si Gael sa kani Jasmine at Charlie at marahan silang iginiya palabas ng club. Pagdating sa entrance, nakita niyang pumarada ang pamilyar na big bike ni Gray Samaniego, Jasmine's family friend, sa harap ng club. She hasn't seen Gray in a long-time. Three years to be exact.

Gray took off his helmet, got off his bike and walked over at them in few long strides.

"Thanks for the heads up," anito kay Gael bago bumaling kay Jasmine. "C'mon, Jasmine. I'll take you home," pormal na pahayag nito bago iniabot ang hawak nitong helmet sa kaibigan niya.

She felt Jasmine's hand tightened on hers. Kung bakit, hindi niya alam. It took a few more seconds before Jasmine let her hand go and hesitantly took the helmet from Gray.

"M-mauna na 'ko, Charlie. I-I'll text you when I'm home," anito bago tuluyang naglakad patungo sa big bike ni Gray. She would've wanted to send Jasmine off but Gael quickly took her hand and led her back to her car.

On the way, nakasalubong nila si Theo. His face crumpled as soon as his eyes landed on their interlocked hands.

"Hey, sino ka? Bitiwan mo si Charlie!" mataas ang boses na utos ni Theo.

"And who are you?" sagot ni Gael sa malagom na tinig. His voice was calm but with a hint of danger.

Theo scoffed. "I am with Charlie. I'm her date. So you better, take your hands off my date before you regret it."

Bumaling si Gael sa kanya. His eyes were full questions. Marahan nitong pinisil ang kamay niya bago ibinalik ang tingin kay Theo.

"You're her date and you cannot even make sure that she's safe," puno ng sarkasmong umpisa ni Gael. "Sa'n ka ba nagpupupunta? Nalagay na sa alanganin ni Charlie hindi mo pa alam."

Naningkit na ang mga mata ni Theo, nanduro. "I don't answer to you! Besides, just who the hell are you to talk to me that way?" Nang muling humakbang palapit si Theo, taranta siyang humakbang sa pagitan ng dalawang lalaki.

"T-Theo, please..." Umiling siya at marahang inilapat ang kamay niya sa dibdib nito. "H-he's not worth your anger. He's just my new b-bodyguard. He's nothing," sabi niya bago bumaling kay Gael. "Let my hand go. Sasama ako sa 'yo pauwi. You don't need to put force on me," seryosong utos niya rito. Sandali pa siyang pinakatitigan ni Gael bago nito binitiwan ang kamay niya. After he did, muli niyang hinarap si Theo. "Sorry, let's have dinner some other time."

Atubiling tumango-tango si Theo, makahulugan pang sumulyap pa kay Gael na nasa likuran niya. "Are you sure? I can take you home instead--"

"I'm sure," she cut him off, forcing a smile. She leaned forward and gave him a quick hug. "I'll call you," sabi pa niya bago ito tuluyang binitiwan.

Matapos niyon, walang lingon-likod siyang naglakad patungo sa sasakyan niya. Nagtaka pa siya dahil ni anino ng iba pa niyang bodyguards hindi niya makita kung saan-- taliwas sa nakasanayan na niyang protocol mula pa noong bata siya. She and her mother was kidnapped her family's enemy when she was four. And when they survived the ordeal, having people securing their safety had been a constant in their lives.

"Where are my other bodyguards?" nagmamadali niyang tanong kay Gael na noon ay nauuna nang maglakad sa kanya.

"I sent them home," kaswal na sagot ng magaling na lalaki bago nagmamadaling umikot sa driver's side ng sasakyan niya si Gael.

"What? You sent them home? And they believed you!" She scoffed, anger slowly rising inside her chest. "You are clearly crossing the line, Mr. Estrada--"

"Keys," kaswal na putol nito sa kanya, inilahad pa ang mga kamay nito sa harap niya.

Her brows instantly furrowed. "No, I'm driving! Nagpaalam ako kay Daddy!"

He slowly shook his head. His jaw clenched. "You don't drink and drive, remember? Unless you want me to tell your Dad about it." Hindi siya nakasagot kahit gusto niyang magprotesta. "That's settled then. Give me your car key, Charlize."

Charlize.

She cursed her stupid heart for fluttering. He called her that again. Just like the old times but...

Kumurap-kurap siya at hinamig ang sarili. She knew, hindi uubra ang pagmamatigas niya rito. And the more she resists his demands, the more she'll be stuck with him! And that's the least thing she wants right now. She doesn't want him near. She doesn't even want to see him. But it's too late now for what she wants or would've wanted. The situation is giving her no choice. So she will give in... for now.

She quickly fished her car key inside her handbag and handed it to him, begrudgingly. After that, she settled herself at the backseat.

Ilang sandali pa, umusad na ang sasakyan. She was dead set in ignoring Gael all throughout their drive home but he keeps on glancing at her from the rearview mirror and it's making her uncomfortable.

"Ano bang tinitingin-tingin mo, Mr. Estrada?" gigil na tanong niya, hindi na siya nakatiis.

"I'm just wondering if you've forgotten your manners, Charlize," anito, ibinalik na ang mata sa daan.

She scoffed, he's beginning to irk her again. "Manners? How dare you talk as if you have one."

"Niligtas kita sa lasing na lalaki 'di ba? A simple thank you would suffice, Charlize."

"That's what my Daddy was paying you for, right? To protect me. That's your job. But since you really want to have recognition for your good deeds, fine! Thank you. Satisfied?" puno ng sarkasmong sabi niya. "And that's Miss Charlie to you like everybody who works for us, Mr. Estrada--"

"Gael, call me Gael," putol nito sa kanya.

"No. I will keep calling you Mr. Estrada."

He chuckled. "Alright then, Charlize."

She huffed and rolled her eyes. She turned to the window—tyring to distract herself from her own emotions.

Arguing with Gael is tiring. How can the man she used to love the most irk her now till kingdom come? And it's just his first day as her bodyguard. Saglit pa lang silang nagkakasama ulit pero lampas-langit na ang gigil niya rito. How can she survive the coming days to come?

Bakit ba kasi bumalik-balik pa ito sa buhay niya? Bakit hindi na lang ito nanatili sa kung saang lupalop man ng mundo ito naglagi sa nakalipas na tatlong taon? What does he want now after what he did?

I don't love you, Charlie. I'm sorry.

The words rang inside her head again like a curse that never ends. She clutched her fists tighter when her throat burned from preventing her tears to surface.

Those were the very words Gael told her when she confessed her feelings to him on the night of her 18th birthday about three years ago. But more than the pain of that instant rejection, the days after that night were harder.

Gael had been in her life since she was four years old. Her parents took pity on him when they learned that he is an orphan and was living with his paralyzed granduncle. Her parents helped Gael with almost everything he needed growing up. He was her kuya- playmate, diving instructor, and protector. She developed a crush on him when she was ten. She had loved him since she was thirteen.

Gael was a constant in her life. And when he rejected her and left to wherever place the next day, she felt so lost and alone. Like a big part of her life has ripped off of her that it left a big hollow in her heart.

She cried herself to sleep many nights after that—asking what was it she lacks that made Gael reject her. Heck! She even tried dating suitors she never really wanted just to distract herself from thinking that she's not good enough. Jasmine never left her side-- just like how she never left hers when she was being bullied in school. After being a crying mess, she promised herself to never let herself be in that position again. She will forget and unlove Gael.

She was successful in doing that for the last three years. Or so she thought...

"Nothing, huh? I'm nothing," untag ni Gael sa kanya maya-maya. Ibinalik niya ang mga mata sa rearview mirror. His eyes were on the road. "Who's that guy? Boyfriend mo?" anito.

She rolled her eyes again. "And what if he is? Why do you care?"

Hindi ito agad sumagot, nagbuga ng hininga. "I'm sorry, Charlie, for hurting you. I only did that because--"

"That's water under the bridge now. Besides, bandaids don't fix bullet holes, Mr. Estrada. Your sorries don't worth anything," putol niya rito. He huffed and she didn't hesitate to continue. "I don't want you to be my bodyguard. You're nosy and you act like you're king over me. I will talk to Dad about getting a new bodyguard other than you. I don't like you. After what you did to me, I will never ever like you--" Nabitin sa ere ang mga susunod pa niyang sasabihin nang biglang mag-preno ang sasakyan. She was pushed forward in the space between the two front seats, nakatukod ang dalawang kamay niya sa mga likod ng mga upuan.

She angrily looked at Gael whose face was just a few inches away from hers now. "Are you trying to get us killed? Are you drunk or some--"

Hindi na niya naituloy pa ang mga sasabihin niya nang mabilis na bumaling si Gael sa kanya at tinawid ang gahiblang pagitan ng kanilang mga labi.

The kiss was gentle and sweet-- like a dream. Like the way she had always dreamed. She closed her eyes and when he gently reached for her nape, pressing her lips closer to his. And something inside of her melted-- surrendering to the feeling she thought she had learned to forget for the past three years.

Ilang sandali pa, binitiwan siya ni Gael. Her eyes instantly flew open. Her heart beating loudly inside her chest as she met his mysterious gray eyes.

"I get it, Charlize. You are mad at me. Now put your seatbelt on love, before I lose myself," bulong nito.