Chapter 3: Safe Place

Walang ganang hinahalo-halo ni Charlie ang soup na nakasilbi sa kanyang harapan. She and Theo were at Rancho Italiano having dinner. Sila lang dalawa dahil hindi pinayagan si Jasmine ng Daddy nito na lumabas.

Honestly, she doesn't know what happened to Jasmine after their failed night out three days ago. Pero mukhang nalaman ng Daddy nito na nagpunta sila sa club at muntik nang mapahamak. Hindi niya kasi ito masyadong nakakausap these past few days dahil may pinapagawa raw ang Daddy nito. But she had a feeling na mukhang napagalitan ang kaibigan dahil sa kanya. Her friend's adoptive father is a retired general. It's a given na istrikto ito sa anumang bagay.

She chewed the insides of her cheeks, guilt slowly filling her heart. Mukhang nalagay pa niya sa alanganin si Jasmine dahil lang sa gusto niyang magrebelde dahil sa pagbabalik ni Gael sa buhay niya.

Gael.

Lihim siyang sumulyap sa labas ng restaurant. She saw Gael standing beside her car talking to her other bodyguards. Maya-maya pa, nagtawanan ang mga ito. Lalo siyang nagngitngit.

How dare he laugh when he's making her life miserable?

She rolled her eyes and stirred the soup faster.

The past three days have been pure hell. Gael follows her wherever she goes and she's beyond annoyed... more to herself than him.

Why? Her stupid heart just won't stop skipping a beat whenever he's near-- just like the old times. And she finds it so unfair dahil akala niya, tapos na siya kay Gael.

When he rejected her, she promised herself that she won't be in that position anymore-- that she will forget him, that she will not allow him to get under her skin... that she will unlove him. But... eversince Gael returned into her life three days ago and that kiss they've shared... it's getting clearer by the day... hindi pa siya tapos mahalin si Gael.

She tried talking to her Dad about Gael switching places with other bodyguards. But her father won't budge. Muntik na nga niyang sabihin sa Daddy niya na hinalikan siya nito para lang mapaalis ito bilang bodyguard niya but she doesn't want Gael to be in trouble. Her parents might trust Gael so much but... she's not sure if him kissing her would sit well with them.

And so there she is, stuck-- pretending to be okay even though she doesn't feel like it even just a bit.

"Are you okay, Charlie?" pukaw sa kanya ni Theo maya-maya. Agad niyang itinigil ang ginagawa at nag-angat ng tingin sa kasama.

His handsome face was contoured with worry. Napakurap-kurap siya, tumikhim. "I-I'm fine. M-may iniisip lang ako," pagdadahilan niya.

Theo slowly shook his head. "There's something wrong with you. I just knew it," anito bago marahang binitiwan ang mga kubyetos nito. "Is your new bodyguard bothering you again?"

She hesitantly shook her head. "O-of course not! W-why did you think he was bothering me?"

Nagkibit balikat si Theo, marahang nagpunas ng bibig gamit ang napkin cloth. "I don't know. It's just that... I don't like him," anito, muling dumilim ang mukha. "If I were the boss, I'd fire him this instant," dugtong pa nito, puno ng disgusto.

She took in a deep breath. This is the first time na harapang nagsabi sa kanya si Theo ng hindi nito gusto. Mula kasi nang makilala niya ito, he's always composed and respectful. He is kind-- patient. But eversince Gael came into her life, unti-unting lumalabas ang iba pang ugali ni Theo na hindi pa niya nakikita. And she's slowly realizing that though he had known him for three years, it seems she doesn't know Theo at all-- all sides of him.

Mabilis niyang pinulot ang wine glass sa harap niya at sumimsim doon. Matapos niyon, nagsalita siya. "I swear, it's not about Gael, Theo. Pagod lang siguro ako sa maghapon. Isinama ako ni Dad sa mga meetings niya for two straight days and it's really draining. Plus, I still have other office work to attend to," pagdadahilan niya.

What she said was half the truth. She took a summer job at SSL because she thought that when she do that, Gael will keep his distance. Pero hindi, lalo pa itong sinipag na mabantay sa kanya kahit na nasa opisina siya doing office work for her father. Not that he's bothering her. Actually, he doesn't talk to her at all. Ever since they kissed, he never attempted to talk to her about that-- about anything. He just does his job and makes his presence known to her. Which, for her, was harder because just simply his presence is overwhelming. And so she had to pretend the whole day that he doesn't bother her at all. When truth be told, she's aware of everything about Gael.

She's only free of him kapag nasa bahay na siya. But even then, she keeps thinking of him like the stupid 18 year old she was. And she doesn't like what she's becoming. She's not that loved crazed teen anymore whose world revolves around Gael. She promised herself not to be that stupid girl again.

She is Charlie Sandejas, the next CEO of Sandejas Shipping Lines. After college, she will pursue her masters in London, come back and be the leader she's expected to be and settle down... hopefully with Theo?

Her stomach churned again at the thought of marrying her only male friend. She'd always feel that way whenever she thinks about the future... with Theo. She shook her head mentally and tried to focus on what Theo was saying.

"Sinabi ko naman kasi sa 'yo na sumama ka na lang sa amin ni Mommy sa London when we visit my aunt, Lady Katherine. She said that her baron husband would be away for awhile and was inviting us into their manor. I've been there twice. I'm sure you'll love it there, Charlie. It would be a great way to spend the school break. So, what do you say?" aya nito, kuntodo ngiti.

Naikuwento na nito noon sa kanya ang tungkol sa tiyahin nitong nakapag-asawa ng nobility. At dahil sa walang itong anak at ang baron, si Theo ang naging anak-anakan ng mga ito.

Kumurap siya. "Tempting but..." She slowly shook her head. "Besides, I really like working at SSL. I really want to immerse myself on the work as early as now para hindi na ako mahirapan when my time comes. At saka, hindi rin naman ako papayagan ni Daddy na sumama sa inyo without Gael. And I'm sure you wouldn't want my bodyguard to tag along, don't you?"

Theo huffed. "No thank you. Besides, just like my family, my aunt doesn't socialize with people of low social status," sabi nito, ngumiti bago dinala ang wine glass sa bibig nito.

Yumuko siya at pinilit aang sariling mag-concentrate sa pagkain. She instantly felt conflicted. Hindi niya akalain na mapangmata pala si Theo at ang pamilya nito. A wave of hurt filled her chest for Gael. He maybe of low social background but he is a good person. Probably better than Theo now that he's slowly showing her his true colors.

Hinayaan niyang manipulahin ni Theo ang usapan sa sumunod na ilang minuto. She tried her hardest to listen. And when she got bored, siya na ang kusang nagpaalam. Hinatid siya nito hanggang sa sasakyan niya where Gael and her other bodyguards were waiting.

"We're leaving the day after tomorrow. If you change your mind, just me a call me," bilin sa kanya ni Theo bago humalik sa pisngi niya.

She gave him a gentle nod and went inside her car. Ilang sandali pa, umusad na ang sasakyan palayo.

Gaya nang magpunta sila roon, wala silang imikan ni Gael habang ipinagda-drive siya nito pauwi.

Na mabuti na rin dahil pagod siya--pagod na siyang mag-isip at magpanggap.

She wanted to talk to Gael about what's bothering her like she used to but... she doesn't want another argument with him.

Truth be told, she misses him. Before she allowed her stupidity to ruin everything between them, Gael has always been her go-to-person. She can rant, whine and cry till tomorrow and Gael would just patiently listen to her without judging her. She can just be the imperfect and vulnerable Charlie the world doesn't know of and Gael would be fine with it. Gael was her safe place.

Was.

She took a sharp breath and willed her tears not to fall.

"Ayos ka lang?" ani Gael maya-maya, nakasilip ang mga mata nito sa kanya sa rearview mirror. Tumango siya at ibinaling ang tingin sa labas ng sasakyan.

Few minutes more and Gael was already pulling over in front of their house. She quickly gathered her things and readied herself to get out. But before she could, Gael turned to her.

"Charlie," tawag nito sa kanila. Napilitan siyang salubungin ang mga mata nito. "You know you can aways come to me for anything, right? Like how we used to."

Used to.

She can feel the sincerity in his words and for while she wanted to believe na maayos nga sila. Na hindi siya nagpakatanga at umamin sa tunay niyang nararamdaman para sa binata pero... the last three years were real. She was hurt.... by him.

They said that there's a very thin line between love and friendship. And she clearly crossed that line many years ago and now... she cannot go back anymore to how they used to.

Mahina siyang tumango at lumabas ng sasakyan. The house was already quiet. Akala niya tulog na ang mga kasama niya bahay. But when she noticed that a light was coming through her father's study, alam niyang nag-uwi na naman ng trabaho ang Daddy niya.

Tahimik siyang naglakad palapit sa silid. The door was slightly ajar and when she was supposed to push it, she heard her mother's voice.

"Aaron, we must let Charlie know first."

Tumuwid ang likod niya. What must she know first?

"She will know. I will tell her," anang Daddy niya. "Don't worry too much. Everything will be fine. We will finalize Charlie's engagement to Theo as soon as the Mondragons are back."

She froze.