Am I Threatened

I felt Manong Tomas hands patted my back. "Are you okay now, little girl?"

I looked at him with confusion. Huh? "What do you mean?"

He laughed at me hard so our tablemates disobeyed him again. He looked at them with disbelief before looking back at me. "We know that even though it's been a year since your parents died, it's still fresh in your mind, right? Little girl, don't you want to find someone to be with in life?"

I looked back at my food and started sipping the soup of the sinigang before replying. I felt the sourness of it passing down my throat. " You mean.... romantic relationship, Manong?"

"Yes."

"Manong, I hate guys. I hate them for being so mean, for doing something immoral on earth. Bullying their wives, doing violence at home that is supposedly the place for comfort. And those guys..." I stopped and looked around the canteen, roaming my gaze towards the guys sitting at their tables. "They are all the same, born to break the women and pretending they are so badly in love, but the fact is that they are just infatuated." I continued.

I don't know why those guys still exist here on earth. Where all they can do is to bully their partners? If they cannot do good things, why not erase them here on Earth? Remove their existence and women will be happy. Because why? Because of them, domestic violence is always happening.

"Daughter, not all men are like you think. Sometimes, daughter, our perspective on something can affect how we decide and think. But, daughter, when you look outside the box, you will see that there are more men than women who are smart. There are just more idiots, so even the smart ones are affected." Manong's long litany.

I gave him a thin smile and finished eating. I don't think there are any smart men left in the world.

After I ate my lunch, I went back to my office and started my work when I received a call directly on my number.

I furrowed my brows and grabbed my phone beside the table. I looked at the unknown number and decided not to answer it. But the unknown caller keeps on calling. That's why I ended up answering the call with an irritating voice.

"Who are you?! Why do you keep calling?! I'm busy?!" I immediately started here.

I was so busy and then the call came. Who is this? This number is not registered on my phone? Damn! It's not April fool's yet! They are so advance!

"I just want you to know that.... your life is counting." he said.

I plastered a thin smile and nodded for a second before speaking. "Talk everything you want while you still have my number, unknown caller."

I paused and waited for the caller to say everything it wants. However, it seemed like no one was going to say anything. That's all? What? Did he just threaten me?

I took a deep breath. Too weak. "Was that all? Nothing more? More... convincing and scarier?"

I heard a little voice from it and I noticed that it's a man. It seems like he is on his 30's. He's already older than me, he's already jumping in the calendar, yet, he still loves playing guess and win and hide and seek here.

"Oh come on old man. Are you going to play something catchy with me? Will you?" I asked this.

I heard a groan from him and a deep, deep sigh. Ow, is he tired enough talking with me? I did start yet, why so excited?

"Just take good care of yourself, honey. You know, your life is counting. And besides..." he paused and let out a laugh. He's laughing for himself, huh? And he continued," I already brought a special VIP place for your dead body. You know? A little satisfaction for your 15 minutes of reminiscing of your soul."

I laughed. "HAHAHA! And you found it already scary, old man? Ow gesh, I'm scared."

I acted like I'm scared, my face is showing a real emotion of me being scared by something, while I am biting my long white black nails.

I heard from him a loud thump from something that dropped on the floor. Is he mad? Did I just turn his blood sugar on-top?

"Just wait and I'll tear your life until you beg for your life on me." he said.

"Old man, I never kneel to anyone, how about you? I'm not going to beg an old man who is no longer on the calendar. Trying to scare me? It won't work on me old man. Better luck next time." I said and turned off the call.

I leaned myself on the chair and stared at the ceiling. I heard the noise coming from the air-conditioning, the sounds of the cars passing by outside the building because of the open window in my office.

I closed my eyes and remembered the call from an unknown number earlier. Who is he? Is he connected to the death of my parents? Why does he want to follow me? Why...why does he want to die? Would he just let me live in peace?

I opened my eyes and immediately opened the phone. The number of the unknown caller can be tracked. I immediately went to the calls to save the number of someone I remember so I slowly put the phone down in my hand. "I'm not skilled at fighting. I'm not even equipped with weapons. I only have money. Money cannot buy my satisfaction of killing the person who was responsible for my parents death by my own hands."

I hate them for killing the two person who loves me so much. I hate them for being so cruel! And the authorities didn't even bother to dig deeper on their investigation because they believed it was just an accident. They were so heartless!

All of them?

All of them...should be held accountable.

I will get justice for Mommy and Daddy.

---FAST FORWARD (Inside her mansion)

I sat down on the sofa in our living room. My body was so tired from all the papers that the departments brought to my office to sign, review and approve. I felt the pain in my feet because of the sandals with heels that I was wearing, which were about 3 inches. They were black, which matched my white corporate suit.

While my eyes were closed, I heard a footstep from behind and stopped near me.

"Daughter, eat first before resting. I cooked your favorite vegetable sauce." I heard Manang Linda talking.

I opened my eyes and adjusted the seat and looked at Manang with a smile. "I'll eat later, Manang. But, can I ask where Lola is?"

She pointed her fingers on the last room on the second floor and looked back at me.

"She's in her room, daughter. Are you eating together?" she asked me so I responded with a nod on her.

She went back to the kitchen so I looked at the broken door of grandma's room. I smiled a little. For how long, she really wanted to be alone.

I stood and walked upstairs directly to grandma's room. When I was in front of her I immediately knocked. I cleaned myself up because she still didn't want me to look so messy.

As I cleaned myself, I noticed that no one was talking inside, so I've decided to knock again, again and again. But, still no one. I took a deep breath and opened the door by myself.

I saw her, white hair clipped into a bun, she's wearing her yellow floral dress, and her pale skin is glowing. Her back is facing on me while she's sitting on her study table, reading something.

I closed the door and walked near to grandma. "La." I got her hand to shake and he gave it to me without even looking at me.

"Good evening La. Maanang said, you haven't eaten yet. Let's go la? I will be with you at the table."

She tilted her head at me and smiled. "Iha, hire a personal bodyguard for you."

I suddenly let go of grandma's hand. "But, la! I don't need a bodyguard. Why?"

"You were threatened by someone, did you?" he asked me with a critical eye.

I bite my lips. "Yes. But, what does this have to do with hiring a personal bodyguard?"

"You were threatened and me as well. You need a bodyguard, iha. Someone who will protect and shield you from any upcoming danger. No need to worry about me, I also hired my old personal bodyguard back then."

I crossed my arms and pouted. "I don't want to."

"This is not a joke, Celestine! This is a command from your Grandma."

Annoying!