Three Dangerous Affection

Chapter 2

NAPAHIKAB ako pagkagising, bumangon mula sa pagkahiga sa malambot na kama at napaunat-unat ng katawan.

When I glanced at the wall clock, I saw that it was already 7:09 AM. Medyo tinanghali na pala ako ng gising.

Pero sabagay, wala naman akong pagkakaabalahan ngayong araw. I had completed my mission last night, and I wasn’t attending school anymore since I had graduated last year with a degree in criminology. Yes, that’s the course I finished. I don’t know—I never intended to become a police officer or whatever, but that’s what I ended up studying. I even considered going abroad to pursue a different course, but maybe next year. For now, I need to focus on my responsibilities as an heir.

Bumaba na ako ng kama ko at lumabas sa pinto papuntang balcony.

“Hmm… the sunlight feels so nice…” I murmured, closing my eyes slightly and savoring the warmth of the sun on my face.

Ang sarap ng gising ko ngayon.

Napangiti na lang ako at agad na umakyat sa railing ng balcony sabay talon papunta sa baba.

Malakas akong bumagsak sa swimming pool at sumisid sa pinakailalim ng tubig bago umahon.

Habol ko ang aking paghinga at napahagod pa sa aking buhok. Ngunit sa aking pagmulat ng mata ay nakita ko ang lalaking nagmamadaling lumapit suot na ang red suit nito for today's outfit.

“Good morning, kamahalan!” he greeted me with a big smile.

“Good morning din, my dear, Yrem,” I replied with a smile before continuing to swim.

Yrem simply stood about a foot away from the edge of the pool, watching me in silence.

Hindi nagtagal ay dumating naman si Pietro na may dalang breakfast at inilapag iyon sa ibabaw ng white table na nasa gilid ng pool. Matapos ilapag ang pagkain ay agad na tumayo ito sa tabi ni Yrem, pinanood nila akong dalawa nang tahimik lang.

Para silang mga normal na bodyguard ko lang kung titingnan. But in reality, they were much more than that. They could do anything I ordered them to, no matter what it was. They excelled at everything—not just fighting and shooting but also cooking a variety of dishes.

I was only ten years old when my father entrusted them to me. Now, fourteen years later, I know them better than anyone. And what do I value most? Despite the fact that my father was the one who took them in, their loyalty belongs to me. I am their master—the only one they obey.

Yrem is now 29 years old, Pietro is 30, and I am just 24. They are both older than me, but they still respect me as their boss. Yrem can be a bit mischievous at times, unlike Pietro, who only speaks when I address him and he needs to respond. Pietro is from Morocco, and Yrem is from Istanbul. Nung una ko silang nakilala ay hirap pang magtagalog si Pietro, kahit nga English ay hindi gaano magaling, Darija ang gamit niyang salita, kaya nagagalit ako madalas dahil ay hindi kami nagkakaintindihan, senyas senyas lang kami na parang mga pepe, kaya madalas akong maasar. Mabuti na lang ay tinuruan ito ni Yrem na kahit sa Istanbul lumaki ay magaling pala magsalita ng Tagalog at English, hindi nga lang tuwid magtagalog nung una. Pero ngayon ay magaling na sila pareho.

“You two, join me for breakfast,” I commanded as I stepped out of the swimming pool, water cascading down my skin.

Sabay pa silang napaiwas ng tingin sa katawan ko na siyang kinangisi ko na lang. Pero tumango naman sila at agad na sumunod sa akin para maupo sa may table.

I was wearing nothing but black panties and a white t-shirt—with no bra—my n*****s pressing against the thin fabric.

But it didn’t matter. They knew how to adjust and respected me. Kahit nga maghubad pa ako sa harap nila ay alam kong iiwas lang nila ang tingin nilang dalawa. Kaya sanay na sanay na ako sa kanila at komportable ako, dahil hindi ko ramdam na nababastos ako.

As soon as I sat down, Pietro handed me a towel to dry myself before taking his seat.

“Kamahalan, hinintay kitang dumating kagabi, pero nakaidlip ako saglit. By the time I woke up, your car was already in the garage,” wika ni Yrem nang kasalukuyan na kaming nag-aalmusal tatlo.

We both love coffee with bread in the morning, so that’s all we’re having today.

“Tutulog-tulog ka kasi kaya paano mo ako mamalayan?” balewalang sagot ko at humigop na ng kape sa aking tasa.

“Patawad, kamahalan,” hinging paumanhin ni Yrem na tila naging guilty agad.

I smiled. Oh, right—I almost forgot.

“Lumapit ka nga sa akin, Yrem,” I ordered with a slight smile.

“Yes, kamahalan, ano 'yon?” Bahagya naman nitong inilapit ang kanyang mukha sa akin.

“Lumapit ka pa ng konti.”

Agad na sumunod si Yrem na parang nagtataka pa pero inilapit pa rin ang mukha sa akin. And I kissed him on the cheek.

“K-Kamahalan.” His eyes widened, surprised by my kiss.

“That's my prize. You said you only wanted a kiss, so there—you got it. Honestly, I thought you’d ask for a luxury car, maybe a yacht, a house and lot, or even a private jet. Pero hindi ko inaasahan na kiss lang pala ang gusto mo.”

Yrem’s lips curled into a smile, but he bit his lower lip, as if trying to hold it back. “Maraming salamat, kamahalan. Baka hindi na ako maghilamos nito sa loob ng isang buwan.”

I chuckled, shaking my head. “It’s as if no woman has ever kissed you before, and now you don’t want to wash your face for a month just because I kissed your cheek.”

“P-Parang gano'n na nga, kamahalan,” Yrem replied with a smile.

“Oh, that's impossible.”

Napatikhim naman si Pietro. “So, kumusta pala ang lakad mo kagabi, kamahalan?”

I turned to him. “Well, okay naman.” I shrugged, then leaned back, taking another sip of my coffee. “Oh, and by the way, can you open your phone? Search for Deguil Alexeyev, the new governor of this city.”

Napahinto naman si Pietro at agad na dinukot ang phone sa kanyang suit, gano'n din si Yrem. Sabay silang tumipa sa kanilang mga phone para sundin ang utos ko.

“Gusto kong alamin niyo ang tungkol sa kanya, kung ano ang tunay niyang katauhan sa likod ng kanyang pagiging gobernador.”

“Ako na ang bahala, kamalan. I'll give you an update as soon as possible,” sagot ni Pietro at muli nang binalik ang phone sa bulsa matapos tingnan ang mukha ng governor.

Habang si Yrem ay kumunot ang noo. “Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakita ang lalaking ’to, pero sigurado akong nakita ko na sa kung saan.”

I chuckled. “Maybe you just saw him during his campaign. And by the way, since wala naman akong gagawin ngayong araw. Samahan niyo na lang akong manood ng basketball mamayang gabi sa Arena.”

Sabay silang napatingin sa akin nang marinig ang sinabi ko.

I smiled slowly, tilting my head. ”Why are you looking at me like that?”

Umiwas na silang dalawa ng tingin at mahinang tumikhim.

“Wala, kamahalan,” magkasabay pa nilang sagot, as if they had just lost a bet they never wanted to make.

Napangisi na lang ako.

Seriously, what was with their reactions every time I invited them to watch basketball? It wasn’t like I was dragging them to something unbearable. And yet, they always acted as if they were being forced—probably because they were.

Well, yeah—I knew the real reason. They were well aware that I had a crush on the DJ who worked as the announcer at the Arena during basketball games. That was probably why they reacted like this. Every time we watched a game, my eyes weren’t on the players—I was fixated on the DJ, watching him the entire time until the game ended.

“Anyway,” I continued, shifting the mood with a casual flick of my wrist, “before we head to the basketball game later, let’s go shopping first. It’s been a while since our last trip—probably last year. I’ll buy you both plenty of suits and anything else you need. Whatever you want, just say the word.”

Namayani ang sandaling katahimikan.

“Sige, kamahalan,” Yrem finally responded, his tone completely lifeless, as if the idea of shopping was just another chore he had to endure.

Pietro, on the other hand, merely gave a curt nod, not even bothering to look at me.

I chuckled under my breath. So dramatic.

Matapos mag-breakfast ay hindi na ako nag-swimming at diretso nang umakyat sa kuwarto ko para makapagbihis na.

Para sa outfit ko for today, isang cream-colored silk blouse with a deep V-neck ang napili kong isuot, tucked neatly into a pair of high-waisted, tailored white trousers that accentuated my curves while maintaining a refined silhouette.

And for shoes, I just chose nude Louboutin pumps.

Nang matapos magbihis ay bumaba na ako ng kuwarto, at naghihintay na nga sa baba ang dalawa kong trusted men na sina Yrem at Pietro. Nakapagpalit na silang dalawa ng suit.

Hmm . . . Masasabi kong guwapo silang dalawa and very neat. And I'm sure, mamaya nito ay siguradong maiihi na naman sa kilig ang mga client advisor sa kanilang dalawa.

“Shall we go, boys?” I asked smoothly as I stepped down, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

Agad namang lumapit sa akin si Pietro na parang may pag-alala. “Kamahalan, may problema tayo—”

“Huwag mo nang sabihin,” agad na saway ni Yrem dito at bahagya pa itong siniko bago ngumiti sa akin. “Let's go, kamahalan.”

Agad na nangunot ang noo at umarko ang isang kilay. “Ano ba 'yon? Tell me. Ano’ng problema?”

Napatikhim silang dalawa at inis pang tiningnan ni Yrem si Pietro na para bang sinasabing hindi na dapat pa nitong binanggit.

“The police officer you shot last night is still alive, kamahalan,” Pietro finally said. “Your father called. He wants you at his mansion immediately.”

Nanlaki na ang mga mata ko sa gulat. “W-What? That's impossible!”

Mabilis namang nilabas ni Yrem ang phone nito at pinaharap sa akin. I glanced at the screen and saw a breaking news report plastered across the internet.

News Flash

Matagumpay nang naalis ang bala sa ulo ni police general Policarpio na nabaril kagabi nang hindi pa nakikilalang suspek. Sa ngayon ay kasalukuyan nang nagpapagaling ang heneral ng kapulisan sa ospital at may mga nakabantay na ring mga pulis para masigurado ang kaligtasan nito. Patuloy pa rin ang imbestigasyon kung ano ang motibo tungkol sa nangyaring pagbaril—

Hindi ko na pinatapos pa ang video at inis ko nang ibinato ang phone sa kung saan.

“This is bullshit! How the hell is that old bastard still alive?! What is he, immortal?! I shot him in the head! There’s no way he should still be breathing!” galit kong sigaw at pati ang handbag kong hawak ay inis ko nang ibinato.

“Hayaan niyo na, kamahalan, ako na ang bahalang tumapos sa kanya—”

“No! Stay the hell out of my mission! Parurusahan kita kapag nakialam ka!” galit kong sagot kay Pietro at inis na napahagod sa sarili kong buhok.

Nagpalakad-lakad na ako at hindi na mapakali. This is bullshit! Paano nangyari 'to!

Hanggang sa tumunog ang phone ni Yrem na siyang inihagis ko.

Yrem bent down, picking up the phone I had thrown. He glanced at the screen before looking up. “Kamahalan, it’s your father.”

Napapikit na lang ako. Damn it!

“Then answer it!” I barked.

Napatikhim na lang si Yrem at sinagot na ang call. Hanggang sa muli itong napatingin sa akin nang marinig ang sinabi ng kabilang linya.

“He wants to talk to you, kamahalan.”

I let out a sharp breath, yanked the phone from his grip, and pressed it to my ear.

“Yes, Dad?”

“Pumunta ka rito ngayon din,” puno ng diin na sagot nito sa akin bago ako binabaan.

Napapadyak na lang ako sa inis at muling tinapon ng malakas ang phone ni Yrem.

“Argh! This is f*****g bullshit!”

“Relax, kamahalan—”

“Shut up!” I snapped at Pietro, my glare burning as I turned away and stormed up the stairs.

My hands clenched into fists. My entire body trembled with rage.

That bastard general should be dead.

Pero bakit nabuhay pa ang hayop na 'yon?

Argh!

Malalagot na naman ako nito kay Dad dahil sa kapalpakan ko.