Under the Mafia Boss's Protection

C24

Sa buong araw na nasa island ay si Riguel ang kasama ko. We did horseback riding, zip line, and tried the jacuzzi. Ngayon ay nandito kami sa souvenir shop ng island, we are looking for some souvenirs to bring home in Antique.

I grabbed the silly looking sunglasses at sinuot iyon. Humarap ako kay Riguel at nakita kong nakasuot siya ng hairband na may sungay-sungay.

I laughed at him at napatawa rin siya sa suot kong sunglasses.

"Let's take a picture!" I said. Agad siyang napatango and positioned his phone infront of us.

I smiled and did some wacky faces. At ganun rin si Riguel, napatawa ako sa mga mukha namin.

"Share it to me, I'll open my airdrop." Napatango siya at agad ginawa ang gusto ko.

I scanned throughout our pictures at hindi ko maiwasang mapangiti.

"Look, Riguel we look so cute here." Tawa-tawa kong sabi.

"Hindi e, parang ako lang ang cute." Sabi niya at sinusuri ang pictures naming dalawa. Pabiro kong tinampal ang braso niya kaya napatawa siya.

"I'm just kidding, you look cute always naman. Walang pinagbago." He said and looked at me, I felt my heart beats fast dahil sa sinabi ni Riguel. He smiled at me at hinarap saakin ang phone niya.

"Look a this." He said. And showed me his lockscreen, nakita kong solo picture ko yun.

Yung pinost niya sa i********: niya, he opened his phone at pinakita ulit saakin ang wallpaper. It's us, picture namin na kinuha namin kani-kanina lang.

Napangiti ako sa ginawa niya and decided to do the same.

Pero nang bumungad saakin ang lockscreen ko ay agad kong nakita ang picture ni Jizan na natutulog. He still looks handsome though, kahit natutulog.

Agad kong iniwas ang cellphone ko ng nakita kong sisilip na sana si Riguel doon. I just smiled at him and changed my homescreen wallpaper ng picture naming dalawa, I showed it to him.

At nakita ko ang pagka-gulat sa mukha niya. And I've seen his ears went red down to his neck.

"Let's pay for this." Sabi ko at pinakita ang mga dala kong souvenirs.

He cleared his throat and nodded at me. After paying ay lumabas na kami sa souvenir shop. Napansin ko ang pagbaba ng araw at ang napakagandang tanawin.

Agad kong hinila si Riguel.

"Take a picture of me here! The scenery looks nice!" Nakangiti kong sabi.

Napatango siya saakin at agad tinutok saakin ang cellphone niya. I smiled wide and he clicked many times.

Nangangalay na ang pisngi ko pero hindi parin siya tapos sa pag click.

"Ano bayan! Anrami na!" Reklamo ko, napatawa si Riguel saakin at lumapit saakin para ipakita saakin ang mga kuha niya.

Napangiti ako roon, he shots nice! Magaling siya kumuha ng pictutes!

"Take a picture of me too." Sabi niya, I nodded of his request.

He positioned himself kung saan ako nakatayo kanina. He smile a bit and I took a picture. I pressed it many times para marami rin yung kuha ko sakanya.

"Okay! Done!" I said.

"Send it to me ha! Lowbat na ako e." I said.

"Yeah, sure." He said to me.

Pagkatapos naming gumala ay umuwi narin kami sa mansion, kasi maghahanda na kami para sa flight namin papunta sa Manila.

Nang makarating kami sa mansion ay nagulat ako sa ingay sa loob, parang may naga ganap na kasiyahan sa loob.

When we entered ay nagulat ako sa nakita ko. Tita Savienna, Tito Ignatius, Ate Mary, Aldous, and Ate Mary's husband is here!

"Tita! Tito!" I heard Avie screamed. Agad siyang yumakap sakanila at ganun narin ang ginawa ko.

They boys went up to their rooms to ease the awkwardness.

"I thought hindi po kayo susunod rito?" Avie asked.

"We have some business here, so we decided to drop here." Tita Savienna said.

"While us, Aldous wants to go to Cavite and to attend both birthdays." Natatawang sabi ni Ate Mary, napatango ako roon.

"San kayo galing?" Tita Savienna asked.

"Sa beach, Riguel treated us." I said.

"Riguel? The boy Traspe?" Tito Igantius asked. Avie and I nodded sa tanong ni Tito.

"Where's your Mom and Dad, and the other adults anyway?" Ate Mary asked.

"Hindi namin alam e, akala ko andito lang sila at naghihintay." Sabi ko.

Nakita ko naman ang pagpasok ni Soren, Leviathan at Khadin sa loob. Napatingin si Aldous roon at agad lumapit. Silang apat talaga kasi ang close at magbabarkada kaya no wonder bakit gusto pumunta rito ni Aldous kasi andito mga kaibigan niya.

"Oh, I received a text. They're at Saint's office, to discuss the upcoming engagement. Let's go there." Tito Ignatius said, agad napatango sila at umakyat papunta sa office ni Dad.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Avie.

"Do you have any idea kung sino ang ikakasal sa mga Zoldyck?" I asked her.

"I don't know e! Omg, baka si Jizan? He's the only one who's old e." She said.

"Yeah, I thought about that too. Pero kanino naman?" I asked her.

"Kay Catalina siguro? She'll comeback here with no reason naman e." Right. She's right, baka silang dalawa nga kasi hindi naman yun babalik rito para lang ayusin ang relasyon nila ni Jizan.

Or maybe, marrying Jizan is her way to fix their relationship. But I really don't understand, Tito Manzo isn't fond of arrange marriage dahil hindi naman iyon interested sa merging ng mga empires.

And plus, Marquez Empire doesn't exist. Walang record sa underground ang pamilya nina Catalina. Kaya impossible.

"Kabahan ka Avie baka kayo ni Jax ikakasal." Nakangiti kong sabi na may halong pang-iinis. Nakita ko ang pagkawala sa ngiti sa labi niya at kitang-kita ko ang inis sa mukha niya.

Si Jax lang talaga nang-iinis sa isang to ha.

"Ayoko Evie! And that's impossible no! Dad will let us marry whoever we want! He doesn't like forcing us." Sabi ni Avie, napatawa ako sa reaksyon niya.

"I am just kidding Avie! Affected much." Natatawa kong saad.

"Oh, whatever Evie! You should ready though, baka ikaw ang ikasal kay Jizan nyan!" Natatawa niya namang sabi.

"Well, iyan ang impossible! May girlfriend nayun no!" Sabi ko.

"Talaga may girlfriend si Jizan?" Nanlalaki ang mata niya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Oo, meron!" Sabi ko naman.

"Really? Who's my girlfriend then?"

Nanlaki ang mata ko at napalingon sa likuran ko ng narinig ko ang boses nayun.

I looked at Avie at ngumiti lang siya saakin at iniwan ako roon.

"f**k, Avie! Come back here!" Inis kong saad.

"Really, Evie? I have a girlfriend? Bakit hindi ko yan kilala?" Napalunok ako ng mariin dahil sa sinabi ni Jizan.

I looked at him and I saw him seriously staring at me.

Damn, help.

Kinabahan ako sa mga titig ni Jizan kaya agad akong napatakbo patungo sa garden ng mansyon na to. Naramdaman ko ang pagsunod niya saakin, kaya agad akong napaupo sa upuan ng gazebo.

Umupo siya sa tabi ko at ramdam na ramdam ko ang titig niya saakin kahit hindi ko siya katabi.

"Don't mind what I just said, that's just nonsense." Saad ko.

"Hmm?" He hummed.

"Really?"

"Oo nga!" Pagalit kong sabi.

"Mukhang hindi naman e, you said it earlier like you were very very sure of it." He said, still looking at me. I saw he leaned his arm sa upuan ng gazebo at tinukod ang ulo niya roon.

"Hindi nga, huwag mo na yung isipin. That's just a escapade para makaiwas ako sa pang-aasar ni Avie." I said. Damn it, gusto ko nang umalis dito pero alam ko namang pipigilan niya ako.

I heard him laughed and sighed. "Tsk, tsk, tsk, Evie...you're really bad at lying. You should try even harder." Sabi niya pa.

"Well, okay fine! I'm lying, e ano naman? May girlfriend kana man talaga ha?" Inis kong sabi.

"Look at me." He commanded. Pero imbes na lumingon sakanya ay mas inalis ko ang ulo ko sa direksyon niya.

"Evie..." Tawag niya pero hindi ako nagpatinag sakanya at hindi ko parin sinunod ang gusto niya.

"Hey, are you really mad dahil lang may girlfriend ako?" He asked.

"Meron ba?" Tanong ko sakanya.

He laughed a little at hinawakan ang magkabilang pisngi ko at hinarap ang mukha ko sakanya.

"I don't have a girlfriend." Sabi niya habang diretsong nakatitig sa mga mata ko, hindi ko mapigilang mapatitig nalang sa mukha niya. He looks so dashing, kahit simpleng white tshirt lang ang suot niya.

Omg. Is it really fine to him na cufflinks lang ibigay ko sakanya? But that cufflinks are personalized at nakaukit doon ang name niya! Yeah, that's already fine, no need to be conscious about it.

"I don't have a girlfriend okay? And if ever na magkaroon ako, I'll say it to you first." What the f**k? Why would he even say it to me? It doesn't even matter to me! Kahit pa pakasalan niya si Catalina or what! It doesn't matter!

"Why would you say it to me?" Inis kong sabi.

"Hindi na kailangan..." Dugtong ko.

"Oh, right. Hindi na pala kailangan kasi ikaw naman unang makakaalam nun."

"What?" I asked in confusion.

"Nevermind. You'll know someday." He said and pinched my cheeks. Agad kong tinampal ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa pisngi ko.

"I'll know what? About you and Catalina getting back together? Kasi nga diba binigyan mo siya ng chance." I said with full of sarcasm.

"Chance? We didn't even discuss about the past, how will I give her a chance?" He asked me.

"What? E, yun ang sabi niya diba? Kanina?" I asked him.

"Oh yeah? I thought she is referring to the chance that I'm giving her to be the entrepreneur of my new project." He said.

"I wasn't really focusing, in earlier's conservation." Sabi niya pa.

Agad namang nanliit ang mga mata ko at tinitigan siya ng matalim.

"Why? You're hypnotized by Catalina's beauty?" Sabi ko naman. Napatawa ulit siya sa sinabi ko at agad naman akong napaiwas ng tingin.

Damn...I sound like a jealous nagging girlfriend. Nakakainis.

"Eyes here, princess..." Saad ulit niya at pinalingon ulit ako sakanya. Para naman akong asong maamo na agad napalingon pabalik sakanya.

"I wasn't paying attention because I am thinking hard on how will I make a move on you." What?

"What the f**k do you mean?" Agad kong nakagat ang labi ko dahil sa sinabi kong salita. Tangina! Bawal nga pala akong magmura kapag andito ang kupal na to!

"Don't curse." Madiin niyang sabi. Napatango ulit ako sa sinabi niya and I saw him smirked.

"I mean, I wasn't really paying attention because I'm thinking on how to make a move on you." Ulit niya sa sinabi niya kanina.

"Anong ibig sabihin nun?" I asked.

"Nothing, princess. Nevermind what I just said." Sabi niya.

"By the way...who's getting married?" I asked. I'm really curious who is getting married.

"Why do you ask? You curious?" He playfully asked me. Agad akong napairap sakanya.

Duh? Obviously?

"Duh?"

"It's Dad. He's getting married." Agad akong napatutop sa kamay ko saking bibig dahil sa sinabi niya.

Omg? I thought Tito Manzo will never have a wife! Iyon ang sabi ni Dad saakin na hindi interested si Tito sa mga serious relationship! Kaya hindi ko inexpect na ikakasal siya! I bet Dad will be so shocked if malaman niya.

"Shocking right? Hindi mahilig si Dad sa commitments kaya nagulat rin ako." Sabi niya.

"Woah, I never thought Tito Manzo will be married someday. Akala ko forever single siya at adopt nalang ng adopt. Have you met her?" I asked. Agad namang umiling si Jizan.

"Not yet. But I heard she's 28." Napanganga ako sa sinabi ni Jizan. Wtf.

Well, hindi naman matanda si Tito Manzo, he's just 38. Pero, 28? Woah? Ten years gap? Amazing.

"Ang bata pa!" Sabi ko naman.

"Kaya nga e, yan rin problema ko." Nanliit ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Jizan.

"Yeah why? Hindi naman bata si Catalina ah?" I asked.

"Yeah, she isn't, pero ikaw oo."

What me?

Ngayon ang araw kung kailan kami gagala ni Riguel kasama si Avie at Ryl. And, unfortunately, sumama si Jizan at Catalina. I did not expect them to be with us dahil, akala ko joke lang yung sinabi ni Catalina na sasama sila. Di ko naman alam na totohanan pala yun.

Last day na namin sa Cavite, dahil mamayang 10pm yung flight namin papuntang Manila. Medyo excited nga rin ako dahil sa birthday celebration ni Jizan and sa engagement ni Tito Manzo.

Papunta na kami sa mall and we're planning to watch Frozen 2. Yun kasi ang latest showing.

We are already here at the cinema bumibili kami ng tickets habang si Jizan at Catalina ay bumibili ng snacks.

"Are you ready to leave them?" Bulong ni Riguel saakin, agad akong napangisi at tumango sakanya.

"I'm going to act." Mahina kong bulong, nag-thumbs up naman saakin si Riguel.

Napahawak ako sa tiyan ko at agad lumapit kay Avie. Napatingin naman siya saakin na may halong pagkagulat sa mga mata niya.

"I'm going to the bathroom muna okay? Ang sakit ng tiyan ko, may mali siguro akong nakain kanina." I said.

"What? Should I go with you? Is it okay?" Natataranta niyang tanong.

"No, no, it's okay. Riguel is going to be with me, so mauna nalang kayong manood... susunod nalang kami" I said.

"Okay then, as you wish." Ngumiti ako ng marahan kay Avie and looked at Riguel. I immediately winked at him at agad naman siyang napangiti.

Naglakad na kami palayo sakanila at pareho kaming natawa ng malayo na kami. Sure naman ako hindi magiging distorbo si Jizan at Catalina dahil may own business naman sila.

"What now?" I asked him.

He looked at me at napaisip narin. So ano na?

"I don't know what we should do, we should atleast spend 30 minutes of the time. Para mas kapani-paniwala." I said.

"How about arcade?" He suggested.

Arcade? "Sure!"

We spent the rest of the minutes inside the arcade, at hindi ko maipalawanag ang saya na nararamdaman ko kasama si Riguel. He is so good in basketball! Alam ko naman na magaling siya pero hindi ko inakala na 'ganun' siya kagaling.

"Woah! Thankyou Riguel!" Nakangiti kong sabi habang niyayakap ang brown teddy bear na nakuha niya sa claw machine.

"Alam mo ngayon lang ako nakapasok sa arcade." Nakangiti kong sabi sakanya, agad naman siyang napatingin saakin na parang hindi makapaniwala.

"Oh really? Your family is rich pero hindi kapa nakakapunta sa arcade?" He asked while giving me the ice cream that we just ordered.

My ice cream parlor kasi sa tabi ng arcade kaya napag-desisyunan namin na bumili nalang rin.

"Uh yeah, my parents are rich. Pero hindi naman kasi talaga kami lumalabas lagi e, kasi busy si Mom at Dad always. So, minsan lang kami may family bonding." I said.

Napatingin ako kay Riguel and I saw him straight looking at me. His eyes is literally shining and glowing, hindi ko maiwasang kabahan sa mga titig niya saakin.

"Uhm? Riguel?" Tawag ko sakanya.

He blinked and smiled at me. "Oh, what else do you want to go? Or you want to try?" He asked.

"Uh, I really don't think na masusubukan ko lahat ang gusto ko. Afterall, Mom is really strict when it comes to outside world. At minsan niya lang kami pinapayagan lumabas...minsan kasama pa ang guards o di kaya—"

"Chill, Eveanna. I am just asking you what do you want to try more na hindi mo pa nasusubukan noon. Just answer me..." Naka ngiti niyang sabi saakin, showing his dimples. Napatingin ako sa diamond earring niya at napahinga ng malalim.

"I want to try snorkeling, scuba diving, skydiving, hiking, camping, riding a zipline, sleeping in a yacht, experience a long drive, partying, drinking alcohol, and maybe even playing under the rain..." I said and chuckled a bit.

"Hmm..that's a lot..you should make a bucket list out of it." He suggested.

"Yeah, maybe soon. If I'll graduate." Nakangiti kong sabi sa kanya.

"But you really want to try those?" He asked me.

"Yeah, but I know hindi naman yun mangyayari, every thing that I'm going to do has a limit. Hindi lahat pwede kong gawin dahil lang gusto ko." I said.

"It's your own choice Evie, you should decide for yourself and try the things you wanted to do. It's your life to begin with." Para akong tinamaan ng bato sa ulo dahil sa sinabi ni Riguel.

It's my life to begin with...

"Yeah, it is. Did you like the gifts that I gave?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan. Nakita ko naman na nakuha agad ni Riguel ang gusto kong iwasan.

"Yeah, I'll use all of that during my game. But you also need to watch." Nakangiting sabi ni Riguel saakin.

"Of course, I will watch." Natatawa kong sabi.

"I'll be expecting that." Nakangiti niyang saad.

"Should I try sports too? I'm interested in volleyball." Sabi ko habang nakatingin sa ice cream ko. I'm already half of it, and I want more.

"No." I'm shocked because of his immediate response.

"Bakit naman? Isn't it nice? Para ma-exercise rin ang katawan ko." Sabi ko naman.

"Still no." My face became stoic dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Eh? Bakit nga."

"Basta." Sabi niya.

Agad akong napatingin sakanya at tinitigan siya ng masama. Nakita ko namang seryoso na ang tingin niya saakin, why is he so serious about me entering sports?

"Bakit nga?" Medyo mas may pamimilit kong tanong.

"I don't want to say it." Napairap nalang ako kay Riguel. Bwisit! Nakakainis!

Ayoko talaga yung mga taong magsisimula sa mga rason pero hindi naman sasabihin kung bakit! Nakakainis lang!

Napatayo nalang ako at lumabas sa ice cream parlor, naramdaman ko naman ang pagsunod saakin ni Riguel pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. Bahala siya sa buhay niya nakakainis.

Maya-maya ay naramdaman kong nasa gilid ko na si Riguel at naglalakad na ng sabay saakin.

Mas bibilisan ko pa sana ang lakad ko ng hawakan niya ang balikat ko at pinaharap ako sakanya.

He is looking at me seriously, habang nakahawak parin ang kamay niya sa balikat ko.

"Fine, I'll say it..." Malumanay niyang sabi, agad akong napangiti dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Really?" I asked, and he nodded.

"Then what is it?"

"I...I just don't want you to wear cyclings during practices, and games, and wear sleeveless jerseys in volleyball. And, I don't want other men drooling over you..." Napakurap-kurap ako sa sinabi ni Riguel saakin.

W-what?

"So, this is my second favor from you..."

"A-ano?"

"Stop being so attractive, and beautiful. Baka marami na akong kaagaw niyan."