THE COLD BODYGUARD'S TEMPTATION

CHAPTER 2

"Hindi mo ako nakikilala?" I asked Faven while we are on the car.

Papunta na kami sa school at hindi ko matanggal ang mga mata ko sa aking new bodyguard.

Yes, I almost got rape 2 years ago.

Kung hindi dahil kay Faven, maybe that motherf*cker made way inside me.

He is my savior that night.

Hindi ko alam kung paano pero bigla na lang siya sumulpot out of nowhere and get me out of that filthy room.

I immediately recognize him because of his Raven tattoo and his voice. Alam ko kaagad na siya iyon.

Naalala ko na pinahanap ko siya dati dahil gusto ko siyang makita at formal na mapasalamatan kaso hindi ko na siya nakita. Para siyang bula na biglang naglaho.

Kaya naman sobra ang gulat ko na makita siya muli and at the same time ay sobrang saya ko na makilala siya at maging bodyguard.

Ngayon ko lang naramdaman na gusto ko nang may bantay. Maybe because I know him and I trust him. Kung naligtas niya ako 2 years ago, alam kong poprotektahan at ililigtas niya ako ulit if ever na may mangyaring hindi maganda sa akin.

"You are Mr. Santiago's younger sister" malamig niyang sagot sa akin kaya naman tinigil ko ang lahat ng aking iniisip para magpokus sa usapan namin.

I scoffed. Hindi niya naaalala?

"Alam ko pero may natatandaan ka ba sa nangyari two years ago?"

"I don't remember anything ma'am" magalang niyang sagot.

I creased my forehead. Disappointment washed through my face. How could he...forget that?

"Wala ka talagang naalalala?"

Hindi sumagot ang aking bodyguard. His eyes were focus on the road.

"Hindi mo ba ako naaalala?" Pangungulit ko pa.

Sumingit ako sa gitna ng upuan na naghihiwalay sa driver seat at front seat.

His eyes turned side ways to look at me. Pinalakihan ko siya ng mata while pointing myself.

"Try to think harder, naalalala mo ba ako?"

I gave up when he shook his head.

Bagsak balikat akong bumalik sa upuan. I crossed my arms and sighed repeatedly.

I can't believe it.

Nagtatampo ako na hindi niya ako matandaan.

But later on, it make sense din naman.

I'm so mess that day. Ang pangit ko! Hindi niya nga ako makikilala kung gano'n.

But still! I'm so sad that he didn't recognize me. Ang tagal tagal kong naghintay for this!

"Then it's your assignment from now on" muli kong sambit.

Sakto at tumigil ang sasakyan sa tapat ng aking school.

I saw him coldy looking at me at the rear mirror.

"What do you mean ma'am?"

I flipped my curly hair before answering. "Remember me. That's your assignment from now on. Kung hindi mo ako matatandaan then, wala kang thank you"

"It's impossible and my task is to keep you safe, nothing more" sagot niya pa sa akin.

I rolled my eyes in frustration.

"Basta try to remember okay?! Magagalit ako sa'yo!" Ulit ko bago ako lumabas ng sasakyan.

Nakakailang hakbang pa lang ako ay narinig ko ang pag-andar muli ng sasakyan.

Hindi siya sasabay sa akin pagpasok? That's new.

Lahat ng bodyguard ko ay sinasamahan ako kahit sa pagpasok. Hindi sila nawawala sa tingin ko.

Pero kung siya naman ang bodyguard ko, It's definitely okay.

I don't know. I just trust him.

Hinayaan ko na lang. Atleast, walang sumusunod at ma-we-weirduhan sa akin pagpasok.

"Hmm I notice something different" It was my friend, Jesica. She squinted her eyes while observing me like she can't point out what is it.

"Wala na akong bantay" ako na sumagot.

"Oh?" Mukhang na-realize niya na. BUTI NAMAN!

"Oo nga ano? Wala ka ng bantay? Anong ganap?" Ani naman ni Bianca na naglilipstick sa gilid.

"I still have. Hindi lang sumama sa akin"

"That's odd. Your bodyguard let you off the hook?"

I shrugged my shoulders. It irritate me a bit.

"Pero atleast hindi ka na maiinis." She smirked.

Nagsimula na ang klase ng pumasok ang prof ng una naming subject. I'm a first year college, taking a course of Tourism.

Walang masiyadong nagpo-process sa utak ko. Good thing, walang recitation this day kaya naman kahit hindi ako makinig okay lang. Masipag naman si Jessica mag-notes so I'll study na lang later.

After the second subject, vacant na kami for two hours. Gutom na rin ako and since ayaw ko ng lumayo pa ng kainan ay pinili na lang namin sa Canteen kumain.

Hindi pa nga kami nakakalayo ay may humarang sa akin.

A tall and handsome guy blocked our way.

His name is Jefferson. Isa siyang sikat na basketball player. From what I heard, MVP siya this year.

Humawak ako kay Bianca ng mahigpit nang makaramdaman ng panginginig sa aking katawan. Ayoko lang ng ganitong may sumusulpot na halatang may balak. Halata pa lang sa mapaglarong mata ng lalaking nasa harap ko, alam ko na ang ginagawa niya.

But feeling this made me realize that I'm still not okay.

"You are Reishan right? Tourism?" Tanong niya sa akin.

So ako nga ang sinadya.

I'm not comfortable but I want to...talk atleast.

"Yes. What do you want?" I said like I'm not struggling.

He brushed up his hair while giving me his creepy smile. "Are you free later? I mean, I find you so pretty and I want to ask you out if you want..."

It's not new to me. Kahit sa dati kong school, may mga nag-tatry akong ayain mag-date. I always decline.

Isa na do'n ang gagong lalaking iyon. Hindi niya matanggap na ni-reject ko siya so he planned that shitty set up. Nakakainis lang hanggang ngayon ay nag-iwan siya ng mantsa sa akin.

Buti na lang at bago pa ako makasagot ay umeksena na si Bianca. She pushed me to step backward and hide me in her back while Jessica tapped my shoulder.

"Tigilan mo ang kaibigan ko Jef. Hindi ba may girlfriend ka? Kapag kami pinagbuntongan ng freak mong girlfriend, isasampiga talaga kita"

Hinila na ako palayo ni Bianca. Sumunod sa amin si Jesica. They asked me if I'm okay. Tumango ako sa kanila. Medyo namumutla daw ako kaya nag-retouch muna ako sa banyo bago kami nagtungo sa Canteen.

They know what happened to me 2 years ago. These two is my treasured friends since highschool. Lagi talaga kaming magkakakaklase kasi walang iwanan. Even sa course ay pare-parehas kami ng nitatake. Magka-block pa. Oh? Lakas ng dikit ng aming friendship.

Good thing, pare-parehas kaming magaganda in our own ways at pare-parehas din kami ng interes kaya talagang nag-click kami.

Aside from that, they help me through my recovery and I thank them because they help a lot. Kung wala sila sa tabi ko dito sa school, hindi ko na alam gagawin.

"Kinakabahan na ako para sa'yo Shan"

"Why?" I asked.

I ordered a vegetable meal dito sa Canteen namin. Isang hard boiled egg na din. I'm on my diet pa naman.

Bianca gestured us to come closer and since we wanted to know, we did it.

"Do you know Ruby?"

Umiling ako. "Nope. Who is she?"

"Siya lang naman ang freak girlfriend ni Jefferson!" She was referring to the guy who asked me out. "Well, this freak girl is so possessive. Pero may dahilan naman dahil sobrang babaero nitong boy! So iyon na nga, lahat ng banta sa boyfriend niya ay nakakatikim sa kaniya at dahil nabalingan ka rin ng basketbolistang iyon, I'm sure na hindi ka niya palalagpasin"

Tumaas ang aking kilay. I maybe traumatized with boys but I can be bitchy when it comes to girls. Ate Cheena told me to be strong and not to be weak. Ayaw kong nita-take advantage since gano'n ang ginagawa sa akin. Subukan lang talaga ng Ruby na 'yon.

"Just mess with me. She'll taste her own medicine"

Bianca smirked before looking behind me. "Ehem speaking of"

"Ikaw ba 'yong Reishan?"

Mariin akong pumikit nang marinig ang boses nang sa palagay kong si Ruby.

Ang ganda ng umaga ko kanina dahil nakita ko na ang savior ko pero sirang sira na ngayon. I sighed heavily before turning around, giving this girl a glance.

"It's Reishan" pinaelegante ko ang pagkakabigas. Mukhang dugyot kasi sa boses niya. "Why?" I keep my intimidating look. 'Yong katulad ng sa bago kong bodyguard na malamig ang titig.

Ruby has the beauty. Understandable sa mga hilig ng boyfriend niya pero halata sa mukha niya kung gaano siya ka-maldita.

"I'm Ruby. Do you know Jefferson?" Introduction niya sa maangas na paraan. The sleeves of her uniform were fold like she was ready for a fight. She looked annoyed.

Me as well!

I elegantly pushed my chair. I gracefully stood up to face this girl.

"Are you talking about the guy who asked me out because he finds me pretty?" I smirked.

She glared at me. "Dahil malandi ka"

I scoffed. Sobrang bulag naman nito sa kaniyang boyfriend.

"I don't even know your boyfriend"

She stepped forward. I alerted my body. Kahit sina Jessica at Bianca ay napatayo na din.

"Sikat ang boyfriend ko at maraming nagpapansin sa kaniya. Hindi ka na naiiba do'n so don't tell that you don't know my boyfriend! You slu—"

I slapped her hard.

I received an 'oww' to my friends. It will definitely hurt. Base pa lang sa tunog, alam kong lumagutok.

"Don't call me that f word" I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

Gulat ang mga mata ni Ruby na tumingin sa akin.

"How dare you—"

I slapped her again. Her face turn side ways because of the impact.

"Ayan, sana magising ka sa sampal ko. Open your eyes b***h. Mali ka ng sinusugod." I massage my hand a little. Nangalay bigla.

She looked at me with her burning eyes. Alam kong sa puntong ito, galit na galit na talaga siya kaya naman I ready myself when she throw her fist into me but before it land, a man dodge it for me.

None other than my bodyguard.

My lips parted as I look at him, surprised!

"Faven!" I called.

He look at me while holding Ruby's hand.

"Are you okay ma'am?"

Ilang beses akong kumurap bago tumango.

"Good to know that" Binalik niya ang tingin kay Ruby na ngayon ay nakatunganga sa aking bodyguard.

"I have a duty to protect my boss from any harm. You are one. If you don't want to leave my boss alone, you'll be drag...forcefully"

My body shivered at his cold voice. Naramdaman ko kaagad ang lamig sa paligid.

And I guess Ruby felt it too.

She immediately folds like a cat and leave the Canteen peacefully.

Like nothing happened, Faven turned around to face me and gave me a bow.

"I'll take my leave ma'am"

"Wait" I'm still shock from what happened. Akala ko wala siya sa school!

Hindi siya gumalaw sa kinatatayuan kaya nagsimula na akong magsalita.

"Are you here all the time?"I asked.

He nodded.

"How come I couldn't see you? You surprised me. Talent mo ba ang pagsulpot out of no where?"

"Sorry to surprise you ma'am. I didn't mean that. I'm only following your brother's orders. He told me to keep my distance since you don't want someone following you. Rest assured you will not be disturbed"

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita pa nang yumuko siya muli bago siya umalis. Nakatingin lang ako sa likod nang matikas na binata.

Hindi ko maiwasang kumorte ang ngisi sa aking labi. That man is interesting.

Even 2 years ago, nang magising ako sa hospital, the first thing that came to my mind is to know who my savior was and now that he's here, I'm eager to know him deeply...

"Is he...your bodyguard?" Tanong sa akin ni Jessica.

"He's....hot huh?" singit naman ni Bianca na pumukaw ng aking atensyon.

Tumaas ang kilay ko sa kaniyang tinuran. Lumingon ako kay Bianca at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"He's mine. Back off"