The Billionaire's Bodyguard

Chapter 2

Pinikit ni Amor ang mata nang mariin and sighed deeply. She's back. She's really back in the country. She was away for so long. Ilang taon na nga ba iyon? It's been ten years mula nang huling tumapak siya sa Pilipinas. Maraming magaganda at masasakit na alaala ang nandito sa bansang ito. Being here, she missed her mother and all the things they used to do. Ang mommy lang naman niya ang tanging kamag-anak niya rito. She doesn't know her mother's family neither her father. She sighed and smiled bitterly.

Hindi sana niya gustong bumalik dito pero mapilit si Brandon at talagang hindi siya tinantanan nito hanggang sa napilitan na lamang siya sa pakiusap na rin ni Grace, ang kanyang bestfriend na nobya ni Brandon. Halos araw-araw ang pangungulit ng mga ito sa kanya para pumayag siya pero nasa isang misyon siya kaya hindi muna niya mapagbigyan ang mga ito. But when she finished it, pinagbigyan na niya. She was on a vacation actually pero ito talaga ang pakay niya rito. Trabaho. At ngayon nga, heto na siya. She's really really back.

"It's nice to be back here," aniya. Well, hindi naman masamang i-enjoy niya ang pamamalagi rito. She sighed once again at ipinagpatuloy ang paglalakad palabas ng paliparan at hinanap ang susundo sa kaniya. She stood outside and waited then saw Brandon walking towards her.

"How's your flight?" Brandon asked. Kinuha nito ang isang maleta at hand-carry bag na dala niya pagkatapos ay nagsimula na silang maglakad patungo sa sasakyan nito.

Brandon was her buddy and colleague. Parehas ang uri ng trabahong meron sila at madalas na magkasama noon kung kayat lumalim ang pagkakaibigan nilang dalawa at naging kasintahan pa nito si Grace, who was her bestfriend. At heto nga ay kasama niya ito ngayong sumundo sa kanya. Akala niya ay busy ang kaibigan sa hospital. Grace was a doctor.

"I'm good and it's nice to see you too, Bran. How's life going, Grace? Mabait na ba ang mokong na 'to?" sabi niyang bahagyang tumawa. She hugged her best friend so tight. Sobra niyang nami-miss ito.

"Takot lang niyang i-break ko siya," sagot nito ang tumawa rin.

"Talagang matakot siya dahil kapag nagloko 'yan, magtago na siya dahil kahit saang lupalop ng mundo ay tutugisin ko 'yan," natatawang sambit niya na ikinailing ni Brandon at ikinatawa naman ng kaibigan niya.

"I know you'll do that! Kita mo nga, nanginginig na'ko sa takot," sagot ni Brandon sa kanya then winked at her.

Mula airport, they went immediately to her apartment. Brandon and Grace provided that for her while she was in the country. Hindi naman kasi pwedeng mamalagi siya sa isa man sa dalawa dahil baka mabulilyaso ang trabaho niya at ayaw niyang magkakomplikado ang magiging trabaho niya. Kaya roon muna siya lalagi habang andito siya sa Pilipinas. Hindi na niya kailangang bumili pa ng bahay o condo dahil andito lang naman siya dahil sa trabaho.

The apartment was cozy and comfortable to live in. All amenities needed are there. It was painted with black and white so with the furnitures that suited on her taste. Mukhang pati itong apartment na tutuluyan niya ay pinaghandaan ng dalawa. It has small modern kitchen, a living room, bathroom and one bedroom. Saktong-sakto lang ito para sa kanya lalo na't hindi naman siya madalas na lalagi ito dahil sa trabaho niya.

Brandon put her luggages in the room and when he came out from the room, she started the business.

"So let's get to work para matapos na. So who's my assignment now?" tanong niya kay Brandon. Mabuti na iyong maaga para makapaghanda siya. Gusto niyang matapos kaagad ang trabahong ito para makakuha siya ng bago. She wanted this to finish in just a month or two.

"Can't you rest for a while. Kararating mo lang. My God, Amor! Ni hindi ka pa nga nakakapagpahinga, nakakakain," wika ni Grace. Pinanlakihan pa siya nito ng mga mata at iiling-iling pa.

"Grace, relax. I'll do that later and you know the reason why I am here. And that's job. Para ka namang naninibago samantalang pinilit niyo lang akong dalawa," she answered. She motioned her to calm down.

"I know that you're just here for that but hell, take a break. Kahit isang araw lang. Hindi ka naman siguro malulugi sa isang araw 'di ba?" Grace said.

"I just want this over. I promise, I'll take a break after this. Let's have a break, the three of us. What do you think? Gusto ko pa namang pumunta ng Boracay or El Nido, Palawan o kaya sa Bataan. So relax, Grace. Magbabakasyon tayo," anito habang hawak ang kamay ni Grace.

Umiiling na lang si Grace sa sinabi ng dalagang kaibigan because whatever she will say hindi ito makikinig. She's just so stubborn to accept vacation and rest. Kaya ang sinasabi nitong bakasyon? Baka mas malabo pa sa ulan sa desyerto. Amor takes everything seriously especially her job except rest and love. Wala sa bokabularyo nito ang mga salitang iyon. Kung nabubuhay pa ang ina nito malamang ay makinig ito but she was alone now. Kaya hindi rin niya masisisi na puro trabaho ang nasa isip nito ngayon. Maybe it's just her way to fight loneliness. Wala rin itong lovelife na pagkakaabalahan kaya puro trabaho at trabaho na lang ang inaatupag nito.

Lumipat si Brandon sa kanila hawak ang isang brown envelope at inilapag ito sa mesa. Binuksan nito ang envelope at kinuha ang lamang mga papeles at ibinigay sa kanya." He's you're job. He's my friend and my cousin too."

Kinuha niya ang inaabot nito and asked Brandon, "So what's next?"

"Hindi naman magiging mahirap ang trabaho mo riyan dahil andito naman kami ni Elijah so just need to be by his side."

"Why would he be my assignment? As I look at his picture, he sure can protect himself. Rich and can do whatever he can," she said studying the picture she's holding.

"He's been receiving treats these past few days, months. And as what you have said he's rich. Goddamn rich so yeah he needs protection. His father asked this because he's worried. And he doesn't know that.And that's where your job starts."

"Baka naman kasi tuso kaya maraming kaaway sa negosyo?" tanong niya rito na ikinatango nito.

"Actually, he's doing some cleaning on his company and that's where it started. Marami siyang sinisante at pinapaimbestigahan ngayon. Malamang isa sa kanila ang naglakas-loob na gawin ang pananakot sa kanya."

She nodded and thinking of the possibilities. She took the photos and started scanning them. When she saw a solo photo of him, she stopped and stared at it. Looking at the picture, she was mesmerized by those deep set of chocolate brown eyes. This guy is an epitome of beauty. An Adonis. Raven black hair, proud pointed nose plus the kissable lips. Napakagwapo nito kung titingnan sa picture, how much more kung sa personal. Iyon nga lang pinagbasakan ata ito ng langit dahil hindi man lang ngumiti sa larawan. This Adonis will surely break someone's heart despite his lacking of smile.

"So how do I get in?" tanong niya kay Brandon.

Inilapag naman ni Grace sa harap niya ang isa pang envelope saying, "Read this and memorize it. That will be your profile as you work for him as maid," anito habang matamang nakatingin sa kaniya.

Name: Alexa L. Banito

Age: 24 years old

Status: Single

Educational Background: College undergraduate

in Computer Secretariat

Others: Panganay sa tatlong magkakapatid. Ang pangalawa nagaaral sa kolehiyo at ang bunso sa high school. Bread winner sa pamilya dahil sa amang labas-masok sa ospital.

At marami pang ibang nakalagay roon patungkol sa kanyang magiging trabaho. Talagang pinaghandaan ito ni Brandon. Detalyadong- detalyado ang pagkakahabi ng mga inilatha nitong impormasyon tungkol sa cover niya. Magaling na magaling!

"So this time, I'll be a maid. Oh that's great!" anito habang patuloy na binabasa ang impormasyon sa kanyang profile kuno. "Mabuti na lang pala at namuhay akong mag-isa at natutong magtrabaho ng bahay dahil baka mahirapan ako sa isang 'to."

Pagkatapos nitong mabasa ang profile niya ay inilapag niya ito sa mesa pagkuwa'y tumayo at lumapit sa refrigerator at kumuha ng tubig.

"So when do I start?" tanong niya. "Pero malinis ba ang pasok ko doon, Bran? I mean look at me. Over qualified naman ata ako sa pagiging katulong."

"That's your skill. Gawin mo nang maayos." Brandon clung his head. "Supposedly the day after tomorrow. Pero mukhang nagmamadali ka, you can start tomorrow. Ihahatid ka ni Bran sa bahay ng pinsan niya. Siya na ang bahalang makipag-usap kay Tito Fred tungkol sa'yo. All you need to do is gather information regarding these threats and tell us. While doing this one, you need to look for him and be discreet. Remember you're a maid. Don't overdo it. Baka mabulilyaso ka like the last mission you have!" mahabang paliwanag ni Grace.

"Yeah! Yeah! I get it. Be a maid because I am a maid. Period. Anyway I'll update you always!" sarkastiko nitong sabi kay Grace. "I'll call you! Don't worry Grace. Para namang baguhan ako sa trabahong ito!"

"I am not worried about that, A. What I'm worried about is him handling you. Sa babaero ng pinsan niyan pati ata poste basta nakapalda papatusin. Hindi ko tuloy ma-gets kung bakit naging kaibigan niya 'yan." Sabay tingin sa kasintahang busy talking over the phone.

Agad namang tinapos ni Brandon ang tawag at lumapit sa kanila at inakbayan ang kasintahan. "He's not just my friend, love! But my cousin too. At tsaka, this is Tito Fred's request hindi ako makatanggi. I already talked to him and you don't have to worry regarding the arrangement. But he doesn't know you yet. I just told him na may nakuha na akong bodyguard."

"Okay! So that's it! All set and done. I'll wait for you here tomorrow. Aayusin ko lang ang mga gamit ko then I'll rest," pagkunwa'y tumayo na.

Tumayo na rin sina Grace at Brandon at nagpaalam. She get her things na nilapag lang sa gilid and went to the bedroom to get her pajama then went to the bathroom. After cleaning, she checked the refrigerator dahil nagugutom na siya at nang makitang walang laman bumalik siya sa kwarto at kinuha ang kanyang cellphone sa bag. She called Brandon.

"Hey, Bran! Sorry to call you but can you order dinner for me? Walang laman yung ref at nagugutom na ako," aniya niya.

"Sure, Babe! Just wait for the delivery," sabi nito. "And A," dagdag nito.

"What?" tanong niya.

"Never mind," anito.

"Okay."

While waiting for her dinner to come, she looked at the first envelope Brandon gave. She took out the photo of him and read his profile. "Stanley Monteverde. President of Monteverde Group of Companies."

No wonder nakakatanggap ito ng mga threat dahil sa negosyo. According to his profile, this man is ruthless and heartless when it comes to business. Marami empleyado ang takot dito dahil sa pagiging strikto nito sa trabaho. Konting mali lang ay mawawalan ka ng trabaho. Would he do the same to her kapag nasa trabaho na siya? On the other thought maybe not because they won't see each other often. She's just a maid afterall.

After thirty minutes nang paghihintay ay dumating na rin ang kanyang pagkain. She thanked the delivery boy na mukhang may balak pa atang makipag-flirt sa kanya. Nang makuha ang pagkain, agad agad niyang kumuha ng kutsara at tinidor at sinimulang kainin ang nakakatakam na kare-kare na siyang paborito niya. Hindi na siya nag-abala pang isalin ito sa plato dahil sa sobrang gutom. Napadighay siya ng malakas matapos kumain. She feels sleepy dahil na rin siguro sa pagod at kabusugan. Pagkatapos linisin ang pinagkainan, dali-dali niyang pinatay ang ilaw at pumasok sa silid. Pabagsak na nahiga siya sa malambot na kama. She can now feel exhaustion all over her body. She said her usual prayer before going to sleep.

Tomorrow starts her new adventure and she hoped for the best, not the worst.

Stanley Monteverde, here I come!

*****