Smile for Me - book version

Chapter 2- The Bodyguard

Kyle

"What are you doing?" nakapamaywang na tanong sa akin ni Sam. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nagpatuloy ako sa paglalagay ng hidden cameras sa loob ng office niya.

"Sabi ni Lise, tahimik ka, hindi ko ine-expect na pipi ka. So, do we need to use sign language just to communicate? I don't know how, by the way," sarcastic na sabi nito. She is damn intimidating, but not to me. Her slim figure is too good on her suit. Her curly brown hair is in place and her frowning brows can compete with my no-fuck-up face.

"I can teach you," I replied with an equally sarcastic tone.

"Letse," sagot nito. Ang alam ko sa abogado, hindi dapat nawawala ang composure. She is easy to read. How come she became a damn good lawyer?

"You are here not because I want to, but because I don't have a choice with my friends," she fired, irritation clearly on her eyes.

"I am aware that Ace is on the choice list. Why you didn't pick him?" I smirked. I know she won't choose him. Ace is scary as the Devil itself.

"Yeah, right. It's like a red flag waving to my enemies. Hey, I have a bloody bodyguard. I am scared of your shit. Not gonna happen." She sat on her office chair and closed her eyes.

I finished installing the cameras in no time. I looked at the view on my Ipad and was satisfied with the result. I sat on the single sofa, away from her table, and started typing on my Ipad to see if my cameras on her condo are working as well.

One thing I learned in life, is to let the angry woman talk, but don't listen to it. If you do, you better prepare for her rants and complains.

"Kyle, nakikinig ka ba?" sigaw nito.

"Hmmm." I tried to see if the camera can go 180 degrees on view. I messaged Marcus if the GPS on her car was already installed.

"Letse ka. Hindi ka pala nakikinig." Tinamaan ako ng magazine sa ulo. Nagdilim ang paningin ko. No one, as in no one, pull that shit on me.

"Next time na gawin mo 'yan, may kakalagyan ka." I gave her a cold stare and she stared back. One eyebrow raised. Arms crossed.

"Oh, really?" she replied. "Like what?" She didn't back out with our staring contest.

I smirked. "No, I will not kiss you. You better stop dreaming about it."

"You jerk." Ibabato na sana niya ang paper weight na hawak nang bumukas ang pintuan ng office niya.

Pumasok ang isang lalaki. Nasa 5'7" ang taas. Medium built, short hair. He is wearing a coat and tie.

"Sorry, Sam. May bisita ka pala." He doesn't look sorry to me, though. He sat on Sam's table—at the side part and play with her pens.

"Who is he?" he asked. I saw how Sam's face changed. From irritated tigress to cold babe. The poker face is on.

"None of your business, I think," she replied coldly. Ngumiting aso si kupal saka ako tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa.

"So, Sam," sabi ng gagong kupal. "Would you like to come with me tonight? May bagong bukas na bar."

"No, thank you," Sam replied. She eyed him and if I didn't know Sam, I would really think she is a cold bitch.

"Oh, come on. Is he your flavor of the month?" tanong nito.

Sam looked at me, she sensed my irritation.

"Maybe," she replied. "Now get out Lenard, before you drop dead on my floor."

Natawa ang tinawag na Lenard. I typed his name on my Ipad and search for his information. Kunwari ay hindi ko sila pinapakinggan.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." Tumayo si Sam, dala ang ilang folder at iniwan si Lenard sa office niya.

"Pasalamat ka at mayroong maintenance sa kwarto mo," bulong ni Lenard bago tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa gilid ng table ni Sam. Nakatitig ito sa ballpen na kinuha niya sa table at inamoy ang ballpen. Napahinto ako sa pagta-type.

Aba't ang tarantado, kung makalanghap sa ballpen, akala mo ay lalabasan ano mang oras.

Lunch time nang bumalik si Sam sa office na mukhang nadoble ang irritation.

"Nandito ka pa?"

"Obviously," maikling sagot ko.

"Bakit hindi ka pa umaalis?" masungit na tanong nito.

"Paalis na nga ako. Bibilinan lang kita. Mag-ingat ka sa maniac na officemate mo. Babalik ako mamaya bago ka umuwi."

"Kahit 'wag ka ng bumalik," sagot ni Sam.

Kung hindi lang ako nangako kay Marie, baka iniwan ko na si Sam at nagpa-deploy na lang sa ibang bansa.

"Gusto ko nga sana pero nakapangako ako sa kaibigan mo­ —"

"Huwag mong intindihin si Lise," sabat agad ni Sam.

"Ano ang pakialam ko kay Lise? Hindi naman siya ang nakiusap sa akin. Gawan mo ako ng pabor, huwag kang aalis ng opisina mo nang hindi ko alam."

"Hindi ba trabaho mo na bantayan ako? Hindi ko naman trabaho na magreport sa iyo at sundin ka," Sam said a matter of fact. Napahinga ako ng malakas at pinigilang sagutin ng pabalang ang kaibigan ni Marie na ito.

"Bahala ka kung gusto mo agad na paglamayan." Umalis ako nang walang lingon-lingon kay Sam. Narinig ko pa ang pagmumura niya bago ko isarado ang pintuan ng opisina nito.

Nakangisi si Marcus nang makita ko siya isang coffee shop malapit sa office ni Sam.

"Hulaan ko, sinungitan ka ni Sam."

"Galing mo," sarcastic na sagot ko. Natawa si Marcus ng tuluyan.

"'Yong mukha mo, parang maghahamon ng away."

"Peram laptop, may hahanapin ako."

"Aha, lalaki 'yan," wika ni Marcus habang kinukuha ang laptop niya sa bag na dala.

"Kailan ka pa naging si Madam Auring?"

"Kanina lang habang hinuhulaan ko kung sino ang unang mapipikon sa inyo ni Sam. Mukhang ikaw."

"Mali," wala sa loob na sagot ko habang nagty-type sa system. "Kulang ka pa sa practice."

"Hay, diyan nagsisimula 'yan," ani ni Marcus.

"Anong katarantaduhan ba 'yang sinasabi mo?"

Bakit walang gaanong info tungkol kay Lenard sa system?

I heard Marcus chuckled but didn't elaborate any further. Sinarado ko ang laptop niya at binalik sa kanya. Mamaya ko hahanapin si kupal kapag napag-iisa na ako.

"Musta ang CCTV sa bahay ni Sam?" I asked him instead of asking what's making him grinning like a bobcat.

"Okay naman sila," sagot nito. "Naglagay ako ng isa sa banyo just in case."

"Putang­—" Napahinto ako sa pagmumura nang makita kong halos gumulong sa tawa si Marcus.