I feel sad for Sophia and Lester. When the elevator closed our eyes met, I feel what they feel like the first time I entered school. I was alone surrounded by people whom I don't know.
Since dad told the executives to wait for us in the conference hall, we rode different elevators since we will not fit in the elevator. Only Mark and the other body guards rode the elevator with us. I looked around saw an overlooking view of the famous Manila Bay. What a beautiful sight to see. I feel right where I want to be. "Where are we going?" I asked dad. He looked at the bodyguards and they turned their head down right after. I guess that means to have privacy. What privacy can we get in this elevator? I didn't mind because the elevator doors opened. We followed dad as he walk towards the corridor, to the single door in this floor. I guess this is a suite. He opened the door and I saw Mr. Cruz with the Chief Attorney of Fournier Group Law Department, Mr. Joseph Evangelista. "They have something to discuss with us." Dad replied to the question I asked a while ago. The other bodyguards didn't entered the room only Mark since he was our personal bodyguard. We followed Mr. Cruz to a room and saw a Projector. It started working when Mr. Cruz pushed a button in his remote. "Are you aware of what happened a while ago?" Mr. Cruz said.
"What?" I said, "I just played soccer with my classmates." We sat down.
"Are you sure is that all?" Mr. Cruz said, "Are aware that you were almost shot?" The projector began playing videos. We were playing soccer then the camera panned on the bleachers near the locker rooms, a man dressed in a security guard uniform. At first you won't suspect a thing but moments later, he went through his seemingly large briefcase that I haven't noticed a while ago, he opened it. I saw a sniper gun. he poised the gun. The camera followed the direction which the gun was pointing at and it was at me. In a blink of an eye, the sniper fired just in time when men in suits attacked and disarmed him. It was my bodyguards.The camera panned right where the bullet landed. It missed me, no one was harmed. I wasn't shot thanks to my bodyguards who saved my life.
"If Xavier hadn't move he could have been shot. And why wasn't the bodyguards secured the area?" My dad was furious. He stood up and kept pacing.
"Mr. Fournier, the sniper was caught and was sent to jail right after it happened. He will rot in there." Mr. Evangelista said with dignity.
"Thats not my point!" Dad shouted, "Don't tell my wife about this. She'll be furious if she knew that the bodyguards whom assigned to protect her children almost missed it. I don't know what's going to happen to her. Thats why we hired bodyguards to protect our children and why does this things kept happening to us?" He stopped infront of the window facing the ocean.
"Can you leave us for a moment?" Mr. Cruz was directing to everyone in the room except to him and dad.
"We'll see you dad in the restaurant later okay?" Austin said with a doubt.
"Of course, now go to your friends, they're waiting for you in the lobby. I will be there." Dad said.
We rode the elevator down to the lobby. It was a bit awkward with all the silence. "What exactly happened?" Austin spoke out of the blue which made me comfortable.
"Mark and guys at our back..." Austin faced the other eight, " I'm not reffereing only to Mark just because he's Xavier's personal bodyguard. I think lately you;ve been too lose, keep the area tight out of danger. I'm not scaring you or something, but you've got to keep things well oiled. You may see dad's nostrils pop out just like Mark saw a while ago." the other bodyguards got the humor but tried not to laugh as respect to their benefactor and to us also as their 'young master' they say. I was really glad Austin broke the ice just in time before the elevator opens. As we walk towards the lobby, we can see other managers and other works looking at us, bowing.
"I guess we really need to get used to the bowing." Austin paced right at my side while Mark at my left and the other bodyguards at our backs, "I guess these are too much."
"Yeah, I think so." We were regarding to the bodyguards. I guess they haven't rested. "Mark, can you please tell the other bodyguards to wait outside. Relax or something. Nothing will happen here since the security is really tight." Mark stopped and so did the rest of us. He faced and said, "I'm sorry Mr. Fournier but only that request I cannot fulfill."
"Why so serious Mark?" Austin said with a pinch of humor, "We're not asking you, we're ordering you Mark so please do as we say."
"We will Mr. Founier but we will keep an eye on you always. They will just keep distance that you won't even notice them." Mark said.
"Well, there's no stopping you guys from doing your jobs.I remember that you're my personal bodyguards. That means you must be always right at my side. Am I right?" I said in spite of their refusal, I just let it slip. I saw Lester and Sophia sitting in the lobby lounge infront of the consierge with Arlene at their side. We head towards them, the three of us as we leave the other bodyguards.
"Why did it took you guys so long?" Sophia said with irritation but I sensed she's humoring me, "You know that Lester said your butlers were gay?" We laughed.
"They kept on looking and helping me get into my clothes even if I can do it all on my own." I felt awfull for Lester but that didn't last until...
"Don't come any closer!" Lester shouted. "You g..." Sophia covered Lester's mouth.I looked at what he's regarding to and I saw two butlerr, one is holding a wallet and the other one holds a necklace. I think it was Lester's.
"Hey! Don't shout." Sophia looked at Lester intensely, "Don't even try to say that word again." Sophia approached the butlers and took Lester's belongings. They left after, as usual, bowing. She gave the wallet and necklace to Austin whom passes to Lester looks like a tomato. His cheeks was red from humiliation.
"I'm sorry mom..." Lester did a huge mistake. We laughed so is he. She looked at him with irritation as she slowly walks, heading towards him.
"What did you say?" We laughed.
"I'm sorry." Sophia kept getting closer, inch by inch, Lester steps backward, "I'm sorry I said!"
"Now guys, please stop and lets go." I said while trying not to laugh, "We still have other things to do after." They all looked at me while Arlene approached Mark. I didn't looked at them directly but I can see their talking. Something serious and improtant that they won't let us hear it. They even stepped a few backwards.
"What do you mean?" Lester looked at me so does Sophia. I guess she's curious like him.
"I though we're here just to shoot." Sophia made her famous poutty lips. How cute.
"You will know later. For now, lets just get going, their waiting for us." I said.
"Who's waiting for us?" Lester asked a question again. I got tired of answering their questions so I disregarded him. I think Austin felt the same because he didn't also respond to the question. "Why aren't you answering me?" Everyone laughed but no one answered his question as we walk head towards the bayshore.
I think I now feel the meaning of true friendship. I have James, Vanessa, Lester and Sohia. What can I ask for. I wonder what James and Vanessa are doing right now? There is this lingering feeling I cannot understand towards Sophia. I can't distinguish it if what I feel for her is just a friend or there something I else I haven't understand. What am I thinking. I have nothing to ask. I have wonderful firnds at my side, our relationship with our parents is going smooth. I think this kiind of feeling won't last long. Its what they say 'too good to be true' I hope not.
As we walk towards the breathtaking sight of the Manila Bay, laughing and teasing; with the look on their eyes, they really are trustworthy. I can feel it.
