Versailles Series Book 4: The Bodyguard [COMPLETED]

CHAPTER 49

=== K Y L O ===

Ang araw na ito ay tulad lang ng ibang araw. I stared at the ceiling with a blank mind.

Pinatay ko ang alarm ko na tumunog na. It has always been like that. I can't remember the last time I slept well.

This day is important to me. It should be important to me. I only have exactly one year as the governor of this province. The last year of my last term.

Yes, I won last election's race because I was unopposed. A part of me was happy that I was given another term to serve the province. But majority of me felt empty because the most important person to me was not there.

Two years. Ni 'hi', ni 'hello', wala akong narinig o natanggap. It's like she vanished on thin air. Sa nature ng trabaho ni Chinn, wala itong iniiwang bakas kada tapos ng misyon.

I come to the club to ask Winter for any updates. Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako tumigil magtanong dahil makita pa lang ako ni Winter ay umiiling na agad ito.

She didn't really want me at all. She left me just like that.

Bumangon ako at dumiretso sa indoor gym ng bahay ko. That was my routine. Wake up, workout, take a bath, go to work, go home, and sleep.

I can't drink on weekdays dahil pumapasok ako sa kapitolyo. I maybe heartbroken but I have a province to serve.

Like him, the people just stopped asking about her. The food just stopped coming. My office became colder by the day. I try to keep my temper at bay but anything can tick me off easily. Ilang beses ko na ngang napagalitan si Zeny sa maliliit na bagay. I made sure I apologized for it because it was unexcusable.

Today, I'll meet with my campaign managers to discuss the next plan. Either run for mayor or run as a senator. They say I have a chance if I run for the national post. As much as I want to run in any position, I wanted to rest.

For the first time since I sat on a government post, I admitted to myself that I'm tired and I just want to rest. The past years have been rough on me. From Benedicto's antics to Chinn's unannounced disappearance. I'm overwhelmed. I'm exhausted.

I drove to the capitol on a Monday morning. Traffic was light. It was a normal  day.

While I was browsing my emails, pumasok si Zeny para dalhan ako ng kape.

"Zeny?"

"Yes, Gov?"

"Sorry for my bad behavior for the past weeks. Or months. Or years."

Tumango ito at ngumiti. "Naiintindihan ko po, Gov. Normal po iyan para sa taong may pinagdaraanan."

"Nagka-ex ka na ba?"

Tumango ito muli. "Opo. Hindi pa nga ako naka-move on. Isang taon na kaming wala."

"How do you live everyday."

"Kinakaya lang, Gov. Hindi naman nawawala ang sakit. Nasasanay na lang tayo. Gigising ka na lang ng isang araw na wala na. Hindi na masakit. Okay ka na."

I fell into deep thinking. How long will it take before that day comes?

Lumabas na ito ng opisina ko at naiwan ako roon.

***

"So, what's the decision Gov? We are five months into filing of candidacy."

Umupo ako sa kabisera ng mesa. I looked at each and every one of them.

"I...haven't decided yet."

"The numbers look good. Mataas ang chances na makapasok ka magic 12 kung tumakbo ka ng senador."

"I don't really like to leave my province."

"The only way is up, Gov."

"Let's meet in a month. Let's see how it goes."

They exhaled before going out of the meeting room.

Tinignan ko ang relo ko. It was Nanay Carm's birthday. I should go see her at home.

My relationship with Kiana and my dad are okay. Me and my mother's is a different story. She scolds me and tells me that why would I ruin our relationship because of a woman. I will always ask her if who really ruined it first? I love my mother but I won't let her control my life.

When I arrived at our mansion, I immediately greeted Nanay Carm.

"Mas lalo kang pumapayat, Kylo. Kumakain ka pa ba? Gusto mo bang samahan kita sa bahay mo? Hindi ba masarap ang luto ng mga kasamahan ko roon?"

I shook my head and smiled. "They are fine. Kanino pa ba sila matututo kundi sa iyo? Sinusumbong ba nila ako?"

"Na hindi ka kumakain? Na inuumaga ka sa trabaho?"

"I have to get by. Sanay na ako."

Hinaplos nito ang pisngi ko. There was concern more than sympathy in her eyes. The same emotion I've been seeing for the past two years.

"Magiging okay ka rin, anak."

"Salamat 'Nay."

We had dinner with all of the people in the house. They were happy as they celebrated. The drinks were pouring.

Isa iyon sa mga incentives namin  sa mga kasama namin sa bahay. They are family members to us so we make it a point that they celebrate their special days with us like a true family.

Nang hindi ko makita si Kiana ay hinanap ko ito sa kuwarto nito. One of her new hobbies is making up dresses. Binilhan ko nga ito ng maliit na sewing machine. Nagpaturo pa ito kay Nanay Carm kung paano magtahi.

"What are you up to this time?"

She was drawing up a dress at 12 years old like a professional designer.

"I learned to draw from Youtube, Kuya. Ganda ba?"

I nodded as I looked at her drawing. "Yes. But these are for ladies. Shouldn't you be drawing a dress for yourself?"

"This is for Ate Patch. Just in case she comes back you know?"

"She won't be coming back, Kiana. She's been gone for two years."

Kiana looked at me. I never used that tone with her ever.

"Pero baka bumalik siya Kuya-"

"This is not a fairytale story. This is real life, Kiana. Like me you should start accepting that she won't be coming back!"

Tears pooled in her eyes but I was too angry to care about that.

"You haven't accepted Kuya. Kaya galit ngayon. And you're not mad at me. You're not mad at her. You're mad at yourself because you can't forget her. You can deny all you want Kuya but you're like me. Inaantay pa rin siya. I loved her like a true sister. At aantayin ko siya kahit magalit kayong lahat sa akin."

She left me in her room. Sumandal ako sa dingding habang nakaupo sa sahig.

My sister is right. Who am I really fooling?

I need a break. I need a drink. And there's one place that I know where I can get drunk until I pass out.

CHAPTER 50 >>