lilies.

51

Kabanata 51

"What? Who? Where are you?" Grandma answered urgently, "I'm locating you now, don't put down the call."

It's like Kobe knew that he would get in trouble if my Grandma knew about this. I thought so. He immediately unlocked the door. I heard it. He eyed me irritably.

"McKinley, Grandma. It's okay now. Rai's with me."

Agad binuksan ni Rai ang pinto. Inalalayan niya akong makababa ng sasakyan.

"I don't believe you, give the phone to Rai now," sigaw ni Grandma sa kabilang linya. Inilayo ko ang phone sa tainga dahil doon.

"Are you hurt? Did he touch you?" Nag-aalala niyang tanong.

Umiling ako. I mouthed, "I'm fine," Inabot ko kay Rai iyon. "She wants to talk to you."

Sinenyasan niya ang mga security guards. "Don't let him go."

Inabot niya ang cellphone ko habang hawak-hawak niya ang kamay ko. Hindi ko rinig ang sinasabi ni Grandma. Naririnig ko lang ang sagot ni Rai.

"Yes, tita. She's with me now... McKinley basement parking. I'll call our lawyer, too... I'm bringing her home first, I'll let my secretary handle it then I'll go back."

Inabot niya sa akin ang cellphone na nakababa na ang tawag. He checked up on me. Inoobserbahan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"I'm fine," I answered so he won't worry.

Pinagilid ang sasakyan ni Kobe. Natanaw ko sa di kalayuan ang secretary ni Rai. Sinalubong namin siya. Hawak-hawak pa rin niya ang kamay ko. Mahigpit iyon at para bang takot na mawala ako.

My grandma's name is power. That's what I get from this. And I will never ever tolerate this ridiculous amount of suitors I have. Never again. I am traumatized.

And another thing, I never considered having bodyguards. It's a common thing in Luxus College to have one but I think it is too much but this event changed me forever. I need that bodyguard. I need that extra level of protection. I don't want this to happen again. Paano kung hindi ko na mapigilan sa susunod? Paano kung hindi na ako mahanap ni Rai sa susunod? Tatalon na ako sa bintana habang umaandar ang sasakyan?

"Let's go. You must have been so scared, I'll take you home."

Iginaya niya ako sa kung nasaan naka-park ang sasakyan niya. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto. Kagaya ng madalas niyang ginagawa ay inalalayan niya ang ulo ko na hindi tumama sa bubong ng kotse. He even did my seatbelt.

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Iyon ang napansin ko. I have so many thoughts in my head but I'm too tired to voice it out. He noticed that.

He held my cheeks to caught my attention, "I'm sorry, I'm a bit late. If only I arrived early, it won't happen."

I pouted, almost teary eyed. Sumakit ang puso ko sa narinig. It's not his fault. Partly, it's mine. If only I am not this gullible. Nasa loob pa siya dahil sa pag-aayos niya sa seatbelt ko. Isinukbit ko ang kamay sa batok niya para mayakap siya.

Walang lumabas sa bibig ko. I just felt his warmth and I hope this hug would interpret my thoughts right now. It's not his fault.

We stayed like that for a few minutes. He's the first one to break the hug and he gives me light kisses on my forehead.

"I'll take you home."

The idea of going home and sleeping alone isn't sitting well in my head. I feel like I'm scared to be left alone tonight. No one's home aside from our helpers. I'm sure Mom's not going to be there.

Our big house will feel empty, big, and scarier now more than ever. Pakiramdam ko kaya pa rin akong puntahan ng mga tao. O di kaya ay may bigla na lang pumasok at puntahan ako sa kwarto ko. I'm overthinking. I just don't feel safe.

Umikot na si Rai para sa driver seat. He's busy putting on his seatbelt while I'm hesitating if I should ask but this is Rai, I'm sure he would understand. He would.

"Uh..." I stuttered, "Ca-an I sleepover?"

He met my eyes as if he was trying to read my soul. Our eyes stayed like that for a few seconds. He nodded.

"We'll inform your grandma about it. We have more security in our mansion in Forbes so you feel safe. We're sleeping there."

"Am I sleeping alone too?"

That's my worry. I don't want to sleep alone tonight. I'm just too scared to do that.

"I'm sleeping beside you. Don't worry, baby."

I pouted and slowly nodded. "Thank you."

After that encounter, I asked for bodyguards. Has it changed me? I think so. I heard from people that I became colder, like something changed with my overall aura.

I rejected Kenzo through texts. I never granted anyone a date after that. I think people heard about it because Wendy never mentioned Kobe after that.

Rai told me that Kobe's parents pleaded to drop the charges. He said that he's only asking me to answer his math homework... that his intentions are pure. Bullshit. I don't want to see him anymore, that's why I asked them to stop suing them.

My grandma isn't pleased though. Sa tuwing lumalabas kami kada linggo ay hindi niya ako madalas kinakausap. Tumagal iyon ng isang buwan.

Kobe is banned from entering Luxus. I think Grandma is also giving them a hard time in Forbes as they lived there too.

She ranted that she's not as forgiving as me and Mommy. I didn't forgive Kobe though. it's just that I don't want to see him again. People will talk about it. People will ask me about it if the issue gets bigger. Ayoko non.

My life has been peaceful with the bodyguards around and that event properly explained why I am not accepting suitors now. Problem solved.

And then the school year ended.