Deception (CHURCH SIBLINGS 1)

22

I stand confused in a big field while Elias demands his men to bow before me. While I was away he is back here building his own empire. I am thinking of how he end up having all this. I am not good with calculations and numbers but I am fully aware he needs fortune to acquire such throne.

I scan everyone from head to toe. They’re all tall, and has big built, so big that if I stand behind any of them I won’t be seen. One thing I notice is that all Elias’s men have the same blank eyes, it’s hard to read what’s on their mind. No one looks soft, they’re all like rabid dogs that will bite hearing one bell. And the person who’s holding the bell is….. Elias— their commander.

I mean nothing bad but Elias’s men looks scary. Si Elias hindi nakakatakot, oo mararamdaman mo ang kakayahan niya sa simpleng galaw at tindig pero kapag may nangyaring masama sa ‘yo ay siya ang tipo na hihingan mo ng tulong hindi ang rason kung bakit ka tumatakbo. Itong mga tauhan niya parang walang gagawing tama, parang lahat gumagawa ng illegal. But I trust Elias’s judgment, I trust his men that they’re not what they look like.

“This is my girlfriend.” He reached for my hand and pull me beside him. I don’t know how to act that I end up with an awkward wave and tasteless smile. “She’s Atasha Isabela, you address her as Miss Isabela. Understand?”

His men answered in unison that I jump scared.

“Elias, nakakahiya. Please.” Hinila ko ang laylayan ng damit niya. I already had this with our men back home, I don’t need this unnecessary protocol from his side too.

Napabundong hininga siya. “Dismissed. Warren at Julius magpaiwan kayo.”

Inabot ng halos kalahating minuto bago makaalis lahat ng tauhan niya sa harap namin. Humakbang upang mas lalong lumapit ang mga pinaiwan niya. Uminit ang pisngi ko nang mapansin ko ang tagal ng titig nilang dalawa sa mukha ko. They obviously respect Elias’s, and it’s making me uncomfortable thinking what they thought of me.

Elias’s hand snakes on my waist, pulling me in a protective manner. Napatingin ako sa kanya, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay. Bumaba siya para bumulong. “One fun fact about me, I am a jealous boyfriend. Kaya sabihin mong namumula ka dahil mainit hindi dahil kinikilig ka sa dalawang ‘yan.”

“M—mainit,” nanginginig kong sagot. Sinilip niya ang mukha ko, matagal niya akong tinignan bago halikan ng mabilis sa labi.
Simple siyang tumayo ng maayos ulit. Uminit lalo ang pisngi ko pero sa ibang dahilan na. Nakakahiya sa tauhan niya. Kailangan ko pang kurutin ang sarili para kumalma.

Tumikhim muna siya bago magsalita. “Kayong dalawa ang magbabantay sa girlfriend ko simula ngayong araw.”

Napahinga ako ng malalim. Bumalik sa akin ang dahilan bakit nandito ako sa SWAN camp. Ilang araw ko na siyang kinakausap na huwag na tumuloy sa paghahanap kay Joaquin, ginawa ko na lahat, nakiusap ng maayos, inaway na rin siya pero nagmamatigas siya na tapusin na lahat ng pag-aalala meron siya, si daddy pati na rin ako.

He was about to fly to Bulgaria yesterday but he received a report that Joaquin is alive and here in the country. Hinigpitan ni daddy ang security sa akin, maging sa mga kapatid ko at kay mommy. But Elias isn’t satisfied and here we are now.

“Wolf will be with you two. Kung saan ang girlfriend ko naroon din kayo. May dalawa pa siyang guard mula sa tauhan nila, iyon ang close up guard niya. You two will be the eye. I want you to kill anyone who’ll be a threat to my girlfriend’s safety.” He gave me a quick glance. “Including the two men of her father. Kapag may kaduda-dudang galaw, restraint them, bring my girlfriend to safety and report to me. Understand?”