ARROWS OF THE FOREST [ON-GOING]

KABANATA 38. Safe Haven

It took Keelan and Kuya Butler almost an hour to return to Doc Aden's house. They made sure, thoroughly, that we were safe here and that Doc Aden and Alia weren't followed on the way.

For now, it seemed the Kilusan didn't know about my connection to Doc Javier, so they weren't targeting him. As of now, we were safe.

"So, what's the plan now, Keelan? Now that they know about Bella's identity and her connection with Alia, both of them aren't safe to go outside anymore," Kendrick asked Keelan.

We were still in the living room, planning our next move. I hated feeling like such a burden to them, but I couldn't help it.

I really didn't want this.

"Bella needs to lie low. Alia needs someone to guard her while she's at work," Aden said calmly.

"I can be Miss Bella's personal bodyguard, Young Master," Kuya Butler offered.

"What about Alia?" Aden asked.

"I can watch her. Magaling akong magtago. Hindi mo mapapansin na nasa paligid lang ako, Ali," Keelan added.

I frowned, worried. "Paano naman kayo—Kendrick, Doc Aden? Sino ang magbabantay sa inyo?"

Hindi puwede na kami ni Alia lang ang may bantay habang sa kanila wala. Paano kung kami na ang susunod nilang target?

"Tama si Bella, Keelan. Paano si Kendrick at Aden? Sino ang magpoprotekta sa kanila?"

"Girls, we're grown men. We can protect ourselves," Aden said.

"Yup. And besides, I can hire someone other than my butler to guard me. You have nothing to worry about us, girls," Kendrick reassured us.

"Tama sila. Mga masasamang tao ang kalaban natin. Kaya niyo bang dalawa pumatay ng tao para protektahan ang sarili niyo? Lalo na ikaw, Doc Aden," Keelan challenged.

"I can protect myself without killing anyone, Captain Arellano," Aden replied calmly.

"Let's face it. Those people will not hesitate to kill all of us, so we have to be prepared," Kuya Butler added.

"Tama. Kaya kung hindi niyo kaya makipagsabayan, mauuwi lang kayo sa kamatayan," Keelan warned.

"What if we do it like this: since Aden and Alia are working at our hospital, maybe my butler can watch over them there," Kendrick suggested.

"Tapos ako na lang ang maiiwan magbantay kay Bella. Paano ka, Ken?" Keelan asked.

"Don't worry about me, man. I have plenty of bodyguards waiting to be hired. Besides, they don't know my connection with Bella and Alia. I'll be safe," Kendrick said confidently.

"What about your job, Keelan?" Aden asked.

"Now that Cobra is caught and at military HQ, I can take a hiatus from work to watch over Bella," he replied.

"But wait. Where would Bella and Alia stay, Keelan?" Kendrick asked.

"Alia can stay with me here. Your butler can stay too," Aden decided.

"Bella can stay at my unit," Keelan added.

"Whaaat? You and Bella alone together? Hell nooo!!" Kendrick protested.

"May iba ka pa bang bahay?" Keelan countered.

"We can stay at my penthouse," Kendrick offered.

"Young Master, I don't think that's a good idea. Have you forgotten what happened earlier?" Kuya Butler reminded him.