One Rebellious Night (Published on GoodNovel App)

Kabanata 11

Kinagat ko ang aking pang-ibabang labi at binuhat si Caroline palabas ng bar dahil paika-ika na siyang lumakad. Nakapikit ang kaniyang mga mata habang binubuhat ko siya na parang bagong kasal.

Maingat ko siyang ibinaba sa loob ng sasakyan. Inayos ko ang suot niyang damit dahil halos lumabas na ang kaniyang dibdib. I took off my coat, which I wore earlier, and used it as a cover for her body. Inayos ko ang aking suot na damit and glanced at her before starting the car engine. She's sleeping.

Binagalan ko ang pagmamaneho ng sasakyan patungo sa kanilang bahay para hindi siya mahilo at magsuka habang nasa biyahe kami.

"Anong nangyari kay Ma'am Caroline, Miguel?" Takang tanong ni Manang Cristy pagpasok ko sa loob ng mansiyon habang binubuhat si Caroline.

"Umattend siya ng birthday sa kaniyang kaibigan, Manang." Sagot ko.

"Mapapagalitan na naman siya kapag nalaman ito ni Sir Samson." Sabi ni Manang habang nakasunod sa akin paakyat ng hagdan.

I carefully laid Caroline down on her bed. Manang Cristy helped me in placing the blanket over her.

"Pwede niyo po bang ipagluto ng mainit na sabaw si Ma'am Caroline, Manang? Kailangan niya po 'yon kapag nagising siya." Utos ko kay Manang Cristy. "Pakisamahan na lang din po ng mainit-init na tubig at tuwalya na pwedeng panlinis sa mukha niya, Manang." Dugtong ko.

"Sige, hijo. Bantayan mo muna siya habang nagluluto ako."

Nagmamadaling lumabas ng kwarto si Manang. Nanatili akong nakatayo habang tinititigan ang maamong mukha ni Caroline. Para siyang anghel kapag natutulog.

Hindi rin nagtagal ay nakabalik na si Manang Cristy dala-dala ang noodles na niluto niya at maliit ng planggana na may lamang tubig. Maingat niya itong inilagay sa maliit na table.

"Ang tigas talaga ng ulo ni Ma'am Caroline. Pinagbabawalan siyang uminom ng kaniyang magulang pero hindi pa rin siya nakikinig." Sabi ni Manang Cristy habang naghahanap ng damit ni Caroline sa cabinet. "Bibihisan ko muna siya, hijo."

Tumango ako at agad na naglakad palabas ng kwarto ni Caroline.

"Tapos ko na siyang bihisan, Miguel. Maari ka ng pumasok." Sabi ni Manang Cristy.

Pagpasok ko sa loob ay nakita ko si Caroline na mahimbing na natutulog. Nakapagbihis na siya ng pantulog. Bakas sa mukha ni Manang Cristy ang inaantok habang sinusuklay niya ang buhok ni Caroline.

"Ako na po ang magbabantay sa kaniya, Manang. Magpahinga na po kayo." Sabi ko nang napansing inaantok na si Manang Cristy.

"Ayos lang ba, hijo?"

"Opo."

"O, sige. Tataposin ko lang 'tong ginagawa ko."

Makalipas ang ilang minuto ay natapos na rin sa pagsuklay ng buhok ni Caroline.

"Tawagin mo lang ako kung may kailangan si Ma'am Caroline." Sabi ni Manang Cristy bago siya tuloyang lumabas ng kwarto.

Kinuha ko ang maliit na pinggan na may puting tuwalya. Dahan-dahan kong pinunasan ang mukha niya. Naramdaman ko ang paggalaw ni Caroline.

"Miguel..." Sambit niya at hinawakan ang aking kamay.

Dahan-dahan niyang iminulat ang kaniyang mga mata. Huminto ako sa pagpunas ng kaniyang mukha. Tinitigan ko siya ng ilang segundo bago ipinagpatuloy ang aking ginagawa.

"I feel nauseous..." she uttered.

I helped her up and supported her as we walked into the bathroom. She almost put her face in the bowl.

"Are you okay?" I asked her when we came out of the bathroom. "Why don't you eat first while the noodles cooked by Manang Cristy are still hot?"

Inalalayan ko siya paupo sa kanigang kama. Kinuha ko sa ibabaw ng table ang noodles at ibinigag ito sa kaniya.

"Thank you," she said softly.

I just watched her quietly as she sipped the broth. Suddenly, she stopped and looked up at me.

"Ikaw ba ang nagbihis sa akin?" Tanong niya at niyakap ang sarili.

Umigting ang aking panga sa kaniyang tanong. "The heck. Bakit naman kita bibihisan? "Am I that mischievous in your eyes?"

"Who else dressed me up if not you?"

"Manang Cristy dressed you up. Don't worry, I didn't watch while she was doing it." She nodded while hugging herself. I chuckled a little. "Even if you cover yourself up, nothing will change because I've already seen it."

"God, Miguel! Watch your words! What if someone overhears you?"

"So what if someone overhears us? Are you embarrassed because you got involved with me?" I teased her.

"Shut up!"

"Now you're going to give me a sour face because... what the heck!"

"I told you to be quiet!" she exclaimed angrily as she threw a spoon at me. "You need to reduce your mischievousness because you're just my bodyguard!"

"I'm just joking and you're already angry? You get offended so easily!" I complained while rubbing my shoulder that was hit by the spoon. "You don't have to keep reminding me that I'm just your bodyguard."

"Get out!" she shouted.

Kinuha ko ang aking coat bago lumabas sa kaniyang kwarto. I took a deep breath as I contemplated how to act in front of her. I needed to conduct myself properly as her bodyguard. I also had to forget whatever happened between us.

She's the daughter of my boss, and I'm simply her bodyguard. My responsibility is to protect her and ensure that no man gets close to her while Mr. Mercedez's son is courting her.

I walked briskly to my room and locked the door behind me. I changed into my sleepwear before lying down on the bed. I got up when I heard my phone ring.

Tiningnan ko kung sino ang tumatawag. Kinagat ko ang aking labi nang nakita ko ang pangalan ni Kaiden. Nagdadalawang-isip ako kung sasagotin ko ba ang tawag niya dahil alam ko sa sarili ko na mali ang ginawa ko kanina. I accepted the job offer he offered, but in the end, I regretted it.

I picked up my phone when I noticed that Kaiden was still calling me non-stop.

"Hey, I'm sorry about earlier. Hindi ko lang talaga -""

"Oh my goodness, Miguel! I've been calling you since earlier and it seems like you have no intention of answering my calls!" Kaiden shouted on the other line, so I moved my phone away from my ear. "Help me! I'm currently at the police station with some other guys from the bar!"

"What?! How did you end up there?" I asked curiously before getting up to change my clothes.

"Hindi namin alam na may guest pala kami na pinapasundan ng asawa niya. Nag-report ang asawa niya sa mga pulis tapos on the spot nila kaming hinuli!" Kaiden replied. "Hurry up. I don't want to be caught in the daylight inside the cell!"

I gritted my teeth before ending the call. I didn't know what to do anymore. I already had a lot of problems to deal with, and now my friend added to them. I'm really glad I left there earlier.