My Billionaire Bodyguard

Chapter 44

Elijah

I lay in the hammock in the back garden, staring up at the night sky, replaying everything that happened. My breath was heavy, and a weight on my chest made it hard for me to breathe.

"Aahh. damn."

The cold night wind did nothing to calm my nerves.

"D-Do you like me, Elijah?"

I smirked and covered my eyes with my hand. That scorching sensation every time I recall Pristine's face asking if I like her makes me feel like I'm burning from the inside out. It's been almost two days and I can't forget every details of what happened in her room, how she asked me softly if I like her.

Halos dalawang araw na rin niya akong iniiwasan at hindi pinapansin. It... stings. Actually. Hindi ako sanay. How her beautiful eyes looked away. I was used to seeing her approach me with a smile and calling me with excitement.

"Elijah..."

"Eli!"

Damn. What is this feeling? Am I... missing her?

Is it possible to miss someone even if you see them everyday?

Pakiramdam ko sa nakalipas na dalawang araw ay ang layo niya kahit pa abot kamay ko lang siya.

But I understand her. I realized she might be embarrassed by her question, but the way her eyes gazed at me says otherwise. And I don't want to assume that what I see there is pain. Dahil bakit siya masasaktan sa naging sagot ko?

Hindi ko kailanman rin kasi naisip na darating sa punto na tatanungin niya ako ng ganoon, but maybe she felt I was overprotective. I even asked what she wanted, even if it meant disobeying her grandfather. Wala naman akong takot kay Halyago. At alam nito 'yon.

Pero pagkalipas rin ng ilang segundo na pagkagulat sa tanong ni Pristine ay naalala ko rin ang sinabi ng mom sa akin. Ang pagbabanta na hindi ako maaaring magkagusto dito dahil maaalis ako sa trabaho--and that I shouldn't let happen. But why I took too long to answer?

I answered Pristine as a bodyguard would—someone who cares for her without any romantic feelings. I even pulled the 'little sister' card to justify the closeness and too much care I am showing her.

Tumayo ako nang makita ang oras sa relo ko. 9:00 pm. Usually, at this hour until 12 midnight, I was outside her room guarding her pero iba ang pinapunta ko doon dahil alam ko na iniiwasan niya ako at hindi muna gusto na makita. Hindi na rin naman ako lumalapit pa ng gaano sa kaniya.

"Is she still awake?"

I walked to the back of the house, where I could see her room. Malalaman ko kung gising pa siya pag bukas pa ang ilaw sa silid niya. Pristine don't sleep with her lights on.

But before I could turn left, my feet stopped, and I hid when I saw her outside, wearing her nightdress—on the balcony. Nakahawak ang kaliwang kamay niya sa itim na itim at may kahabaan niyang buhok habang tinatangay 'yon ng hangin.

My lips parted, and my heart ached a bit as I took another glance while hiding. She was looking at the night sky, and her eyes—gleaming like the stars—were so deep that I could stare into them forever.

Why is she still awake? And why does she look... sad?

Nang mapansin ko ang lungkot sa mga mata niya habang nakatingala sa madilim na kalangitan ay hindi ko na siya inalisan ng tingin. I swallowed the lump in my throat as I watched Pristine's every movement. It made me want to be near her and ask what was causing her sadness.