Nevermore

Chapter 23: Rebel

"May nangyari ba sayong kakaiba ngayong araw? O may napansin ka bang sumusunod sayo?" Dad asked and my thoughts drifted back to a particular set of gray eyes

"Wala." I lied with a tight smile as I crumpled the note

Dad arched a brow "Are you sure?"

Tumango ako at inilibot ang mata sa kwarto, wala akong makitang kakaiba maliban sa kahon at mga rosas sa kama ko.
How can someone enter my domain without a hint of forced entry?

"I can't understand how someone can get in without getting detected, dad. Hindi ba bukas ang security system natin 24/7?"

"Yan din ang ipinagtataka namin, the house is reinforced with triadtech, and that security software is too tight to be infiltrated."

I scrunch up my nose "This incident proves that its not tight enough though."

Dad watched me and tilted his head to the side

"Nothing has been stolen and then there's this strange note...I have enough reason to believe, na kung sino mang may pakana nito ikaw ang pakay." A shiver racked my spine

"But why?"

Dad sighed "Hindi ko rin alam, but until we find out who's behind this you'll have body guards."

"Ayoko." Nagsimula akong umatras sa hindi ko malamang dahilan. I feel caged. Hindi ako makahinga.

"Ayoko." I repeated and raised a defiant chin at my father. Ayoko ng security cameras sa kwarto ko dahil pakiramdam ko nakakulong ako, na binabantayan ako, na hindi ako makakagalaw ng malaya. Bago palang nag si-sink in sa akin na puno na ng camera ang sangktuaryo ko ay bigla namang ganito...body guards. Freaking body guards who will tail me wherever I go.

Dad stepped closer to coax me "Sa tingin mo ba hahayaan kong wala kang bantay? I have to keep you safe. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't let you do this to me, not again." I clenched my fists. Dad had put me on a lockdown before, nung iniwan kami ng nanay ko. Para akong preso noon with nothing but sadness for company. I can't let that happen again.

"I can't risk it, Achila. I'm sorry."

Tears stung my eyes but I didn't let them fall. Papatunayan ko lang sa kanya na mahina ako at kaylangang bantayan palagi kapag umiyak ako.

"Hindi ko kaylangan ng bantay."

"You do, you're just too stubborn to acknowledge the fact." I felt my hackles rise at his words

"Mana sayo." A familiar feminine voice chastised my father from behind me. My shoulders involuntarily relaxed at her presence but my gut told me otherwise.

"You're wrong, Thalia," dad addressed his wife in a condescending tone before gesturing at me

"This wild mixture of carelessness, guile and destructive tendencies came from you." Dad continued in a tone that almost shamed my mother to tears. Dad didn't need to elaborate further, all three of us knew that what he's saying is in reference to my mother's extra marital affair.

The room seemed to come to a standstill. No one uttered a word. No one dared to speak againts ny father's admonition. He is right after all but I won't be caught dead admitting to it.

He sighed "A rebel gave birth to a rebel. I can't seem to alter that even if I tried."

"From now on, Malcom and Dmitri will be your assigned guards, Achila." Dagdag ni dad bago tuluyang lumabas ng kwarto.

My mom placed a placating hand on my shoulder "Mainit lang ang ulo ng dad mo, Kakausapin ko sya."

Tumawa ako ng mapakla "Kagaya ng ginawa mo ngayon? Wag nalang."

Something clashed with the hardwood floor. I turned to see one of the technicians gaping at me and I almost bit my tongue, siguro sa tingin nya ay wala akong modong anak sa paraan ko ng pakikipag-usap sa nanay ko. But I can't take back what's already been said kaya pinanindigan ko nalang

"Nag eenjoy ka ba sa palabas?" I replied with a hint of sarcasm and he vehemently shook his head in denial

"P-Pasensya na po mam." I rolled my eyes and turned back to my mother only to get guilty all over again.