Blood and Tears

Prologue

Zander

I walked towards a man in suit, sitting at the last row of the waiting area. I did not caught his attention because I am wearing a commoner attire.

"If you do not want to die yet, follow me quietly." I whispered beside him.

The old man's eyes grew bigger. "Are you from the IDS?"

I replied with a nod, without looking at him.

"D-don't tell me, nasundan pa rin nila ako hanggang dito sa airport?" A tone of fear is visible in his voice. Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin niya sa paligid.

"Your rivals are everywhere, old man. I told you, just follow me out of here." I was about to stand up but he stopped me.

"How can I trust you? Buhay ko ang nakasalalay dito! Ayokong matagpuan nalang ang bangkay ko kung saan saan." He nervously shouted. Napailing nalang ako. Hindi naman sira ang ulo ko para lokohin siya, this old man is worth 20 Million.

"This is the last time I'll be saying this, old man. Follow me quietly if you still want to live. I am from the IDS. What else do you want to know?" I irritably said. Biglang tumunog ang radio receiver ko.

"Z, on your left!"

I pushed him aside, as a loud gunfire echoed the entire airport. It caused an uproar. I tried to search for the person who fired in the huge muddled crowd but it was difficult.

"Damn it, just follow me!" Tumayo agad siya at sinundan ako.

"There are six guys at the exit! Get rid of them, they are after Mr. Marquez." I pressed my earpiece closer. "That's the only exit I could access for now. The other ones are already blocked by the security."

I ran until we reached the exit of the airport. Six suspicious guys were standing at the gate. They were like predators waiting to eat their prey.

The old man pointed at them. "They were the guys that was after me."

"That's Marquez!" They pointed at our direction.

Napaatras siya nang mabaling sa amin ang tingin noong anim na lalaki. "Shit." Yes, I can take them down, but they are fat, big guys. Tumakbo sila papunta sa direksyon namin.

I held my earpiece. "I will kill you, Louis."

He gave a nervous laugh. "I'll send you back up."

"Shut up." I said and turned my earpiece off. "Hide in that bathroom."

He ran towards the bathroom and shut the door. I twisted the arm of the first big guy that attacked me and he groaned in pain. Sinabayan ko ito ng malakas na tadyak sa sikmura niya. Ginawa ko ito sa lahat ng lalaking natira. The last one was left, until I felt the cold tip of a gun against my head.

"Where is Marquez?" He asked. I raised my hands slowly. "Where is he?!"

"I really want to tell you.." I paused for a while. "But that old man's expensive."

Kinuha ko ang injection sa bulsa ko at itinusok ito sa kanyang leeg. He let out a gunfire but it missed me. Bumagsak siya sa lupa. Inagaw ko ang baril sa kamay niya.

I walked towards the bathroom and gave loud knocks.

"Get out. Wala na sila."

---

"Mr. Marquez had a safe flight to America. All thanks to you." Our boss gave me a proud look. "The 20 million is deposited in your personal account."

"Ooh, damn. Manlibre ka naman, Z." Louis said with an annoying smile.

"Shut up." I gave him an apathetic look.

Our boss handed me an envelope. Binuklat ko ito and I saw a picture of a girl along with her personal information. Alexandra Salvador.

"You are the most trusted person in my company, Z." He sat in front of Louis and I. "That's why I am assigning this important task to you."

My eyebrows turned into a frown. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

"Alexandra R. Salvador, the daughter of the well-known billionaire, Augustino Salvador. All you need to do is to protect that girl."

"Proctect her from what?" I asked. "She doesn't look like a daughter of a rich man."

"You see, hindi mabilang sa kamay ang kaaway ng tatay nya. Mr. Salvador does not want his rivals to know about her daughter. So she was adopted at a young age, after her mother was kidnapped by one of Mr. Salvador's rivals. Pinutol ni Mr. Salvador ang lahat ng koneksyon niya sa anak niya dahil masyadong delikado ang buhay nila." He explained.

"How much is she worth?"

"Mukhang pera ka talaga, Z." Louis gave an irritating grin. I shot him deadly glares that made him shut his annoying mouth.

"Mr. Salvador promised 250 Million pesos for her safety."

"Holy--" Hindi na naituloy ni Louis ang sinasabi niya.

"That's a good deal." I said. "But how am I supposed to protect this girl?"

"That's what you need to find out, Z. She is currently living a simple, low profile life. You cannot be a personal bodyguard, because she cannot find out about her real identity."

"Then pretend to be her boyfriend. That way you could protect her anytime, anywhere, without any suspicions." Louis stupidly suggest.

"Are you kidding? Kung gusto mo ikaw nalang. That is stupid."

"O sige, edi sa akin ang 250 Million." He formed an X using his arms. "At isa pa, mapapatay ako ng girlfriend ko."

Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at nag-isip ng ibang paraan.

"That's not a bad idea after all, Z." Our boss commented. I frowned.

"That is not happening." I said. "I could just follow her around."

"What if she's inside the house, or what if you lost her? And that girl catches up with things really fast. She might find out."

"This is frustrating." Ginulo ko ang buhok ko. I stared at her picture. "For the money, fine. I will do it. But I will still think of other ways!"

They both smiled in victory. "Then go start following her tomorrow. I am putting my full trust in you, Z."

I nodded. Alexandra Salvador, you will be the key to my success.