Lexi
"Good morning, Madam," Aki greeted the following morning as he escorted me to my car.
"Lexi is fine."
"Alexandra is a beautiful name. If you do not mind, may I call you such?"
I nodded. Masyado namang pormal pormalan itong manong na ito.
When we got to the office, he headed down and opened the door for me. "Ang bilis mo naman kumilos!"
He just shrugged. "Dito lang ako sa paligid titigil. Kung may kailangan ho kayo, tumawag lang po agad kayo."
"Okay but sobrang busy ako today, I most likely will stay in until later," I told him. "Binigyan ka ba ng allowance ni Daddy para sa food and whatever you need?"
"Yes, Madam."
"Lexi."
"Yes, Alexandra. Enjoy your day. You better rush in - five minutes na lang, late ka na."
Oh sheeeeeettt! I ran inside. "Hold the elevator!"
*
The next couple of weeks was more of adjustment to having such a stiff person bodyguard around me all the time.
Since he had been my driver, I would arrive to work at least half an hour before my official time, he would be at the pick up point as soon as I gets off the elevator, I rarely notice if he's around when I go to the mall, but as soon as I need him, he's there.
Pero wala masyadong conversation. It's usually,
"Let me help you with your purchases."
Or
"Do we head straight home or do you want to go somewhere else?"
Or
"Your seatbelt, Alexandra."
My officemates started to notice him, when one time we had to render overtime and I offered to give them a ride home. "Ummm, Aki ihahatid lang natin sila ha? Gabi na kasi, mahirap magcommute and hindi safe."
"Yes, Madam. Wala pong problema. Sasabihan ko lang din ang father niyo po."
He escorted them in my car.
"Oh my goodness, sis! Ang gwapo naman ng driver mo."
I agreed. "Oo, may itsura."
"He looks well-off. Sure ka personal driver yan?"
For security purposes, we didn't inform a lot of people that Aki was also a bodyguard. I settled on a half-truth. "May-ari siya nung agency. Walang mahanap na pasado sa gusto ng daddy ko, kaya siya na lang muna."
We dropped off all three of my officemates who he saw safely go in their homes before we left. "Alexandra, please check that they are okay inside."
Since then, I've been bombarded by questions.
"Is he single?"
"What's his full name again?"
"Are you sure that's it? Why is nothing coming up in the internet?"
I wondered about those as well. But, work was crazy lately with this new project I was involved in. I loved being a software developer, but sometimes... hay! I took a quick coffee break to sort out my issues with the requirements of the project.
I told the barista my order and as I was walking to the bar to claim it, I bumped into someone. Looking up, it was Cyrus, my former officemate.
"I, uh..."
"Lexi! Hi! Nice seeing you again. I missed you. Let's go someplace."
He was already starting to lead me away, when I remembered Aki. I took my phone and pressed the number assigned to him. "Coffee shop. Please hurry."
Just as Cyrus tried to lead me to the door, Aki appeared. Giving me a bright smile that rivaled the sun, he greeted, "Oh hi! Sorry it took me a little too long. Naka-order ka na?"
"O - oo," I didn't know what he planned but I just played along.
"Alright. Hindi na siguro ako bibili. Tara na baka ma-late ka," then, just like that, he gently held me and moved me away from Cyrus. Turning to the guy, he extended his hand and introduced himself. "Aki."
For a second I thought I saw that strange glow surround Aki again.
His name. That was all he said, but his grip must have been strong enough to intimidate Cyrus, because Cyrus pulled away first looking like his hand burned.
I was shaking while Aki led me back to the office. "It's okay. He's gone."
"I'm sorry I forgot to tell you..."
"Shhh don't be. It's all good."
"Yung coffee ko, naiwan," I pouted, tearfully.
He nodded. "I will head back and get it. Pasok ka na. Iaakyat ko na lang."
"Aki, I don't want to live like this. Ayokong matakot lang habang-buhay."
"I can train you on some self-defense techniques, if you want, Alexandra. But, let us discuss that later. For now, you have work."
I nodded. As he was walking away, I glanced back and to my surprise there he was...
Aki's whole being seemingly emitting fire.
