"Are you okay?", Andra, my cousin and the wife of none other than Kajik Mercadejas, asked.
It's another Saturday morning and she wanted to meet. She said she's just bored because her babies had been kidnapped by her in-laws. Gusto pa namang makita ang mga pamangkin ko pero mukhang walang pag-asa dahil siguradong iniispoil na naman ng mga lolo at lola nila.
"Yeah, why?", I replied casually as I drink my morning coffee. Pinagmasdan nya ako mabuti at inaaral ang bawat galaw ko. Tinaasan ko sya ng kilay at umirap. Ang mga mata nya ay saglit dumapo sa dalawang lalaking nakatayo sa hindi kalayuan sa aming pwesto. Nakauniporme gaya ng nakagawian. Pinagtitinginan sila ng mga iilang taong naroon. I have to admit, they both were good-looking as bodyguards. Dagdag pa ang magagandang hubog ng katawan nila.
"Cresia, you know what I mean", ngumuso sya. I get it that she was concerned about me but I am really okay.
"If you mean 'him', yes I am okay with this arrangement. I need to help Dad and lessen his worry. Wala akong panahong mag-inarte", I answered. When I got her text saying she wanted us to talk, I already knew she would be asking Gino's reinstatement as one of my personal guards. In condition to this arrangement, I asked my father to not remove or replace Gilbert. Mas komportable ako sa kanya kaysa kay Gino. Pinag-isipan kong mabuti kung ano ang dapat kong isagot sakali ngang magtanong sya. At totoo naman na okay lang ako. I am doing this for my father.
"Really? I have something to tell you. You know that Heather's my friend and secretary, right?"
Tumango lang ako. Inalis ang kahit anong bakas ng sakit na marinig ang pangalang iyon.
"Well, I heard her talking to Gino on the phone one day. Pinag-uusapan yata nila ang pagbalik ni Gino bilang body guard mo. I think Heather's against this"
Hindi na ako nagulat. Sino'ng babae ang papayag na mapunta ang boyfriend nya sa tabi ng ibang babae?
"It's not like I want him here with me, too, again, Andra. My dad and I talked last night and he is really worried about my safety. He still thinks Gino will be the best guy for the job. Kahit pa sabihin ko kung gaano kahusay si Gilbert patunay na hanggang ngayon, wala pa namang nangyayari sa aking masama mula nang maging body guard ko sya, my father just wouldn't listen", I explained.
"I doubt what Tito Arturo did para mapapayag si Gino. You know how much Gino respects Heather's opinion. Ganoon nya kamahal", masakit pa ring pakinggan ang katotohanan. Kahit ano'ng gawing tatag at balewala ko, nasasaktan pa rin ako. Hindi ako kumibo sa sinabi nya. Tahimik akong kumain ng breakfast naming dalawa habang sya ay maraming kwento. Hindi naman nagtagal dumating ang asawa nya para sunduin pagkatapos naming kumain.
Tumayo ako at agad na sumunod ang dalawa ni Gilbert at Gino palabas sa lugar. I also made it sure to transfer our driver on another assignment so there would only be the three of us in one car. The two of them at the front and I am at the back. Gino's the driver. Sobrang tahimik sa loob ng sasakyan. At kahit malakas ang aircon, namamawis ang mga kamay ko. I just couldn't get what Andra said out of my mind and the oldest truth I've already known but couldn't accept. I couldn't help but get hurt. Nahihirapan ako lalo na at nasa harapan ko lang sya.
"Where are we going, Ma'am?", Gilbert asked breaking the silence. Without glancing at him and making myself busy at my phone, reading texts and chat messages, I answered.
"I had a meeting with Mr. Gonzales at the office"
Suddenly, I felt a pair of eyes burning me with stares and when I decided to look up. I saw Gino owning those pair of eyes. I had to avert mine first. Napalitan ng imahe ng kanyang galit na mga mata ang iniisip ko kanina. Even from before, he did not like Mr. Gonzales. I met him on my Dad's party one time. He looked like a dirty old man but he had more power than my father. He had more connections like the Ramirez, and the Gomez de Liaño clan. When I escaped the claws of the Ramirez with the help of my friend Klaus, Mr. Gonzales took the chance to pressure me more. Gino did not like the man but I did not have the power to avoid him.
"Mr. Gonzales is waiting for you in your office, Ma'am", sinalubong ako ng sekretarya ko pagdating sa tamang palapag. Tinanguan ko sya at nagpasalamat bago naglakad papunta sa pintuan ng akong opisina pero bago ko pa iyon mabuksa napigilan na ako ng isang kamay. Nagulat ako sa ginawa ni Gino kaya bigla kong hinigit ang kamay ko.
"I'm sorry..., Ma'am. But I need your instruction if you need us...", his eyes drifted to the door of my beloved office and as if he could see the man inside, threw a controlled anger glance at him," if you need us inside of we wait here outside".
Halos hindi ko narinig ang pangalawang pagpipilian na para bang sinasadya nyang hindi ko marinig para hindi ko piliin.
"Wait outside, of course", I replied.
"Ma'am"
"Gino! I have a meeting and I don't have time for", I hissed at me and went inside quickly. I took a long deep breath and got myself together.
"My, my, if it's not my dearest Lucresia Lopez", Dante Gonzales greeted me with a creepy smile. Hindi ko alam kung kutob ko lang ba ang nararamdaman ko tungkol sa matanda dahil wala naman syang ipinakikitang masama o may ibang bagay pa.
"Hello, Sir. I had to be with my cousin this morning, I'm sorry I'm late", nakipagkamay ako sa kanya pero nagulat ako ng higitin nya ako para yakapin. I stood there frozen and a little shaken. Huminga ako ng malalim.
"It's okay. I had a quite an amusement seeing your office. Now, let's get to the point of this meeting, shall we?"
"Sure", we took our seat.
"I want you to marry my son Daniel, Cresia"
Hindi ako nakapagsalita sa gulat ko. Nakatawa pati ang mga mata nya na parang napakagandang balita ang sinabi nya. Is he joking?! This should be a prank!
"You've got to be kidding me!", I laughed. This was ridiculous! Completely insane!
" Ah no. I am way too serious about this, honey. Want me to show you?", he got his cellphone from his pocket, tapped some buttons and showed me something that shook me.
"You..."
"Told you. I am serious"
He was as evil as I thought him to be.
