Guard Up!

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 1

NAPABALIKWAS ako ng bangon mula sa kagimbal-gimbal na panaginip. Nasapo ko ang dibdib ko habang hingal na hingal at pinagpapawisan. My goodness! Ramdam ko pa rin ang kabog ng dibdib ko sa kaba.

What the fudge was that?! Bangungot ba 'yon? Grabe naman! Guardian angel ko ang papatay sa 'kin?

Tsk!

Napahinga na lang ako ng malalim at napahilamos sa 'king mukha. Goodness! Pakiramdam ko, nararamdaman ko pa rin sa katawan ko 'yong duming nakuha ko r'on sa bangungot na 'yon kahit hindi naman pala 'yon totoo.

Mabilis kong hinagilap sa loob ng bedside table ang pangangailangan ko sa buhay na kahit mawala na yata ang lahat, 'wag lang 'to—my alcohol.

"I thought it was real," Bulong ko sa sarili ko habang inihuhugas na sa kamay ko ang alcohol. "But it seems so real though!"

Grabe! Yes, it seems so fucking real! Until now, I can still feel the nervous I felt when I was there.

Ano kayang ibig sabihin n'on? Sabi kasi nila may kahulugan din daw ang bawat panaginip, eh. Pero sabi rin nila, kabaligtaran daw ng sa panaginip ang mangyayari sa totoong buhay.

Napakibit-balikat na lang din ako malaunan. Maybe it's a sign that I will become more rich this year. Yeah, tama, tama! Baka gan'on nga.

Ibinaba ko na ulit sa bedside table 'yong alcohol saka ko sinilip ang cellphone ko. Tsk, ala-una y media na pala ng madaling araw.

Hindi na muna ako bumalik ng tulog, bumangon para lumabas muna ng kuwarto. I suddenly feel thirsty, I need water. Kaya agad akong nagtungo sa kusina paglabas habang bitbit pa rin ang cellphone ko.

Hindi ko na sinindihan pa ang ilaw, tinatamad ako, eh. Even if it's dark or my eyes are closed, I can roam around myyhouse without any problem. I've been living here alone for so many years so I memorized every part of it already. 

This is also my safe haven. At wala ni kahit sino akong pinapasok dito, not even my secretary. Dahil kung sino man ang papasok dito, alam kong magdadala lang sila ng bacteria sa pamamahay ko. And that will be my biggest nightmare!

While I was drinking water, my phone suddelny rang. Nangunot ang noo ko as I looked at it. Sino naman kaya 'to at talagang sa ganitong oras pa talaga naisipang tumawag? Tsk.

I thought it's my secretary, dahil minsan, tinatawagan din ako n'on sa alanganin, eh. But as I checked it, it's not him kaya mas lalo akong nagtaka.

I stared on the unknown number registered on my phone first and try to recognize whose number is it. I don't remember receiving any call from this number before kaya kahit anong gawin kong pag-alala, wala.

Tsk, it's not even possible if this is from one of my relatives. I know they will not dare to call me. 'Yong mga 'yon pa?

So to stop myself from thinking who will it be, I finally answered.

"Who the hell are you? Are you out of your mind? Don't you know me? How dare you call me in the middle of this night!" I yelled at the caller. Just make sure that this would be worth it!

"Well... I know you very, very well, Mr. CEO. Dan... Lucas... Sevilla." Someone answered from the other line. The tone of his voice bothers me. Alam niyo 'yong ginagamit na boses sa mga horror movies or suspense movies na parang pinalaki na pinaliit or whatever it calls? It sounds like that. Who the hell is this?

Napatuwid ako ng tayo. "Who are you? What's your problem, ha? If this is some kind of a joke, I swear! You will pay for this." I added. He's getting into my nerves! Wrong timing ang prank. At ako pa talaga ang binibiktima, ha?