Flashback
I was excited when I heard about the news. Pagkasabi pa lang ng prof namin na tapos na ang klase ay agad akong tumakbo palabas ng classroom hanggang marating ko ang parking lot. Nasa loob na noon ang driver at buhay na rin ang makina, handing-handa na sa pag-alis. I actually texted him earlier to get ready and he never disappointed me.
Gusto kong makauwi agad. This was the first time I would be this excited about going home.
And with my giggling insides for the anticipation I feel, in a flash, we arrived home. Ganoon din ang naging aksyon ko pagbukas ng pintuan ng kotse, at mas nadoble ata ang pagkasabik ko at ngayon ay nahaluan na rin ng kaba. Tinakbo ko ang bukana ng mansion at tinungo agad ang study room ng aking ama.
Manang said they were here. Huminahon lamang ang aking kilos nang nasa tapat na ako ng pinto ng study room. Inilapat ko ang aking tenga sa pinto, umaasang marinig ang mga boses na nasa loob kahit na alam kong soundproof ito. Nang wala nga akong napala ay inayos ko ang sarili. Sinuklay ko ang aking buhok ng ilang beses gamit ang mga daliri, pinagpag ang palda at uniporme. I even pinched my cheeks when I saw myself on my compact mirror that my blush on was fading. I looked fresh nonetheless but I want to look beautiful too.
Nang masigurong maayos na ang lahat at nakontento na ako sa aking itsura, marahan akong kumatok. I cleared my throat when the door opened.
“Cresia…”, my Dad smiled at me. Lumapit ako sa kanya para humalik sa kanyang pisngi.
And there he was. The man I was looking for. I specifically asked my father to look for this man. I wanted to meet him. Iyong malapitan, hindi katulad ng mga kwento lamang ni Kajik at Andra.
I smiled at the man.
“Hi”, I tucked my hair behind my ear. He was looking at me intently, with serious eyes, the most serious I’ve ever seen but even those were mesmerizing.
Iniabot ko sa kany ang aking kamay. Tiningnan nya iyon bago inabot at hinawakan. His hand was roughed and calloused against mine and I like it.
“Ma’am…” he greeted. His voice was deeper than I imagined. Mas nakadagdag sa kanyang anyo iyon. Bumitaw sya ng kaswal at hindi nababago ang ekspresyon sa mukha. He’s really attractive, on my assessment while looking at him, he had a nice body built even with his suit on.
Maganda ang tindig.
Nawala pansamantala ang ngiti ko nang mag-sink in sa akin ang kanyang sinabi.
“Ma’am?” Nakaramdam ako ng pagkadismaya. I felt offended. Mukha ba akong matanda para tawagin nya ng ganoon?
“Cresia, this is Gino”, pakilala ng aking ama. I already know his name. “He will be your personal bodyguard from now on”
Nagulat ako at naguluhan sa sinabi nya.
“What? Why? I have my own bodyguards, Dad”, reklamo ko. I asked him to find this man but not to make him my bodyguard.
“I have to replace your incompetent guards, anak. Muntik ka nang ma-kidnap last time and General Andrade personally recommended this young man”
Kinagat ko ang labi ko. I want to befriend him and later on flirt but how can I do that if he’s my father’s employee?
“Fine…”, sagot ko na lang. I would surely find a way to get what I want. “I’ll be in my room”
Lumabas ako doon at narinig ko ang utos ng aking ama na sundan ako ni Gino.
My light footsteps against the steps of the stairs were nothing compared to his. Mas rinig ko ang yabag ko.
I would flirt with him and I would start now.
Sinadya kong isala ang aking paa sa susunod na baiting dahilan ng pagkawala ko ng balanse.
“Aaaahhhh!” I felt myself falling forward when an arm firmly wrapped itself on my waist. He pulled me back on my feet until I regained my balance but I caught his wrist before he pulled it away from me. Humarap ako sa kanya at nakasandal sa railings ng hagdanan.
Some maids took a glance at us.
“Do you remember me?”, nakangiti kong tanong.
“No, Ma’am”, sagot nya.
“Really? In Iloilo? With Soleil?”
He was passive.
“I remember that girl but I am not familiar with you, Ma’am”, sumimangot na ako sa kanya. I pouted while looking at him. He tried to pull his hand back but I did not let him.
“Baka naman nagpapanggap ka lang na hindi mo ako naaalala? Who would forget me?”, medyo iritado kong balik kay Gino.
“I don’t have time to remember things not necessary for my job, Ma’am. I do not mean to offend you but I am serious with my work”
I pursed my lips.
“You’re so unfair. Isang beses pa lang kitang nakita noon ay tanda ko na agad ang mukha mo kahit palagi kang nakaitim at naka-cap. I immediately asked Soleil to asked Kajik if he knows you tapos ako hindi mo pala tanda.”
Hindi sya nagsalita. Hinigit nya ng mas malakas ang kanyang kamay at nakawala ito sa pagkakahawak ko. humakbang sya pababa ng isang baiting mula sa akin at tumayo ng tuwid. He looked like a military man, and I could tell he was way different from my bodyguards now.
“Alam mo, crush kita”, humagikhik ako. Kahit noon pa man ay hindi nab ago sa akin na ako ang umaamin ng ganito. Hindi kailanman naging mahirap sa akin ang pag-amin.
No words and reaction from him.
“Ang gwapo mo, hindi ka bagay na bodyguard”
Nagsimula na ulit akong maglakad paakyat. Nang makarating ako sa pintuan ng kwarto ko, nilingon ko sya.
“Let me get this straight”, he sounded irritated but he didn’t appear to be irritated.
“What?”
“I am just doing my job here. I suggest you to stop with your crush thing and more, I don’t like brats”, iyon ang sinabi nya at tumalikod na sya. I should feel insulted pero para akong sira na mas natawa pa at may kilig na naramdaman.
Mas malapit ka na ngayon sa akin, Gino. Abot kamay na kita kaya wala ka nang magagawa.
I closed my bedroom door.
