The Bodyguard (COMPLETED)

Special Chapter 1 - That Girl

ANYA's POV

I woke up feeling restless and tired. Hindi ako nakatulog kagabi sa kakaisip kung ano bang gagawin namin sa araw na 'to. I am a bit excited, I know. Or I'm just making excuses not to feel sad?

Today is my 18th birthday and sad to say, no matter how rich my dad is, wala akong debut party. He instructed Secretary Kim to attend to whatever I needed for my birthday, as always. Then he flew somewhere for his business.

I am not sad because I don't have this debut celebration. I don't like those girly stuff anyway. It's just..I felt down, dahil lagi na lang wala si Dad tuwing birthday ko. I wonder if he hated me that much to always disappear in this special day of mine. Special nga ba? [Sigh]

I rolled over to the other side of my bed and reached for my phone. I unlocked it and gone through with my notifications. At dahil doon, the gloomy feeling I had suddenly dispersed and was replaced with emotion tingling my heart.

A lot of Happy birthdays and warm wishes flooded my media account. Nangunguna na ang bestfriend at favourite cousin ko. And I didn't notice that I was smiling big while reading them if hindi lang bigla nagsalita si Manang.

"Aba! At mukhang maganda ang gising ng alaga ko ah!" she said habang nakangiti sa akin.

I just smiled at her and greeted her good morning. Suddenly, I wanted to hug and thank her. Am I being emotional right now?

But I held back and took a deep breath instead saka na lamang naupo sa bed ko habang nag-iinat.

"Saglit lang," she said and almost ran to the door. I waited for her habang nakatingin sa pintong nilabasan niya. Few minutes later, I found myself teary-eyed when they showed up at my door, and started singing happy birthday while holding cake and balloons. They were Manang, Secretary Kim, Antheia, Andrei and the rest of the housekeepers.

"Happy Birthday Anya/Sadie!" they said in chorus. Natawa tuloy ako dahil sa hindi nagtugma ang pangalang binigkas nila. Nagsesenyasan pa sila dahil marahil ay pinag-usapan na nila kung ano bang pangalan ang babanggitin nila. I am Anya to my friends but Sadie sa mga tao sa bahay.

"Thank you!" natatawang wika ko habang tila maiiyak sa ginawa nila. Every year it's always like this. Just them. Showing up at my door and sang me a happy birthday, yet, it never gets old. I still feel special because of them. I may not have my father's love, but at least I have them.

"Make your wish and blow the candles," masayang wika ni Antheia habang inilalapit nito ang cake sa akin. I looked at them and smiled. I saw their happy faces kaya naman tila naramdaman kong kumislot sa tuwa ang puso ko.

I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. I silently uttered my wish and blew the candles. Kasabay no'n ang malakas na pagputok ng mga confetti sa uluhan ko at ang muli nilang pagbati.

It may seem simple, but this has made my day already.

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"Andrei! Do I really need to watch this match?" reklamo ko habang paupo sa bench na kung saan kita ang gagawing soccer match.

"Yeah!" maiksi nitong wika. I just rolled my eyes at him saka inayos ang cap ko. "Couz, saglit lang naman 'to. Then after this, we can do whatever you want na. It's your birthday afterall, kaya pagbigyan mo na 'ko."

"'Yon nga! It's my birthday! Kaya bakit ikaw ang pagbibigyan ko?" halos pamaktol na sagot ko sa kanya. Actually, nanonood naman talaga ako ng soccer match ni Andrei, kahit pa nga pakikinig sa music at pagbabasa ang ginagawa ko. It's only Antheia who really watch the game.

"Couz, please? Nandito ka na rin eh, nagmamaktol ka pa," natatawang wika nito habang nailing. I just shook my head and sigh. Ano pa nga ba.

"So, I'll just go over there, with my team, maiwan muna kita dito, okay?" he said while pointing at the group of guys on the other side of the bench. I squinted my eyes trying to see them but the sun was too bright. I can't even have a single glimpse of them. So I gave up and returned my gaze at him.