Chapter Seven

Admirable Bodyguard

"Daddy I don't need a bodyguard oh my God!" iritang-irita kong hiyaw pagkapasok sa kanyang opisina.

I was like a kid having the biggest tantrums after that devil disguised as my bodyguard showed up! Ni hindi ko na ito tinapunan ng tingin matapos naming makarating sa bahay. I stormed out of the car and here just to question my father's mistake.

Tangina, akala ko naman makaka-jackpot na ako kanina. Pa-rare rare pa akong nalalaman tapos sugo pala siya ng demonyo!

Napakamot sa ulo si Daddy. He was busy, but he stopped everything he was doing to face me. Padabog akong naupo sa harapan ng kanyang executive desk at agad na naghalukipkip. Base sa hitsura niya, alam ko at ramdam kong hindi niya rin gusto iyon. It was probably my mother's idea and that fucked me more. Ibig sabihin, ngayong narito na at galing pa kay mommy ay wala na siyang magagawa kahit na hindi niya rin iyon gusto.

Most of my father's decision in life came from my mother after their second marriage. Hindi lingid sa kaalaman ko ang lahat ng hirap na parehas nilang napagdaanan noon at mas lalo ang nag-uumapaw na pagmamahal ni daddy para rito ngayon kaya talagang dapat kong maramdaman ang hagupit ng langit at lupa dahil kapag doon na galing ang desisyon ay hindi na 'yon mababawi pa.

"Dad, please... Tell mom that I don't need a bodyguard! I am not a child!"

"It's your mother's decision, Saryna. She's had enough, but that doesn't mean she is disappointed in you. She asked me to do something about your situation, but I know that you will not compromise so this is the only thing I came up with."

"A bodyguard?! Seriously?!"

"Your mother wants to send you abroad, Saryna. Iyan lang ang kaya kong gawin ngayon para matahimik ang mommy mo kahit na hindi pa rin siya kuntento sa desisyon na 'yan so please... please, let's work this out. I don't want you to go abroad like Somerset because as much as possible I want us to live in the same roof. Hangga't hindi pa kayo nakakapag-asawa ay gusto kong nasa iisang bubong lang tayo at kahit pa mag-asawa na kayo. You're all my most treasured wealth and I will not forgive myself if your behavior will leave me with no choice, but to agree with your mother on sending you away."

Nabuwal ang aking paghalukipkip sa haba ng kanyang litanya. I never thought that things will be this serious. Daddy was always adamant about his refusal of us living independent. Simula kasi nang umalis si ate Somerset noon at sa abroad mag-aral ay parang may parte na sa kanya ang nawala. I remember him visiting my sister in the US every week just to make sure she was fine. It was one of the decisions he regretted the most. Pagkatapos kasing makapag-aral ni ate Soms ay nagustuhan na nito ang tumira sa ibang bansa at maging independent at wala na siyang nagawa para mapabalik ito. Mabuti na nga lang ngayon at napapadalas na itong magbakasyon sa Pilipinas kaya kahit paano ay napapanatag na siya.

"But dad—"

"You will let your mother see you with your new bodyguard. That way kahit alam naman na nating pareho na hindi ka pa rin mapipigilan sa mga gusto mong gawin ay may sisisihin na siya kung sakali mang masangkot ka na naman sa gulo. It will not just be your fault if you slipped, but him."

"But I hate having someone follow me around. Kahit nga si Kuya Pancho ay ayaw kong pinaghihintay."

"That's the only way for your mother to not send you anywhere. Give her a bit of peace, Yna. Kahit ngayon lang."

"Paano si Kuya Pancho kung siya rin ang magiging driver ko?"

"Your ate Somerset will stay here for a while. Pancho will be her driver."

"But—"

"Enough already, Saryna Esquire," ngayo'y may diin nang sambit ni daddy, ang mga lambing ko ay hindi na tumatalab.

Isang mahabang buntong-hininga na lang ang nagawa ko dahil talagang wala na akong kawala ngayon. My parents had enough and everything was my fault. Honestly, hindi ko rin naman siya masisisi. I really had been a bad girl especially this year. Kaliwa't kanan ang mga nasangkutan kong gulo at siguro nga ay deserved ko ang lahat ng ito. I don't like it, but this was really the only way to please my mother.

"Don't take this against your mother."

"She's disappointed and mad at me?"

Pinagdiin niya ang mga labi, ngumiti at pagkatapos ay hinuli ang aking kamay.

"She loves you so much and she wants to protect you that's why she's worried. We will do everything we could to protect you baby so please... please, compromise."

Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang matahimik na lang saglit.

"Did Grandpa called you?"

He nodded. "Yes, and he had a long conversation with your mother."

Tuluyan na akong nawalan ng pag-asang maitataboy pa ang lalaking iyon sa buhay ko. Kahit na ako ang bunso at paboritong apo ni Lolo Vladimir, si mommy naman ang pinakapaborito nitong anak kaya talo pa rin ako do'n. My mother was still the original.

Sa huli ay wala na akong nagawa kung hindi tanggapin ang aking masalimuot na kapalaran. On the brighter side, okay na rin dahil bukod sa magaling magmaneho at gwapo ang bagong bodyguard ko, he was also an ex-military army who served USA for years and had been to Baghdad to perform counterterrorism operations. Reading his file actually impressed me.

"No way, Saryna..." Holly blurted on the other line after I sent him Raglan Hozier's file including his 2x2 photo.

"Yup. That's my new bodyguard."

"You sure you're okay with that? Want me to ask Tito Aux to switch? I mean, you already know my bodyguards and I think I need a new face! This one is smoking hot!"

"He looked boring in that photo, Holly. Wait until you see him in person. He's a bit taller than my cousin Damien."

"What?! How about his built? Mas malaki ba siya kay Kuya Leroy?!" He asked, pertaining to one of her bodyguard.

"Leroy was fat. This one is big, but with real muscles! Hindi lang basta pangtaboy na parang bouncer! This one can actually kill, Holly!"

That made her cursed on the other line. "Shit Saryna, where did Tito Aux got him?! May agency ba siyang kinuhaan?! May kakambal ba 'yan? Tangina, how much? pay ko with shipping and without discount voucher agad-agad!"

Natawa ako dahil doon. Ang pagiging oa niya ay sapat lang dahil talaga namang kahanga-hanga hindi lang ang panlabas na anyo nito kung hindi lalo na ang kanyang skills.

"Wait, he was a sniper too, Saryna! Oh my! Hindi ko kinakaya!"

"Wait, really?!"

Kunot noo kong binalikan ang ipinasa ko sa kanyang tungkol kay Raglan. Mas lalo akong namangha nang mabasa ang parteng iyon. Everything in his file was just admirable. Hindi na ako magtataka dahil ang security rin ng mga magulang ko ngayon at mga kapatid ay mabibigat rin at hasa sa mga ganitong klase ng bagay.

I had a bodyguard when I was young, but they couldn't reject my birthday wish to have it removed when I was twelve years old kaya nawala iyon. Iyon nga lang, hindi na pwedeng hilingin ulit dahil baka paggising ko ay nasa Russia na ako or worst sa iba pang lugar na wala ni isang pamilya ko at baka pati si Daddy ay mapalayas na rin dahil sa akin. Kahit naman na gago ako, ayaw ko pa ring makitang nag-aaway ang mga magulang ko. That was where I drew the line.

Raglan Hozier became more and more interesting as the girls joined Holly and I. Maging sila ay hindi mapigilan ang pagkamangha at hindi na yata makakatulog pa sa excitement para bukas dahil makikita na rin nila ito sa wakas.

"Sige na. I gotta go. I need to make a call."

"Sus! Aminin mo, gagapangin mo 'yang hot bodyguard mo kaya aalis ka na 'no?!" tawang-tawang sabi ni Holly na ikinahalakhak ko na lang rin.

"Titikman ko muna baka expired na."

"Tita Raia will kick you out of the house na talaga, Saryna! Gaga ka!"

"Alay ako. Kapag masarap, I'll share it with you guys." I joked, making them scold me even though they know it was just a fucking joke.

Kung sabagay, paano nga kaya kung mauto ko rin ang isang ito? what if seducing him was the only way to make my parents get rid of him? but then, I know that it will just worsen my situation. Baka pati si daddy ay talagang palayasin na rin ako.

Lumabas ako ng balcony para tawagan si Damien. He was still not responding to my texts. Tamad naman talaga itong mag-text pero alam ko ring kaya hindi nagpaparamdam ay dahil nagtatampo pa rin. Mukhang gaya ni mommy ay ubos na rin ang pasensiya.

Inayos ko ang suot kong pulang silk robe sa aking katawan habang hinihintay siyang sumagot. I got to the edge of the balcony and enjoyed the view of our garden. Namumutiktik ang mga iyon sa makukulay na orchids at iba pang mga halaman. Alagang-alaga rin dahil isa iyon sa hobby ni mommy lately.

My eyes shifted at the pool. Sandali akong naengganyo pero naisip kong maaga pa ako bukas at ayaw kong lamigin. Tamad na rin akong bumaba para mag-jacuzzi. I don't want to do it on my room. Gusto ko sanang ganitong nakakalanghap ako ng sariwang hangin.

Naglakad ako patungo sa kabilang banda ng aking balkonahe. Mag-a-alas dose na at tahimik na ang buong kabahayan. I dialed Damien's number again after the first attempt failed. Sa paggala ng mga mata ko ay wala sa intensiyong may nahagip itong bulto sa bandang garahe.

Agad akong naging alerto nang tumayo ito at sa tangkad pa lang ay alam ko ng ang aking bagong bodyguard iyon. I swallowed hard when my eyes immediately darted on his round and sexy butt. He was wearing a gray sweat pants and a wife beater top.

Sa kanyang pagpihit at paglalakad palayo sa garahe matapos kumuha ng yosi at walang ano-ano'y pagsindi ay napahilig na ako sa barandilya para ubusin ang oras sa panunuod sa kanya. Dama ko ang cravings ng yosi sa aking lalamunan nang magsimula na siyang maghithit-buga. His muscles protruded on his body with every move he makes. Halatang-halata sa pangangatawan niyang batak siya sa trabaho kung saan man siyang lupalop ng mundo nanggaling. Imagining him doing his job as a sniper in the US military made me bit my lip.

Hindi ko na napigilang mapasipol nang umangat ang kanyang kamay upang suklayin ang kanyang buhok. The silence made it so loud that I immediately got his attention.

"Fuck me... hmmm..." I murmured playfully and sensually when he turned to my direction and our eyes met.

Napangisi ako't wala sa sariling nakagat ang aking pang-ibabang labi nang dahan-dahan niyang maibaba ang hawak matapos akong matitigan.

"Stop calling me, Saryna! Jeez!" Damien shouted on the other line, hindi ko namalayang nasagot na niya pala ang tawag ko at tiyak na narinig ang aking nawawala sa sariling pagbulong, totally ruining an intimate moment I had with Raglan.