Love Me or Hate Me

EPISODE 19

I moved to a new FB account pala. Just search for "Author Ash." I have a chibi profile pic and Kazuha cover photo. All my writing-related activities will be moved there.

The next update for this story will be one-time update. Isang bagsakan until finale. I want to shift na my attention towards The Half Souls.

Thanks, everyone!

theashtone

● ● ●

Despite the unwanted attention being suffered by Javi, he still had no other choice but to continue his studies. Para naman hindi siya pagkaguluhan ng mga tao ay sinasamahan nga siya ng mga bodyguard na pinadala ni Tommy. Javi doesn’t really enjoy their presence, but he’d rather have them surround him than a bunch of paparazzi. Wala namang problema si Javi sa mga kaklase niya dahil alam nila kung ano ang totoo. They even offer to accompany him especially when he is outside.

“Seriously, pakiramdam ko mas lalong maraming nakapapansin sa ‘yo dahil sa mga bodyguard mo,” puna ni Alfred habang kumakain sila ng meryenda sa isang cafeteria sa school nila. Sa isang tabi kasi nakatayo ang tatlong bodyguard ni Javi at tampulan sila ng tingin ng mga tao sa paligid.

The alpha just sighed. “Trust me. I don’t enjoy any of this either. Unfortunately, wala akong choice. I just don’t want Asa and the others to worry about me.”

“How about Tita Jessica and Jia?” tanong naman ni Robi.

“They’re safe. Hindi lumalabas si mama sa tinitirhan nila. Jia wasn’t affected that much by the issue either. I’m just glad that they are doing well. Binibisita ko naman sila nang madalas,” sagot ni Javi.

Kahit papaano kasi ay nakapag-adjust naman na siya sa bago niyang buhay. Hindi alam ni Javi kung hanggang kailan siya magtitiis sa ganitong setup. Ang alam lang niya ay kailangan niyang sumunod sa plano ni Tommy dahil hindi lang naman kaligtasan niya ang nakataya kung magmamatigas siya.

“And how about you?” tanong pa ni Robi.

Javi sighed as he massaged his nape. “It’s been a rough few weeks, but I’m doing well. As long as my family is safe, I will be at ease. Kailangan ko lang sumunod sa mga paalala sa akin ni Tommy para manatili akong ligtas. Asa and his friends are doing everything in order to protect me, and I’m not going to let their efforts go to waste by doing something stupid and ending up harming myself or others. I’ve already given them enough trouble.”

“Hey, don’t make it sound like it was your fault why your relationship with Asa was exposed,” sabad naman agad ni Alfred. “Besides, I’m pretty sure Asa doesn’t mind helping you and your family. I mean, if he didn’t like you, wala ka sana sa lugar mo ngayon.”

Javi flustered. “Stop saying weird things to make me feel better,” he said. “Asa’s only helping me because I’m pathetically helpless against the likes of Adam. Kung hindi dahil sa kanya at mga koneksyon niya, malamang ay mas malala pa sa kangkungan ang kinabagsakan ko kung nagkataon.”

“Javi, let’s get real here for a moment,” Alfred answered. “Hindi kami bulag. Hindi rin kami tanga. No one in the right minds would go to such lengths to protect someone if that person is not important to them. Asa will gain nothing from protecting you. He can just abandon you and then his life will be pretty much the same. However, he is protecting you because you are clearly special to him. Hindi mo man iyon makita, pero napapansin namin iyon.”

Javi just looked away to hide his flustered face.

“Someone has fallen head over heels with our Javi!” Robi said playfully. “Dang it. You would’ve probably made a perfect screen couple. Too bad you’re too much of a coward to try to audition to become a celebrity.”