The Protector

Chapter 3 - AJV

Pwede naman sigurong magbawas ng working engagements ko kahit 3 days o kahit 2 days lang. Ano ang ginagawa ng PA ko kung hindi niya ito magawan ng paraan?

Saan naman kaya magandang dalhin si Jema? We can't go abroad as I have limited time to be away. Three days maximum lang pwedeng mawala.

Locally na lang nga kaso, halos lahat na yata ng lugar dito sa Pilipinas ay napuntahan na namin.

I might as well let Jema decide where she wants to go.  Siguradong sa bundok ang pipiliin niya. I don't mind as long as it will keep her happy.

We are well off so we can afford extravagant travels. Our businesses are doing well. I have a good paying job. Jema helps in running some of our companies. Not to mention the wealth of our parents on both sides.

One thing I observed though, Jema is a kind of woman na hindi maluho kahit na ipinanganak ito with a silver spoon. Napaka down to earth. At ang dali niyang pasayahin. Kahit simple lang, she always appreciates it.

Hindi rin siya magarbo sa katawan even if she can afford anything she wants.

Bukod sa kanyang taglay na kagandahan, isa ito sa katangian niya na nagustuhan ko. Kung iba ito siguro, baka gasgas na ang credit card ko sa pagwawaldas. She is indeed one of a kind.

My wife, Jessica Margarett Galanza.

She is 24 years old now, turning 25 soon. Only child. Jema is a nurse by profession. She came from a prominent family in Laguna.

Her father was the late Governor Jesse Galanza. Her mother was a teacher, Madam Fe Galanza.

Sadly, her parents perished when the private plane they were riding crashed into the sea off the shores of Masbate Island. Galing sila ng Cebu at pauwi na sana from a speaking engagement.

Of the four people aboard the aircraft, there was a sole survivor. It was the Governor's aide. He said that the airplane broke apart as it hit the water.

After a lengthy investigation, it was concluded that the reason of the crash was due to engine failure and pilot error.

I think 18 or 19 pa lang si Jema noon. She was in school when it happened. My Dad, who was the Governor of Cavite that time, is a good friend of Governor Jesse. Siya ang dumamay kay Jema.

Lahat ng tulong ay ibinigay niya dito. Ako naman ay 25 na noon at nasa US taking up masters in Political Science.

I came home after completing the course and that was when I met Jema. I was smitten right away. Love at first sight yata.

I did everything I could to get her. Mahirap pero mas pinagbuti ko as I was challenged. Nobody says no to me.

The rest is history.

Slowly, I drifted into a deep sleep. Parang naghihilik na yata ako. Nagising uli ako when Jema moved. Parang babangon yata. Where is she going na naman? I decided to turn around and faced her. Iniyakap ko ang aking kaliwang kamay sa kanya.

"Let's go to sleep na, babe. Good night." I mumbled.

********************

Early morning, I was having my coffee when I got a call. It's the head of my security team. What's the call for? I took my eyes off the daily paper and lazily answered my phone.

"Good morning Blue!" I answered.

"G-good morning Governor Anton. S-sorry sa maagang tawag pero urgent at emergency po ito." mabilis na sagot niya.

Napaupo ako ng diretso.

I can feel from his voice a sense of urgency and a bit of fear. This is definitely bad. Hindi niya ako gagambalain ng ganito kaaga kung hindi ito importante.