"Fucking shit!" I cursed out loud.
"Lili call down!" Mapag-alala na lumapit saakin si Abby.
"Calm down?! How can i fucking calm down?! It hasn't been a day, and yet they've already gotten one step ahead of us!" Galit kong sigaw.
"Lili, i'm angry too. Just calm down so we can sort this out" Nagmamakaawa itong tumingin sakin.
"How can i?!" Bulyaw ko pa. Hindi lang ako galit. Kinakabahan rin ako.
I received another text message from that unknown. Pinagbabantaan ang buhay ni Uzon— Alissa tangina nalilito ako!
"Lili I know that you're afraid something might happen to Uzon but you have to fucking calm down! Kailangan nating doblehin yung po-protekta sakan—"
"I'll do it" Putol ko sa kanya.
"What?"
"I'll do it. I'm going to protect her. I don't care even if it's a life or death situation for me as long as she's safe" I said determined.
Hindi ako mapapanatag hanggang hindi ako ang makakasama nya.
"Okay" Abby said and smiled.
"Can you ask Maxiana to come her right now?" Tanong ko sa kanya at tumango naman ito.
"Good" Ani ko.
Ilang minuto ang nakalipas at naka rating na dito si Maxiana.
"Ma'am!!!! Ano po bang urgent matter bakit pinapunta mo'ko rito?" Kumunot ang noo ko dahil sa asal ng babaita.
"Max wag kang umakto na parang bata" Suway naman ni Abby sa kanya.
"Eh kase naman, umaano kami—"
"I don't need to know that" Putol sa kanya ni Abby na ikina simangot naman nito.
"Anyways, i called you here because of her" Turo nito sakin.
"You'll be her bodyguard" She added.
"Huh? Isn't Miss Funtamuerte a skilled assassin slash the mafia leader?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Maxiana.
"Yes" Tipid na sagot ni Abby.
"Why does she need a bodyguard?" Tanong nito.
"Bodyguard is just a facade. You'll be her second in command. We have a major crisis going on and she personally asked me for help" Saad naman ni Abby.
"Hi, Ylliana Eugene Funtamuerte, pleased to meet you" Pakilala ko.
"Maxiana Cruze! Looking forward to working with you Ma'am!" Masayang inabot nya ang kamay nya. I shaked her hands with a small smile on my face.
"Now Lili, i know you're thinking why my best agent is bubby and cheerful, that's what i taught her. Don't show the real you unless it's necessary" Tumango naman ako.
"Okay—"
"Knock knock Ylliana!!" Naputol ako nuong may sumigaw at pumasok sa loob ng office ko.
It's Alissa.
"It's already 4 pm— who's that?" Naputol naman ang sasabihin nya at tinanong kung sino ang babaitang nakaupo sa harapan ko na naka ngiti.
"Hi!! I'm Maxiana!" Sagot naman nito.
Alissa plainly looked at her and looked back at me. She raised her eyebrow while i rolled my eyes.
"Abby you can go now. I'll call you later. Maxiana follow me and her" Saad ko.
Tumango si Abby at binigyan ako ng beso bago nag paalam na umalis.
"Bakit hindi mo sya pinaalis?" Taas kilay na tanong nya sakin.
"Because she's my bodyguard" I said nonchalantly.
Lumabas kaming tatlo sa office at pumaroon sa kotse ni Alissa.
"Maxiana you drive" Saad ko at tumango naman ito.
"Why would she drive my baby?!" Reklamo ni Alissa.
I rolled my eyes.
"Do you want to drive while me and Maxiana sit on the backseat?" I raised my right eyebrow at her.
"No.." She mumbled.
"Get inside" I opened the door of her car and gestured her to go inside.
"Where to ma'am...?"
"Alissa. Delight Restaurant" Tipid na aniya.
Tumango naman ng nakangiti si Maxiana at pinaharurut na ang sasakyan.
* * *
"We're here po" Anunsiyo ni Maxiana at pinark ang sasakyan.
"Let's go?" Ani ko pero tumango lang ito at nauna ng lumabas.
I heaved a sigh and got out too. I shot Maxiana a knowing look, she understood right away and left.
"Why are you sulking?" Tanong ko sa kanya habang naglalakad in papasok ng resto.
"I'm not" She said then pouted.
"You look like a duck" She's cute.
She shot me an offended look which made me laugh.
"Look, she's just a bodyguard okay? No need to be jealous" I playfully rolled my eyes.
"Bodyguard my ass" She mumbled as we sat on our table.
I chuckled at her jealous face and looked at the menu, she did too.
After a few minutes, she called a waitress to give our orders.
"What's your order Miss?" The waitress seductively asked Alissa.
Aba?! At she leaned in pa talaga!
"I'll have the Salisbury Steak and for dessert...." Agad naman na saad ni Alissa.
I tapped my foot in irritation.
"Oh! I suggest the Almond and date cake Miss" At nilagay pa talaga ang kamay ng malanding yun sa balikat ni Alissa?!
"She's allergic to dates. Especially to courtesans" Nakayukom na ang kamay ko at this point.
She waitress looks taken aback by my words and she instantly removed her hands on Alissa's shoulder.
Alissa looked at me with a rather...proud face. I raised my eyebrows at her and she just chuckled a bit.
"I'm sorry Miss, but we don't tolerate that kind of behavior in this restaurant" Aba??
"And I don't tolerate you flirting with my girlfriend. Isn't your job to get our orders?" I spatted.
We have the whole restaurant's attention right now but, to hell i care!
I stood up and walked towards the waitress.
"Your buttons are open, Trixy" I harshly buttoned up her top while she looked at me, rather shocked.
"What? You think i wouldn't recognize you all those years back?" I smirked at her.
I leaned in to whisper in her ear.
"Don't ever make a move on my girlfriend again, or else, you'll face the consequences" I grimly stated.
I took a step back to see her face clearly.
"Got that, honey?" Tinapik tapik ko pa ng pisngi nito habang sya ay nakatulala lang sakin. Once she came back to her senses she walked off while stomping her feet.
I sat back down as if nothing happened and called another waiter.
"Orders ma'am's?" She smiled at us.
"I'll have the chicken-and-Spinach tortellini Soup and she'll have the salisbury Steak" I stated.
"Anything else ma'am?" Tanong ng waitress.
"For dessert we'll have the maltesers tiramisu, two servings. For drinks, just water" Saad ko at tumango naman ito.
Pagkatapos niyang ilista ay agad naman itong nag paalam at pumunta sa counter.
"You're so hot when you're mad" Alissa said out of nowhere.
"Sinadya mo yun no?" Inis na tanong ko.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about" She shrugged.
"Aray!" Bigla ko syang sinipa.
"Panget mo naman pero bakit lapitin ka ng babae ha?!" Singhal ko ng mahina sa kanya.
Usually it's me the girls are after if we're together back then. Pero ngayon sya na.
I don't blame them tho. Her style is just...wow.
Pero galit parin ako. Okay lang naman sakin kung kilalanin lang nila pero hindi eh, landi talaga ang inuuna. Mga pisting yawa.
"I'm so poganda kaya" She said proudly.
"Poganda? You? Baka nananaginip ka lang" Asar ko.
"Hmm maybe..." She leaned in, hindi masyadong kalakihan ang mesa kaya hindi sya nahirapan na lapitan ako.
"....if this is a dream, i don't ever want to wake up" She said while looking at me with a mischievous smile.
"Ikaw tigilan mo'ko!" Mahina kong sinamp ang kamay nya. Tumawa lang ito at ilang minuto ay dumating narin ang pagkain namin.
While eating i received a message. I'm from thar unknown again.
Unknown 09*********
You look happy. Cherish it while it lasts.
Napahigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone na hawak ko when Alissa suddenly talked.
"Hey, you okay?" She asked.
"Huh? Ah yes, why?" Tinuon ko ang pansin ko sa kanya.
"Parang masisira na kase yang phone mo eh" Pabiro nitong saad.
"Nah it's nothing, I just about the company's issue" I lied.
"Hindi parin ba nahanap? Sorry di ko rin ma trace yung nag cash out ng funds" She said apologetically.
"No, it's okay, you tried your best naman" I reassured her.
She was about to reply but my phone started to ring.
It was Maxiana.
"I have to answer this" Saad ko at tumango naman ito.
Lumabas ako sa restaurant at pumunta sa may parking lot bago sagutin ang tawag.
"Maxiana what is it?" I answered the phone.
"6 blocks away from the east side of delight restaurant send back up!" Hinihingal nitong saad at dali dali ring pinatay ang tawag.
Rinig na rinig ko ang mga putok ng baril at nag madali naman akong tumawag kay abby.
"Send back up 6 blocks away from the east side of delight restaurant now! Maxiana is in trouble" Kalmado pero natataranta kong saad.
"I can easily go there myself but im afraid something might happen to Alissa while im gone" Dagdag ko pa.
"Okay. Wait— who's ali—"
"That doesn't matter just do as i told!" Sigaw ko.
"Okay damn chill" Rinig ko pa ang tawa nito bago pinatay ang tawag.
I ran my hand on my hair in frustration while going back inside the resto.
"Did something came up?" She asked as i sat down.
"No, why would you think that?" Another lie.
"You're sweating, you look agitated" Seryoso nitong saad.
I heaved a sigh.
"It's just that, the company is losing so much money, and i don't know what to do unless we find that thief" Technically this was not a lie.
"Relax, I'll help. Don't worry" Hinaplos nya ang kamay ko habang nakangiti.
"We're gonna let loose tonight" She grinned.
I deadpanned.
"Hinding hindi ka talaga titino no?" Baling ko.
"To you? Hmm" Napa tampal ako sa kanyang gawi.
"You know what? Just eat!" Binuka ko yung baba nya at nilagyan ito ng malaking hiwa ng manok.
Napangiwi ito sa laki pero hindi rin naman nag reklamo at kinain rin.
* * *
"Take care" Saad ko bago buksan ang pinto ng kanyang sasakyan.
"You too" She said with a smile on her lips.
Palabas ako ng sasakyan when she held my hands.
"Anything else?" Tanong ko.
She looks hesitant. I tilted my head in curiousity.
"I- i lo—"
*Ringgg!*
Tiningnan ko ang cellphone ko na nag ring, si abby. Binaba ko ng cellphone ko at binalik ko ang tingin ko sa babaitang nasa harap ko.
"I'm sorry, ano ulit yun?" I saw her biting her bottom lip before speaking.
"W-wala, sabi ko see you tomorrow" Nautal nitong saad at tumango naman ako.
"See you when i see you" Saad ko.
She let go of my hands at sinara ko naman ang pinto ng sasakyan nya. Pinaandar nya ang sasakyan nya at nilisan na ang bahay ko.
Pumasok na ako sa bahay. Wala sila mom and dad kase may business meeting daw sila sa ibang bansa while my sister is inaasikaso ang mga bagong salta sa training ground namin.
Nung nakarating na ako sa room ko ay agad kong tinawagan si abby.
"Ba't di ka sumagot kanina?" Agad nitong tanong.
"Doesn't matter. Okay lang agents mo?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko.
"They're okay. Max has a few scratches, hindi naman malala" Sagot nito.
"Okay, tell her na mag pahinga muna. Ako na bahala bukas" Seryosong saad ko.
"Are you sure? Max can come, hindi naman malala sugat nya"
"I'm sure abby. Good night" Sambit ko at pinatay ang tawag.
After that i called two of my agents to patrol Alissa's house for the night. Hindi ako kampante, baka kung ano ang mangyare sa kanya.
Our enemy is making a move. They're provoking us, we need to be— i need to be extra careful.
A/n
Revised