"Are you okay? We already investigate what happened. The Santoses are really desperate to harm Fervor family. Pinatulog pa ang guard sa villa kaya nakapasok." Harvie said and give him water.
Si Harvie na mismo ang nagpainom sa kanya.
"Pinatibayan na namin ang security. May iba ng nakabantay kay Czaven pero hindi nagpapakita." Tres said.
"Where's Czaven?" Paos na tanong niya.
Nagkatinginan ang pinsan niya saka sumagot.
"She's with More. Nagpumilit na mag-aasikaso ng bills." Sagot ni Homer.
"What? Tell her to come here and leave the bill alone." He wanted to hissed pero alam niyang kikirot ang sugat niya.
Bumukas ang pinto and speaking of, Czaven entered with More. Agad na nalukot ang mukha niya.
"I contacted my Dad about your case. He's sorry and he offered to shoulder the bills kaya inasikaso ko. Sinabihan ko ma rin na si More ang magbabantay---"
"What? No! I can still do it---"
"Mas mabuting magpahinga ka muna, Heaven." Putol ni Homer sa kanya.
"This is just a shot. Hindi naman kritical," giit niya at nagpumilit na umupo, "hindi nga masakit---aray!" He winced in pain when he force to stood up, his wound hurt.
Agad na inalalayan siya ng pinsan. Worry filled Czaven's eyes pero hindi ito humakbang palapit para tulungan siya. Nanatili lang itong nasa tabi ni More.
"Homer is right. Kailangan mong magpahinga, and you can't do your job right lalo na kung may sugat ka!" Giit ni Czaven.
"Don't worry, Benjamin. I can protect Czaven." More said. It was monotone but for him parang narinig niya ang pang-aasar nito!
Mas lalo lang nag-init ang kanyang ulo.
"I don't want to left my business undone---"
"Sabi ng tagapagmana na palaging absent sa kompanya." Pagpaparinig ni Harvie.
He sighed and glared at his brother.
"Kaya ko nga. Nabaril lang ako, isang beses lang at hindi ko naman ikamamatay 'to. At ano, hahayaan niyo na isang Sebastian ang magbabantay kay Czaven?" Inis na pahayag niya, hindi na tinago ang matinding inis kay More.
"What's wrong with if More gonna take over your job? He save you and Czaven earlier---"
"I save Czaven," mariing sabi niya. "What do you think I got shot, huh? Because I shield myself for her safety! Kaya kong mamatay maprotektahan lang siya." He hissed angrily ignoring the pain on the back of his shoulder.
"And I'm not looking for a bodyguard that's ready to die. Kargo de konsensya ko na 'yon." Kontra ni Czaven.
He sighed heavily. Galit siyang nakatitig sa kawalan. They just don't get what he want!
Pero ito naman ang gusto mo, Heazen, 'di ba? Ang maglayo kayo ni Czaven? So, why are you acting like a brat now?
"Fine." Pagsuko niya.
His cousins sigh in relief. Mukhang may alam ang mga 'to, ah! Did Czaven told them what happened between them? Siguro, kasi ma-trace 'yon kapag tinanong si Czaven kung anong ginagawa nila sa labas ng gate ng mansion niya.
"Pero sinong mag-aalaga sa 'kin?" Pagdadrama niya.
He acted like in pain making his cousins went panic. Napapikit kunwari siya sa sakit pero idinilat ang isang mata para matingnan ang dalagang nakatingin lang sa kanya.
Hindi man lang lumapit at worried. Hmf!
"I know all of you were busy on your family." He said to his cousins.
Bumaling siya kay Czaven.
"I don't want money for payment, Fervor. I guarded you out of favor and if you wanna return the favor back, isa lang ang gusto ko... Ikaw naman ang magbabantay sa 'kin."
Czaven's eyes widened. Nag-siilingan naman ang mga pinsan niya pero may lihim na ngisi sa labi.
Kumibot ang labi ni Czaven. She wanted to speak pero nanahimik na lang. Ngingisi na sana siya kaso nanliit ang mata ng akbayan ito ni More.
"Don't worry, Czaven. I'll still guard you kahit nakabantay ka kay Benjamin." More said.
Dapat bang may pag-akbay pa? Tss.
"S-sige." Czaven nodded.
Hours passed by, nagpaalam si Czaven at More para kumain ng lunch. His cousins stay tho. Mukhang may sasabihin pa ang mga ito sa kanya kasi hindi pa rin umaalis.
"What's with your behavior, drama king?" Dos asked the time Czaven left.
"What? I just want to her to pay the favor back." Sabi niya at inirapan ang mga pinsan may pagdududang tingin sa kanya.
"Czaven told us what happened. Pati na rin ang nangyari sa loob ng bahay mo. At ngayon lang kami na-inform that Angel looks like Czaven. Kung hindi sinabi ni Czaven, hindi naman malalaman." Hellion said in sarcasm.
Napairap na naman siya. Aba't pinagtulungan siya ng nga 'to. Ipagpasalamat ba niyang ganitong all vs. one lang ang naranasan niya? Kadalasan kasi kapag pinagtulungan ang isang Benjamin ay bugbugan. Hindi naman namimisikal, emotional damage naman.
"Hindi niyo rin naman ako papaniwalaan." Ingos niya.
"And you are pushing Czaven away para hindi siya masaktan and what's with your behavior earlier? Gusto mo pa talaga siyang makasama!" Anas ni Uno.
Kumunot ang noo niya.
"I just don't want her to be with Sebastian. I don't trust that More!"
"But Czaven trust him. Mas mabuti na rin 'yon, 'di ba? Para magkalayo kayo tulad ng gusto mo. Tapos ano na naman itong inaarte mo?" Hendrix shook his head in disbelief.
"You're being the J in the Benjamin, right now." Cinco said.
"J?"
"Jerk." Ingos ni Quatro.
Wow, mana talaga kayo sa tatay niyo.🙂
"I know I'm being selfish right now, pero ang hirap rin niyang pakawalan." He sighed heavily.
Natahimik ang mga pinsan niya ng mapansin ang pagiging totoo niya. Base on Czaven's story, they probably know that he's still holding on to Angel.
"Hindi ka pwedeng humawak ng nakaraan at kasalukuyan ng sabay, Heazen. May dapat kang pakawalan...at kung hindi mo naman kayang bitawan si Angel, huwag mong pahirapan si Czaven." Seryosong sabi ni Sais.
"I want them both..." He whispered hopeless.
"Heazen, kahit dalawa ang itlog mo, iisa lang ang puso mo kaya---aw!" Napanguso si Quatro ng batukan siya ni Hendrix.
"Serious namang advice 'yon, ah! Basta timbangin mo kung alin ang mabigat, 'yong ala-ala mo kay Angel o ang itlog mo---ay peste, o si Czaven." Quatro said.
"Maybe you should give yourself a time. Pag-isipan mong mabuti kasi dalawa kayong masasaktan." Hendrix said.
He sighed and nodded. Nagpaalam na rin ang mga ito at sinabing babalik lang. When his cousins left, saktong bumalik naman si Czaven. Si Czaven lang, wala si More.
"Did you ate already?" He asked softly.
Umiling ito at nilapag ang paper bag sa katabi niyang mesa.
"Nag-take out ako para sa 'ting dalawa. I ordered Lumpia."
Napangiti siya sa sinabi nito. Not because she ordered Lumpia but she's thoughtful on buying his favorite.
"Lumpia is my favorite." He said.
"I know." She said while still busy getting out the food from the paper bag.
"How did you know?"
Natigilan ito.
"Well, why wouldn't you know? I'm your crush, normal lang na alamin mo ng favorites ko." He smiled.
But Czaven remained pale and bothered. Nang makabawi ay pilit lang itong ngumiti sa kanya.
"Y-yeah...right. That's right." And she awkwardly laughed.
What's wrong with Czaven?