3
MAIAH
Matapos kong siguraduhin na safe nga ang kwarto ni Kyle, agad na rin akong lumabas. Pero hindi ko na naabutan ang mag-ama sa paglabas ko. Nasaan na kaya sila?
Agad akong bumaba ng hagdan, at naaninag ko ang mga security guards na nagbabantay sa garden at malapit sa gate.
Since personal bodyguard kami ng mga Martin, obligado kaming manuluyan sa mansyon nila hanggang sa maresolba na ang issue. Hindi lang naman ito ang unang beses na pansamantala kaming maninirahan ni Tony sa bahay ng mga kliyente namin. This is part of the contract.
Naigala ko ang paningin sa malaking bahay na kinatatayuan ko ngayon. This is too big for the two of them. Pero dahil ubod ng yaman ang mag-ama, this mansion seemed to be a perfect home for them. Mukhang ang security at mga kasambahay lang nila ang nagpaparami ng populasyon sa bahay na ito.
So far they're safe here. But I'm afraid this is not forever. This syndicate is still hunting them, and they want them dead.
I wonder where Tony is.
Agad kong kinuha ang laptop sa loob ng bag ko at binuksan iyon matapos maupo sa couch. I'm in the middle of researching nang maalala ang tracking device na kailangan ko.
Teka, nasaan na nga pala yon? Nakapa ko ang coat ko at baka nalagay ko lang sa bulsa. Pero, wala eh. Napakunot ako ng noo.
Oh shit. Naiwanan ko sa kwarto niya.
I need to go back to his room. For sure nandun yon.
Wala sa loob ko ang napatayo at muling umakyat sa hagdan patungong kwarto niya.
Pero bakit bukas ang pinto? Kanina nakasarado to, ah.
"Kyle?" tawag ko. Pero walang sumasagot. Nasilip ko ang kwarto. Walang tao. Sikreto kong napagmasdan pero, wala namang unusual na nangyari. Nagmasid pa ako kung merong ibang tao ang nakapasok pero wala naman.
"Kyle!" tawag ko, pero wala pa rin. Kaya nag-decide na akong pumasok. Nasaan ba tong lalaking to?
Saktong pagpasok ko ang pagsalubong niya sakin na nakakunot ang noo.
Pero hindi ko maiwasang panlakihan ng mata nang tumambad ang katawan niya. He wears nothing... But only his brief.
Oh my goodness. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pag-init ng mukha ko kaya agad akong tumalikod. And I heard him chuckled. Did he do this on purpose?
"Ano ba, bakit di ka ba sumasagot agad? Can you please get dressed?!" inis kong sabi.
"Technically, I'm still dressed, Maiah. And why are you getting mad? You're tresspassing and you just came into my room without asking first." halata ko ang pang-aasar sa tono ng pagsasalita niya. He sounds playful this time. But I don't have time to deal with him.
"May nakalimutan akong importanteng bagay. Hindi ko sinansadyang maiwan dito. Hindi ka naman sumasagot, eh. Tapos nakabukas pa yung pinto ng kwarto mo. Simpleng pagsasara lang, di mo pa magawa. I don't see you're responsible enough for your safety."
"Hey! Kukunin mo lang yung naiwan mo, ang dami mo nang sinabi. Kunin mo na nang makapagpahinga na ako, istorbo ka, eh." masungit na sabi nito.
Ang yabang talaga, nakakainis!
Humarap ako sa kanya, not minding that he's only wearing a brief. Ang loko, hindi talaga nag-abalang magtapis ng tuwalya kahit na nakasabit na sa balikat niya.
And now he's laughing. "Ano'ng nakakatawa?"
Marunong naman akong mag-appreciate ng beauty. Napagmasdan ko ang mukha ng lalaking to. Mukhang ang bait-bait kapag tumatawa siya. Lalong gumagwapo.
What I am thinking?
I need to get the device.
"Halata kasing affected ka sa katawan ko. Pulang-pula ka eh. Babae ka pala? Marunong kang magblush, eh. I thought puro pagsusungit lang ang alam mo." nakangiting sabi niya.
Wala talagang hiya. And now he found something funny about me. Agad ko siyang inirapan at nilagpasan, looking at his bedside table. Thank God nagpakita agad ang hinahanap ko at hindi na ako pinahirapan.
Pagharap ko, he's still standing there, hindi pa rin nagtatapis ng tuwalya. Shit. Ano ba Maiah, bakit ba tingin ka ng tingin sa ibabang parte niya?
Honestly, I don't know. Parang may sariling buhay ang mga mata ko na dumideretso mula sa bare chest niya hanggang sa oh so hot abs niya. Damn.
"Pakisara naman yung pinto paglabas ko and don't forget to lock it. And I hope you're aware of what to do if there's something wrong." bilin ko.
And he flashes a smile. A sexy one; an irresistible smile that every girl would want to see. And that's the first time I saw him smile at me.
"Yes ma'am. Now, pwede na ba akong matulog? I'm too tired and stressed with the fact of having a female bodyguard who's so snob and bossy." he said, matter-of-factly.
Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at tuluyan na akong lumabas ng pinto, dala ang tracking device na kailangan ko.
Narinig ko ang paglock niya ng pinto.
He's such a brat, kalalaking tao, umaaktong spoiled. Yuck!
Except his body. Ngayon lang yata ako naka-appreciate ng katawan ng lalaki.
Maiah, what's happening to you? Bakit ba pinapaulit-ulit mong nirereplay sa utak mo ang katawan ng mayabang na yon? Napailing ako. At nagmadaling bumaba ng hagdan para ipagpatuloy ang naiwang trabaho.
Hindi maganda 'to. Hindi dapat ako nagpapaapekto sa lalaking yon. Hindi na dapat mauli to dahil siguradong hahanapan niya ako ng butas para inisin lalo.
Kung bakit ba naman kasi naka-brief lang siya?!
***
KYLE
I was already in a business suit when I go down, preparing for today's work.
And I saw them in the dining table; Dad, Tony and Maiah who's about to begin breakfast.
"Good morning, Kyle. Good thing you're here. Let's eat." nakangiting bati ni Daddy.
Napalingon sa akin ang dalawa. Tony smiles and greets me. "Good morning sir Kyle."
I smiled back and nodded. "Good morning too."
And Maiah? Natingnan niya lang ako. She doesn't even bother to smile at me like what her partner did. Agad din siyang nagbawi nang magkatinginan kami.
I sit beside dad, and in front of her. Hindi niya yata ako matingnan? Is it because of yesterday? Lihim akong napangiti.
After all, she's still a woman. And I know there's no woman who will not get affected of my body.
I still remember her face. The way she is shocked when she saw me only wearing a brief, and the way she blushed while appreciating my body.
Lalo siyang gumaganda kapag nagba-blush. Unfortunately, she's one damn snob and bossy which I really don't like.
Mabilis naming natapos ang breakfast. Agad kaming sumakay sa kanya-kanyang kotse para tumungo ng Grand Martin Tower kung saan located ang office namin ni daddy. We're back up again with total security, with Greg driving and Maiah beside me at the back seat.
Kasunuran lang namin sila Daddy with Tony.
"Tell me, are you going to be with me wherever and whenever I go?" We already discussed this yesterday but still, I'm hoping it will not be that way because I'm planning to go somewhere, later.
"Unfortunately, yes." straight forward niyang sagot.
I sighed. Parang siya pa talaga ang upset sa sitwasyong to?
"Even in the CR?" pang-aasar kong tanong.
Nalingon niya ako, and she fake a smile. "Don't try to be funny because you're not. I guess that's the last thing a personal bodyguard wanted to do. But I can guarantee you that it's not included in the rules your father gave to me."
"Well, that's great. At least if I make out or have sex with another woman, there's no one who's going to watch me and for sure, interrupt me."
She gave me a 'you're-impossible' look and I just smiled. Makabawi man lang sa mga sinabi niya. Halatang nagulat sa mga sinabi ko because she almost drop her jaw.
And finally we arrived at the building. As usual, security comes out first and once they find the area clear, that's the time they're going to allow me to come out.
And even in the building itself, full blast na ang security. Dad really wanted to make sure that it will be safe for the two of us.
But I really don't understand why they are doing this. I mean, the High Class Syndicate. What on earth is their reason for wanting us dead? May galit ba sila sa amin at hindi nila kami tinitigilan? They really should go to hell and I hope they will be capture and rot in jail as soon as possible.
Maiah is still beside me, leading me in the elevator, and pressed the 25th floor for my office. 2 minutes later, we stepped out of the elevator heading to my office. All the employees greeted me a good morning and I smiled back.
"So, are you just going to watch what I'm going to do the whole day?" I asked when we got inside.
She looked at me. "No. I'll have plenty of work with the database." she said shortly.
"Does it mean that you're not going to stay here all day?" I sound hopeful.
"Mr. Martin, I know you hate me and I hate you too. But I'm not going to lose my job because of your childish issues. So whether we like it or not, I'm going to stay here, do my thing, and you, minding your own business." she explained and sits in the couch opening her laptop from her bag.
At wala akong nagawa. Such a fierce young lady. I wonder how old she is. And I wonder if she ever has a boyfriend because she sounds so bitter in life. Wala sa loob ko ang mapaupo sa swivel chair and start working with this impossible woman.
***
MAIAH
I was busy working on my laptop, still searching of every information that we can have about this syndicate that's still unknown to us until now.
Pero hindi ko maiwasang mapalingon sa beautiful creature na kasama ko sa office na to. Yung incident kagabi, it still lingers in my mind. And I don't know why. Maybe because I was just affected with what I saw. Yea, I admit it. I was affected. I am, really. It's not my first time to see a topless guy, I even saw Tony wearing nothing on his top, pero hindi naman na-stack ang image niya sa utak ko. Maybe because I find his body perfect.
But Tony's body is perfect too, right?
Natingnan ko ulit siya. He's too focused on the papers he's working on. But he's undeniably handsome and hot. No doubt kung marami talagang naghahabol na babae dito.
And I realize, hindi na pala gumagalaw ang mga daliri ko sa pagtatype. I'm stack looking at him. Masyado nga lang mayabang pero hindi naman kaya ang sarili. And for me, that's a failure.
Nabawi ko rin ang tingin ko nang tumunog ang phone ko. It's Tony.
"Yes?"
"Any information now?"
"I'm still searching. Masyado silang mailap. I guess, secured din ang network na ginagamit nila. Their identities are hidden. And I could say I'm impressed."
"Yea." Nagreresearch din kasi siya sa mga tauhan at ang mastermind ng High Class Syndicate. They're using high end security to protect their identities, their location and their activities. But we're the elite team. Hindi ako papayag na hindi mahuli at mapagbayad ang mga myembro ng sindikatong to. They don't deserve to live sa dami ng mga taong pinatay nila. Hindi na namin ipapaubaya sa batas ang kasong to since wala namang kwenta ang batas dito sa bansa.
"I hope everything's alright with your client." May tonong pang aasar na naman ang isang 'to. I know. I know. Mukhang may bago na naman siyang ibabato sa akin because of my interactions with my client. Ang swerte swerte niya dahil wala siyang problema sa kliyente niya.
"Yea, all cleared and secured, don't worry. I'm going to forward you some notes, this might help."
"Okay. Thank you." at naputol ko na ang tawag.
Pero muli kong nalingon si Kyle, and his eyes are looking at me. Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng nangyayari sakin at parang naco-conscious ako pero agad din akong nagbawi ng tingin, saka ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa sa laptop.
Ayoko ng ganitong feeling. Ayoko. Never pa akong na-intimidate sa isang kliyente. Nung una hindi naman ganito ang pakiramdam ko. Pero bakit nung makita ko yung katawan niya, eh bakit mukhang disturbed na disturbed na ako? What's happening, Maiah? Katawan lang naman yun ng isang lalaki. It's nothing special.
Yea. It's nothing special. End of.
***
"Greg, can you please look for a nearest club?" sabi ni Kyle.
Nalingon kami ni Greg. Natingnan niya ako na halatang nagulat sa sinabi ni Kyle.
Kahit ako, hindi ko expected ang gugustuhin niya. He wants to go to a club? What the hell? Saan naman niya napulot ang idea na yun?
"Are you serious?" tanong ko.
"O bakit, masama bang pumunta sa club? Don't tell me, pinagbawalan na rin ako ni Dad na magpunta sa lugar na yun?" katwiran niya.
Yes, wala ngang sinabi ang Daddy niya, but if he'll going to ask me, his life is at risk. Hindi ito ang tamang oras para pumunta ng club at magsaya as if hindi siya pwedeng mamatay ano mang oras gustuhin ng sindikatong gusto silang itumba.
"Do what he wants, Greg." maikli kong sabi. Ayokong makipagtalo sa kanya. After all, buhay naman niya to. If he chooses to die, then be it.
"Okay." sabi ni Greg.
Nalingon niya ako at nginitian na parang aso. Such a fake, I know.
At alam kong nang-aasar lang siya. 27 na ba talaga tong lalaking to? It seemed that he's not a grown up, yet. Akala mo kung umakto at makipag-asaran, teen ager lang.
Huminto kami sa tapat ng Le Club; isang high class club in the metro. Di naman aapak to sa pipitsuging club, eh.
Pagkapasok na pagkapasok pa lang namin, nasilaw na agad ako sa ilaw ng sayawan. Shit, ang ingay. Nakakairita ang music na pinapatugtog nila. But I keep my eyes on him, lalo na sa mga nakapaligid sa kanya. Greg is behind us.
"Do you drink?" tanong ni Kyle.
Kunot-noo ako. "What?"
I really can't hear what he's saying dahil malakas ang tugtog ng music.
"I said, do you drink?"
"I don't know what you're saying."
And that's the reason why he moves closer to me, at inilapit ang bibig niya sa tenga ko.
"Ang sabi ko, umiinom ka ba? Ang bingi mo naman." sabi niya. At ramdam ko ang mainit at mabango niyang hininga, sending a million bolts to my body.
Natingnan ko siya. "No." maikli kong sagot.
"So what are you planning to do? I'm going to drink, enjoy this night, and maybe take home some girl whom I can fuck with."
"I don't like the idea of you getting into this place. But I don't have the choice, Mr. Martin." inis kong sabi.
"I don't like it either... The fact that I have you at this point of my life, trying to do the things I usually do when my life is still normal. But I'm sure you don't care. So, I'll start having a good time here, my dear bodyguard." sabi niya at humarap sa bartender saka umorder ng Whiskey. Nagtinginan na lang kami ni Greg. All I can do is to give him a cold shrug.