Chapter 4

As the pizza was delivered, I eventually went to the couch where Elijah is waiting. He's watching a movie as his eyes are focused on it. Nilagay ko ang box ng pizza sa center table at umupo ng ilang pulgada ang layo sa kaniya. Tumingin siya sa akin at napansin niya ang distansya sa pagitan namin. He then straighten his back and prepared the food and soda cans. I was just watching him as I felt a mere emotion in me.

Before, he's very caring. Despite being a playboy, when he's with me, he always think about what's better for me. Lagi niya akong tatanungin kung kumain na ba ako, kung na-review ko na ba ang mga notes ko, kung nakatulog na ba ako. We're like a great and happy couple. Except that we don't have a label. So I called myself as his fling. A fling who's also became his bestfriend for a short period of time.

Ako ang nag-alok na maging kaibigan niya noon. This was because I like him since first year Senior High School ako at first year College siya. At first, he rejected me... multiple times. But then, he agreed when I offered him myself to be his fling.

He has conditions though. He will stopped what we're having when I fell in love. I agreed eventhough I already have feelings for him. I never thought that what I felt with him was one of the best moments of my life but also the saddest and most heartbreaking of all.

“Hey.” I flinched when I heard his voice. Tumingala ako sa kaniya. Gano'n pa rin ang epekto niya sa akin. I can't deny that.

“Hmm?” Inabot ko ang isang soda can at ininom ito ng buo. Some even spilled and I wiped it with my bare hand. I can see him following me a look. But then, he got something from his pocket and reached for my face so that he could wiped it. “Thanks.” I mouthed after he finished.

“So? Okay lang ba talaga sa'yo maging bodyguard ko?" anong ko habang nakaharap sa kaniya. Tumango siya at nilagok ang soda na kinuha niya. He looks hot especially when he's Adam's apple moved. I faked a cough to ease what I feel right now.

“Aside sa pagiging kaibigan ng kapatid ko, bakit ka pumayag?” tanong ko ulit. Dapat alam ko talaga kung bakit niya ginagawa 'to. In that case, I won't assume that he knows me or remember me.

“I'm bored.” He simply said.

“You're what?” I stared at him with surprised look. “Really, Sean?”

He sexily chuckled as he glanced at me. "Ang sarap pakinggan kapag tinatawag mo ang pangalan ko." Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay. He chuckled again bago niya rin ako hinarap. Ngayon ay nakaharap at nakatingin na kami sa isa't isa.

“I am a freelance businessman. I have my secretary who's doing my job. So I can do what I want.” He smirk. “I have important things to manage other than my business so don't worry about me being your bodyguard.”

Umiling ako, hindi sumang-ayon sa sinabi niya. “I caused you a lot of things...” I uttered. “I can hire someone else, just not you. I am already a disturbance.”

“Don't mention it. Your brother personally assigned me, so I won't follow you.” He answered me yet his voice is serious. “Ayaw mo pa bang bantayan kita?”

Napabuntong hininga ako. Hindi ko siya makumbinsi. Hell, I don't know how will I avoid him now. I am stuck between my safety or my own heart.

"Sige. Let just set rules and condition." Ngumiti ako. Tumango lang siya at may kinuha sa bulsa niya. It was a silver necklace with a heart-shaped pendant.

"Isuot mo muna ito." He leaned closer and put it on my neck. Amoy na amoy ko ang kaniyang pabango. It was mixed with his natural scent. Napalunok ako at nanatiling tuod hanggang sa matapos niyang suotin iyon sa akin. “Don't you ever lose it.”

"Bakit?" Iyon lang ang naitanong ko habang bumibilis na naman ang tibok ng puso ko.

“It has a tracking device which connected to my phone. You should always have it.” I just nodded. “And also...” I looked up to him, waiting for him to continue. He pursed his lips. “Nothing... I have things that you need to remember.”

He looks so serious with that which made me chuckled. He arched me a brow but I shook my head as a response.

“What is it?” He asked, confused.

“You looked like my boss.” I shook my head. I saw him staring at me that made me composed myself. “Continue.”

“You go first, my lady...” He's smiling now. “I forgot that you should treat me as your bodyguard and not just someone who's close to you.”

“Well I like that you're 'feeling close'.” I said as a matter of fact. “In that way, I'm much more comfortable having a bodyguard with me.”

I bit my lips to suppress my smile. Gosh! I can't imagine myself saying this. The man I love is my bodyguard! The fudge. Never in my entire life did I imagine him being my bodyguard. But this is real!

“Since you let me call you by your first name... I'll just consider you as my friend.” I added. “If that's okay with you?” Nakatitig ako sa kaniya habang kagat ang sariling labi.

It took him awhile before he nodded. There's a hint of amusement circulating his green orbs. If there's no chance that I can't see him, then maybe I can moved on by being with him. Maybe in that way, he will also be the one who can help me to moved on.

“It's better that we're friends, right?” I asked. “It's kinda awkward if I introduced you as my bodyguard. I mean you don't look like one.” I confessed.

I need to be comfortable to him again as if I don't have feelings for him. I should act that I am just a friend to him. In that way, he won't noticed that I was the girl he played with. His fling. If I wanted to get rid of this feeling, I should start making a way to moved on.

“All right. I get your point. I'm your friend now,” sambit niya. Napangiti ako.

“Really?” I asked excitedly. It's easy for him to agree now though. The last time I wanted to befriended him, he didn't agree.

“Yeah. I don't have a lot of girl friends.” He smirk. That made my smile fade.

“Just flings?” I asked. He nodded and his smirk widen at that. I nodded. “Well that's understandable. You're good-looking.”

"Hmm, so you find me handsome?" Bahagya siyang tumawa. Tumango ako dahil totoo naman. Lalong lumakas ang tawa niya. “What an honest person you are... Well you're pretty too. I love your blue eyes. In fact, I remember someone on you.”

Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya. I want to focus on the first part of what he uttered that he loves my eye color, but I was bothered by the last thing he said. What does he mean by that? Naaalala na ba niya ako ngayon?

“S-sino?” I wished my stutter didn't got obvious. Kinabahan ako bigla. The only thing I want to kept is my identity to him. That I was his fling before.

“She was my best friend but she always considered herself as my fling... But then she also left.” He said and his eyes showed an emotion I didn't expected. It was anger filled with questions. The glint of green of his eyes turned darker in shade as he looks at me. But then it faded when he blink and eventually licked his lips. “I will look for her.” He said before he throws the can on the trashbin behind him. It was already crampled.

"Akala ko ba iniwan ka na niya? B-bakit gusto mo pa siyang hanapin?" I asked. Geez! I simply gulped on my drink. I got nervous all of the sudden.

“I still want to know something...” He just uttered. I just nodded and we fell on silence after. It was just us, with our drinks. I didn't noticed the time and also the bottle cans were already finished. Naubos na rin ang pizza.

I kinda feel tipsy or maybe drunk just by drinking five cans. Nagsisimula nang umikot ang paningin ko pero nararamdaman ko pa rin si Elijah sa tabi ko. I have high alcoholic tolerance but I don't know why, I am a bit tired and sleepy now.

“Hey, you still up?” I heard him say. I didn't looked at him as my vision got blurry. “We still need to make your rules and conditions.” He chuckled. I glanced at him and reached for his face. I felt him stilled on his place.

“No n-need for that, you're my f-friend now... I trust you.” Lumapit ako sa kaniya. Amoy na amoy ko ang hininga niya. His breathing hitched when I cupped his face with my two hands and sat on his lap. “You're so handsome... You looked like my first love.” I chuckled as I leaned my body on him, heat immediately resurface my whole body.

“Arabella...” He hissed at me. “Get off me.” I shook my head and pouted a bit. Maybe this is caused by the drinks. I don't know anymore. “Do friends do this?” He asked huskily before he sighed. I didn't respond.

I caressed his cheeks before my hands went to his shoulders. I felt his arms hugged my waist before he stood up. He carried me somewhere until I felt the mattress of my bed. He lied me down before he covered my body with the bedsheet. The only thing I remember was him saying "Goodnight" before my vision consumed with darkness.

I WOKE UP EARLY the next morning and my head is throbbing right now. Ang tagal na no'ng huli akong pumunta sa bar. I didn't see my friends often and always staying in my condo unit for the whole three weeks. At sa loob ng tatlong linggong iyon, palagi akong binabantayan ni Elijah. The thought of being guarded make me smile while taking my way towards the bathroom.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako pumayag na magkaroon ng bodyguard na katulad ni Elijah. Nung una, ayoko talaga. May tiwala ako na kaya kong protektahan ang sarili ko. Na hindi ko na kailangan ng ibang magpoprotekta sa akin.

It just that, sometimes, I am lack of self defense. One of these days, I should start to learn it. One of the reasons to why I needed to learn how to protect myself, is maybe because not all the time, Elijah is with me. In fact, I am not his responsibility. I will just stick to myself that his service is just temporary for me. That after few months, he'll left me.

I should ready myself for that. But for now, I should enjoy myself being with him. I should pretend that I am his friend, but not as close as before. Dahil hindi ko alam kung paano ko siya iko-consider bilang kaibigan kahit na higit pa sa kaibigan ang nararamdaman ko para sa kaniya.

I shouldn't depend my happiness to him just like what I did before. I was so naíve back then. And because of that, I didn't protect myself. My heart shattered into pieces. And I don't want that to happen again.

Pagkatapos kong maligo at magpalit ng komportableng damit ay dumiretso na ako sa ibaba. May nagluluto na sa kusina at umaalingasaw ang amoy ng mainit na kape sa paligid. I walked straight towards the kitchen and saw Elijah on his phone while facing the stove. He still didn't saw me.

Nakagat ko ang labi ko nang makita kong naka-board shorts lang siya. The black shirt he wore last night was hang on the chair next to me. His back is well-defined and looked so sexy. He has tanned skin that matches his masculine body. He surely visits the gym.

“Yeah, he shouldn't be... Get him out of the team. Yeah, yeah... Thanks, bro.” He chuckled before he put down his phone. That's when he looked at me. “Oh, morning, my lady.” He smiled. His hair was messy but he still looks good.

Ngumiti lang ako pabalik at tumango sa kaniya. I helped him put the plates and prepare a drink for me. After that, I eat breakfast with him. He cooked fried chicken this time.

“Do you have plans for today?” He asked.

“I have a date for today.” I shrugged, completely lying. I just want to make an alibi so that he won't opened up what happened last night. Gusto ko na lang magpalamon sa lupa sa tuwing naalala ko ang mga pinaggagawa ko kagabi. I can even feel my cheeks blushing.

Kumunot ang noo niya dahil doon. “Date? Blind date?"

“Yup! Well, my friend set me up with this guy so it's not bad. I'm really curious to know h. Maybe he's hot.”

Well, half truth. My friend set me up on a blind date before my birthday. Dapat last week ko pa siya im-meet pero tinanggihan ko. I was so distracted with Elijah that I can't keep up with somebody for the meantime. Pero ito na ang tamang oras para makatakas sa kahihiyang ginawa ko kagabi habang nag-iinuman kami. This is the right time to make an alibi.

Tinapos ko na ang pagkain ko at tumingala ako kay Elijah only to see him staring at me. It was like he's lost in his 9wn thoughts. I drink on my coffee which he added with milk while still observing him. What is he thinking right now?

“Sean? You still there?” I snapped my fingers in front of him to get his attention. Kumurap-kurap siya bago tumingin sa akin. "Pwede mo akong sundan kung gusto mo, pero huwag kang magpakita, ha?" pakiusap ko.

I also need a distraction away from him. I shouldn't focused my attention too much on Elijah because it's really bad for my sake. I always do blind dates, hoping that I can divert my feelings to someone else. But still, no used. It's still him after years. I'm still into him.

“O pwede ka ring makipag-date." Halos mautal ako nang sabihin 'yon. I should accept that he can't reciprocate my feeling. I should expect that he will find someone other than me. I shouldn't expect that he'll love me back. I should know my limits.

“Yeah.” Tumango lang siya pero mukhang naiinis habang sinasabi iyon. Tinitigan ko siya saglit bago ako tumayo.

“Rielle.” Tinawag niya ako. Napatingin agad ako sa kaniya. “How about the rules and conditions na sinasabi mo kagabi? Don't tell me nakalimutan mo."

Namula ang pisngi ko dahil doon. Naalala ko na naman ang ginawa at sinabi ko sa kaniya kagabi. How I leaned closer to him and touched his face. I bit my lips to hide my embarrassment. I shook my head.

“B-but...” Akala ko makakatakas ako o makakalimutan. Pero pinaalala lang niya sakin 'yon. My only alibi, being on a blind date, didn't work. But I need to push harder if I really want to avoid this topic.

"Walang pero-pero, Arabella." sambit niya. Pinipigilan pa ang ngisi niya.

“Di'ba sinabi ko sa'yo kagabi na hindi na natin kailangan 'yon?” I said, pushing my luck. “You're my f-friend slash bodyguard. We don't need that. We exactly knows our limitations.”

He shook his head. “Na-uh. We need to talk about it. Now.” There was an authority on his voice. “I know my limitations, but still we need something just so we are reminded by it.”

I sighed. “But after this, I'll go out.” I said. He nodded and scoffed.

“Fine.”

MINUTES AFTER EATING BREAKFAST, naghugas muna ako ng plato at naglinis ng buong condo unit ko. Bumalik si Elijah sa condo niya na katabi ng akin. I don't want to assume that he really want that or was it my brother's request to him to live next to my condo.

After doing the chores, I went to the living room with a pen and paper with me. I jot down notes about my conditions while he's being my bodyguard.

Maya-maya, nag-doorbell si Elijah kaya pinagbuksan ko siya ng pinto. Naka purple long sleeves siya ngayon at black jogging pants. Nakaligo na rin siya base sa amoy ng hair gel na ginamit niya. Bumalik ako sa kinauupuan ko at nagulat ako nang umupo sa tabi ko si Elijah. At sobrang lapit niya!

Napatingin ako sa kaniya at nakatingin siya sa sinusulat ko. Napatikhim ako at agad na umusog palayo sa kaniya.

“Hey.” I called.

“You already have your conditions?” He said, smirking.

“Well, yes. Tatlo lang." Sabi ko. Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Oh?”

“Una, gusto kong magkaroon ng privacy minsan. Pangalawa, dapat hindi ka talaga malapit sa akin, like even an inch closer. Pangatlo, tratuhin mo ako bilang isang taong pinagkakatiwalaan mo. That's it."

He fell silent for a moment. He was just looking at me as his eyes are scanning my whole face. I felt intimidated specially on his green eyes.

“Are you sure?” He asked, arching his brow. He bit his inside cheeks means that he's having his self control.

I nodded. “This can be easy for you. I'm much more comfortable being your 'friend'.” I want to sigh but I stopped myself. This is no good.

“You can add it, I'll wait.” he said. I furrowed. What does he mean by that? “It looks like you didn't think about it thoroughly. You really wanted to be in that blind date?”

“Huh?”

Napatikhim siya bago ngumiti. “Don't get me wrong, but what I see about your condition is not that serious.” Dagdag niya.

“Then what are you trying to say?” I asked, still confused.

“What I mean is, make conditions that you and I will both follow. Not just for me alone. It should be for the both of us.”

Napakamot ako ng ulo. "Sa palagay ko, hindi ko magagawa 'yan."

“You can start by being with me 'always'.” He added, still has a grin on his lips. He even emphasizes the last word. “In that way, I can guard you and you can have me who will always accompany you.”

Tumango lang ako, tama siya. “Then?”

“You can also 'use' me.” His grin widen more.

“What?!” I shouted.

“You can call me your 'boyfriend' when someone's annoying you. And vice versa.”

Napatitig ako sa kaniya at mukhang pinaglalaruan lang ako. Hindi ko alam kung seseryoshin ko ang sinabi niya.

“Okay. If there's any annoying guys, I can call you my 'boyfriend'. But if there's none, you'll just be my friend.” I said. He put his hands on the counter table and put his face on it, still looking at me.

He nodded. “Lastly, you can't get close to any guy.” His voice became serious all of the sudden.

“Why is that? I have a lot of male friends and they're all nice to me.” I uttered. Hindi siya agad nakasagot pero nag-igting ang panga niya sa sinabi ko.

“Didn't you remember why your brother assigned me to be your bodyguard?” He asked. “Your life is at risk, Arabella Rielle.” My heart pounded loudly when he said my full name. It gives a big impact inside of me.

“Those gangsters that you heard can't be easily recognize. They can be someone with a good personality but behind their mask, is something hidden, dark and full of hatred.” He added. “You shouldn't trust so easily.”

I just nodded. There's already a warning tone within his voice. I should remind myself that he's doing this because my brother asked him. I sighed with that thought.

“Okay.” I timidly smile. He nodded before he stood up from his sit.

“I'll be on my unit if you need me.” He uttered with his serious voice before leaving me with many thoughts in my mind.