Chapter 1: The Bodyguard

"Charlie, hindi pa ba tayo uuwi?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Jasmine kay Charlie.

Awtomatikong nabitin sa ere ang sana'y pag-inom niya ng tequila na nasa shot glass na hawak niya. She smiled at her bestfriend who has this familiar worried look on her face. "With that look on your face, we'll be here in an hour more or two," pabirong sagot niya bago tuluyang ininom ang alak.

Not a second more, the bitter taste of the drink burned her throat but it was not enough to keep the worries of the day away.

Sumimangot si Jasmine. "Ang paalam natin kay Daddy madi-dinner lang tayo, hindi tayo maglalasing," reklamo pa nito bago ininom ang laman na alak ng sarili nitong shotglass.

Lihim siyang napangiti. Jasmine has always been reserved even when they were in high school. Madalas kasi itong ma-bully dahil common knowledge na inampon lamang ito ng mayamang pamilyang kinalakihan nito—ang mga Benitez. But she's glad that Jasmine is slowly gaining her confidence to move within their circle. She's even down to do anything new with her, just like tonight—the not so quiet night out she suggested for them to have as a celebration for finishing their third year in college.

Pero tama ito, hindi sila dapat naroon sa club na iyon. They were just supposed to have dinner at Rancho Italiano and plan how to spend their school break. Kaya lang may masama siyang balitang natanggap bago siya lumabas ng bahay kaya nasira ang mga plano niya para sa gabing iyon.

"Is this about Gael becoming your bodyguard?" tanong ni Jasmine sa kanya. "Wala na ba talagang paraan para mapaalis mo pa siya?"

Sandali niyang pinakatitigan ang kaibigan at masama ang loob na muling humingi ng alak sa bartender. She recalled the heated conversation she had with her father, Atty. Aaron Sandejas, the CEO of Sandejas Shipping Lines—one of the leading shipping companies in Asia. She tried to talk, no, she begged for her father to remove Gael as her new bodyguard dahil marami pa namang ibang bodyguards na puwedeng magbantay sa kanya. Subalit ayaw ng Daddy niya. He said that if there's one man he can trust the most in the world when it comes to her safety, that would be that jerk Gael Estrada.

She scoffed, quickly took the shot glass in front of her that has just been refilled and drank it all in one go. Maisip pa lang niya si Gael, naiinis na siya.

Why? The nerve for him to come back in her life at bodyguard pa niya!

She took in a sharp breath and tried to control her emotions. "We will just wait for Theo then we will go home," sabi niya kay Jasmine na noon ay umiinom na ng mango juice.

Maybe she should do that too. Nakakalimang shot na siya ng tequila and she's beginning to feel the heat in her system. She wouldn't want to get twice a scolding tonight from her father if she goes home tipsy, does she?

"Nasaan na ba kasi si Theo? Akala ko ba, fifteen minutes lang, nandito na siya. We have been here for almost an hour pero wala pa siya," si Jasmine ulit, muling s******p sa straw ng juice nito.

She shook her head and tried to fish her phone inside her bag. Subalit nang tignanniya, ni text o tawag, wala man lang mula kay Theo.

Frustration began to rise inside her chest. Kung kailan kailangan niya si Theo, saka ito nawawala. Well she really doesn't need him need him. But... there's Gael and... She sighed.

Pero paano kung boyfriend na niya she Theo? Will he be like that too—missing in times of need?

She bit her lower lip as her stomach churn at the thought. It's not that Theo Mondragon is a bad guy. He actually is a good and patient man. He also has the looks that most woman would die for. And most importantly, aside from Jasmine, Theo has become her close friend since they were introduced with each other three years ago. At kahit na hindi sabihin nang diretsahan ng mga magulang niya sa kanya, she just knew, her parents wanted her to end up with Theo someday. Why? Their parents never miss any opportunity to play cupids between them. And for a while, she was okay with the idea. Because she thought, it would have been easy to fall for Theo. She really wanted to fall for him. And for the past three years, she really tried. Hard. But then again... it's her heart that's making things complicated for her.

"Hey, sorry, I'm late," anang pamilyar na boses sa kanyang likuran. She quickly turned and smiled at Theo who, as always, was sporting his neat ensemble of jeans and shirt.

He quickly leaned forward and gave her a chaste kiss on the cheek before settling at the vacant seat beside her in the bar. He smiled and waved at Jasmine after. That's how they casually greet each other and she's used to it.

"I got stuck in traffic, sorry," paliwanag nito bago siya nito pinakatitigan. His brows furrowed, reaching for her face. "Don't drink anymore. Namumula ka na, Charlie," anito.

She chuckled and gently leaned her face away from his hands. "I'm fine. Now, go have your drink. I'll just need to go to the powder room," nagmamadaling paalam niya bago siya bumaba sa stool at humakbang patungo sa direksyon ng CR. She did her business quickly and returned to the bar. Subalit si Jasmine na lang ang naroon.

"Where's Theo?" tanong niya kay Jasmine.

"Tumawag 'ata 'yong Daddy niya. He went out to answer the call."

Tumango-tango siya at umorder ng orange juice sa bartender.

"Hey ladies, need some company?" anang lalaki na bigla na lang lumapit sa kanila. The guy's face was beet-red and he reeked of alcohol. Awtomatikong napahawak sa braso niya si Jasmine, bakas ang takot sa mukha.

She maintained a straight face however and tried not to be intimidated. "No, we're fine by ourselves. So please, go away," diretsahang pahayag niya.

Subalit imbes na umalis, lalo lang lumapit sa kanila lalaki at sinubukang hawakan si Jasmine. On instinct, pinulot niya ang baso juice na kalalapag lang bartender sa harap niya at isinaboy iyon sa mukha ng lasing na lalaki.

The man yelled a series of expletives before he looked at them with so much contempt. Tumayo na silang dalawa ni Jasmine at sinubukang humakbang palayo. But the man was quick to grab one of her wrists and tried to pull her closer to him.

She'll die first if she'd let the perv get his hand on her. Sinubukan niyang ipiksi ang kamay nitong nakahawak sa kanya subalit masyado iyong mahigpit, she's beginning to feel the strain not just on her wrist but on her whole arm!

Jasmine tried to pull her other hand but to no avail. The man was so much stronger than Jasmine even in his drunk state.

"Let me go! Let me go!" she screamed still trying to yank her arm away from his tight hold. Subalit hindi natinag ang lasing na lalaki. He was even spewing words she cannot even comprehend!

Few moments more, her eyes saw a familiar form emerged from the crowd. His steps were sure and quiet. His face was stern. And though he looked more mature now than the last time she saw him three years ago, his mysterious gray eyes were the same when he's mad-- they carry threats and deadly warnings.

That's Gael. The jerk.

Why was he there? Kasama ba nito ang ibang bodyguards na lihim na nakasunod parati sa kanya? Akala niya bukas pa mag-uumpisa ang trabaho nito sa kanya?  Magsusumbong ba  ito sa Daddy niya pag-uwi?

She groaned inwardly. She really is so dead when her father learned about tonight.

Her train of thoughts quickly came into a halt when in one swift move, Gael circled his arm around the neck of the drunken bastard. The man instantly choked and let go of her hand. She gasped when she saw Gael quickly tackled the man. Maya-maya pa, dumating na ang bouncers ng club at hinila ang lalaki palayo sa kanila.

Catching his breath, Gael turned to them-- to her. Her stupid heart instantly skipped a beat as soon as their eyes locked. And memories on the night of her 18th birthday flooded her mind-- the night Gael rejected her and broke her heart. 

"Jerk," wala sa sariling bulong niya.

Lalo itong naningkit. "I heard that," anito.

Dammit! she silently cursed.