CHAPTER 9

Kinabukasan nagising ako dahil sa alarm clock na sinet ko dahil maaga ang alis namin ni Beau. Uuwi na kami sa Pilipinas.

6:30 AM nang tumayo ako sa kama at naligo na. After I took a shower, I immediately put my clothes on and went outside the room with my luggage. White v-neck t-shirt, red jacket and high waist from Mango and white sneakers. Malamig dahil maaga pa kaya sakto lang itong suot ko.

Nakita ko agad si Beau na paakyat sa ikalawang palapag ng villa. Nakaayos na rin siya. Nakasuot siya ng black denim pants at white long sleeve shirt na nakatupi hanggang siko niya.

"Ako ng bahala sa mga 'to," sabi niya at kinuha ang luggage na dala ko.

"Salamat!"

He just nodded and grabbed my two luggages. Marami kasi akong nabiling mga pasalubong para sa pamilya niya at pamilya ko. I even brought Rebekah a clothes too. Idagdag mo pa 'yong mga damit na pinamili ko para sa sa'kin.

Ang tanging dala ko lang ay ang Dior bag ko. Sumunod ako kay Beau at nakita ko ang tatlong lalaki na naglalakihan ang katawan. Pare-parehas silang naka-black suit.

"Pakidala na lang ng mga 'to," sabi ni Beau.

They all nodded bago lumapit sa'min at kinuha ang mga maleta naming dalawa.Dala-dala ang mga gamit namin ni Beau, they immediately went outside the villa.

Tumingin ako kay Beau. "Who are they?" I asked.

"Our bodyguards," sagot niya.

Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi niya.

"I have a bodyguards now?" wala sa sariling tanong ko.

Yes, I grew up living in a healthy and wealthy family, but since I went to college, I refused to have a bodyguard because I don't want anyone to always follow me. I only bring bodyguards whenever I go shopping because I brought a lot of clothes.

Noong bata lang ako may bodyguards, pero nang lumaki na ako, mas gusto ko na wala na dahil sa privacy ko na rin at natuto na akong magmaneho.

"That's my Mom's idea," aniya pagkuwan.

Ngumuso ako. "Pero okay lang naman kung wala na akong bodyguards," sabi ko. "I mean, I'm fine without bodyguards so…"

Umiling siya. "I think that's a good idea too, para hindi magkaroon ng duda sa atin ang mga tao. Laman pa rin tayo ng isyu, Zyska and I don't want anything bad happen to you because of them. You're my wife so I have to do everything that I can to support and protect you."

"Thank you, Beau!" sabi ko na lang ng nakangiti.

He pinched my nose. "No need to say that. It's my duty you protect from any harm. Lalo na't may mga ibang tao na naniniwala na sa inyong dalawa ni Rison, ikaw ang nagloko. "

"Actually, I don't really care about them. I mean, wala na akong magagawa pa sa kanila. Kahit na ipaglaban ko ang sarili at magpaliwanag, may tao talagang hindi maniniwala sa sasabihin ko kahit na nagsasabi ako ng totoo at paniguradong may mga tao na sisiraan pa rin ako."

"That's why I have to be sure of your safety," wika niya. "don't worry, I'll protect you no matter what happens "

Napangiti ako bago niya kinurot muli ang pisngi ko. Hinampas ko ang kamay at tumawa lang siya.

"Let's go now," aniya.

Tumango ako at sabay kaming lumabas ng villa. Mula sa malayo ay nakita ko ang chopper na ginamit namin noong nakaraan.

"Good morning, Ma'am and Sir!" magalang na bati ng tatlong lalaki na bodyguards namin.

"Zyska, this is our bodyguards," ani Beau at nilahad ang kamay sa tatlo. "Si Joel, Sammy at Daniel."

Ngumiti ako sa kanila. "Hello po!" bati ko sa kanila. I even waved my hand to greet them!

"Hello po, Ma'am!"

"Zyska na lang po," sabi ko nang nakangiti pa rin.

Tumango ang tatlo bago tumingin kay Beau. "Ready na po ang lahat, Sir."

Beau just nodded. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at inalalayan papasok sa chopper. When I finally got inside, he immediately followed me and sat down beside me.

At habang nasa himpapawid kami, nagtaas ako ng tingin kay Beau. Seryoso siyang nakatingin ng diretso sa harapan niya.

"Nakatulog pala ako kagabi," panimula ko. "hindi ko namalayan. Thank you for carrying me back to my room."

Tumingin siya sa'kin bago mahinang tumawa. "Yeah... tinulugan mo ako kagabi," aniya. "that's kinda turn off for me."

Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Kapal mo! Nakatulog lang, turn off agad?" sarkastiko na sabi ko. "mamaya niyan ikaw ang unang ma-in love sa ating dalawa, tatawanan kita."

He gave me a mocking look. "You wanna have a bet with me? Who's gonna fall first?"

"Oh, sige!" pagsang-ayon ko. "tutal 'yan naman ang dahilan bakit tayo nagpakasal."

"Sure!" he agreed like it's very easy for him. "let's see what's gonna happen then."

Tumaas ang gilid ng labi ko. "Let's see then, Beau."

Hapon na nang makarating kami sa Pilipinas. Mabilis na inayos ng mga bodyguards namin ang gamit na dala at diretso na kami ni Beau sa black Mustang sports car niya.

Pinauna niya akong sumakay at sumunod siya. Kasunod namin ang SUV kung saan nakasakay ang bodyguards namin at nakasunod sa amin. We were heading back to my family's house when we heard his phone ring.

Kinuha niya 'yon mula sa dashboard at sinagot."Yes, Yvo?" I heard him say.

Mabilis na lumingon ako sa kanya. Wala dapat akong pakialam sa tumawag sa kanya kaso nang marinig ang pangalan ni Yvo, naging curious ako.

Curious since I don't have any idea about him. Since I called Rebekah in Bali, she didn't answer my call after that. Kung minsan ang sumasagot pa ang P.A niya at sinasabing may shoot niya.

I'm also curious about his relationship with my best friend. Of course, I have to know him! Iba ang antas ng relasyon nila ng kaibigan ko at ayokong makitang masaktan ang kaibigan dahil sa lalaki.

Rebekah has been a liberated woman ever since we were in highschool. She had a lot of boyfriend's too just like me, but unlike me, I'm serious with my ex-boyfriends before. Siya magaling siyang pakipaglaro ng apoy pagdating sa pag-ibig.

If you want to play with her, she'll do it too without hesitation. Gan'yan si Rebekah. Walang kinatatakutan. You can't tame her as he can tame every man.

"I'll just take Zyska to their house after that the I'll go there now," he said as he still focusing on the road.

Later on, he nodded. "I'll take care of that. Just tell Tito what you want to happen," aniya bago mahinang tumawa. "good luck to you, my cousin! I can't believe you really agreed being in that situation... Okay,okay! I'll take care of everything… good! Bye for now." sabi pa niya bago binaba ang telepono.

"Si Yvo?"

Tumango siya. "Yes."

"Bakit tumawag?"

He chuckled. "I am sure you know what's happening to my cousin and to your best friend, Rebekah."

"That's why I'm asking you now! Anong balak ng pinsan mo sa kaibigan ko?"

Saglit siyang tumingin sa'kin. "Zyska, you should ask your friend about that," aniya bago tumaas ang gilid ng labi. "Yvo is very responsible man, so I have no idea what comes to his head having a one night stand with your friend!"

Kumunot ang noo ko. "What do you mean?" naguguluhan na tanong ko. "ang sabi ni Rebekah sa'kin, nagkita sila sa bar tapos doon ang simula ng lahat."

Humalakhak siya. "Zyska, I am telling you now, Yvo is not the kind of man who likes clubbing."

"But that's what Rebekah told me." pagtatanggol ko sa kaibigan ko.

Of course, I have to side with my best friend since I know her. She's open minded and liberated but she's a good woman too.

"Sa aming magkaka-anak si Yvo ang tibo ng lalaking mabait at tahimik. He would rather sit in the corner and draw than go clubbing."

Natigilan ako saglit. "So, you were telling me that my friend was lying to me?"

"I don't know." nagkibit siya ng balikat. "maybe they had passed or something?"

Nagsalubong ang dalawang kilay ko. "That's very impossible!" wika ko bago umiling. "kilala ko lahat ng ex-boyfriends ni Rebekah!"

"I don't know either," sambit niya. "but I thought that because Yvo said to me he wants to confess to your friend."

"Oh my God!" bulaslas ko. "he likes Rebekah that fast?"

He smirked. "Zyska, it seems like Yvo knows Rebekah for a long time now. Baka ex or something. Wala ka bang naalala sa mga naging ex-boyfriends ng kaibigan mo? Tahimik kasi si Yvo simula bata kami kaya hindi namin alam kung may naging girlfriend ba siya noon."

Dahil sa sinabi niya, sinanlasa ng isipan ko ang lahat ng naging ex-boyfriends ni Rebekah. Since High School, I know all Rebekah's exes. Tatlo noong High School kami at apat noong college.

Lahat pa ng naging ex-boyfriends niya'y puro mga gwapo at mayaman. Kaya imposible na hindi ko maalala si Yvo eh, napakagwapo niyang lalaki! Tapos may isa siyang naging manliligaw noong 3rd year college kami.

He was kinda nerdy because he always wearing glasses. He's also tall like Yvo and wears a polo shirt all the time. I remember that he's the type of a man who's always quiet. Kaya nga inis doon si Rebekah dahil sunod ito ng sunod sa kanya.

Nanliligaw siya kay Rebekah kahit na hindi siya binigyan ng pahintulot ng kaibigan ko. He looked like a good man but also creepy at the same time. Palaging nakasunod kay Rebekah. I remember too that he always gave Rebekah a sketch. Mukha ni Rebekah ang lahat ng drawing niya. He's always drawing Rebekah and giving it to her.

Remembering what he looks like, I closed my eyes. I try to picture Yvo with glasses and wear polo shirt.

"Good gracious!" malakas na bulaslas ko at napatakip ng bibig bago tumingin kay Beau. "what's Yvo's real name?"

"Yvon Mikaelson Fuentes," he said as he looked at me. "why?"

Nanlaki ang nga mata ko. "Mikaelson?" ulit ko. Bakas ang gulat sa aking mukha. "the one who wears glasses and polo shirt all the time?"

Kumunot ang noo niya at lito man ay tumango siya. "Yeah," naguguluhang sagot niya. "ganyan ang pormahan ni Yvo when he was in college because he's quite type of a person. Kaya siguro napagkakalaman siyang nerd noon... bakit?"

"Iyong nerd na 'yon na dating manliligaw ni Rebekah dati! Si Yvo 'yon?! Shit!"

Oh God! You are dead now, Rebekah!