Chapter 2

Solaria's POV

Today, I was on my way to school and si Zach ang kasama ko sa kotse, siya ang nag drive sa kotse and yung ibang bodyguards are on the van tailing us. I was peacefully reading a book when suddenly Zach said something.

"Young lady, yung ibang guards muna ang magbabantay sayo sa school." I looked at him with a questioning look.

"Wow, first time leaving my side, huh? Bakit parang biglaan? Well I won't complain since I am very pleased na hindi kita makita kahit for a day lang." mataray kong saad sa kanya. Nag buntong hininga siya, parang pinapakalma ang kanyang sarili at pinapaalala na boss niya ang tatay ko.

"May kailangan lang akong asikasohin. I'm pretty sure before yung last period mo ay tapos na ako sa ginagawa ko, magiging updated pa rin ako sa bawat galaw mo since kasama mo ang iba sa mga guards." he explained.

"Well I don't give a damn anyways! Mabuti nga yun di kita makita ng isang buong araw, kompleto na yung araw ko ngayon pa lang!" I happily said. Tatakas ako at hindi ako mahihirapan nito for sure, syempre wala siya eh.

Pagkarating sa school ay naglakad agad ako pumunta sa classroom ko, as usual, sumusunod na naman si Zach making sure hindi ako tatakas ng makarating sa building namin huminto na sila. Hindi sila pwede pumasok dun tuloy tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad papasok sa building, naririnig ko pa si Zach na binibigyan sila ng mga utos. I didn't mind them at pumunta na ako sa classroom ko, pagkadating ko dun umupo ako agad sa upuan ko.

"Solaria, what a pleasant day!" Candice sarcastically said. Candice is my rival here in school, every academic or extra-curricular activities or contest that I am in ay nagiging rival ko siya. But she is always the second place person, she haven't beat me. Not even once.

"So early in the morning and I can sense the bitterness already, ano bang pinang-almusal mo? Ampalaya?" I asked while smiling sweetly just to annoy her.

"Wow, you really know how to get into my nerves. Just so you know, I'm not being bitter here. I know that I'm still the best." mayabang talaga mag salita si ate girl.

"Gawin mo sa gawa, at huwag puro salita. Why don't you use me as your reference to beat me? That might help." I said with full of confidence. I saw how she was fuming in anger, tumalikod nalang siya at bumalik sa kanyang upuan. Nang-iinis ng ganito ka aga pero di din ako kayang tapatan, umiling nalang ako at nag basa ng libro para sa unang subject ko.

Minutes later ay dumating na din yung prof namin at nag simula na ang prof sa discussion. After 3 subject periods ay lunch time na, wala akong pasok sa hapon since pang umaga lahat ng subjects ngayong araw. Finally! Makakatakas na ako.

I looked outside at kita ko talaga yung bodyguards ko, I smiled mischievously. "Tignan natin kung gaano kayo kabilis makiramdam." After that I proceed with my plan, sumabay ako sa napakaraming studyante na lumabas ng building. I made sure na napapalibutan nila ako at nasa gitna para hindi nila halata, nakayuko lang din ako hanggang sa makalayo na kami sa building. I hid on a tree and looked at my guards who were idiotically waiting for me to go out. "Have fun waiting, idiots. Hahaha!" lumabas na ako ng school at nah decide na pumunta ng mall.

Pagkarating ko sa mall ay kumain muna ako, nagugutom kasi ako at babalakin ko mag shopping so I need plenty of energy. Pagkatapos kong kumain, sinimulan ko na yung shopping spree ko. Buy here, buy there, BUY EVERYWHERE! Kada daan ko sa mga stores kapag nagustohan ko, pinapasok ko at binibili kung ano ang nagustohan ko.

Ang daming ko nang shopping bags na dala! Minutes later I was shocked that someone grabbed the shopping bags on my left hand. "What the f---" I could finish my sentence when I looked at the person who did that, kinuha niya din ang shopping bags sa kabilang kamay ko. "For fuck sake, how did you even find me?!" I asked him in disbelief, Zach looked at me as if I was asking a dumb question.

"Tinakasan mo ang mga guards mo and they didn't even notice it for 2 hours, dun lang nila nalaman nung tinawagan ko sila asking if naka-uwi na ba kayo, since you only have 3 subjects at half day lang ang sched mo." I was even more shocked when he knows my schedule. MY FREAKING SCHEDULE! Ni si daddy nga di niya alam to eh, pero siya alam niya? "Kailangan ko iwan yung inasikaso ko para hanapin ka, luckily hindi sa bar kasi if dun ka nagpunta mapapagalitan ka na naman. Umuwi na tayo." he said and left me in there standing processing what he just said.

Ginagago ata ako ng taong to! Nung naramdaman niya hindi ako sumunod, tinignan niya ako at nilapitan. "Why are you still standing there? We have to go, I'm sure na masakit na yung paa mo kakalakad and carrying these bags." Itinaas niya pa ang shopping bags na hawak niya, para makita kita kung gaano ka dami ang pinamili ko. Nung wala siyang makuhang reaksyon sa akin, he just sighed and looked at me once more. "Do I need to kiss you para gumalaw ka dyan?" he clamly said.

I blushed at what he said. "Ew! No way, ito na! Maglalakad na, kadiri ka." Sinimulan ko nalang mag lakad palabas ng mall at papuntang parking lot. Ramdam ko naman na sinusundan niya lang ako, binibigyan niya din ako ng direksyon kung saan pumunta hanggang sa makarating kami sa sasakyan. Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto at sumakay naman ako sa shotgun seat, dito ako pinaupo kasi ilalagay niya sa likod ang sandamakmak na shopping bags.

Pagkatapos niyang ilagay lahat ng pinamili ko sa likod, sumakay na siya sa driver seat at nag drive pauwi ng bahay. Habang nasa byahe ramdam ko yung pagod, hinayaan ko nalang sarili kong matulog sa byahe.

Nagising nalang ako, nang maramdaman ko na maingat akong inihiga sa kama at kinumutan. Inimulat ko ang mata ko ng kaunti, at nakita ko si Zach na iniayos yung kumot ko. Sobrang lapit din ng mukha niya sa akin. He's so handsome up close. His blue eyes really suits him. Those ocean blue eyes who are very mesmerizing, those eyes that make you want to explore how deep are those, and find what are the secrets underneath with it.

Natigilan siyang ayusin ang kumot ko nung nakita niya akong gising, we stare to each other for I don't know how long. His eyes are quite calming din but there is one problem.

Natatakot ako...

Natatakot ako na malaman niya ang tototo. I am deeply in love with this man for 1 and half years already, akala ko nuon happy crush lang because he was handsome and a gentleman. Akala ko lang pala yun. My feelings got deeper each in everyday, dinadaan ko nalang talaga sa pagtataray paminsan minsan. Pagtakpan lang yung nararamdaman ko, kasi alam ko na hindi ko siya pwedeng maging boyfriend o kahit na ano.

Dahil bodyguard lang siya, at anak ako ng amo niya....

"Napagod ka during our ride home, next time huwag ka na tumakas. Please? I'm begging you." he said that while still staring deeply into my eyes.

"You need to kiss me, in order for me to obey." I replied.

"Are you in love with me?" he curiously asked.

"So what if I am?" I softly said. He was taken a back, but got back at his composure quickly. I chuckled sarcastically and got up to sit down. "Who am I kidding? You wouldn't believe that, and even if you do you can't reciprocate it. You can't be in love with me, since I'm your boss' daughter." I looked at the window and I felt that he seated beside me, I heard him sighed.

"I'm sorry if you felt that way. But I must do the only job that was given to me, that is to protect you at all costs." he clamly explained.

"I know that. You may leave." I said coldly. Without any word ay lumabas na siya ng kwarto, pumikit ako ng mariin. Ayokong umiyak, I badly wanted him pero I know that there are boundaries. Boundaries that needed to be followed.

The next day ay ganun pa din yung set up. Ang pinagkaiba lang ay nandoon si Zach, he was just patiently waiting for me to finish all the things I need to do in school. At ngayon pauwi na kami, tahimik lang kaming dalawa sa byahe. Pagkarating ko sa bahay ay nagulat ako nang may tao na nakatayo, at natatakpan ng malaking bouquet ng sunflowers. Ibinababa niya ang bulaklak at mas nagulat ako nang makita ko ang childhood best friend ko.

"Cooper!" sigaw ko at niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit. Narinig ko siyang tumawa at niyakap niya din ako pabalik.

"Gosh! I miss you, sunshine!" bumitaw kaming dalawa sa pagkakayakap at binigay niya na ang bouquet sa akin. Tinanggap ko naman yun habang nakangiti sa kanya.

"What are you doing here? You didn't told me you already arrived here in the Philippines, nakakapagtampo ka." hinampas ko siya ng mahina.

"Well I thought it would be nice to surprise you! Nasabi ko kay tito pero naki-usap ako, to keep it a secret from you." He happily explained. He made me sit on the couch and tinabihan niya ako. Kinuha niya din ang bag ko at tinabi niya muna. "So how's your day?" he excitedly asked.

"Well, it was good. I aced all of the quiz and assignments as usual, and inis na inis pa rin si Candice. Hindi niya pa din kasi ako kayang tapatan," he laughed and I continued talking about everything na gusto ko ikwento sa kanya.

Habang nag kukwentuhan kami, nakita ko sa gilid ng mga mata ko si Zachary. And sama tingin niya at mukhang bad trip. Hindi siya nakatingin sa amin. Pero kitang kita ko kung gaano kasama ang tingin niya.

Ano na naman problema nito? Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at ibinaling nalang ang atensyon ko kay Cooper. His family migrated sa States since he was 12, so I never seen him since. But boy! Ilang years kaming di nagkita nito, at tanging contact namin sa isa't isa is social media lang. At grabe, he looks so fine!

His hair is dark as the night, his nose are perfectly sculpted as well as his jaw line, medyo reddish yung lips niya, his hazel eyes are very pretty, and has not so thick eyebrows.  At kung dati ay payatin siya, ngayon napaka well-built ng katawan niya!

Kung hindi ko lang best friend to at hindi lang ako in love sa bodyguard ko, I might have ask him to marry me!

"Oh it was getting late na pala, I need to go home na," tumayo siya at tumayo rin ako. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit at kissed the top of my head. " It was a lovely but fun bonding with you, I hope makita kita sa school tomorrow!" Nagtaka ako sa sinabi niya. School? " Ohh right di mo pala alam, nag transfer na ako dito sa pinas at nasa same school tayo. Pinayagan ako nila mommy na mag-aral dito, so here I am." This will be fun!

"Well I hope to see you tomorrow." Ngumiti lang siya at nagpaalam na umalis. Pagkaalis niya ay pumunta na ako sa kwarto para maghanda para matulog, it will be a long day tomorrow ulit. Pagkatapos ko ay nakita ko si Zach sa loob ng kwarto ko, he was leaning against the wall. Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at pumunta sa kama upang humiga.

"Cooper Silvester Alejandro, son of your dads friend na nag mamay-ari ng Alley Wine Company. Childhood best friend huh? Cool." He coldly said. I looked at him confused, how did he know that?

"So? What about it?" I asked curiously and confused.

He looked at me and sighed. And he said these words before leaving my room.

"Looks like I'll have a competition then."