Song: I Don't Want to Lose You- Luca Fogale

Choice

I was left dumbfounded because of what they told me. Nagaalala akong nilingon ni Axel habang hinahatid niya palabas sina Francine at Jennica.

Nang makalapit siya sa pinto ay agad niyang ipinaubaya ang dalawa sa iba pang bodyguards. He quickly went back to me. Hinawakan niya ang magkabila kong braso at pinalingon ako sakanya.

"Are you okay?"

Sandali akong natulala sakanya. Ang hirap iproseso ng lahat. Something bad may happen to me anytime or anywhere. I have to be very careful.

I remember that my bodyguards found someone suspicious before when Kuya Sven and I are in a coffee shop. Could that be Jake? Alam kaya niya ang lahat ng ikinikilos ko?

Maybe he also knows where my atelier is. Baka nandito lang siya at nagmamasid.

"Baka nandito lang siya." Sabi ko at takot na tiningnan si Axel. "I-I need to tell Dad! His life is at risk. I... I..."

"You need to calm down." Ani Axel. He gently caressed both of my shoulders. Napalingon ako doon.

I breathed hard and closed my eyes. That night will continue to haunt me. I will never be able to get away with it without getting involved. Kahit bantaan pa sila ni Daddy, sigurado akong gusto parin nila akong gantihan nang dahil sa nangyari.

"How will I calm down? Narinig mo naman ang sinabi nila hindi ba? Someone's after me and my father! How will you expect-"

"Don't worry. There are people helping us to find the guy now-"

"You knew about this?" Hindi makapaniwala ko siyang tinanong. "You knew that someone's after me?"

"It was your father's order. We are just trying to protect you."

I laughed. "You could've just told me..."

"I don't want you to be scared."

I look at him in the eye. I can clearly see his concern for me through his eyes. I clenched my jaw and shake my head.

"I need to go and see my father."

Walang sinabi si Axel. Inutos niya kay Damon na ihanda na ang sasakyan nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin.

Tinalikuran ko siya at tsaka nag-tungo sa aking sekretarya.

"Can you close down the atelier later? I won't be able to stay for too long. May kailangan akong puntahan. Sasabihan ko nalang si Kuya Sven na wag nang tumuloy." I told my secretary. Tumango naman siya at tsaka ngumiti.

"Itetext ko nalang po sainyo ang progress ng mga designs. I'll inform you if they managed to finish a dress."

Tipid akong ngumiti sakanya at tsaka kinuha na ang aking bag. Hinawakan ko ang kanyang braso.

"Thank you."

Ngumiti siya pabalik sa akin at tsaka binuksan ang pinto ng opisina para sa akin.

Tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad at hindi pinansin si Axel. I can't believe he knew about this but he didn't tell me.

Nang makalabas ako ng atelier ay agad na binuksan ni Damon ang pinto ng sasakyan para sa akin. Agad akong pumasok. Tumabi naman siya sa akin.

"Sorry, Aria, hindi ko naman intensyon na-"

"It's fine, Damon." Pagputol ko sa sasabihin niya.

Yumuko naman siya at nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin. Nang sumakay si Axel sa shotgun ay agad na tumama ang tingin niya sa akin sa rearview mirror. Pairap kong iniwas ang tingin.

"I'm afraid that we can't go to your father now." He informed me.

"Why?"

"I was informed that he's in a very important meeting with the AFP officers. We can't-"

"Disturb him, I know." I sigh.

I guess I just have to wait. I suddenly wondered if my mother also knows about this. Why aren't they telling me? I don't understand.

"Just wait for him until he gets home." Sabi ni Axel.

Hindi na ako nagsalita dahil 'yun parin naman ang masusunod kahit anong gawin ko. Sumandal ako at hinayaan na silang ihatid ako pabalik ng palasyo.

I couldn't still fathom the fact that everyone in the palace knew about this except me. If they only informed me beforehand, I should've been more careful with my actions.

I took all their overprotectiveness against them because I thought they were only trying to jail me more inside this palace. But I didn't know that they were only doing it to protect me.

Someone's after me. And they are not going to stop until they get even. Hindi man nila ako magalaw ngayon, sigurado akong may iba pa silang binabalak.

Or worse, they will be after those who are close to me.

"Shit!" I cursed under my breath while I was thinking deeply at the balcony. Mabilis kong kinuha ang aking cellphone at agad na itinipa ang number ni Kuya Sven.

He doesn't know any of this. Ang alam niya lang na nangyari ng araw na iyon ay tumakas ako at nahuli ako nila Daddy. He didn't know where I went.

And he probably didn't know that someone's after me.

"Kuya Sven!" bungad ko nang sinagot niya ang tawag.

"Well hello, Aria. What's up? Is there any problem?"

"Where are you?"

"Getting ready to see you. Why? You miss me too much?" He chuckled on the other line.

I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair.

"Wait, no. You can't go! And if you're planning on partying tonight or there's anything that you will do that involves getting along with different people, pwede wag ka nang tumuloy?"

I can definitely imagine him creasing his forehead right now. Kung ako rin naman ang sasabihan nito, magtataka talaga ako. But this is for his safety. I know that Zia will also do anything to keep him safe but I just want him to be aware.

"Why? Is there something wrong? You're acting a little weird today."

"I just want you to be careful, Kuya Sven. I don't want anything bad happen to you."

"Don't worry about me, Aria. I can defend myself in case someone wants to attack this pretty face. And I don't plan on partying or socializing tonight, I'm not in the mood."

Well... that's quite unusual. Ano rin kaya ang meron at bakit kaya wala siya sa mood para pumarty ngayon?

"Okay, then. I just want to make sure that you're safe and-"

"Geez, Aria! You're really weird today. Ano bang meron at bakit ganyan ka? Is there something that you're not telling me?"

Hindi agad ako sumagot. I paused for a while to think of an excuse to tell him. Hindi ko agad masabi sakanya kung ano ang nalaman ko dahil natatakot ako. But what's important now is that I was able to tell him to be careful. That's what matters.

"I'll tell you on some other time, Kuya. Just promise me that you'll always be careful, okay?"

"Tss... it's bothering me now. You're going to make me wait for another day before telling me huh? Fine. It's a good thing that I'm not in the mood to party tonight. I don't want to make you worry."

I smiled to myself because of that.

"We'll see each other tomorrow, then. I'll tell everything to you personally so I can explain it clearly."

"Sure. Stop worrying about me, little cuzzo. I'm a very strong man I can defend myself."

"Yup, you're the kind of man who can be whiny sometimes."

"What?! Aria, you-"

Hindi ko na siya hinayaang ipagpatuloy ang sasabihin niya dahil agad na akong nagpaalam. I'm pretty sure he's still at it tomorrow and he's still going to mention it to me.

Gabi na nang makabalik ang mga magulang ko sa palasyo. Joseph immediately notified me about their arrival kaya agad akong nagtungo sa opisina ni Daddy.

A guard is standing outside the door and I ask him if someone's inside. Tumango naman ako nang malaman ko na si Daddy lang ang tao doon.

Kung maaari, si Daddy muna ang gusto kong makausap ngayon. My mother is quite emotional and I don't know how will she react when she found out that someone's after me. She might become hysterical and I don't want that to happen.

The guard opened the door for me. Nang pumasok ako ng opisina ay agad na nag-angat ng tingin sa akin si Daddy. He removed his glasses as I come nearer.

"Dad,"

"Aria, did you eat your dinner already?" Tanong niya.

Tipid akong ngumiti at tsaka tumango. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at nag-isip kung paano ko ba sisimulan na sabihin sakanya ang nalaman ko kanina.

"Is there something wrong?" Napansin niya siguro ang pananahimik ko kaya niya natanong ito.

Doon nalang ako muling nag-angat ng tingin sakanya. I don't know why my heart is beating so loud. I don't usually get scared when someone is threatening me. In fact, I've always received death threats back when my father started to enter politics. And all of it were nothing to me because some are just a way to scare me.

But this one is different... I am scared because I knew that they are capable of doing it. They are not only trying to scare me. But they are also aiming to harm me.

"My friends went to visit the atelier." Sabi ko.

Agad naman siyang naalerto nang dahil doon. Napaayos siya ng upo at kumunot ang noo.

"Why did your bodyguards let them enter?! At bakit hindi nila sinabi sa akin?!"

"It was me who asked to let them inside."

His mouth parted. Tumayo siya sa kanyang kinauupuan at tsaka ako hinawakan sa braso.

"Did they do anything to you?" I shake my head. "Nasabi ba nila sa'yo kung ano ang sadya nila?"

"They told me everything, Dad. They told me that you threatened Apple and her boyfriend and now they're in jail."

"That is to protect you."

"I know... and now I know why you decided to keep it away from me."

My father sighed. He ran his hand through his mouth at tsaka ako nag-aalalang tiningnan.

"Dad, those are people who's been threatening you for a while now. And now... they are after me. Jennica and Francine told me that they are planning something to harm the both of us."

"I won't let that happen, Aria. You know that."

I nod my head. Hindi ko na napigilan pa ang pagtulo ng aking luha. I bit my lip.

I know that they will do anything to protect me. Baka dahil dito ay hindi na rin nila ako gaanong payagang lumabas. Or... they might double my security! Well, I don't want that to happen.

Doing that would mean that I will attract more people. I just want to be kept away from those people who are threatening me. Sana mahuli na sila agad para hindi na rin matuloy ang binabalak nila sa amin.

"I'm just scared, Dad... this is all my fault. And if anything happens to you or to anyone who are close to me, I couldn't take it. Mas gugustohin ko pang ako ang masaktan, kaysa kayo ang masaktan. If I was only careful. None of this will happen. I'm sorry if I keep on disobeying-"

"Don't apologize, Aria. None of this is your fault. They are already after me even before you went to that frat house."

"But I couldn't bare that you're also getting involved with this. What if something bad happen to you? To Mom? To Kuya Sven and his family? It will all be because of me!"

Daddy went nearer and enveloped me in a hug. I broke down in tears because of that. He rubbed my back to calm me down. This is the first time ever that I broke down in front of him.

I usually cry without anyone knowing. But since this is just so hard to let everything sink in, I can't control myself anymore.

"No... nothing's going to harm you or us. I will do anything to keep you safe. You are precious to me, you know that."

I slowly nod my head.

"I can't afford to see you hurt, Dad. This country needs you... I still need you."

Napasinghap si Daddy nang dahil doon. He pulled me closer and hugged me tight and promised me that he will always be careful. I'm very sure that his security will also do anything to protect him. But being careful won't hurt, right?

Hindi agad ako dumiretso sa aking kwarto matapos kong kausapin si Daddy. Jake's plan is still bothering me. Unang beses ko siyang nakilala noong gabing iyon at hindi ko akalain na may binabalak na agad siyang masama sa akin.

Hero must be that important to them huh? Ganoon na siguro siya kaimportante sa drug syndicate na iyon para ipaghiganti siya ng mga ito.

I went to the garden near the fountain to get some fresh air. Malalim ang aking iniisip kaya hindi ko na rin napansin ang paglapit ni Axel sa akin. Agad ko siyang nilingon.

"I was informed that you went here. I just want to keep you company. Deep thoughts?"

I nod my head once. Binaling ko naman muli ang aking tingin sa tubig na rumaragasa sa fountain. I sigh. I sat down on the fountain.

"I'm sorry for the way I acted a while ago. It wasn't my intention to be rude. Nabigla lang talaga ako."

I heard him scoff. Lumapit naman siya sa kinauupuan ko at nanatiling nakatayo malapit sa akin.

"It's fine. I have nothing against it. You have the right to react that way."

I smiled a little.

"It keeps on bothering me," I said. "I couldn't think straight. I feel like what they are planning could happen anytime. Especially when we least expect it."

"That won't happen." he sounded so confident.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I won't let it."

My mouth parted. Napaangat lamang ako ng tingin sakanya nang maupo siya sa harap ko. Seryoso niya akong tiningnan.

"I won't let anything bad happen to you," he paused for a while. He looks hesitant for a moment but in the end, he still reached for my hand. Napatingin ako doon. "As long as you're with me, no one could lay a finger on you."

I was surprised because of the way he sounds while he's telling it. He's serious and determined. He sounded like he's willing to sacrifice everything just as long as he's going to protect me.

Hindi ko akalain na ganito pala kasakit na marinig iyon galing sa taong nakaatas na promotekta sa'yo. It only implies that they're really willing to risk their life for someone like me. Mukhang hindi ko ata kakayanin kung mangyayari iyon.

"All of this is my fault," He moved closer to me now. "Kung hindi lang siguro ako nagpunta sa frat house na iyon baka-"

"None of this is your fault. Don't be so hard on yourself."

I raise my gaze back to him. I couldn't hold back the tears that's been begging to come out of my eye. Naalerto siya nang dahil doon at wala sa sariling pinalis iyon.

We both looked surprised. He also must've noticed that he's been holding my hand longer than he's supposed to so he tried to remove it. But I didn't let him. Kinuha kong muli ang kanyang kamay at mas mahigpit itong hinawakan.

"Thank you for always being there for me." suminghap ako. "Please don't give up on me.

His mouth parted. Mukhang hindi niya inaasahan na sasabihin ko iyon kaya manghang ibinaling niya ang tingin sa akin.

"If you really meant to say everything you just told me a while ago... then I want you right beside me. All the time. Not because it's your job, but because it's your choice." I almost whispered.

Hindi siya nagsalita matapos kong sabihin iyon. Nanatili lang siyang nakatitig sa akin na tila ba hindi niya inakala na lalabas iyon sa bibig ko.

All this time, I thought that it was just a fleeting feeling. I thought I was just overwhelmed by the attention that he was giving me. But I soon realized that it wasn't.

Wala sino man ang may kakayahan na iparamdam sa akin ang epekto na mayroon ako kay Axel. I get conscious about myself whenever he's near. Whenever I'm in a room full of people, I always look around for him.

He's also the last thing on my mind before I go to sleep.

I knew this was something else... though it is my first time to actually like someone, I knew this isn't just an infatuation anymore. I don't think I'll regret it if this feeling could lead to something deep.

We may live in a very different world but I'll be very much willing to give my heart to him. Just as long as he does the same for me.

Sa tingin ko hindi na niya napigilan pa ang sarili niya kaya siya napayakap sa akin. I closed my eyes and hugged him back.

"I always have my eyes on you, Ariadne. As long as I am here, protecting you... no one would ever dare to take you away from me."