#OLASweetNemesis

Chapter 1
Bodyguard

"I'm going out," I announced.

Hindi ko pinaunlakan ang kamay ni Keno na nakalahad sa akin. Pakiramdam ko'y kapag tinanggap ko 'yon, it would seem like I was welcoming him with open arms to be my new bodyguard. I didn't want that. I didn't want him as my bodyguard.

It was not nice meeting him. I don't like him. His presence screamed so much threat to my freedom. The only thing that was on my mind was to get rid of him.

Mabilis na kinuyom at ibinaba ni Keno ang kanyang kamay. Umigting ang kanyang panga sa pagkapahiya. Hindi ko siya pinansin at nilingon si Daddy upang sabihin ulit sa kanya ang balak kong gawin.

"I'm going out, Dad. Pupunta ako kay Kuya Xavi," paalam ko.

"What's the rush, Hari? You just went out with them last night."

"I have to talk to him."

My father sighed heavily. He then helplessly turned to Keno. Kinabahan ako agad. Tumalikod ako at pumanhik sa taas, pabalik sa kwarto, upang kuhanin ang susi ng kotse at cellphone ko.

"I hope you can start today, Keno," dinig kong sabi ni Daddy sa kanya, hindi pa ako nakakalayo.

"No problem, Sir."

Damn it. Really?

Nagmadali ako paakyat. I didn't bother getting changed dahil maayos naman na ang damit ko. Besides, I was just going to visit Kuya Xavi's house. Hindi ako rarampa sa harap ng madaming tao. I didn't have to meet important people to look more formal. Ayos na ang casual dress na suot ko.

Nang makababa ako ulit ay wala na si Daddy sa living room, but I found Keno patiently waiting near the front door. He was standing straight and tall, like he was in the military. Kala mo'y mapaparusahan siya kapag bumaluktot nang kahit konti ang katawan. It looked very uncomfortable to me.

Bago ako tuluyang lumabas ng bahay ay hinarap ko muna siya. I had to set things straight. His hooded gaze landed on me right away. Wala sa sarili kong ginaya ang maayos niyang pagtayo para tumangkad pa nang kahit konti.

As a woman and compared to girls my age, I was already tall. I could even pass as a model. The countless offers and invites I had received from talent agencies could attest to that.

Noong college pa ako ay gusto kong subukan 'yon for experience. I wanted to explore before I got tied to the future they planned for me as the leader of our company, kaya nga lang ay hindi pumayag si Daddy. He said our family was too private for those things. We had to maintain our mysterious image in public so that we would remain untouchable in the eyes of other people.

Pero ayon na nga. Kahit gaano pa ako katangkad, Keno was way taller than me. Malaki-laki rin ang kanyang matipunong katawan kaya mas lalo akong nai-intimidate. Kasing tangkad niya sina Kuya Xavi at Kuya Knoa.

"You don't have to come with me. I can drive on my own and take care of myself," I told him. "Pwede ka na umuwi. Thanks for coming."

"That is my job," simpleng sabi niya.

"Well, then, I'll give you a day off. You can do whatever you want. Go home and relax. Do Netflix and chill. Kill time. Enjoy life. Whatever."

"It's my first day."

"Na hindi naman dapat, 'di ba?" I reminded him dahil iyon naman ang totoo. Daddy just abruptly asked him to start because I was going out. "You can start on Monday instead."

Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata niya. He seemed wary of me and my words. Para bang kahit ano'ng sabihin ko ay hindi siya maniniwala.

Well, I couldn't blame him lalo na't madaming plano na ang naglalaro sa isipan ko upang mapaalis siya sa trabaho. Sana nga lang ay makumbinsi ko ang pinsan ko.
Kuya Xavi was always firm with his decisions. Walang kahit sino man ang makakapagpabago ng isipan niya—unless it's his wife, of course. Pero pagdating sa akin, madalas ay gumagana naman ang paglalambing ko sa kanya.

"Okay na ba? Aalis na ako. See you on Monday!" I flashed a sweet smile and waved at him before going my way.

I smiled wider when I didn't hear any footsteps behind me. Siguro ay naisip niyang binigyan ko talaga siya ng pabor. Laking gulat ko nga lang nang makita ko siyang nakasunod sa akin sa salamin ng sasakyan ko.

"What the hell?!" Mabilis akong napalingon sa kanya. "You almost gave me a heart attack!"

Keno didn't move an inch and continued to blankly stare at me.

"Bakit ka ba sumunod? 'Di ba sabi ko sa 'yo huwag mo na ako sundan? Sa Monday na lang?"

"You did."

"Then why are you following me like a creep?"

"I didn't remember saying yes to you," simpleng sabi niya. "And I'm not a creep."

Nalaglag ang panga ko. "You..." Kumunot ang noo ko saka tumayo nang maayos. "But I ordered you so!"

"I was told not to follow orders from you. You're not my boss."

"What?" I was dumbfounded and speechless for a moment. Dama ko ang unti-unting pag-akyat ng magkahalong kahihiyan at galit sa aking mukha. "Just... Just what the hell did you say?!"

Hindi natinag si Keno. He remained stoic as he uttered his next words. "Your cousin told me you might try to take full control of everything. He made it clear to me na siya lang ang susundin ko o ang ama mo. You have no right to give me instructions or order me around."

Cousin? Kuya Xavi?!

Galit na galit na ako. Nag-iinit na ang mukha ko at para na akong sasabog na bomba sa sobrang galit. I wanted to use my knowledge of martial arts just to release my anger on him, but that might add to Kuya Xavi's reasons for tightening my security. Kailangan kong pigilan ang sarili hangga't hindi ko pa siya nahihilot.

"Thanks for telling me then," I said, and I balled my fist to control my surging anger. "I'll make him fire you."

"Do as you please," tipid niyang sabi.

He didn't even look threatened. Parang kahit mawalan siya ng trabaho ay baliwala sa kanya.

Sa sobrang inis ko ay hindi na ako sumagot. Tinalikuran ko na siya at tinuloy ang pagsakay sa sasakyan. I didn't waste a single beat and drove to Kuya Xavi's house. I turned the air conditioner on full blast, pero para pa rin akong nasa impyerno. Nag-iinit na ang ulo ko, lalo na tuwing nakikita ko ang itim na SUV na nakasunod sa akin. Kulang na lang ay tubuan ako ng sungay.

It was probably a car given by Kuya Xavi for Keno to use to drive or follow me around. Tuwing nakikita ko sa rear view mirror ang SUV ay dinidiinan ko ang tapak sa gas. I wanted to get away from his sight, but he was following me closely. Kahit ano'ng gawin ko, hindi ko siya matakasan.

Still, I had admit it was pointless to run away from him when I was on my way to Kuya Xavi's house. Malalaman at malalaman niya rin kung nasaan ako kapag nagkita na kami ni Kuya.

The tire screeched in my ears as I abruptly stepped on the brakes in front of Kuya Xavi's house. Sarado ang matayog na gate. Hindi ko na inabalang bumusina pa para ipabukas 'yon at ipasok ang sasakyan. I got out straight from the car at nadinig kong ganoon din ang ginawa ni Keno.

"You're a reckless driver," dinig kong komento niya sa pagmamaneho ko.

"I don't give a damn about your unsolicited opinion," I said as I pressed on the doorbell roughly. Halos suntukin ko na 'yon sa sobrang inis.

"You curse a lot too," he added.

Hindi na ako nakipag-usap sa kanya dahil ayaw ko nang magsalita.

"Ay, si Ma'am Hariette!" I heard the guard on the intercom. Tinitingnan muna nila sa camera kung sino ang bisita bago buksan ang gate.

The gate opened as soon as they saw me. Mabilis akong pumasok sa loob. I was confident that they wouldn't allow a stranger like Keno to come in as well, but they didn't stop him.

"Good morning po, Ma'am Hariette!" masiglang bati ng security na nakadestino sa guard house at napalingon kay Keno. "Sir Keno!"

"Mornin'," simple at malalim na bati ni Keno sa guard.

What the hell? The guards know him as well?

Well, he might have visited before. Siguro ay dito siya kinausap ni Kuya Xavi. Does that mean na matagal na rin 'to binabalak ng pinsan ko?

I refused to believe that. Dire-diretso ang lakad ko papasok ng bahay. The main door wasn't locked. Pagkapasok ko ay agad kong nakita si Chantal na may dala-dalang flower vase na naglalaman ng camellia arrangement.

"Hari?" Punong-puno ng pagtataka ang boses niya nang makita ako. "Napadalaw ka. Hindi mo sinabing pupunta ka..." Unti-unti siyang nahinto sa pagsasalita nang lumagpas ang tingin niya sa akin, papunta sa likod ko. "May kasama ka pala..."

"Don't mind him. He's just a nobody." Pag-agaw ko ulit ng atensyon niya. "Nandito ba si Kuya Xavi?"

Chantal's eyes turned melancholic when I mentioned my cousin. I suddenly recalled the brief conversation I had with Kuya Knoa about her and Kuya Xavi. Mukhang may problema nga ang dalawa gaya ng hinala ko, and I had a feeling that it was Kuya Xavi's fault.

"Uhm... Maaga siyang umalis kanina. Wala siya rito," sabi niya saka bahagyang ibinaba ang hawak sa vase.

"Did he tell you where he went?"

Bigo siyang umiling. "Hindi ko rin kasi siya nakausap kanina. I woke up without him in our bed. Ang sabi lang ng guards ay maaga siyang umalis."

She woke up without him on their bed?

I didn't know why, but that statement sounded so painful to me. Wala namang pasok ngayon sa trabaho. He should be spending time with his wife. Kagabi rin ay kaysa sa bahay na lang siya, he even went outside to hang out with us. Pagkatapos ay hindi pa siya nagsabi kung nasaan siya.

Mas lalo akong nakaramdam ng galit para kay Kuya Xavi. How can he do this to her? He was the one who lured her into this marriage! Pagkatapos ay hahayaan niya lang na ganito ang nararamdaman ng asawa?

Why am I damned with assholes of cousins? I thought Kuya Xavi was different, pero pareho lang pala sila ni Kuya Knoa na gago.

"Are you okay?" Kahit na inis na inis ay hindi ko magawang baliwalain lang si Chantal. She looked so miserable at pinsan ko ang may kagagawan no'n. I wanted to comfort her, even just for a bit.

"H-ha? Uhm, yes. Oo naman. Bakit?" wala sa sarili niyang sagot.

My eyes narrowed, trying to figure her out. Nag-iwas naman siya ng tingin sa akin upang ilapag ang vase sa coffee table.

"Uhm, kumain ka na ba? May natira pang breakfast kanina dahil hindi kumain si Xavi, but I can cook us lunch now kung gusto mo at ng... uhm, kasama mo," aya niya.

"No need," agap ko. "I'm just really here to talk to Kuya. Do you have an idea kung nasaan siya?"

"Hindi ko sigurado pero baka nasa DVH. You can try calling him, too."

"Try ko na lang tingnan kung nasa office siya. I'm sure he won't answer my calls," sabi ko na lang. "Anyway, I'll go now. Let's... hang out some other time."

"Sure. Just text or call me." Nagsumikap ngumiti si Chantal.

I smiled and nodded. "I will."

"Ingat kayo."

Pagkatalikod ko ay bumungad agad sa akin si Keno. He stepped aside to give me space. Mas lalo ko 'yong kinais kahit na pabor naman sa akin. I flipped my hair and walked confidently on the way out.

Ang security guard ay nakaabang na agad sa aking pag-alis. Hindi ko na kailangan pang mag-utos. Binuksan nito ang pintuan ng sasakyan para sa akin at agad din akong pumasok para makaalis.

Like earlier, Keno followed me until we reached DVH. Mabilis pa rin ang patakbo para hindi niya sana ako maabutan, but he was annoyingly fast. Magaling din siyang magmaneho. Mas lalo akong natakot para sa freedom ko. I felt like I'd be completely chained to see how well he performed his job, and it was just his first day!

The lobby was unusually quiet. Wala masyadong tao dahil wala namang pasok. Ang nandito lang ay ang kailangang pumasok at naka-duty para sa security ng kompanya.

Knowing who I am, dire-diretso lang nila akong pinapasok at binati rin. Hindi na nila ako tinanong. However, I was surprised when they gave Keno the same treatment.

Ano ba 'to? Did my cousin already introduce him to everyone? O baka naman hindi siya tinanong ng nasa reception desk dahil guwapo at maayos na maayos ang pananamit?

"Whatever..." I whispered, feeling so annoyed. Parang walang umaayon sa mga gusto kong mangyari.

Dumiretso ako sa elevator kung saang pumasok din si Keno. Talagang hindi siya nagpaiwan. The executive floor was deserted. Walang katao-tao. Even Joseph, my cousin's secretary, wasn't there. I doubted if he was really there, but I still barged into his office without knocking.

I found Kuya Xavi sitting in the lounge area with a cup of coffee in his hand. Natigil siya sa pag-inom noon nang lingunin ako. He took a deep breath when he realized what I was there for, lalo na't kasunod ko lang din ang bodyguard na kinuha niya para sa akin.

"What's with the new bodyguard, Kuya?" bungad kong tanong sa kanya. I stood tall in front of him, trying to look intimidating in his eyes.

"I see you already met Keno—"

"Fire him now," I demanded without beating around the bush.

"Hari, please..."

"I said, I want him fired."

"Let's not talk about this."

"Why?" I asked frustratedly. "You didn't even ask for my consent. Basta mo na lang ako binigyan ng bagong bodyguard."

"I told Tito about this, and he agreed," he explained. "Your old bodyguards are not fit for the job. Lagi mo silang natatakasan."

"Which is hindi ko naman na 'yon dapat ginagawa, 'di ba? Hindi naman dapat ako tatakas kung hinahayaan nila ako! They should just let me be!" I argued. "I'm old enough now to decide for myself, Kuya. I'm fucking twenty-four!"

"Even at your age, you can still make wrong decisions in life. We just want you protected," he insisted.

"And that's normal! Kahit ikaw rin naman nagkakamali pa rin, 'di ba?"

"Hari!"

"What is this, huh?" I crossed my arms and stared intently at him. No. He can't shut me up now. "Dahil ba nagkakalabuan kayo ni Chantal, sa akin mo ibinubuntong ang stress mo? You want me to suffer like you—"

"Hariette!" My name thundered inside the office.

Galit na galit si Kuya Xavi. Ngayon lang siya nagalit sa akin nang ganoon. It was way worse than last night. His veins protrude from his neck.

"You are not getting rid of your bodyguard, and that's it!" he said with finality.

Natutop ang aking labi at nangilid ang luha. Gusto ko pang humirit. I wanted him to see and feel how horrible I felt because of frustration, but I doubted if he would listen. We would only fight. Walang patutunguhan ang pag-uusap namin.

"I hate you..." mahina kong sabi, ngunit dahil sa katahimikan na nananaig sa loob ng opisina ay rinig na rinig 'yon.

Tinalikuran ko siya. Agad kong nakaharap si Keno na mariin ang tingin sa akin. Tinitigan ko rin siya pabalik saka inirapan at naglakad palabas ng opisina.

Whatever. I guess I'll just have to do my best to escape from his watch.