Chapter 3 TMWCBM

Nev

"Fuck! Are you a freaking vampire?!" gulat na usal ko nang makita itong nakatayo sa tabi ng kama ko. He's wearing his poker face. It's just four in the morning for crying out loud.

"No, Ma'am."

"Then why the hell- nevermind! Get out, maliligo ako."

He didn't even flinch when I pushed him aside.

"Ano? Tatayo ka nalang ba riyan? Aren't you going outside?"

"Safety matters, Ma'am."

I greeted my teeth in annoyance. Jesus! He's getting on my nerves.

"Can't you leave me for just a couple of minutes?!"

He stood there like a robot. I had no choice but to enter my closet, choose something to wear, and went inside the bathroom. After bathing and dressing, I put on my brown contact lens. Masyadong nakaka-attract kapag walang contacts, I hate attractions. Nakatayo parin ito sa paanan ng kama ko nang lumabas ako. He moved his head a bit to his side to take a glance at me, giving me the access to stare at half of his face. Goddamn perfect pointed nose.

I scoffed and walked towards the door. I opened the door and headed straight to the kitchen, where I found Mathilde, the helper of the cook, Mili. They're siblings, I must add.

"Magandang umaga po, Ma'am Nev."

"Morning. Kumain na kayo?"

"Opo, Ma'am."

I sat down on the chair, prayed for a couple of seconds, and started eating. Nakatayo lang sa tabi ko si Eros, as usual, with his emotionless face.

Hindi ko ginigising ng sobrang aga ang mga kasama ko sa bahay, they're doing it because that's what they wanted to. Dapat talaga, five-thirty ang gising at oras ng trabaho nito. They said I'm too kind to them and they wanted to pay it back with this kind of service. I'm glad, because I don't find myself kind and generous.

"Eros, eat."

"I beg to disagree, Ma'am."

"Don't argue with me, Eros. Masama ang gising ko. If I say eat, then eat."

He obliged and sat down on the chair beside mine. I watched as he eat. This motherfucker eats with grace, my goodness. Bodyguard ko ba talaga ito? He looks more expensive than I am! He's the only bodyguard I encountered that looks like a freaking god himself and wears expensive clothing. He even wears a fucking Rolex watch! Unbelievable.

"How much does your Rolex watch cost?" I asked and continued eating.

"Forty."

"Thousand?"

Not bad. Still expensive. Swerte na ng isang tao kung makakahanap ng bente pesos sa lansangan.

"Million."

Napabuga ako sa kinakain dahil sa sinabi nito.

"What?!"

"Forty million and five hundred seventy-eight thousand," he said as if it were just a forty pesos flower vase.

Shit! He's more wealthy than I am! Damn it, what kind of bodyguard is he? Or is he a goddamn bodyguard?

"Stop, don't joke around. It's not funny," I bit my lower lip as he shifted his gaze upon me.

"I don't do jokes, Ma'am."

Napainom ulit ako ng tubig. He's just too much! I think I need a private talk with Venus, hindi yata kayang tanggapin ng sistema ko na mas mayaman pa sa'kin ang bodyguard ko.

"My driver will drive for us," I informed him.

He only nodded and stayed by my side. He sat next to me inside the backseat of the car. We entered the building that I own. Some of my employee's greeted us, I greeted them back with a nod while Eros walked like he owns the whole fucking building. Ang yabang ng dating niya.

"I'm having a conference meeting later, you have to stay outside."

"Disagreed."

"For crying out loud, Eros. Makinig ka naman sa'kin, okay? Dalawang oras lang 'yon, isa pa nasa labas ka naman."

"I must protect you, Ma'am."

"I'm starting to hate you," I heaved a sigh.

He stood there, facing the window, hands on his pants pocket and he looks like a freaking fucking mafia boss. Kulang nalang ng baril and he's good to go.

A knock on my office's door caught my attention. Eros headed to the door and opened it. A scared Ozzyl entered my office with papers in his hand. Ozzyl is my trusted executive assistant. He's the one organizing my schedule. Hindi ito katulad ni Eros na big shot ang datingan, he's simple looking, the nerdy one but diffinitely not my type. I don't know if he's single or not, it's his personal information. We're close but we don't share each other's private information. That's how professionalism works.

"These are the reports of each department, Ma'am," Ozzyl cleared his throat and nervously wiped his forehead.

"What time is my meeting?" I asked softly.

"After lunch, Ma'am."

"Oh, okay. Thanks."

He bowed down and left. I turned to Eros who was examining Ozzyl's movement. No wonder he was nervous as fuck.

"You're scaring my employee, Eros. Stop with that judgemental stare of yours," sinamaan ko siya ng tingin.

"I'm sorry."

Kumibot ang labi ko sa tinuran nito. Halata naman kasing hindi sincere.

I continued reading the reports and signing papers as Eros follows with his stares. He didn't even sit the whole time! What a freaking good-looking weirdo.

I pressed the intercom and Ozzyl immediately came in.

"Mag-lunch na kayo," I said as I handed him the papers I signed.

"Yes, Ma'am. Should I order for you, Ma'am?"

I smiled at him.

"I would be glad to. The usual, Ozzyl. Thanks a lot."

He bowed down again and left. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair at pumikit saglit. Both of my hands are tired. My butt is tired too, I think it's paralyzed. Kidding. Tumayo ako at lumapit sa may cabinet. I opened one and revealed what was inside. Just some books. Novel books to be exact. I'm not a fan of reading romance books but it gives me company and entertainment.

I started scrolling through pages and waited for my lunch to come. Hindi rin nagtagal ay dumating si Ozzyl bitbit ang pagkain. Umalis din ito agad dahil sa mayabang na presensya ni Eros. Just kidding. He left because he's having lunch outside with the other employee.

"Sit. Let's have lunch."

Eros only gives me a cold stare and didn't even move.

"Eros," I said in a warning voice.

"Do you want me to hire another bodyguard? Pinaka-ayaw ko sa lahat ay 'yong matigas ang ulo."

His forehead creased. He took a step closer and sat right in front of me. It's weird but, he smells good. His scent is making my body tense. Sa pagkaka-alala ko hindi ito naligo kanina, but goddamn he still smells so good!

We started eating without conversation. Hindi naman awkward, sanay na ako sa tahimik na atmosphere, and it looks like he does too. Eros cleaned the mess after we ate. Good thing he knew how to do those.

"Dito ka lang, hindi ka pwede sa loob," paalala ko.

Para akong nanay nito na nagpapa-alala sa anak na 'wag malikot. Well, Eros can fit in as my child. Nah, I'm just joking. He's too old to be my child.

"One more question, it's still bugging me. Are you sure you're twenty-eight?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Motherfucker you look thirty," I hissed as I opened the conference room's door.

Humabol pa sa ilong ko ang mabangong amoy ni Eros hanggang sa makapasok ako. The meeting lasted for almost two hours. Lumabas na 'yong iba at naiwan kami ng isang stockholder na si Mister Demetrius.

"How have you been, Nev?" he softly asked.

I picked up the papers on my table together with my laptop and smiled at him.

"Doing good. Ikaw? Kamusta 'yong vacation mo?"

"Boring. Wala ka do'n."

"I'm not your plaything, Deene Demetrius," I rolled my eyes.

He chuckled as he walked toward me and patted my head.

"Akala ko pa naman magbabago ka."

"Why should I?"

"Still feisty as hell, Sweetheart. Si Venus?" tanong nito.

"Probably out of town. Hectic palagi schedule no'n."

"Busy, as usual. Hey, wanna grab dinner with me later?"

"Sure. I would love to."

"Hm, I'll fetch you at seven. Later, Babe," he winked.

Natawa ako sa ginawa nito. He's a flirt. Gwapo naman si Deene kaya kahit anong gawin nito ay bumabagay sa kaniya. Kahit yata tumambling or mag-acrobat bagay na bagay parin. Ang gwapo kasi. Nakakainis na kagwapuhan meron siya. He was my college shoolmate, siya 'yong heartthrob dati sa campus. Akala mo si Cupido sa dami ng pinapanang kababaihan.

I shook my head and headed outside. I found Eros standing near the door with a bored expression. Akala ko poker face lang kaya nito never thought he can also do boring face.

"Come on, let's go home early. May dinner date ako mamaya, you can come with me but you have to stay in the car."

"Date?"

"Yes. With Deene, later at seven."

*****

@MyNamez_Anne