Chapter 5

What Elijah said bugged me. He's right and has a point. I shouldn't trust so easily. The fact that I always have dated many guys gives me goosebumps.  Lahat sila ay mabait sa akin at hindi mukhang kahina-hinala. Kung tutuusin, gentleman talaga sila. I just don't know why Elijah's mood immediately changed when we finished our breakfast earlier.

Well, I should cancel my date for now. I don't know what to do. I just want to go out. I might just get bored. I also washed my clothes barehanded as I can't go to the laundry shop without telling Elijah my whereabouts. Natapos ko na ring linisin ang kwarto ko at ang buong condo unit.

I am not used to being locked up in my room. I hate being alone. I always loved the music and loud noises of the bar. If only I can convince Elijah to come with me.

Nandito ako ngayon sa sala, nanonood ng movie. It's already pass four in the afternoon when my phone rang inside my pocket. Kinuha ko iyon at nakita kong tinatawagan ako ni mama. Agad ko naman itong sinagot.

“Hello, mommy!” I uttered. She often calls me so I am really excited that she calls.

“Binisita ako ngayon ng kapatid mo at sinabi sa akin na nagkaproblema ka. What is that?” I can hear her strict voice echoing. I shook my head but still smiling because I missed her.

“It was weeks ago mom, but I am safe now. William even gave me a bodyguard.” I sighed. Sinabi ko sa kaniya ang bawat detalye ng nangyari at ang tanging nararamdaman ko sa boses niya ay pag-aalala. I just assured her that I am really fine.

“Mas mabuti na iyon kaysa mag-isa ka diyan. Hindi ako kontento kapag  walang nagbabantay sayo," she said, still with her strict voice pero may halong pag-aalala na. I just timidly smile. “By the way, will you visit here in Manila? I miss you, darling.”

“Miss you too,” sabi ko at sakto ring bumukas ang pinto. I saw Elijah leaning his back on the doorframe while still eating grapes he brought. I just smiled at him and looked away. “I am not quite sure when will I visit. I still have something else to do. I got into an agency and I am waiting for their response of when will I start working. For now, I am just enjoying my life.”

“Okay. I'll take note of that. Call me if you'll visit. Your suitors are always here to give flowers. They are very dedicated.” she joke. I chuckled at that.

“Don't mind my suitors. I know they are good guys. They were my classmates in High School.” I smiled when I reminisce the past. My mom just reminded me few things about taking care of myself before she bid goodbye.

That's when I looked back at Elijah who's still on his position from earlier. He's still standing their but his eyes are telling me something I can't recognize. Dumiretso siya sa pwesto ko at tumayo sa harapan ko.  Kinailangan ko pang tumingala sa kaniya.

"Bakit ka nandito?" Tanong ko habang nakakunot ang noo. I didn't called him though. He said that I will just call him if I need something.

“I heard you talking to someone.” There was no emotion on his eyes. He licked his lips and bite it and it reddened immediately. He leveled his eyes with me. “I thought you're having some visitors.”

"Oh." Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko dahil nakatutok ang mga mata ko sa labi niya. His kissable lips that I tasted before. I gulped with the sudden thought in mind. “I was talking to my—”

“Are you still dating some guys?” he asked with his husky voice. Is he seducing me? If yes, then it's really working.

“No...” Hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin ko nang ilapat niya ang in kaniyang daliri sa labi ko.

“Shhh. I don't like what I'll hear from you.” He then squats in front of me, still leveling his eyes that are already staring at me. “I am here but you're still looking for someone else. You even said that you miss him. What a blunt woman saying that in front of me.”

I curiously looked at him. What does he mean by that? Why is he acting like this? As if I am his girlfriend and he just caught me cheating on him. Umiling ako at agad na tinanggal ang daliri niya sa labi ko. Diretso akong tumitig sa kaniya.

His green eyes that I always admire changed its shade from light green into dark. I don't know if it's possible but I think it is. His jaw is also clenching while staring back at me.

“It wasn't my date. It was my mother calling me.” I said softly. He stared at me as if he's reading my thoughts. Then he looked away. He muttered a curse and then gazed back at me. I smiled. “I just miss my mother, that's all.”

Tumayo siya at binigyan ako ng distansya. My smile widens at that gesture. Bakit pakiramdam ko nagseselos siya?  I immediately shrugged that thought off. That's impossible. He doesn't even remember me.

"Pupunta ka ng Manila?" tanong niya. Tumango ako kaya itinuon niya ulit ang paningin niya sa akin.

“Oo, pero hindi pa ngayon. May mga bagay pa akong dapat i-manage." Sabi ko.

"Tulad ng ano?" tanong niya. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay. Bakit ang dami niyang tanong? “Kailan?”

“Maybe next year?” I answered, not sure.

“So you'll let guys court you when you get there? I heard that you have a lot of suitors.” He said, his voice was serious.

Tinitigan ko siya bago ako tumawa nang may narealize ako. Geez! Nakatingin lang siya sa akin ng naguguluhan. Ang cute niya!

"Bakit ang dami mong tanong, ha?" Umiling ako sa kaniya. “To answer your question, I don't date random guys, Sean Elijah. I have taste in men. And when I let them court me, it means that they passed the standards I set.” I smirk at him.

That's true though. Whenever men want to court me, I have this certain standard that I follow. But only two of those guys I met passed. My exes. The rest, I rejected them. I just don't want them to have false hopes on me. Still, some of those guys I rejected are really persistent eventhough I said 'no' already.

But honestly, who put my standard higher than anyone? It's Sean Elijah. He's the only one who stand up too much for me that even I dated a lot of guys, he's still the one on my top list. He's that special.

"Gusto kong mag-party, Elijah." Ngumiti ako sa kaniya at nag-puppy eyes.  I want to cringe on myself but I really wanted to get wasted for now. This is my only resort. I am really bored here. “Just for tonight, please?”

He shook his head and abruptly covered my face with his hand. It really covered my whole face. I winced when he even pinched my cheeks. My lips pouted.

"Sige. Pero sasamahan kita,” sabi niya na ngayon ay nakangisi na. Tumango lang ako sabay ngiti ng malawak. Para akong bata na binigyan ng candy.

“Anyway, I'll go upstairs to change. You should too.” I smiled at him before I abruptly went upstairs, but I stopped when I heard him call my name.

“Arabella Rielle.” Tumingin ako sa kaniya, naghihintay.  He looks so serious and also intimidating right now. He was just wearing a jogging pants paired with a sleeveless shirt. Tumikhim siya bago nagsalita. “Kung liligawan kita, papayag ka ba?”

Parang nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya.  Natahimik ako sa kinatatayuan ko at nakatingin lang sa kaniya. My feet stopped midway from going upstairs. I bit my lips to suppress my smile. I was about to nod but before I could do that, he immediately spoke again.

“Don't bother answering. I'm just joking.” He smirk which made me felt disappointed all of the sudden.  Tumango lang ako sa kaniya at pumanhik na sa kwarto ko.

I heaved a deep sigh. Gosh! I expected him to be serious but he just took it back. What should I expect from a playboy? He won't take it seriously. .

Inihanda ko na lang ang mga kailangan ko bago ako pumunta sa banyo. Mga twenty minutes akong nasa loob bago ako nagbihis. I put a dark makeup and fake eyelashes. I also put my brown contact lenses to hide my true eye color. I put my hair into a bun that I seldomly do. Just for the new look..

I don't want people to recognize me easily. I want to be cautious now of my surroundings. Especially those gangster from The Hawks. I wear my two-inches heels before I off to go.

Nakita ko kaagad si Elijah sa sofa na naghihintay sa akin. Napatikhim ako dahilan para mapatingin siya sa akin. Ini-scan niya ang buong set-up ko at mas napatitig sa bewang ko na hindi natatakpan ng dress. May laces ito at kitang-kita ang tiyan ko.

Nagpalit lang siya ng gray na checkered polo at pinares sa black denim slack. His undercut hair is a little messy but it defined his face especially his jawline.

“Let's go?” He asked. I nodded. He guided me by putting his arms around my waist as if he's owning me. Napalunok ako sa banayad na mga haplos niya. I can't describe this feeling inside my stomach but all I know is that it's a good feeling.

Huminto kami sa harap ng kotse niya at iginiya ako papunta sa passenger seat. Sumunod naman siya at nagsimulang maniobrahin ang sasakyan. Mahabang katahimikan ang namagitan. Nakatingin lang ako sa mga street lights na nadadaanan namin. Hindi na pamilyar sa akin ang daan.

“I will take you to my friend's bar. It's much safer there. No one will harm you.” He uttered in the middle of the silence. Tumango lang ako at nakatingin pa rin sa labas ng bintana. “It's unusual to see you being silent like this.” he added. That' got my attention and diverted it to him.

“What do you mean?”

“You seem not enjoying.” He shrugged. “Did something bad happened, my lady?” He smiled.

I shook my head but I know deep inside, I was disappointed at what he said about courting me. I got high hopes for a little while but it got taken back immediately. Hindi ko alam kung kaya ko bang manatili sa tabi niya nang hindi umaasa. I chose this and I should enjoy my time with him. But at the end of the day, I know the catch. My feelings won't still be reciprocated.

“Nothing. I just miss my friends and the loud sound of music of the bar.” I just said. “You know, the usual routine I always do. I just miss that.”

"Hmm." Napatitig ako sa kaniya. His hands are on his lips, slightly touching it. “You might enjoy this night.” He smirk and glanced at me. Ngumisi lang ako at tumango.

“Thank you, Sean,” I sincerely said. 'Thank you for being part of my life.' I want to add that but I just keep it to myself.

Being in love with a playboy is as hard as rock. Hindi mo alam kung magiging loyal sila sayo. If they will change their habit or if they will make a move to change themselves. For me, I accepted Elijah the way he is. I accepted him being a playboy since before. I took risk eventhough I don't have an assurance that he'll have the same feelings as me.

But once is enough. I don't need to be rejected twice by the person I love. I know my limits and where I stand. I don't want to get my heart shattered and broken again.

After an hour, we got into a fancy bar. From the outside, it looks like just a building, but when we got inside, it's different from what I expected. Ang malawak na espasyo ng dancefloor, iba't ibang set ng mga mesa at upuan. At the counter are bartenders mixing those drinks. And the different lights, the whole area gives me chills. This is it!

But before I could have a drink, I heard Elijah's voice near me. He pulled me by waist towards the other floors upstairs. It has different VIP rooms and we went inside on the 3rd door.

I immediately saw five gentlemen and two women sitting on the couch and sofa. They have drinks with them.  Bigla silang napatingin sa amin at pamilyar sa akin ang dalawang lalaking narito.

Napangiti ako ng malapad nang makilala nila ako.  Gusto kong lumapit sa kanila pero mas humigpit ang hawak ni Elijah sa bewang ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya pero nagkibit balikat lang siya at hinila ako papunta sa kabilang side ng sofa. Opposite to the gentlemen who are with us.

“Hey!” I greeted. “It's nice to see you all. I'm Rielle.” I introduced myself as soon as I sat beside Elijah.

“Oh, you're the hot blue-eyed dancer, right?” A guy on my left said. He has that charismatic aura surrounding him and when the lights flashed on his face, I recognize him instantly. “Or maybe not.” He even smirk.

Natawa ako. "May suot akong contacts." He looks like he's flirting with me. “Rash Ferrer, right?” I smile. Though his surname is really familiar.

"“You know m—”

“Shut up, Ferrer!” Elijah hissed at him. Lumawak ang ngisi ni Rash habang nakatingin kay Elijah. Napailing na lang ako at binaling ang atensyon kina Clifford at Zaine na mga kaibigan ni Nicole. Nginitian lang nila ako.

“I didn't know that you're friends with Rivera, Elijah?” Clifford said. Elijah didn't respond.

“Well, he's also my bodyguard,” I honestly said.

“Woah, teka, teka!  Seryoso ka?" Tumawa ang lalaking katabi ni Rash. "Oh, I'm Daniel Saavedra, miss." Kinindatan pa niya ako.

“My brother assigned him.” I looked at Elijah who's just serious in sipping on his drink.

“William?” They asked. I nodded.

"Oh, kaya pala parang pamilyar ka."  Dagdag ni Zaine.

“Sean just invited me here so I hope you don't mind.” I said. They shook their head and even the women with us also did the same.

“So why did William assigned him to you? He could done that. He's expert.” Rash said. I don't know why but something on what he said give me chills. In what field is my brother expert? All I know is that he's busy managing our business.

"Busy siya." Nagkibit balikat na lang ako.

Sumimsim ako sa inumin ko at nagulat ako ng may pumasok. A waiter with a cap, wearing a waiter's attire and it's sleeveless. But what caught my attention was his left arm. It has a tattoo of a hawk.

Nagsimulang manginig ang katawan ko sa nakita.  Naramdaman ko na lang na hinawakan ni Elijah ang mga kamay ko. Hindi ko alam na nanginginig na rin pala ito. Sinulyapan ako ng waiter sa huling pagkakataon bago niya kami iniwan. He knew me. He is one of them! I am sure of that.

“Rielle!  Kumalma ka!" Hawak hawak ni Elijah ang mga braso ko. Napatingin ako sa kaniya. Alam kong nakita niya kung gaano ako natatakot ngayon.  "Anong nangyari?"

“I s-saw it a-again... The H-hawk, the tattoo...” Nanginginig ang labi ko. Naramdaman ko na lang na niyakap niya ako hanggang sa tumulo ang mga luha ko dahil sa takot.

“What happened to her?” I heard Rash's voice asked. I can even hear Daniel asking the two women to leave first. Leaving me with the gentlemen. I couldn't focus now and only I can think is being protected by Elijah.

“He saw them.” Elijah simply said.

“Who?” They asked.

I heaved a sigh and remove Elijah's arm on me. I looked at Elijah first before I glanced at all of them. I feel like they knew something. I heaved a deep sigh.

“The w-waiter who went here, h-he's a member of 'The Hawk'. A-and I'm their target.”