Sweet Nemesis

Chapter 1

#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.