"Home sweet, home." Binagsak ni KirJack ang mga pinamili naming mga damit.

Arlie was there too, but he rushed back to the hospital for important matters. Kaya naman hindi na siya nakasama.

I didn't agree to stay in the mansion since I still have work to do, and I can't leave Nanay Tasya working alone in the eatery. So, KirJack helps me to search for the nearest condominiums instead.

The whole place looked simple, even the interior design was basic. But what I like about it, aside from the single bed where I can see the atmosphere, it has its own training grounds where I can throw knifes and arrows. And it's soundproof, exclusive for VIPs.

Napatingin ako sa mga bags at sa mga branded na nakatatak nito. I'm not familiar with those shirts and dresses, but I assumed they were freaking expensive.

"You're wasting your money." Napailing ako saka siya nilagpasan.

"As long as it's for you, Señora."

I darted him a look. He's been calling me that since this morning when he picked up at Arlie's building. Nakakailang lang dahil maraming nakakakilala sa akin because of the scandal video when we went to the mall. And as much as I less care about my reputation, they'll think that I slut this man—who's insisted on being my bodyguard.

"You wanna die?"

"I'm just doing my job."

"Job my ass." I went to the kitchen to search for food.

But he follows me and even takes the knife away from my hands. Napapikit na lang ako sa inis.

"Baka masugatan ka, Señora." He waggled his brows and hid the knife in the cabinet.

"Can you please, get out?" marahan akong napapikit habang hinihilot ang sentido ko.

Napatingin naman siya sa relo niya saka ngumiti. "May tatlong minuto pa."

"Umalis ka na. I can handle myself." Nilabas ko mula sa fridge and lulutuin ko para ngayong gabi.

Pero, sadyang nang-aasar talaga ang taong ito't tinanggalan pa ko ng karapatan sa kusina.

I watched him chopping all the ingredients and even cook for us, which made me confused. As far as I remember, he never cooked—that's what I know.

"I never know, you know how you cook."

Bigla siyang napatigil sa pagsandok ng kanin para sa akin. Tapos na ang duty niya at kailangan na niyang umalis, pero tila gusto niya pa atang sulitin ang oras.

"There are so many things you don't know about me, Señora."

Napatingin ako sa mga pagkain. They look like something that begs your stomach to feed. Amoy pa lang alam ko ng masarap na.

"And I'm flattered that you want to know me." He chuckled. Binunot niya ang upuan.

"Hindi ka pa ba uuwi?" I asked him.

"That's rude, are you not going to invite me to have dinner?" He frowned.

"Do I have to ask you?"

"You know what? I have a thin like a thread of patience when I'm hungry. So please excuse me for taking a bite." He snapped apart the chopsticks he was holding and dig into the food.

Napatingin siya sa akin at sa pinggan kong walang laman, bukod sa kanin. Napaangat siya ng kilay saka nilagyan ng beef ang pinggan ko.

"I'm allergic to red meat," I informed him.

Napahinto naman siya sa pagkain, saka tiningnan ang hinanda niya na halos lahat ata ay may beef o hindi naman kaya ay may sahog na baboy.

"I didn't know that." He blinked, like he was telling me that it was his first time he had discovered anything aside from the flowers he brought to the hospital. 

Bumuntong-hininga ako't pinili iyong putahe na kaunti lang ang pork saka hiniwalay ito sa mga gulay.

"Don't worry, I can survive this." Pinakita ko sa kaniya ang gulay.

"I'm sorry."

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"Hindi mo naman alam 'yon. It's okay." I continued eating my food.

"I'll keep that in mind."

Nagpatuloy lang siya sa pagkain niya nang may napansin ako sa balikat niya. I tried to squint my eyes to focus on the red taint in his white polo.

It's blood?

Napatingin ako sa kaniya na mukhang wala namang pakialam sa balikat niyang dumudugo.

I suddenly remembered that he couldn't feel pain.

"Oy," tawag ko sa kaniya.

"Hmmm?"

"You should check yourself."

"You cared so much? Baka mahulog ako niyan." Mahina siyang natawa saka sumandal sa upuan.

"You're so lame," I rolled my eyes. Tumayo ako para hanapin iyong first aid kit.

"Are you looking for something?" Nagtaka naman siya na sinundan ako sa sala. "Wait. Let me look it for you."

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Nang mahanap ko na 'yon lagayan ng gamot ay umupo ako sa sofa. Tiningnan niya naman ako na may pagtataka, lalo na sa first aid na nasa gilid ko.

Tinapik ko ang bakanteng upuan. Mas lalo pang nangunot ang noo niya.

"You're bleeding." Turo ko sa balikat niya na ngayon ay kumalat na ang dugo sa damit niya.

Narinig kong napamura siya saka niya tinanggal ang polo niya. At first, he was hesitant to take it off, pero ako na mismo ang humatak sa kaniya upang umupo't tinanggal ang batones nito.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya pero agad din naman niyang iniwas ang tingin niya.

"You don't have to rip my clothes."

Napatingin ako sa damit niya. I didn't rip his clothes. I just helped him to unbutton them, pero iyong pangalawang batones ayaw makipagtulungan kaya winasak ko na lang. Hindi namna ganoon kalala ang wasak nito, it was just enough to see his broad chest and six-pack abs.

Pinaradahan ko ng tingin ang mga sariwang latay na nasa balikat niya. Hindi lang iyon, dahil napupuno ng bagong latay ang buong harap niya. Tinakpan niya lang ito ng bandage wrap, pero dahil siguro sa pagbubuhat niya sa buong araw ng mga bags kanina ay bumukas ang mga sugat niya.

"Where did you get this?" His wounds are seriously lacerated.

"Nothing." Mabilis siyang nag-iwas ng tingin.

"Idiot."

Mahina siyang natawa. "Why do you care so much about me? In love ka na ba sa akin?"

Napatigil ako sa paglinis ang mga sugat niya. It's not like I'm concerned about him, it's just, I know I can still milk him to track those guys who molested me. He may be an innocent, but my instincts scream that he's one of them. And if my instinct is right, and he's one of those guys. I'd better get close to him to easily mess up his life.

"I should have killed you earlier." Binaba ko ang panlinis saka binalutan ulit ng malinis na bandage ang sugat niya.

"C'mon, Bright. Aminin mo na lang para ma-reject na kita." He rested his back on the sofa.

"Stop feeding your delusions, fucker"

"I'm not feeding my delusions, Señora." Mahina siyang natawa. "I can read you."

"You can read me?" I scoffed. "You'd better start to enroll in primary then."

"I did. And I finished my degree in psychology," he said proudly.

"What a waste." Bumalik na 'ko sa kusina saka hinugasan ang mga pinggan. There's no use of talking to him. Mas lalo atang lumaki ang ulo ng isang 'to.

"Let me help you—" He didn't blink when I almost dug the knife I was holding into his eye. Ilang pulgada lamang ang layo't bulag ang taong ito.

"Okay, chill. I'm just kidding earlier." He immediately raised his hands as he was telling me he surrendered.

I didn't hear his footsteps. I only feel his breath when he gets close to me. This weirdo.

Umatras siya't umupo sa upuan. I can feel his gaze on my back. This feeling is so familiar. It's quite alarming.

Napatingin ako sa kamay kong nanginginig. I tried to compose myself. Mariin kong pinikit ang mata ko. I have to calm down, kung hindi baka masira ang plano ko.

This is not the right time to be afraid, Bright. This isn't the right time to get weak, nagsisimula pa lang tayo.

"Nga pala, Señora. Are you going to donate all of those uniforms and supplies or something?" tukoy niya sa mga pinamili namin kanina.

Pinatay ko na ang gripo. My hands won't stop from shaking, so I have to hide them on my back when I face him.

"Bakit namumutla ka?" Pag-aalala niya. Agad siyang lumapit sa akin pero mabilis akong lumayo sa kaniya.

"Stay there!" 

"What's going on?" Kunot noo niyang tanong.

Mas lalong kumabog ang dibdib ko nang maalala ko ang lalaki na 'yon sa kaniya.

My medicine. I need it. Nagpasuraysuray akong naglakad hanggang sa makita ko ang bag ko kung saan ko nilagay ang mga gamot na binigay sa akin ni Carmella.

"Señora, you're scaring me." Lumapit siya sa akin. He gazed at the syringe that I injected into my skin.

Mariin akong napapikit. My head started to get dizzy again. I suddenly saw the flash of lights, the voice laughing and moaning in my head that I didn't want to hear.

"Bright, what did you inject?"

Mas lalo kong tinakpan ang taenga ko nang marinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon.

"Fuck it, Bright. I will never tire of you. You're mine, Bright." I can feel him inside me, pumping me endlessly. His mouth traveled like he wasn't enough of me and his hands were squeezing my skin.

I feel disgusted. He fucking ruined my life.

"I want you to remember this voice, Bright. I'll find you."

"Bright! Wake up!" Naramdaman ko ang malakas na pagyugyog sa akin ni KirJack.

It's him. I wanted to run away from him, but my body stopped cooperating and I couldn't feel anything.

Nag-uunahan na kumawala sa mga mata ko ang mga luha. I want to scream at him. I know it's him.

Nahanap na niya ako.

Nakita ko na lang na tinakbo niya ko sa hospital. People were around me and I could see them laughing, just like how they laughed in my head.

"I'll fucking sue whoever drugs you!"

Drugs?