Handsome Bodyguard
I didn’t have a choice but to bring him with me, or else he’ll be suspicious of me again. It’s almost like watching a sitcom. Entering Lulu’s library, I saw how her eyes widened like an owl and her jaw dropping. If I didn’t call her name, she would have embarrassed herself. I introduced them to each other and I would not explain how awkward that is for me and Lulu.
Now, we’re seated on the same table while Aciel is scanning some book on the aisle. We couldn’t even speak to each other because Lulu is eyeing Elijah from time to time.
”Lulu, stop gawking. He might notice you.” I hissed at her.
She glared at me. “No shit. Why the hell did you bring him here?”
I sighed. “Don’t ask me. As if I want him here as well.” I whispered and pretended to read the book I’m holding.
”What is he? Some sort of body guard?”
I didn’t answer her. Sibal’s outside. How would he be my bodyguard?
"Handsome bodyguard." she giggled. I glared at her and she acted that she didn't just do that.
”Does he know?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “I don’t think so. How would he even know if there’s only the two of us here.”
”Right.” she sighed and fixed the papers, pretending to be busy herself.
”As long as he thinks I’m coming here because you're my only friend, it’ll all be fine.” I said without looking at her.
She didn’t answer me so I looked at her and this woman! Her eyes are fixated to Elijah, almost drooling.
”What the hell?”
”Huh?” She seemed to wake up from her senses.
I raised a brow. She cleared her throat and shook her head.
”You can’t blame me, Alia. I told you before, that man is freaking hot.”
”Tss.” As if I don’t know that.
“But that doesn’t change my suspicions of him. Maybe he’s here to spy?”
”I don’t know Lulu. Don’t ask me, he might hear.” I gritted my teeth because I saw Elijah coming in our direction now.
I felt Lulu’s sudden panic. I looked at Aciel who’s about to sit on our table. He scratched the side of his lip handsomely while sitting in front of me.
”Yes?” I asked.
”You stay here the whole day?” he asked casually.
I bit my lip and nodded. He protruded his lips while nodding. He closed the book he’s holding.
”How about your lunch? Where do you eat?” he asked again. I heard Lulu’s heavy breathing.
”Uhm, Lulu cooks our food. Sometimes, I bring some from your unit.”
He nodded again. I looked at the book again. Is he really serious about all this? I seek my mind from all the things that had happened before this idea of him happened.
Last night, we argued about this. Don’t tell me it’s because of that? God! I shouldn’t have acted that way. Now he’s really trying to know every errand of mine.
”Do you want to eat outside or…” he spoke again.
”Lulu will be left alone here.” I reasoned out.
”Uh no! I’m fine.”
I glanced at Lulu with my speaking eyes. She widened her eyes back at me with a big smile on her face.
”I’m fine, Alia. Really. I’m alright, I have food. You can just eat outside. I guess we’ll meet again tomorrow?”
I gritted my teeth. Why am I sensing that he’s siding with this man right here. I’m her friend!
”I guess that’s it.” Aciel stood. I looked up to him. “Come, let’s eat our lunch outside.”
I’m still skeptical and unsure about all this but I stood anyway. I even stared at Lulu for a long but she’s just smiling at me.
”Alright, bye Lulu See you tomorrow.” I said and embraced her.
Aciel is standing behind me already. So after that embrace his hand snaked on my waist right away. I saw Lulu with a weird stare. I furrowed my forehead at her and she tried to hide the smile on her face.
”We’ll go now, nice meeting you.” said the man beside me and offered to shake hands with Lulu.
Lulu attentively shook Aciel’s hand and showered him with more flowery words.
”I’m glad that Alia found a company here while I’m away and busy.” he added. I looked at his face.
”Of course, sir. I’ll take care of Alia.” said Lulu.
He nodded seriously and bid his goodbye again. We left the library. Sibal drove us to the mall where Aciel might be wanting to eat our lunch. I was just silent the whole time. Or should I say, we were just silent the whole time while he’s holding my hand. Now that I’ve realized, it’s way better when he’s always on his phone. I’m not used to him being this free.
After our lunch, he asked me where I wanted to go. I couldn’t suggest any, so he just suggested if I want to go to the cinema and watch a movie. I’ve never been into a cinema before, and I’ve never seen one. I’ve just heard from Lulu that it has a big screen. So I agreed to Aciel’s invitation.
While falling in line to buy tickets, I saw how the teen age group of people stared at him. I think they’re about the same age as mine. Instead of minding them gawking at him, I focused on the uniforms they are wearing. They’re students…
“Hey,” Aciel got my attention when he wrapped his arm around me.
”Hmm?”
”Let’s go.”
He showed me the tickets, and I saw him glance in the same direction that I’m staring at. One glance at the shrieking students then I nodded so we could leave the line.
I wonder how it feels to be a student? To go to school and study? To experience the process of learning… the universities, classmates and any other activities. I wonder how it would feel.
True enough, the cinema is such a breathtaking place for me. It’s dark when we went inside. We sat on the second level to the last row. The screen is so big and the whole place is chilly.
”It’s your first time, isn’t it?” Aciel asked while putting the drinks in the drink slot on the chair.
I nodded quietly.
”You sit here.”
He pointed the end chair. I didn’t say anything and obeyed him. He then sat beside me. The whole cinema experience is nice and overwhelming. The movie is great, because it’s some sort of action and magical realism story. I got cold in the middle but Aciel held my hands and snaked his arm around me, enough to feel warm.
But I just stayed silent for the whole time. It’s almost evening and the sun is almost setting when we get out of the mall. The whole occurrence is serene and calm. Maybe because we are not arguing, and both respect the quietness of us.
”Did you have fun?” he asked me while we were in the car.
Sibal drove us again. From watching the group of friends that we passed by, I turned to him and nodded a little. He breathed and touched my face with his thumb. His favorite move.
I stare at his eyes, thinking if I should say it or not. But this day is so much better than I thought. Saying that would only ruin our day.
Wait. Why am I even considering that? So what, if this day will be ruined? What the heck? When did I even start to care?
”Ace,” I uttered.
His lips twitched, looking forward to whatever I’m gonna say.
I sighed and took a deep breath. “What if I go to school?”
The whole car went quiet. That even Sibal is not facing us I can feel that he’s also listening. Aciel’s eyes didn’t have any reaction, he gritted his jaw and sighed.
He removed his hand on my face and looked head. My heart pained from his simple move. I guess that’s a no?
