Crushed 1

Prologue           "Hi Peaches!" it was a hoarse voice which caught Brie’s attention while she’s sitting on the bench, all alone inside the large hall-a clinic owned by Dra. Genesis Aurelia Almonte. Her eyes lit up upon hearing it and the fear inside her chest vanished so easily. ― Her hero was there again. Agad siyang lumingon at ramdam niyang namula ang pisngi niya nang kurutin ni Agent Villaverde ang pisngi niya. Nasa likod na pala niya ito kaagad at hindi niya napaghandaan na hahawakan siya nito. She’s not familiar with that sudden thumping of her heart when she sees him because she’s so young but it’s felt. She has crush on him. Sino ba ang hindi magkaka-crush sa isang lalaking nagsalba ng buhay niya at sumalo ng bala na dapat ay para sa kanya? He’s so brave and so kind, charming, too. "D-Does it hurt?" Brie shlyly glances at Thomas Henri’s naked chest. May gasa ito roon dahil sa tama ng bala na inoperahan kaagad matapos nilang makapunta sa isang fascility ng FBI. That was after saving her life. She was traumatized that’s why her father decided to let her stay under her trusted agent’s supervision and guidance-Agent Tommy Villaverde. According to the man’s fiancée, it would help her forget. Tingin niya ay tama iyon dahil sa tuwing malapit si Tommy sa kanya ay panatag ang kalooban niya. Kapag wala ito ay parang parating may kukuha sa kanya para siya ay ibenta. Hindi biro ang pinagdaanan niya at nakuha pa siyang saktan ng mga lalaking iyon, bagay na ni minsan ay hindi sa kanya ginawa ng kanyang Daddy at Mommy. Ngumiti ang binata sa kanya tapos ay naupo sa tabi niya. Gusto niyang umusog papalayo pero gusto niya itong nasa malapit lang. The truth, she wants to be wrapped in his hard arms and solid body built. It makes her feel so protected. May suporta pa rin ang braso nito para hindi madalas na magalaw ang dibdib na naoperahan. At kung hindi ito sinuwerte ay baka hindi na niya kaharap ang agent ngayon. "It hurts but when I see you, it doesn’t." he smirks and she drops her eyes, smiling timidly. "And why is that?" Brie sweetly asked, looking up at his eyes again. "Because you’re safe and I saved your life, the next Prime Minister of Canada decades from now." He answered; an eye squinting like it was a joke. "Just that?" she frowns and Tommy chuckled. It is not important. She doesn’t want to be a PM. She wants to be a Professor in Science. "Because I saved your innocence. I saved a cute little girl’s bright future from those men who love to torture little girls and corrupt their minds unconscientiously." He pinched her pert little nose and it made her blush again. "And you don’t regret it though you almost died in the operating room? That’s your heart and the bullet-" she blinks and frets; tears are starting to invade her beautiful light brown eyes. "No regret. It is my job and I am old. I chose you over me and I would choose you if I have to repeat history, Brie. I’ve experienced so many happy moments in life while you don’t have much. I want you to have so much, too so I chose you. This wound will always remind me of you." Seryosong pahayag nito sa bata na parang walang muwang sa mundo. "Then you will remember me as, ‘pain’." sumimangot talaga siya. "I don’t like it. I want you to remember me sweet and not bitter." she protested but he softly chucked. "Sweet. This wound is sweet. Stop frowning now. Your Mom might get mad at me. She told me that she’s a fan and I don’t wanna end up twisting it once she sees you fretting like a beaten kitty." She giggled and covered her mouth. Brie Addison is an only child, bubbly, kind and sweet. She’s the daughter of the Prime Minister of Canada and was on a vacation trip in US with her nanny when she was kidnapped. It wasn’t planned. Walang nakakaalam na ang batang balot ng makapal na jacket at sumbrero ay anak ng isa sa pinakamataas na tao sa Canada. Napag-tripan siya at kinuha ng mga lalaking nagbebenta ng menor de edad na mga bata para gawing sex slaves ng mga pedophiles. She’s so lucky because the group was already under observation by agent Tommy and his men. He barged in when no one was looking and nobody knows that he’s one of the most prominent federal agents of the United States, working under the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Thank you. I will never forget you and one day, I’ll ask Daddy to hire you as my...boyfriend." she smiled broadly but Tommy laughs. Nothing’s funny. "What’s funny? Daddy can buy anything and he can pay you to become my boyfriend." "Baby, not all the things in this world could be bought, especially friends. Remember that true friends aren’t the people who accept money to become your friend but who will voluntarily offer themselves even without anything but...’ll wait for that day." a grin flashes across his handsome face. She likes his long curly hair. He’s so attractive and so musculinely charming. "It means boy friend, my boy friend so Dra. Genny won’t get mad. She’ll be your wife. Am I right? While I am a girl friend." Paglilinaw niya na tinanguan naman nito. "Right, Peaches. Right. I’ll see you when I see you." Brie nodded. "Will you walk me to my Dad, T-Tommy?" she stood up now and ready to go but he slid his hands around her little spine and pulled her closer. She feels like bursting into tears. Ilang buwan na silang magkasama sa clinic na iyon na parang naging pangalawang bahay na niya. Her parents entrusted her safety to Tommy though he’s just freshly operated three months ago. Nakbantay din naman ang batalyon yatang bodyguard niya roon at ang gusto lang ng mga magulang niya ay matanggal ang takot, ang trauma sa sistema niya. "I will walk you, of course. It’s such a pleasure to walk you to your Dad who’s waiting at the parking lot for his little princess. Take care, Brie. I am not always there to protect you, sweetie." Malungkot ang mga mata nitong tumingin sa kanya. She cupped his wide, perfect stubbly jaws and smiled at him. "You, too. Thank you and bye-bye." "Bye..." he barely said, kissing her forehead... That’s goodbye and no one knows if their paths will cross again in their lives.