One Brat and the Three Bodyguards

Chapter 1

Under editing pa po ito, please huwag mo muna basahin dahil marami itong grammatical errors.

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Rachelle's POV

It's already morning, and even though my head hurts, I forced myself to get up. I grabbed my phone to check the time—10:26 AM.

There were several messages from my two friends.

GWEN: Hey, Trish. What happened last night? I can’t remember. I heard someone got shot outside the bar.

LEXA: Trish, is it true that someone was shot last night?

I stopped replying to their messages, feeling too lazy to go to the bathroom and take a shower.

Daddy isn’t home today because he’s on a business trip, so it’s just me and the house staff.

It’s Sunday, and I really want to hang out with my friends, but after what happened last night, I can’t go out. Even now, I still feel uneasy about it.

After showering, I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a white towel, my hair still wet.

I was sitting on my bed when my phone rang. Seeing Daddy’s name on the screen, I smiled and answered.

"Hello, Daddy! How’s your business trip?"

"It’s sad because I had to leave my only princess again."

His sad tone made me smile. Even though he’s always away on business trips, I know he still thinks about me. He’s the best dad ever.

I was very young when Mommy passed away, so Daddy raised me on his own. Since I’m his only child, he gives me everything I want just to make me happy.

"Daddy, don’t forget my gift!"

Rinig ko ang pagtawa ni daddy sa kabilang linya dahil sa sinabi ko.

"Of course, Darling. I won't forget it, I promise."

After my call with Dad, I left my room and headed downstairs. I went straight to the kitchen to get something to eat.

"Oh, hija. Gising ka na pala. Kanina pa kita kinakatok sa kuwarto mo para makapag almusal ka na," bungad sa akin ni Nanay Pena, ang aming mayodorma dito sa bahay.

"It's just a bit late when I woke up, Nanay Pena." I replied before sitting down. There was already food prepared on the table, and I suddenly realized how hungry I was.

"Naku hija, hindi naman sa nakikialam ako ha, pero kasi nag-aalala lang ako sa iyo dahil sa mga pangyayari. Balita ko may namatay daw sa bar na pinuntahan niyo kagabi."

I almost choked on my food at her words.

Shocked, I looked at her. "How did you know I went out last night?" I asked, quickly grabbing a glass of water and taking a sip.

"Nagpunta ako sa kuwarto mo kagabi para sana dalhan ka ng meryenda kaso wala ka, kaya alam kong tumakas ka na namang bata ka! Alam mong masyadong delikado sa labas lalo't gabi na."

I just sighed.

I knew that no matter how much I tried to stop her, she would tell Daddy anyway. So, I stayed quiet and continued eating.

After finishing my meal, I went back to my room, put on a movie, and stayed there until nighttime, never once stepping out.

Being an only child, I always feel lonely whenever Daddy isn’t around—just like now.

I wanted to go out, but I was still scared. The events of last night left me shaken. I feel traumatized.

* * * * * *

The Next Day

Excited akong lumabas ng room ko suot na Ang school uniform. It was Monday, and for some reason, I felt excited.

But my sweet smile instantly disappeared when I saw my bodyguard standing by the front door.

Gosh! How many times have I told Daddy that I don’t want a bodyguard? It’s so embarrassing in front of my schoolmates.

Feeling ko ay mababaliw na ako dahil sa inis tuwing may nakabuntot na bodyguard sa aking likuran.

If Dad insists on hiring a bodyguard, he could at least pick someone decent-looking. But no—he had to choose this guy. He looks worse than the villains in crime shows, the kind that makes your skin crawl.

Masama din tumingin ang bodyguard ko na 'to, 'yun bang klase ng tingin na parang gusto akong kainin ng buo. Kinikilabutan ako minsan sa kanya. May pangisi-ngisi pa siyang nalalaman na para bang may masamang balak.

Damn! I feel like I’m walking around with a drug addict every time I go to school.

So instead of entering the campus with a bright smile, I walked in with a grumpy expression, already in a bad mood.

As I passed by, I noticed some students whispering to each other, stealing glances at me. I immediately raised an eyebrow at them in warning.

I mean, who wouldn’t stare? I had a sketchy-looking guy trailing behind me like some wanted criminal. Damn!

I couldn't take it anymore.

I abruptly stopped walking and turned to face my bodyguard.

"You're pissing me off, manong! Kaya puwede ba, huwag kang buntot nang buntot sa akin. And from now on you're fired," mahinahon kong sabi at tinaasan ito ng kilay.

I saw the shock on his face. Before he could even respond, I spun around and walked away, leaving him speechless.

I didn’t care about his feelings. I knew I was being cruel, but honestly? I really didn’t care.

Malayo palang ako ay rinig ko na ang ingay na nagmumula sa aming class room. Napangiti ako. Sigurado akong wala pa ang aming professor kaya napakaingay.

Pagkapasok ko ng room ay agad na tumili ang dalawa kong kaibigan nang makita ako. Patakbo akong lumapit sa kanilang dalawa at bumeso.

"Good morning!" I said as I quickly took my seat next to Gwen.

"Good morning too, Rachelle Trish Hanson!" my two friends chorused.

I rolled my eyes at them.

"Trish, magkuwento ka naman kung anong nangyari kagabi sa bar na pinuntahan natin," ani Lexa.

Napatango naman si Gwen. "Yeah, Trish. What happened? I only found out from the news that a man died."

I rolled my eyes. "I don’t know anything either. I was drunk last night—we both were," I lied.

"Tsk..." Gwen scoffed, rolling her eyes at me. "I don’t believe you. You just don’t want to tell us!"

"Come on, Rachelle, magkuwento ka na habang wala pa si prof dito," pangunglit ni Lexa na hinampas pa ako sa braso ng hawak na notebook.

Hays naman! Ang hirap talaga magkaroon ng kaibigan na makukulit. 'Yung feeling na ayaw mo na nga magkuwento pero pinipilit ka pa. Eh gusto ko na ngang makalimutan ang nangyari kagabi, pero heto't inuungkat na naman ng dalawa kong kaibigan. My gosh!

"Argh! Sige na nga habang wala pa si Prof," pagsuko ko.

Napangiti ang dalawa kong kaibigan.Pero akmang magsasalita na ako para sana magkuwento nang biglang pumasok ang professor namin.

Napangisi nalang ako sa dalawa kong kaibigan nang makita ang pagsimangot nilang dalawa.

Thank God!

While our professor was teaching, I couldn’t help but think about what happened last night. Maybe if the person who always saves me hadn’t been there, I’d be dead by now.

It’s a good thing I have someone who constantly watches over me, protecting me from danger. He’s my Red Rose—the mysterious figure who hides in the shadows just to keep me safe. But I’ve never seen his face. I don’t even know if he’s a man or a woman.

After our last class, we headed straight to the cafeteria.

"What do you want to eat, Trish?" Gwen asked, still focused on her phone. We were already seated at a table.

"Popcorn," I replied.

"What?!" My two friends burst into laughter.

"Rachelle Trish, what’s with you? Do you think we’re in a movie theater?"

"We’re in the cafeteria, girl," Gwen added, laughing even harder.

I looked at them with a bored expression and crossed my arms over my chest.

"I know we’re in the cafeteria. So what? Is there some law in the Philippines that says eating popcorn here is illegal?" I rolled my eyes and flipped my long hair. "I’m on a diet now, girls! So just get me some popcorn and pineapple juice."

Sabay na napailing ang dalawa kong kaibigan at kalaunan ay tumayo na si Lexa mula sa upuan. "Sige na, ako na ang bibili. Hiyang-hiya naman ako sa popcorn mo," reklamo nito na sinabayan pa ng pag-irap bago tumalikod.

Five minutes later, Lexa returned with the food she ordered.

While we were eating in the cafeteria, my two friends kept chatting about something else. Luckily, they had forgotten to ask me about last night again.

"Trish—OMG! Look, your crush is coming this way!" Gwen squealed, eyes locked on something behind me.

I already knew who she was referring to. A smile instantly formed on my lips as I quickly turned around.

But my sweet smile vanished in an instant when I saw Gian Zarlox—the most handsome basketball player—walking in… holding hands with a gorgeous girl.

"OMG! Who’s that girl with him? I thought he was single? Don’t tell me he already has a girlfriend?" Lexa gasped, covering her mouth in shock. But before she could say more, Gwen quickly elbowed her, and both of them turned to look at me.

"Come on, guys. I’m okay! Let’s just eat," I said with a laugh, casually grabbing a handful of popcorn.

Ang sakit palang makita ang crush mo na may ka-holding hands na iba. Damn!

Gian Zarlox has been my crush since my first year of college, and honestly, he still is. But I doubt he even knows I exist. He’s a fourth-year student, while I’m just a second-year business administration major.

Not that I wanted to take this course—this was Daddy’s choice, not mine. But since it makes him happy, I’ve just learned to endure it.