Not Me

CHAPTER ONE

Pagpasok ko pa lang sa unit ay agad na akong tumawag sa opisina ng tatay ko.

Hindi ko na hinayaang magsalita si Sara pagkasagot niya ng telepono at agad na akong nagsalita, "si Xander 'to. I need to talk to my dad."

"Hello po. May meeting po kasi si Gov in 5 minutes. Sabihan ko na lang po siyang tumawag ka and expect the call mga after an hour siguro." Sagot nito.

"No. 5 minutes is enough. Tell him I need to talk to him now." I answered - fully emphasizing 'now' nang maramdaman niya how urgent this call is.

"Okay po." She answered. I heard fear from her tone. Ganoon nga yata kagalit ang boses ko kaya't kahit sa telepono lang ay natakot si Sara sa akin.

To be honest, I was surprised how I delivered that with full conviction knowing that I don't even want this authority. Maybe, I'm really that mad dahil hindi tumupad sa usapan namin ang tatay ko.

"Did you arrive safely? Is everything okay? Bakit parang tinakot mo si Sara?" Sunod-sunod na tanong ng tatay ko in his usual tender tone sabay tawa.

"I can't believe you! Akala ko ba maayos usapan natin?" I uttered in disbelief. I know I sounded rude for a child talking to his dad pero sobrang nakakagalit kasi.

"Woah. Chill, Xander. What's wrong?" He asked concerningly.

"Sabi mo, I can do anything I want for college so, bakit may bodyguards? Can't I just live normally like other college students? How can I do anything I want kung bawat kilos ko, bantay-sarado naman pala? Ano 'to? Highschool 2.0 na may bodyguard kahit sa classroom? Nakakahiya! Bakit ba ayaw mo akong mabuhay nang normal?" Paglabas ko ng sama ng loob sa tatay ko. Hindi ko na napigilang maiyak dahil sa sobrang galit na naramdaman ko kasi para akong trinaydor. I thought I was over that phase already but here I am, still fighting for my freedom.

"Are you done shouting?" My father asked with an unfamiliar cold voice. Hindi ako nakasagot dahil natigilan ako sa boses na 'yon at alam kong sumobra ako sa mga nasabi ko. "Yes, you can do anything you want. Hindi ko ipagdadamot sa 'yo 'yung experience ng isang college student. But, let me remind you - you are Xander Garcia na apo ni Macoy at anak ni Ferds. You are in a political family and you'll never know what awaits you kaya maganda nang may bodyguards ka. I'm not limiting your experiences the way you see it. I just want you protected." As much as I understand his point, kinailangan ko siyang putulin sa sinabi niyang 'yon.

"Hindi mo ba naiintindihan? Nakakahiya. Para kong pinapangalandakang ako 'yung apo ni Macoy at anak ni Ferds dahil ako lang 'yung may bodyguard sa campus. Not to say, ang dami pa. Mas lalo kong ipapahamak sarili ko kasi alam ng lahat na ako 'yung anak mo. Kaya please, ayaw ko ng bodyguards." Mariin kong sagot dito.

Natahimik ang tatay ko. In most cases, ibig sabihin lang nito ay pinag-iisipan niya ang sinabi ko and I'd love to think of it that way. Kaya lang, he already gave me that cold voice a while ago kaya hindi ko na alam kung saan papunta ang usapang 'to.

"But you need them." He insisted.

"See? That's what you think. Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm already a grownup trying to live like a grownup person. Pero paano? Ni walang seseryoso sa akin dito because they will only see someone so pampered na kahit college na, kailangan pa rin ng nagbabantay sa kanya." I insisted harder. Hindi ako tatahimik hangga't hindi niya ako naiintindihan.

"Xander, it's non-negotiable. Hindi mo alam kung kailan ka ligtas so you need a bodyguard." Mariing sabi nito. He sounded so convinced with his point so I know that it's already non-negotiable but I was glad I listened.

"Fine! A bodyguard - isa. That's non-negotiable, too. And please, ayaw kong nakikita siya ng mga tao as if he's looking after me. Disguise him, at the very least." I told him as if it was a command. Medyo matagal bago siya sumagot kaya't alam kong nag-isip muna siya nang mabuti sa sinabi kong 'yon.

"Deal."