Mismatched [2nd book of Match Made in Hell]

[1]

Chapter 1

Feeling tired, I slowly trudged my way back into my apartment room.

"You sure you don't need any help?" Andriel asked. He was following me, making sure I won't fall down.

"Yes, I can handle myself, thank you very much," I said. Huminga ako ng malalim at bumuntong-hininga. Sobrang sakit ng buong katawan ko. God, I forgot what intense training felt like.

It's been years! Grabe, anim na taon na rin pala ang nakakalipas. Wow. I don't want to get into the details because I still remember it like it was yesterday. But maybe this is part of my moving on scheme. Kailangan ko rin siguro ito.

When I first moved out of the building, I was so lost and broken. Hindi ko alam kung anong gagawin ko. It felt like the only thing I knew was being a personal bodyguard and being an agent. Pagkalabas ko ng building na yon, parang hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko.

Sino nga ba si Heaven Fajardo bukod sa isang personal bodyguard at isang agent? I was nothing without the organization. I don't know my worth. Halos kalahati ng buhay ko ay ibinigay ko sa organization. At ngayong aalis na ako, hindi ko na alam kung saan mapapadpad ang buhay ko.

But there was one person who stayed by my side. Of course, it was Andriel. It was always him. I owed him big time. Siguro, kung wala siya sa tabi ko, baka matagal na akong nawala sa landas. He was there. He always is. And I'm very grateful.

He was the one who redirected me my life. Siya ang umasikaso ng lahat. Where we'll live, what I wanted to do (I pursued Criminology. Guess I couldn't actually leave what I've become, huh?) and my plans for my future.

It was hard at first. Of course it was. The wound was still fresh and it goddamn hurt every night. I always cried myself to sleep. Ayoko pa ngang pumasok doon sa University kung saan binayaran ni Andriel ang tuition fee ko para makapag-aral ako eh. But yes, reality dawned on me. He was a great guy willing to help a friend, tas itataboy ko lang yon? Syempre, na-guilty.

I started going back to school again. He was still working for the organization. I met new friends. Found new opportunities for me. I fell in love with my course. Hanggang sa unti-unti ko na ring nakakalimutan ang nakaraan ko. Just recently, sabi ni Andriel ay umalis na raw siya ng organization.

We're both on our own now. And it's actually going well so far. Nago-on-the-job-training na rin ako. The chief police loves me (He said that I might become the next chief if I keep it up).

And now, just after six years, I'm under intense training. Ang sabi nga rin ng chief, may mga nakapila na raw na kompanya na kunin ako pagkatapos na pagkatapos kong maka-graduate. I'm one of the best.

I almost tripped at mabilis ring gumalaw si Andriel para alalayan ako. "Easy! Fuck," inis na sabi niya. Nagulat na lang ako nang bigla niya akong binuhat.

"O-oy! Ibaba mo ako! Kaya ko sabing maglakad eh!" sabi ko at pinipilit na makawala sa mga bisig niya.

"Yeah right. Just sit on tight, princess. Ako na ang bahala sayo," sabi niya at diretso na siyang naglakad sa apartment ko. Namin.

Andriel? He's not bad. I'm actually beginning to like him. But, even after all he's done for me, parang hindi ko pa rin kayang makapasok sa isang relationship. My last relationshit was shitty. Ang hirap ng magtiwala ngayon. I just couldn't. Kahit na alam kong hindi ako kayang saktan ni Andriel.

"Grab the keys, Ven," sabi niya nang nasa tapat na kami ng pintuan. I groaned at nagsimulang akong kapain ang bulsa niya. "Damn it. Watch where you're touching, woman," inis niyang sabi.