GABBIE TORRES
"WHAT! You want me to live in the province. Again?!" My eyebrows were raised when I heard my dad say that I needed to stay in the province because he received a death threat. Again. He is a judge, and nothing's new with his kind of job. It's normal for us. But right now, I'm afraid I have to disagree with his decision because Falcon is coming to the Philippines this week. "Dad, no! I'm afraid I have to disagree with you this time." I told him as I started to leave his office.
"Gabriella!" He shouted.
I frustratingly turned my head back to him.
"My goodness! Why do you have to call me that name?" I'm not too fond of it whenever he calls me by my real name. Of all the possible names available, they selected that particular name for me, which I don't like. I prefer to be called Gabbie. He gently applied pressure to his temples. He expressed a negative response by shaking his head.
"That's my order! As long as you live under this roof with me, you will follow me. No BUTS!"
I laughed sarcastically. "What? Are you serious? If that's what you want, go ahead. I'm leaving this house."
Dad got up from his seat, his towering stature conveying an air of authority. His palm slammed into the solid top of the table with a thunderous thud just as it made contact. "Stop acting like such a fool, Gabriela!"
I met Dad's gaze with a raised forehead. "I won't. I can manage myself. I love you, Dad, but I don't want to be thrown away again in the province like you always do. You take me to the province every time you have a death threat. Maybe I'm not among the ones they will kill."
"Gabriela! Watch your mouth."
"I'm just stating the truth. You throw me away to some parts of the Philippines as if I have no life of my own."
"There is nothing you can do but follow what I say. You will stay in Quezon Province until I say you will return here!"
"No!"
"I'm not asking you. I am telling you that you will go home to Quezon as long as there is a threat in my life."
I wanted to yell and tell him that I can't entirely agree. I do not want to. I do not like it. But my mouth just kept silent. I turned away, annoyed.
"Gabriela! Come back here." My Dad's voice reverberated throughout the room, but I didn't listen.
I was halted as soon as I left Dad's office when someone slammed into me wearing a denim jacket that was folded and had his plain white shirt inside and his worn-out jeans. He has numerous tattoos on each limb. That was the first thing that I noticed after I bumped into him. I observed him thoroughly, taking note of his appearance from head to toe. I was taken aback by the striking yet composed countenance he possessed.
Dad approached us as I stared at this strange man before me. This guy in front of me just glanced at me. He never even said sorry. Well, he thinks he is handsome. Yeah, I must admit he is, but I think he's the same age as my father. I think he is only ten years younger than my father. My Dad is in his late forties, and I'm twenty-two now. My parents got married early. But he's not my biological father. I have no plans of knowing or even trying to know where my birth parents are. I have a better life with my parents now, and wherever my real family is, I don't care anymore. They have their reasons, that's why they gave me. And whatever reason they have, I don't want to know anymore.
I folded my arms before him, giving him a poker face.
"Gabbie, this is Wyatt. Your new bodyguard."
My jaw dropped even more at what Dad said. Bodyguard? Him? I think I am in trouble. He looks like a strict teacher, but I think he looks more like a gangster. He was the type of man that got kicked out of school, and now he has become my bodyguard. My bad luck.
I rolled my eyes. "No way! This can't be, Daddy." I complain. I don't see it this way. He even looks scary.
I heard Daddy sigh heavily again. "Just be patient with him, Wyatt." He was talking to Wyatt. He only answered with a nod to Dad.
"Wyatt? As in, why and what?" I told him with humor because he was too serious, but he didn't even smile. He remained serious. Old boring man. Grumpy! I make a face. "Boring," I said, referring to him, but he never even glanced at me. He's getting on my nerves. He's annoying.
"Gabriela..." Daddy scolded me.
"What?! It's true. He doesn't respond. He'll be my bodyguard, but he didn't even greet me. He's rude, Dad." I said, annoyed.
"What am I going to do with you? You are not listening to me anymore."
Wyatt is just listening to us. Very quiet. His two hands are placed in front of him. Too formal.
"Just let me live here." I quickly answered.
He rubbed his forehead. The way he's looking at me, it's like he's running out of patience with me. "I already hired him to protect you. He will accompany you to find your mother. The last information I got was they are in Quezon province. Wyatt will accompany you until you know the location of your biological mother."
My lips hung open in surprise. "What for?"
"You know that I received a death threat. What threatens me is more dangerous now. Whatever happens to me, knowing that you have a family to come home to and be with. I don't have to worry about you."
"Dad! Why are you saying that? If that's your only reason, I won't go with him. I can take care of myself. Besides, I don't want to find out where they are." Daddy held me by both shoulders and made me face him. I looked away. I was sulking and disgusted with him. He would take me to Quezon to see my mother, who had left me.
"Gabbie… just please, listen to me. I am doing this for you. Go to the address I gave Wyatt. If she doesn't accept you, come back here. And I will allow you to move out and live on your own. I already bought a condo for you."
I slowly turned my gaze to him. For sure, my mother won't accept me, or maybe we won't find her. I bit my lip. It's a great deal. I will be free. We will travel for six to seven hours only, and then we can return to Manila. "Deal. When are we leaving?"
"Tonight." He quickly answered. My eyes widened.
"Huh! Tonight immediately? I haven't prepared yet."
"You don't have to bring much. Wyatt now has a house in Quezon. You will stay there. I'll send your other stuff."
"What?! I thought, when we see my mother, if she won't accept me, can I return here? Why do I have to stay in his house yet?" I pointed out to Wyatt that I almost forgot that he existed here.
"You will get back here until we are safe."
"No way! Your deal doesn't seem to favor me," I complained again. I pout my lips. Annoying. I thought I would be able to move but not yet. I don't like his deals. I don't want to do the same.
"You will only stay in Wyatt's house if your mother won't accept you just until you are safe to come back here. That will only last for four to six months."
"Seriously, Dad?" I asked in disbelief. "Four to six months? That's too long. I do not want!" I stomped my feet.
Wyatt put his arm around me. "I will take care of her, Judge Torres."
I immediately removed his hand. How dare he touch me like that! FC. Feeling Close, duh!
"We're not close. My goodness! You are only my bodyguard." I said to Wyatt and shook my shoulder, which he grabbed. His jaw clenched while looking at me. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked him bluntly because he seemed to want to answer me.
My dad, on a third time, deep sighs. "Go ahead, Wyatt. It is now your responsibility to take care of her."
Wyatt nodded his head. He grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of Dad's office. I stiffened to make it difficult for him to pull me. Did he think he could easily follow me? "Let go of my hand!"
He suddenly stopped and faced me. My forehead hit his chin because I was only up to his shoulders. "Why did you stop?!" I held my forehead as if it hit the wall. It's hard. As hard as his face. He didn't answer me. He just stared at me. What is his problem? Why is he not talking? It's like he chooses what he will reply to or his words. Annoyed, I withdrew my hand from him and gave him a lousy look before walking past him. I will pack my stuff instead of trying to talk to him because he doesn't answer.