CHAPTER 4

WHY does my bodyguard, a skilled Ranger at that, look like a house keeper instead? Raiven couldn't help asking himself as he watched Keiran do chores around his condo while he read books in the living room. Keiran cooked, cleaned, bought the groceries, and he would even sometimes fix his broken appliances when he had time. Every time Raiven tried to do the chores himself, Keiran would always stop him, saying he only needed to focus on his books and case for his upcoming hearing.

After doing all the chores, Keiran would go outside to take care of the trash, and then he would come back an hour or more later with takeout food or groceries. Raiven didn't know why Keiran would always take an hour to take care of the trash, if only he knew, maybe he'll appreciate Keiran more.

If Raiven could describe Keiran's attitude these past few days, he'd call it 'pampering', but he didn't know why this Scout Ranger would do that when all he should be doing was protecting him. Keiran looked so domestic that Raiven was having a hard time seeing him as a bodyguard that could protect him. Is it part of him being an effective bodyguard? I think not. Or is it his just personality? Keiran looked like a perfect husband than a bodyguard, to be honest.

And as Keiran promised the first day, he didn't get in his way.

I didn't expect him to be so domestic, though. 'Yon ang nasa isip ni Raiven habang pasimpleng pinagmamasdan si Keiran na naglapag ng meryenda sa table sa harapan niya saka isang basong fresh orange juice.

After Keiran placed his snacks on the table, Raiven immediately readied himself when Keiran sat on the sofa in front of him. Here it goes, Raiven thought as Keiran, without awkwardness or shame, stared at him--no, more like Keiran was watching him while he read.

This wasn't new to Raiven. Keiran had been doing it the past few days after finishing chores. Keiran would sit in front of him and would watch him quietly like he was reading him and his movements, like he was trying to figure Raiven out and sizing him up at the same time.

Keiran's reason? He said it was part of his bodyguard's duty-- to watch over him. But Raiven didn't believe him. He knew it wasn't like that! Yes, watching all over him was normal, but not like this! Not this intense! He was not dumb to believe that kind of lie. But even though Raiven knew it was a lie, he still couldn't refute Keiran.

So Raiven endured Keiran's gaze. It was uncomfortable, but he pretended like it didn't bother him at all. Yes, it was for the best not to react. Well, that was his primary decision, but after two days of Keiran 'watching' him, today being the third, Raiven's patience was wearing thin.

Meanwhile, the Scout Ranger who was wearing Raiven's patience thin was just calmly sitting on the sofa. His elbow rested on the armrest and the side of his face was supported by the back of his hand while he watched the graceful man in front of him. Keiran didn't know how a man could look so graceful while reading a book with his legs crossed, back straight, and with an indifferent expression on his face. Keiran was watching because he just realized how he missed that indifferent look on Raiven's features. He missed how it changed when it broke to show other emotions.

"Thanks for the snacks," Raiven said, hoping that by starting a conversation, Keiran would stop watching him. But to Raiven's disappoinment, it didn't work, Keiran was still watching him as he answered. "You're welcome."

Raiven sighed, he couldn't take the 'watching' anymore. It was uncomfortable because he was so aware of Keiran-- too aware than he would like to be. "Could you please stop watching me?" Raiven asked Keiran while looking at his blue eyes. "It's uncomfortable."

Keiran's gaze remained on Raiven, unfazed. "It is?"

Raiven felt self-conscious under Keiran's blue eyes. "I'm not going anywhere and no one's going to kill me here. I'm well protected inside my house since you're here, so you don't have to watch me like a hawk. It's bothersome."

Keiran didn't answer for a whole minute. Raiven thought he was considering what he just said, but when Keiran's mouth opened, Raiven's eyes widened a bit.

"You're intriguing to watch, I can't help but enjoy the view." Keiran delivered those lines with a straight face with no ounce of embarrassment.

"What...?" Raiven didn't know what kind of face he was making. All he knew was that he was stunned, and his indifferent face had been broken. Unknown to Raiven, the changes on his face pleased Keiran who was intently watching.

"Can I...enjoy the view for few more minutes?" Keiran asked, his blue eyes looking straight at Raiven's, making Raiven's head unable to process information as quickly as before.

Raiven was a good lawyer with a brilliant mind, so he didn't know why his brain went. blank just because of that simple question. Yes, it was a simple question--- the kind of question that didn't need deep thinking to answer. Well, it should be simple, but why he couldn't answer Keiran-- like it was the hardest question ever thrown at him?

The blankness Raiven experienced scared him a little. He was not used to it, so he did what he thought was best for himself-- he pulled his indifferent expression back on and answered Keiran. "Suit yourself."

Keiran's smile disappeared when the indifferent expression on Raiven's face returned. Raiven was unreadable again, but Keiran still continued watching him until he had to get up to make dinner, making Raiven sigh in relief.

After enduring Keiran's blue eyes watching him intently. Raiven got up and headed to his room. Pagkaupo sa gilid ng kama, binuksan niya ang drawer ng bedside table niya saka kinuha doon ang cellphone niya na naka-off. Pinatay niya iyon kasi,baka iyon pa ang maging dahilan para matunton siya ng mga gustong manakit sa kanya.

It had been days since he gave his brother an update, thinking that he might be worried, so Raiven used his fake number to call him. Everything can be tracked nowadays, so he had to be very careful. Even when using his fake number, someone might be listening to their conversation, so he had to use a different approach to talk to his brother on the phone.

"Raizen speaking," ana ng nakababatang kapatid niya sa kabilang linya ng sagutin ang tawag niya. "Who's this?"

"Your secretary, Sir, I lost my phone." It was the code Raiven set up with his brother, and Raizen immediately understood.

"Ganu'n ba? Ayos lang ba ang cellphone mo? Nahanap ba?

Raiven knew what his brother meant by his questions. Raizen was asking if he was okay and if he had been found. "Mukhang maayos pa naman ang cellphone ko, pero hindi pa nga lang nahahanap at mukhang hindi pa mahahanap sa ngayon."

"Are you lying to me, Mr. Secretary?" Raizen continued acting. "May narinig kasi ako na nahanap na daw ang cellphone mo kaya nagtaka ako na tumawag ka sa'kin gamit ang ibang numero."

Natigilan si Raiven. "Nahanap na?" Nalaman na nila kung nasaan ako nagtatago? "How did that happen, Sir? My phone is still nowhere to be found."

"That's not what I heard," Raizen continued sharing the coded information to Raiven. "I heard that your phone was tracked down and found two days ago. Don't lie to me, I'm running a security agency, I'll fire you."

Two days ago? Raiven couldn't help but frown. Kung totoo 'yon, e 'di sana nabulabog na ang payapa niyang buhay sa condo, pero wala namang kaguluhan na nangyari. He had been at peace, actually. Ang tanging nagpapagulo lang sa buhay niya ay ang bodyguard niya.

"O, siya, sa halip na tumawag ka, magtrabaho ka na lang," patuloy ang pagpapanggap ni Raizen na ang sekretarya nito ang kausap. "Magpalit ka na lang ng cellphone kung hindi pa naman pala nahahanap."

"Yes, Sir," pinatay ni Raiven ang tawag habang si Raizen naman sa kabilang linya ay nakahinga ng maluwag.

Hindi bumisita si Raizen sa condo ng kuya niya dahil ayaw niyang masundan siya, kahit noong nalaman niya na alam na ng mga naghahanap sa kuya niya kung nasaan ang nakatatandang kapatid. He remained calm and he trusted his older brother to think of how to get away, and Raizen was happy that his brother did. His brother was safe, and he was relieved.

Meanwhile, at the rooftop next to the building owned by Raizen, a group of men who excelled in technology were listening in Raiven and Raizen's conversation.

After the call, a handsome man with a layered haircut reaching his shoulders asked, "Who called the target's brother?"

"Sekretarya lang ho, Boss Nil." sagot ng lalaki na kaaalis lang ng headphone na suot na ginamit nito sa pakikinig sa usapan.

Nalukot sa iritasyon ang mukha ni Nil sa narinig saka pagalit na nilingon ang mga tauhan na kasama nito. "Kumusta na ang operation natin sa HZ condo? Napasok n'yo na ba? Give me an update."

Walang umimik sa mga tauhan na naroon kaya alam na kaagad ni Nil ang sagot sa tanong niya.

"Idiots!" malakas at galit na sigaw ni Nil sabay sipa sa pinakamalapit na upuan na tumilapon sa ere. "Normal na security guard lang hindi n'yo maitumba at hindi kayo makapasok?! Ganu'n ba kayo kahihina?! Kapag nagpatuloy 'tong kapalpakan niyo, malalagot tayo kay boss! Alam n'yo ba kung anong impormasyon ang hawak ng abogado na'yon?! Alam n'yo ba kung gaano kadelikado na buhay pa siya?!"

Kahit takot ang mga tauhan na nasa harapan ni Nil, nagsalita parin ang isa sa mga ito. Siguro dahil ito ang pinakabata at pinakabago, kaya may lakas ito ng loob na maglabas ng opinyon. "Boss Nil, kaya namin 'yong mga security guard, hindi ho sila ang problema."

Kahit nanggagalaiti, nagtanong parin si Nil sa batang tauhan, "Kung ganu'n naman pala, sino?! Ang dami-dami n'yo, isang tao lang, hindi n'yo maitumba?!"

Naglakas loob na sumagot ang leader ng mga tauhan kahit natatakot ito sa boss nito. "Hindi kami makalapit sa target dahil sa lalaking 'yon, Boss. Lahat ng galaw namin, nandoon siya para pigilan ang mga tauhan natin. Iilan lang ang nakabalik sa mga pinadala natin, Boss Nil, at nakabalik sila para lang maghatid ng mensahe."

Kumunot ang noo ni Nil. "Sinong lalaki?"

"Hindi ko siya makakalimutan," may nginig sa boses ng isang tauhan na sumagot habang nakahawak ito sa leeg na may peklat na gawa ng bala ng baril. "It's the Reaper."

"Reaper?" gagad ni Jorge, ang kanang kamay ni Nil.

Sa narinig, nanigas si Nil at may kakaibang takot na naramdaman habang wala sa sariling napahawak sa balikat nito kung saan naroon ang alaala niya na hindi niya makakalimutan. "Reaper? The Underworld Sniper?"

Tumango ang mga tauhan na naroon.

Binalot ng lamig ang buong katawan ni Nil saka nauutal pa na nilingon ang kanang kamay nito para hingin ang cellphone nito. Kapagkuwan ay kaagad na tinawagan ang boss nito.

"You better have good news, Nil." ana ng boss ng sagutin nito ang tawag.

"Boss," medyo may nginig sa boses ni Nil habang nagsasalita. "It's Reaper.... he's in the field and protecting the target."

Sunod-sunod na mura ang lumabas sa Boss ni Nil. "Tang'na! Patayin n'yo! Ang dami na niyang napatumba sa'tin and ang dami na rin niyang nasirang operasyon natin, oras na para maningil! Now that he's out , it'll be easy to kill him."

"Y-Yes, Boss!" sagot ni Nil saka pinatay ang tawag bago humarap sa mga tauhan. "Patayin n'yo si Reaper. Kung sino man ang makakapatay sa kanya, may malaking perang pabuya na matatanggap!"

Everyone grinned greedily. Everyone wanted the money, and it erased the fear in their eyes. But only Nil knew that the reward money would never be claimed by anyone. That guy is really suited to be called the Reaper, because that man....is a devil.

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