Chapter 2
Justice had spent the past two months navigating the rigorous world of law school, and every single day had been a battle of adjustment. No matter how capable she was, this was an entirely different battlefield from her undergraduate years. The expectations were higher, the workload relentless, and the competition brutal. It had taken all her focus just to keep up, leaving little room for anything or anyone else.
Anyone, that is, except Artemis.
From the very first day, Justice had set her sights on getting close to her. That had been the plan, simple and straightforward.
A week, she had told herself.
One week, and she would find a way into Artemis’ world.
But life had other plans.
Somehow, between mountains of case readings and hours spent deciphering legal doctrines, Justice had fallen into an unspoken routine, one that revolved around watching over Artemis from afar. It was not intentional at first. It had just happened. Artemis had a pattern, a carefully structured day that left little room for deviation. Her mornings were reserved for jogging, something Justice did not mind at all, given that she enjoyed staying in shape. Then came lunchtime, when Artemis flitted between cafés and restaurants, alternating between meals and studying. Afternoons were for classes, and she would head straight back to her condo once the day was over.
It was a routine Justice had unknowingly adopted for herself.
“Akala ko ba na you’d get close to her in a week?” Ares teased one evening, smirking as he leaned back in his chair.
Justice barely looked up from her notes. “Nagbago isip ko, Mr. Ares. If I tried too hard, she might suspect something. Ayos na siguro itong ganito, keeping my distance while still watching over her.”
That was not the truth, though.
The truth was, from the very beginning, Justice had every intention of standing by Artemis’ side. She was not content with just being a shadow. She wanted to be close, to be seen, to matter.
But in her current situation, she had no choice but to swallow that desire, at least for now. Following someone around like a silent guardian, bordering on a stalker, was not how she had envisioned things.
“I think I was a spy in my past life, C.”
The words left Justice’s lips so suddenly that even she was surprised by them.
Across the café table, Cadence snorted mid-sip of her iced coffee, nearly choking. “Pfft. Ikaw? A spy?” she repeated, eyes twinkling with amusement. “Sa lampa mong ‘yan?”
Justice placed a hand over her chest in mock offense. “Well, if I were clumsy, then A would have caught me watching and following her matagal na,” she shot back, raising an eyebrow.
Cadence giggled, shaking her head. “Sige na, sige na. Master of Stealth ka na.”
But the funny thing was, it was true.
Somehow, Justice had managed to move through Artemis’ world like a shadow, seamlessly blending into the background without ever being noticed. She had learned to keep her distance just right, never too far to lose sight of her, but never too close to attract attention. Artemis remained blissfully unaware of her silent protector, and Justice had to admit, she was pretty proud of herself.
If she had been a spy in a past life, she was a damn good one.
Even when unexpected situations arose during her job, Justice always found a way to resolve them swiftly. She had trained herself to anticipate problems before they even happened, adapting on the fly as if it were second nature.
But her instincts, honed by years of discipline, often leaned toward one thing: protection.
To her, everything was a potential threat when it came to Artemis. A sudden shift in the crowd? Suspicious. A stranger lingering too long near her principal? Questionable. A waiter hesitated before placing her drink on the table? Highly concerning.
Every little detail sent Justice’s senses into high alert, her body tensing, muscles coiled like a spring, always ready to react. She watched everything unfold before her with sharp eyes, tracking movements, gauging intentions, and analyzing escape routes, all without Artemis ever knowing.
And if the time ever came when she needed to intervene? She would not hesitate.
One Thursday morning, with the rhythm of Artemis’ footsteps echoing through the quiet morning streets, her breathing steady as she pushed forward. Justice followed at a safe distance, her own pace measured, careful. She had memorized the route by now. The turns, the small dips in the pavement, and the way Artemis always slowed slightly near the flower stand at the corner.
But today was different.
Without warning, Artemis veered off the usual path, cutting through a narrow trail leading into a park. Justice barely hesitated before adjusting course, weaving through the scattered early risers—an elderly couple walking their dog, a woman stretching near a bench. Artemis, oblivious, pressed forward, a slight smile playing on her lips as she embraced the change in scenery.
Then came a dog.
A scruffy golden retriever bounded toward Artemis, tail wagging wildly. She laughed, crouching to pet it, while Justice watched from a short distance, arms crossed. The dog, sensing an easy target, started circling Artemis’ legs. She tried to untangle herself, but the dog only got more excited.
Justice sighed. With a subtle movement, she whistled, just loud enough for the dog to hear but soft enough that Artemis would not notice as she was wearing her favorite headphones. The retriever’s ears perked up, and it trotted off toward a food cart instead.
Crisis averted.
Artemis shook her head in amusement, then resumed her jog, never knowing someone had just guided her morning back on track.
Sitting at a corner table, Artemis focused on her coffee, her posture relaxed. Across the café, she flipped through a book while waiting for her lemon cake, occasionally stopping to make notes in a little leather journal.
A barista walked by, pausing at Artemis’ table. “Maganda ‘yan,” he said, nodding toward her book.
Artemis grinned. “You’ve read it?”
“Twice.”
Justice watched as they talked, filing away the details. It was a historical fiction novel about lost letters and second chances. Artemis' eyes lit up as she spoke about it, and her hands gesticulated animatedly.
Justice made a mental note to pick up a copy later. Not because she was curious. Not because she wanted to understand Artemis better.
Just professional diligence.
That was all.
Justice expected Artemis to go home after lunch. But instead, she turned down an unfamiliar street, pausing in front of a small bookstore with a hand-painted sign.
Great.
With no choice but to follow, Justice entered a few minutes later, pretending to browse. The smell of aged paper and fresh ink filled the air. Artemis wandered through the aisles, trailing her fingers along the spines of books, completely at ease.
Justice, on the other hand, had no idea what to do with herself.
She grabbed the closest book off a shelf, flipping it open at random.
A poetry collection. Great.
“May hinahanap ka ba? Need help?” a voice asked.
Justice looked up. The store clerk, a young woman with glasses, was smiling at her.
“Wala naman,” Justice said smoothly, closing the book. “Just looking.”
The clerk’s eyes flicked toward the poetry book in her hands. “You should start with page twenty-six. Favorite ko ‘yun.”
Justice nodded, then made her way toward another aisle, somewhere with fewer people. She peeked through the gaps in the bookshelves. Artemis was still there, lost in her own little world.
Justice exhaled in relief.
Artemis tapped her fingers against the wooden table, staring at the dessert menu like it held the meaning of life. “I should just flip a coin,” she muttered, pulling one from her pocket.
Justice, seated a few tables away, sipped her drink, pretending not to listen.
“Heads for chocolate cake and tails for lemon tart.”
The coin spun in the air, catching the light as it flipped.
It landed. Artemis peered down at the result, lips pressing into a pout.
Chocolate cake.
Justice, without meaning to, reacted, just the smallest shift in expression, a flicker of understanding.
Artemis noticed.
She glanced up, scanning the room. Justice immediately lowered her gaze, focusing on her coffee, hoping the moment would pass.
Artemis hummed in thought, then, as if making a decision, ordered the lemon tart anyway.
Justice let out a quiet breath. That was close.
The first semester flew by in a blur of case briefs, sleepless nights, and endless cups of coffee. Before they knew it, final exams had come and gone, and Justice and her friends had emerged victorious, acing their tests with flying colors.
The once unfamiliar world of law school had slowly become their new normal. They had learned to navigate the chaos, leaning on each other for support and pushing through the challenges together. Now, with the next semester on the horizon, they stood side by side, ready to take on whatever came next.
As for Justice’s mission, it had been... uneventful.
Nothing out of the ordinary had happened—no threats, no unexpected dangers, nothing that warranted immediate action. Artemis had followed the same structured routine day in and day out. Weekdays were predictable: morning jogs, cafes for studying, afternoon classes, then straight back to her condo. Weekends were just a variation of the same schedule, minus the classes.
It was almost as if Artemis had dedicated her entire existence to her studies.
Not that it was a bad thing, as her efforts were paying off. She had dominated the exams, ranking at the top with the highest scores in most subjects. Justice wasn’t surprised in the least; Artemis had always carried herself with a quiet intensity, a sharp mind that left little room for failure.
What did surprise her, however, was Ares’ constant anxiety over Artemis’ safety.
Justice had expected more... danger. Some kind of tangible threat. But so far, Artemis' biggest enemy seemed to be the weight of her textbooks.
Bakit ba sobrang alala ni Ares dito sa kapatid niya? Justice wondered as she watched Artemis scribble notes in the corner of a café, oblivious to everything around her.
For now, all she could do was wait. And keep watching.
Then it happened.
Justice had been absentmindedly scrolling through her phone inside her car, keeping herself entertained while waiting, when Artemis suddenly stepped out of the café, far earlier than usual.
Justice straightened, eyes narrowing. Normally, Artemis would spend at least four hours glued to her books, seated in the same spot, in the same café. Today, it hadn’t even been an hour.
Her heartbeat quickened. Something was off.
Where are you going?
She reached for the keys, starting her car without hesitation. With months of practice, she had perfected the art of tailing Artemis from just the right distance—not too far to lose sight of her, not too close to be noticed.
But then, Artemis turned into a private subdivision.
Justice cursed under her breath. Following her inside in a car would be too obvious. She needed another way in.
Quickly scanning her surroundings, she spotted a small church nearby and pulled over into its parking lot. Wasting no time, she hailed a tricycle and hopped in. “Kuya, sundan natin ‘yung gray sedan na kakapasok sa subdivision.”
The driver glanced at her through the mirror, a mix of curiosity and amusement on his face, but didn’t question it. “Sige, Neng.”
But by the time they passed through the gates, the sedan was gone.
Shit. Where did she go?
“Kuya, gaano kalaki ‘tong subdivision?” she asked, trying to mask her frustration.
“Nako, Neng, malaki-laki din 'to,” the driver answered with a chuckle, still confused by her urgency.
Justice exhaled sharply. “Sige, kuya, ikot lang tayo hanggang makita natin ‘yung kotse. No worries po sa bayad.”
That seemed to be the magic phrase, because the driver’s grin widened. With newfound enthusiasm, he navigated through the subdivision, taking every possible turn in search of the missing car.
Thirty minutes passed before they finally spotted it, parked neatly in the driveway of a large, two-story house.
Justice handed the driver a generous amount, then added, “Kuya, hintay lang po kayo malapit. If I need a ride, ganyan po ulit ang bayad.”
The man gave her an eager nod, already envisioning his lucky day.
Justice approached cautiously, peeking into the sedan. Empty.
So she’s inside…
Frustration gnawed at her. There was no way she could sneak in without drawing attention. For now, all she could do was wait.
Minutes later, the front door opened. Artemis emerged, but she wasn’t alone.
Another woman, around their age, walked beside her. Without hesitation, Artemis got into the woman’s car, leaving her own behind.
Justice wasted no time. She signaled the tricycle driver, who swiftly drove her back toward the subdivision entrance. With only one way in and out, all she had to do was wait for the car to exit.
She waited. And waited.
Minutes stretched into an agonizing hour, but the vehicle she was expecting never appeared.
What the hell?
Her stomach twisted with unease. Something was wrong.
Abandoning her position, she drove back into the subdivision, retracing her route to the house. But when she arrived—
The sedan was gone. Artemis was gone.
Justice’s grip on the steering wheel tightened, her pulse hammering against her ribs.
For the first time since she had taken on this job—
She had lost Artemis.
“What do you mean you lost her?”
Ares’ voice shot up, sharp with disbelief.
Justice winced, holding the phone slightly away from her ear. “Relax, Mr. Ares. I—”
But before she could even explain, Ares exhaled, seemingly realizing his outburst. “Sorry. That was uncalled for,” he muttered, his tone shifting. “I should have warned you about this. I’m sorry—nawala pala sa isip ko na sabihin sayo.”
Justice frowned. “Warned me? About what?”
Ares hesitated for a moment before answering. “She goes to that subdivision often… because that’s where her ex-girlfriend lives.”
Justice blinked. “Ex-girlfriend?”
“Oo. Si Eden,” Ares confirmed. “Wait—if you followed her to Eden’s house, then nakita mo na siya, right?”
Justice paused, replaying the scene in her head. The woman Artemis had left with… That was Eden?
Oh. So that was her ex-girlfriend?
Somehow, that little detail made the entire situation feel… different.
“Why would she even meet with her ex-girlfriend?” Justice asked, her voice calm but calculated. Beneath her composed exterior, she was quietly probing, hoping to extract something useful—something she could act on.
Ares exhaled, slow and weary, before leaning back against the couch. The way his posture shifted, like he was preparing himself for a long and difficult confession, made Justice brace inwardly. This wasn’t going to be a short conversation.
“That,” he began, “is one of the reasons I needed you.”
She didn’t press—just waited, letting the silence draw the truth out of him.
“We were under the impression that Artemis and Eden had ended things. Break na silang dalawa,” he said, voice low and bitter. “But her former bodyguards told me Artemis still visits Eden’s house. Sobrang dalas pa nga niyan eh. I’m actually surprised na ever since pumasok siyang law school, parang natigil na, not until today.”
He paused, his jaw clenched. “And I don’t like Eden.”
He winced as the name left his lips, as if it stung.
Justice raised an eyebrow slightly, but remained silent. She sensed there was more.
“It’s not just because of who she is,” he continued. “It’s her family. Eden is the daughter of Ramon Velasquez. He’s not just a known drug lord—he runs one of the largest underground narcotics operations in Southeast Asia. Cartel ties, international trafficking, money laundering—jusko, you name it.”
He rubbed his face with both hands, frustration radiating from his every movement. “And I think Artemis knows. Hindi naman siya tanga para di mapansin. Which makes it worse.”
Justice frowned. That was serious.
“I’ve been looking into the Velasquez family—quietly. No one knows. Not Artemis, not our father. I pulled strings, called in favors, even paid for confidential intel. What I found…” He hesitated, then glanced at her, his eyes dark with concern. “They’re dangerous. And Eden, she might look soft, but she’s not innocent in this. She’s been spotted meeting with her father’s men. Armed guards. Private properties with security systems meant to keep law enforcement out, not robbers.”
He shifted forward, resting his elbows on his knees now, voice low.
“One of the men I paid off, a former accountant for Ramon, told me Eden’s been moving money. She’s not just a bystander; she’s part of the operation. She may even be handling the clean accounts. Shell companies. Crypto laundering.”
Justice’s eyes narrowed slightly. That changed everything.
“I’m scared Artemis is getting pulled into all of it. Whether she knows the full extent or not, I don’t know. But if she’s protecting Eden, if she’s loyal to her… that loyalty could be the very thing that ruins her.”
He looked at Justice again, something pleading in his gaze. “That’s why I need you watching her. Not just as a bodyguard, but as someone who can get close without her noticing. Someone who can tell me if she’s already too far gone.”
Justice’s breath caught slightly. There was no mistaking the fear in his voice.
“All of these investigating… I did them in secret,” Ares confessed, his voice now tinged with guilt. “Neither Artemis nor our father knows. If they found out, they’d both be furious. Artemis, because she would see it as me meddling in her life again. And Dad… because I have kept this from him. I just…”
He looked down, struggling for the right words.
“I just don’t want him to think badly of her. No matter what Artemis is involved in, she is still his daughter. I don’t want to be the one who turns him against her.”