Your Highness

XVIII. THREAT

"I thought we already talk about this?"

Nagngigitngit si Titan sa kabilang linya kaya napangiwi ako. I smiled at the staffs passing by.

"I said I'll try." Pagrarason ko.

I'm in the Province of Misamis Oriental, Cagayan de Oro to be exact. Kanina pa lang madaling araw ay bumiyahe na ako para mapaghandaan ng mabuti ang leaders debate ni Titan dito.

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sayo." Frustration was all over his voice.

"Dapat masanay ka na. Ginagawa ko lang naman to kasi gusto kong maayos ang lahat kapag nakarating ka na."

"Sinasabi mo bang dapat sanayin ko ang sarili ko na mag-aalala palagi sa'yo? Coz that's what you're doing to me woman."

"It's safe here." I argue.

"How would I know? Am I there?"

I scoff at his voice. He really think I'm only safe with him around? Excuse me? 

"Then get your ass off here kung may duda ka. I already assured you I'm fine."

He sighed on the other line. I bit my fingernails while waiting for his reply. Should I say sorry?

"Our flight was delayed. Kumain ka na?" Napatigil ako sa tanong niya.

Siya na talaga ang madaling lumamig ang ulo.

"Not yet."

"It's 1pm." His voice back to being stoic.

"May bumili na ng pagkain. Kanina pa sana dumating pero na-stuck sa traffic." Pagpapaliwanag ko.

"Fine."

"Baba ko na to, ah? May i-checheck lang ako."

Napasinghap siya. "Fine. At least sent me an update every 30 minutes so I would know your safe."

Sinuklay ko ang buhok gamit ang daliri. "Sure, tancio."

Binaba ko na rin ang tawag. Makaraan ay dumating na rin iyong staff na bumili ng pagkain namin. She apologized for being late, we said it's okay. I'm too hungry to even care. Plus, traffic is traffic.

"Bakit hindi pa rin gumagana ang sound system?"

My eyes were glued to the large speakers beside the stage. May mga tao na at loyal supporters na kanina pang andito. Baka mabored sila, mabuti ng may musika kahit papaano.

"Hindi ko po alam, ma'am eh." I look at him and back to the speakers. Ako na nga lang.

Sinundan ko ang linya ng speakers hanggang sa makapasok ako sa munisipyo. Our campaign is held outside CDOs municipal hall called McArthur. It's a huge park and can accommodate lots of people kaya ito na lang iyong ginawa naming venue. Soldiers were placed in every corner to assure safety.

I understand Titan's concern, two hours from here is where we found Jisius seven years ago. He might not know about it but everyone knows there are lots of them here. Hindi marahil rito sa city proper but in the mountainous area, probably.

I halted when I can only hear nothing but my own foot steps. Nasa madilim na ako ng parte ng munisipyo. My eyes darted to the wires na tinatapakan ko ngayon. Saan ba kasi nila isinaksak 'to? Ba't ang layo naman ata? Malayong malayo na sa hilera ng mga opisina.

Bahala na. I continue to trace the tip of these wires kahit pa hindi na abot ng liwanag ng araw ang tinatahak ko. Tanging maliit na bombilya nalang ang nagsisilbing liwanag pero hindi pa rin sapat dahil paliko-liko pa ang hallway.