Fragmented Rhapsody

Fragment 17

17
Yin and Yang

To say that the past few months were a whirlwind of events is an understatement.

Masyadong naging mabilis ang panahon at sobrang dami ng nangyari. I finished 2nd year. Papa won the elections, officially becoming a senator. He was 4th among the candidates who got most of the citizens' votes. Dahil doon, mas dumalas lamang ang kaniyang pagbisita sa Manila gayong nailuklok na siya sa pwesto.

That just made his security even more important and I tried my best to understand that kahit mahirap tanggapin na pwede ng magbago ang takbo ng mga buhay namin. Hindi naging madali ang lahat lalo na noong panahon pa ng eleksyon. Papa hired extra PSGs just to be sure of everything. It was also advised by Niko's father – of all people, would know best about the world of politics and the danger it likely brings.

I knew everything would change after that. He'd have a busier life – I'd have a more complicated life, trying my best to not do anything stupid to ruin a senator's image. That just compels me to even do better than what I'm currently doing.

Papa's name at stake, also his safety.

"Miss Natalia?"

A knock from the outside woke me up from my musing. Hindi ko na napansin na kanina pa ako naka-upo sa harap ng salamin at kanina pa nakalabas ang nag-ayos sa akin.

"Naghihintay na po si Senator," dugtong ng tao sa labas who must be Papa's secretary.

"I'll be downstairs in a few," agap kong sagot at tumayo na.

We're in Manila and are currently staying in our house here. Dito rin tumutuloy si Papa kung kinakailangan sila sa senado. This is a house dated way back when Mama and Papa were still of newly-married state. It has gone under several renovations, yet traces of Mama's personal modifications are still visible.

Papa didn't want to erase traces and memories of her. He wanted her to stay in everywhere.

I needed to travel from Baguio to Manila to attend a dinner party hosted by the elected senators tonight. Everybody wanted to bring their family so I had no choice but to go.

Kahit parang nakakahilong isipin na makakasalamuha ko ang ibang mga pulitikong hindi naman ako sigurado kung malinis ang intensyon, still, I had no choice. I'm doing this for Papa – not for the sake of those politicians' requests.

Huminga ako nang malalim at pinagmasdan muli ang itsura sa salamin.

I refused to wear a dress tonight. I didn't want to be tagged as the usual daughter of a politician – demoiselle. I requested for a dark blue suit for women's and Papa was fine with it. Hindi ko na rin pinaayos ang buhok ko at hinayaan itong nakalugay dahil maayos naman na itong tignan dahil sa natural na kulay at alon nito.

Nang makababa, nakita ko agad si Papa sa sala, nakaupong naghihintay. My heels made loud thuds on the stairs so he was able to notice my presence. I saw his eyes soften upon seeing me. He immediately stood up and held his arm as a courtesy.

 "You –" he spoke slowly, "– look so much like your mother..."

Hindi nakatakas sa aking pandinig ang bakas ng lungkot sa kaniyang boses. I could only imagine how much he misses her. Minsan ko lang marinig si Papa na punahin kung gaano kami magkamukha ni Mama. Madalas itong manggaling sa ibang tao at hindi sa kaniya.

"Maganda ako kung gano'n, Papa?" I asked, trying to cheer his sullen memory.

He smiled at me. "You've always been beautiful, Natalia."