Protect me

Daughter of politician

If I ever survive

Bucket list #2

Don't hold back yourself,

be honest about what you feel.

Confess your feeling

Take a risk or you end up

to what if,

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The smell of baby cologne greets me when I accidentally bumped into someone.

"Sorry," I apologized.

"It's okay." Nakayukong wika nito at nagmamadaling umalis sa harapan ko.

Pinagpatuloy ko ang paglalakad at hinanap ang pizzeria kung saan dapat kami magkikita nila Christian and His fiancée.

"Engineer Samonte," I greet as I saw him. He stands up from his chair and welcomes me with his warm hug.

"Why you always call me, Engineer? He asked after I pulled away from the hug.

Bumaling ako sa fiancée nya.

"Uy mareng architect," bati ko at nakipag-beso- beso dito.

Matapos nun ay umupo na kami. Lumapit ang waiter at binigay ang menu. We all agree to order an 18th inch all meat-pizza and good for three carbonara pan then I added my favorite strawberry frappe and pecan bar.

"Congrats sa inyo!" bati ko nang umalis ang waiter. They really meant to be Architect and Engineer, nagkakilala sila isang Real estate project ng Consunji Empire.

"Thank you," Christina smiled at me. I assessed my feelings. I'm not hurt or jealous, knowing my first love is now engaged. I'm just happy for them. I guess I really move on but why I feel guilty about my old self. Is this because of my number 2-bucket list? My number two-bucket list is to confess my feelings to Christian pero for the past five year's wala akong ginawa. Paano naman kasi nung mabasa ko ang journal ay hindi ko na gusto si Christian. Hindi ko na sya type mas type ko na yung Koreano sa kdrama, maybe watching too much Korean drama, makes my standard high.

"Eh, ikaw kailan ka magkakaroon ng boyfriend?" napairap naman ako sa tanong ni Christian. I hate that question.

"Saka na paglumabas na sa military ang future boyfie ko."

"Kaya yan single kasi mahilig sa koreano," narinig kong bulong nito sa fiancée kaya binato ko 'to ng tissue. Tinaliman ko 'to ng tinggin Shuta ka!

Tumawa si Christina sa amin.

"She's amazon!" sumbong nito na akala'y mo parang batang nagtago sa likod ni Christina. Ang landi! Ang sakit sa mata ng mga single!

Tumayo ako at sinambunutan ang buhok nito.

"Aray!" daing nito. Ang OA ah! Mahina lang yung sabunot ko kaya. "Alam mo ba she used to be shy, naïve, and gentle but when she w-"

"Stop..." halos pabulong kong awat bumalik ako sa pagkakaupo. I don't want to talk about my past. Mukhang na-gets naman nito 'yon kaya

na nahimik ito.

Christina just looked at us with a confused face.

Dumating ang order namin kaya doon natuon ang pansin namin.

I immediately sipped on my Strawberry frapped.

"What?" I asked when I caught him looking at me.

"Wala, you used to hate strawberry flavor kasi dati."

I just shrugged it off. Duh noon 'yun, nagbabago ang lahat ng taste ng tao. Like ngayon I like Strawberry frappe than a Rocky road flavor.

Dati gusto kong maging publish author pero ngayon Teacher na ko.

Dati gusto ko ng Engineer ngayon gusto ko na ng Mayor.

I smiled at that thought. Indeed, change is the only permanent in this world.

Nag-usap pa kami ng tungkol sa kasal nila hanggang sa napunta ito sa buhay ko.

"Why are you here? Bakit ka lumipat ng trabaho, ayos naman sa Samos ang buhay mo ah? Sunod sunod nitong tanong.

"Pinaalis ako ni Auntie sabi nya, I should go out to my comfort zone na hindi ako matutuo sa buhay kong lagi akong nakadepende sa kanila."

Tumingin ako sa taas para pigilan ang luha kong tumulo. Kung hindi ako iiwan e, ako naman ang pinaalis.

"What you got dismissed in your own house?!"

"Own house?" Takang tanong ko dito. Ang alam ko kina Auntie yun. "Bago ako makaalis ay binenta na ni Auntie yun, " dugtong ko pa.

"How could they do that? You inherited that house to your Dad!" Gigil na sambit nito na tila hindi makapaniwala.

Hinawakan ni Christina ang kamay ko.

"May pinirmahan ka bang mga papeles?"

Napaisip ako sa tinanong ni Christina

"Marami, Matapos kong makalabas sa rehabilitation center ay si Atty Valdez agad ang sumalubong sa akin... pero alam ko bills lang yun ng pagpasok ko sa hospital at rehabilitation center. " Pag-alala ko, halos hindi pa nga ako nakakapasok sa kwarto ko ng kausapin ako ni Attorney para maasikaso daw nya agad.

Christian looked confused siguro ay hindi pa talaga nababanggit ni Christian na halos magda-dalawang taon akong nanatili sa rehabilitation center.

"That could be your inheritance!" Galit na galit na konklusyon agad nito, Napatayo pa nga ito dahilan para pagtinginan ng mga tao ang pwesto namin kaya kaagad itong hinila paupo ng fiancée nya.

"Pamana na galing sa nakaw," kontra ko Naramdaman ko ang pagtulo ng mga luha ko sa pisngi, so I instantly wipe it. May namana nga ako pero galing sa kaban ng bayan yun.

"But it's not your fault." Napatango ako. It is not my fault but why I'm the one who suffered it now? Why I'm the one who is facing the consequence. Why?

" I really want a new life. I even change my last name," pag-aamin ko. Mula sa apelyido ni Daddy na Herrera ay pinalitan ko ito ng apelyido ni Mommy na Mercado.

"Pagod na ko. Alam mo ba kung anong madalas nilang sabihin sa akin noon, every time they saw me, that I'm the daughter of a corrupt politician. That I deserve what happened to me 10 years ago. That I'm living bad karma. Tell me, how can I normally live with that?" Wala school na tumatanggap sa akin sa Samos na trabaho, and their reason is 'I'm the daughter of corrupt Vice- Mayor'"

Christian looked sad and disappointed with my decision.

"But you don't know anyone here? And, what your Auntie did to you was a fraud." I shook my head and weakly smiled at him.

"I don't care about my money at all. I don't care about expensive things. Gusto ko na lang ng peace of mind. A simple life without a judgment."

"That's life. Era, People will judge you wherever you are, no matter what you doing. Hindi ka pwedeng lagi na lang ikaw ang lalayo.

"Yeah right, people will judge me anyway, so I will live my life the way I want it." Tumayo ako matapos sabihin yun.

"You exactly judging me right now," I added. Before I exit to our table.

I wipe my tears away. He knows everything that I've gone through. He should be the one who supports me on this. 

"I'm just worried about you, sorry." He said. Muli akong humarap at lumapit sa table...

Kinuha ko ang strawberry frappe at pecan bar ko. Sayang e, favorite ko to.