Becoming The Man (COMPLETED)

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

"Mayor Lofranco, they're ready for you."

Daddy nodded and heaved a deep breath before mumbling his prepared speech. I smiled and walked over to fix the creases on his barong tagalog. It was his last State of the City Address today, and a lot of officials were waiting for him outside.

"Breathe, Dad," I told him. "You can do it. Break a leg."

"Thank you, Debbie," he said, patting my shoulder. He smiled before coming with his secretary.

Lumabas na rin ako para hanapin si Bailey. It was a formal event kaya we had to conform to the dress code. My hair was slicked back as I sported a carnation pink silk modern Filipiniana extending to my ankle.

"Bailey!" I called him when I saw him among the crowd.

Nakipag-siksikan kami to reach each other. Then, he held my hand and took the time to stare at me.

"You look so good today," Bailey said.

"And so do you, bub," I replied. Ayan, ha! Bina-bounce back ko na 'yung compliments niya! "Para ngang ikaw 'yung magi-speech mamaya, e."

Bailey grunted. He was wearing a white barong tagalog—the kind that gradients to blue going down. His hair was brushed up for today. Suot niya rin 'yung new shoes niya.

"Let's go inside?" he offered, extending his arm.

"Thank you," I said as I anchored my right arm to his left arm. We walked side by side to the front of the auditorium where we are seated.

We received decorations pag-dating namin sa harap. Mommy was already there because she was one of the spokesperson sa mga officials. Her condition is getting better by the days and I could not be happier seeing her back on her lively state with all these people around.

"Without further ado, please welcome the honorable, Mayor Damian Lofranco!" the emcee announced.

Tumayo kaming lahat habang pumapalakpak. We watched Daddy grace the stage. He was waving at everyone, and when he reached the podium, nagsi-upuan na kami.

"It has been a meaningful three years of term," Mayor Lofranco began. "And on my last year, I am proud to say—in behalf of my administration—that we have fulfilled our platforms for this city."

The audience gave him a round of applause. I smiled and caught Bailey looking at me.

"Why?" I asked.

"Nothing," he replied. Okay... I shrugged. Siguro gandang-ganda na naman siya sa akin. Hayst!

Mayor Lofranco continued to report the projects his government launched and finished this year. I noticed na may photographer sa harap namin ni Bailey kaya pa-sikreto akong nag-pose para sa candid shot.

"As you can see on the screen," Daddy said, pertaining to the big LED screen beside the stage. "These are the 4 new libraries we installed in our public elementary schools."

Palakpakan ulit. Kakapagod naman! Dami kasing nagawa ni Daddy! Sana all, diba? Cannot be! Eme!

"Ngayong taon ay natapos na rin ang construction at inauguration ng panibagong high school na ipapangalan kay late Congressman Amadeus Salazar bilang pag-alala sa kanyang nai-ambag sa ating lungsod."

My lips parted.

I looked over at Mommy and I saw her smiling, but gently wiping the side of her tearing eyes.

Aw... Na-shock ako, but this didn't come as a surprise to me! Lolo has really done some major things for this city and in the congress. Parang naluluha rin tuloy ako!