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KLEEVE
MY GAZE automatically turned to television when I heard a so-used familiar set of words, 'sa ulo ng mga nagbabagang balita' from the male news anchor with his formal attire, whom holding two sheets of white paper.
"Isang ginang, natagpuang patay sa loob ng kanya mismong bahay sa bayan ng Huntiño, sa probinsiya ng Sininta. Pinaniniwalaan ng ambulansiyang nagdala sa kaniya na hindi bababa sa bente kuwatro oras na ang nakalipas nang mamatay ang biktima dahil sa lagay ng balat, labi at mata nito. Ayon sa imbestigasyon, napag-alamang Wilma Kureno ang pangalan ng biktima, may edad na animnapu't limang taong gulang. Kasalukuyang isinasailalim sa autopsy ang bangkay upang matukoy kung ano ang ikinamatay nito..."
How tragic.
"Mamatay na talaga ang hindi sumama."
Napatigil ako mula sa akmang pagsimsim ng kape at napatingin sa pigura ng isang babae sa biglang bumukas na pinto. Nakahalukipkip at nakataas ang kilay nito kasabay nang pagputok ng bubble gum sa kaniyang bibig.
"Halign," I tapped the vacant space on the sofa I'm seated. Umupo siya nang padabog kaya napatawa ako.
"What?" I laughed.
She chewed her gum and gave me a deadly stare.
"I knew it, Kleeve! Wala ka talagang balak sumama, ano?" tinaasan niya ako ng kilay while waiting for me to respond. I smirked hence she throw the sofa pillow to me. I successfully catched and waved it to tease her more.
The latter just rolled her eyes and popped the gum.
"Bakit ba ayaw mong sumama? Look, nando'n naman sina Finx at kuya. Si Irish din, pati si Kylah! And one more thing: it's free! Food, transportation at additional allowances. That's how heaven feels, duh!" natawa ako nang idipa niya pa ang kaniyang mga kamay na animoy sumasalubong sa amihan kaya pinisil ko ang ilong niya bago tumayo at iniabot sa kaniya ang diyaryong nasa tabi ng remote.
"Work of candidate," I saw her lips formed "O" while scanning the article about this candidate who will shoulder the expenses for the said trip.
Mayaman 'to, malamang.
He's running for the position of governor here in our small province, Sininta. If I'm not mistaken, the population here is 9,780- thanks to the last census- wherein 80% were voters. Meaning to say, the maximum number of votes he would get-if he would successfully fool and get the voters' trust with his nonsense treat (which is I highly doubted) is 7,824.
Minus one, dahil hindi ako kasali ro'n.
Based on what I've read, it's a trip consisting of four destinations, four museums to be exact. They only differ in types. Moreover, all residents of Sininta were invited. When I said all, literally all. Bata, matanda, babae, lalaki, voters or not- lahat lahat. Nagbahay bahay ✨raw✨ ang staffs nitong kandidatong ito at nagbigay ng invitation slip. Even those in boundaries whom considered as squatters were sent an invitation.
Despite of this candidate's work, one thing's keep bugging on my mind.
Why is it anonymous? How could voters vote this candidate if we don't even know his/her name?
