La Douleur Exquise: Imee Marcos

Chapter 67

Almost a year later..

Rodrigo Roa Duterte's POV

It's now friday afternoon, I'm just currently finishing some paper works for Monday, while waiting for Imee to go home from the capitol. Medyo maaga akong dumating dahil maaga ding natapos ang mga meetings ko.

You can see me in Ilocos Norte for the weekends. The only time I get to visit Imee, it's a stressful set-up when your the Mayor of Davao, while your partner is the Governor of the farthest land to the North, pero we'll make do. As she always says, it's just the challenges of life.

Someone suddenly harshly knocked on the door three times. "Who's that?", I asked.

"Lillian..", I slowly took out a personal gun, we keep here in one of the drawers in Imee's home office.

"It's Eloise! I'm sorry, I realized its a bad joke.." Eloise said as she entered the room. I slowly lowered the pistol back into the drawer.

"Baliw ka talaga, dai.." sabi ko as I crossed my arms.

"Wala man lang, welcome home?" aniya.

"Baliw ka.." sagot ko naman habang tinapos ko mga paper works at binalewala siya.

"Tito Rod, I brought pasalubong pa naman.." sabi niya habang nilapitan ako. Hay, I missed this kid.

"Welcome home!" sarkastiko kong sagot.

"Si mom po?" tanong niya habang umupo sa katapat na upuan ng office table.

"She's still at the capitol. Pupuntahan ko mamaya, sama ka Ellie?" sagot at tanong ko naman.

"Sure! Sama ako!" sagot niya at ngumiti.

Naghintay lang kami na mag-alas singko ng hapon bago nagtungo sa kapitolyo. Papatawid na sana kami ng kalsada ng biglang humawak si Eloise sa kamay ko.

"I know, I'm turning eighteen in a few days, pero I'm still takot to cross this road..." bulong niya.

"..Muntik na akong masagasaan dito one time.. Mommy was enraged.." dagdag pa neto. Tinibayan ko nalang ang pag-hawak sa kamay niya. Malalagot pa ako kay Imee.

"Wag kang bumitaw.." sabi ko na parang batang pinagsabihan lang.

"I won't!" aniya at ngumiti.

Naglakad na kami at pumasok sa capitol. Umakyat na din kami sa hagdan hanggang second floor kasi nandun ang opisina niya.

"Yun oh!" aniya ko at tinuro si Imee na may kausap na mayor sa hallway.

"Hello mommyy!!" bati ni Eloise habang tumakbo papunta sa kaniya.

"Hi Ellie!! You're here!!" masayang bati naman ni Imee at nagyakapan sila.

Pinagmasdan ko lang silang dalawa hanggang nakita ako ni Imee at tinawag.

"Pakipot ka pa, gusto mo din naman makisama.." biro niya.

"Kaya nga, Tito Rod! Join the group hug!" aniya naman ni Eloise at niyakap ako.

"Sana everyday ganito.." bulong ni Eloise, napangiti nalang kaming dalawa ni Imee.

"Anyways, can we eat out?" pag-aaya ni Eloise.

"Where do you want?" tanong ni Imee habang naka-akbay kay Eloise.

"I want to eat tocino and isaw."

"But you're not sanay?"

"Yes, I am.." pagpipilit ni Eloise.

"Talaga? When was the last time you ate isaw?" tanong niya.

"I don't know pero, I am sanay.." pagpipilit niya talaga.