"Videl."
"Suarez."
Halinhinan ang pagbigkas ng mga tellers sa apelyido ko at apelyido ng lalaki sa kabilang gilid. I am alone because I am an independent candidate. Kumpleto ang partido niya at baka nga sobra pa sa sakto ang mga nag-propose na makabilang sa team nila during the filing of the candidacy.
I don't usually care because I enjoy my own company but I also think it would be better to have someone that will comfort me now that I am feeling nervous. Nakakawala ng poise ang dikit na laban namin ni Suarez.
"Videl . . . Suarez . . . Suarez . . . Videl."
Narito kami sa isang malaking kuwarto kung saan nagaganap ang bilangan ng boto. The vote counting happens on the same day as the election. Iyon ay para maiwasan ang mga isyu tungkol sa dayaan.
The school owns a machine that can count the votes. It will be easier and faster but there will always be issues with the accuracy if we used it. Kaya mano-mano na ang pagbibilang. Idaraan din naman ang mga balota sa machine. The machine's count and the tellers' count will be compared to evaluate precision.
Kapag natalo ako, hindi ko talaga maaaring sabihin na dinaya ang laban. The school gives importance to its integrity. Kaya nga narito kami ngayon at aktuwal na nasasaksihan ang bilangan.
"It's already your lunch time, everyone. You can eat first and go back here after. Kung gusto niyo naman, bumili na lang kayo at dito niyo na kainin," si Mrs. Mendoza, adviser ng SSC.
Walang imik ang dalawang partido. Mukhang ayaw nila dahil dikit ang laban halos sa lanat ng posisyon. Maybe they're worried it would be manipulated in a snap.
"One candidate can remain here while the rest of the team buy their food. Puwede ninyong ibili na lang ang maiiwan. Iyon ay kung gusto niyong may maiwang bantay." It was as if she could read our minds, Mrs. Mendoza suggested a solution.
The two teams like the idea. Nag-usap-usap na nga sila kung sino ang maiiwan. Nanatili akong tahimik dahil sino naman ang kakausapin ko? Hangin?
Nagrereklamo na ang tiyan ko, pero sanay ako na malipasan ng gutom. I know I can still endure it until the afternoon. Yeah, toxic habits I can't discard out of my system.
"Bumalik din kayo kaagad pagkatapos ninyong kumain para kampante kayo," anang adviser. "And please, until the vote counting isn't done yet, refrain yourself from dispersing the current standings to your fellow students.
"Maaaring i-conclude nila na panalo na ang isang kandidato at sa huli ay umarangkada na naman ang mga issue ng pandaraya. You are all the witnesses here, that's what important."
Tumango kaming lahat sa sinabi ni Mrs. Mendoza. Naiintindihan naman iyon ng lahat. Nagtayuan na ang mga kandidato para kuhanin ang wallet nila. Sinulyapan ako ni Mrs. Mendoza at nginitian.
She is looking forward to having me as the SSC President and she could just propose it to the Dean before the filing of the candidacy could happen but she didn't. She is after democracy. She is a high-esteemed woman and everyone can tell why.
Pinagkrus ko ang mga binti at ipinahinga ang likod sa backrest nang upuan nang maglabasan na ang dalawang team. Iyong Secretary nila Suarez ang maiiwan, Auditor naman iyong sa kabila.
"Hoy."
Damn that hoy. Kung bakit may pangalan naman ako pero iyon ang tawag niya sa 'kin.
BINABASA MO ANG
A Game with Kismet | Suarez II
RomanceIt has always been a dream for Ammy to live prosperously. Worse luck, she was not born with a silver spoon. She has to endure the mud on her feet as she chases her ambitions. Notwithstanding, it did not stop her. She has set her goals and will go t...
