untouchable

18

The people peacefully protested, forces the commission to come clean about the discrepancies documented throughout the elections. But all the commission have said despite the pressure is that the process was successful, clean and safe. Truly baffling.

You've been thinking about going back into activism, signing up on a different ND this time. The campaign reinvigorated your passion on mass organization. Now the elections are your last straw. If the thieves indeed win, activism is more needed this time than ever. Yes, that also means activism would be more dangerous due to incessant red tagging, etc., but they weren't playing fair.

The justice on the streets is still more powerful than any court in the world.

The Filipinos has done it before, surely you can do it again.

...But how sad that it has to be done again.

You talked to some familiar faces on the ground, you weren't surprised to see some of your former orgmates there. They were even recruiting you to join their org, and you gave your yes.

PPCRV, an independent body, said they will manually tally the receipts to clear everyone's doubts once and for all. It will be slow but sure. They took in willing volunteers to participate.

Although, if the SD cards were corrupted, wouldn't that affect the receipts as well?

You're not really knowledgeable about the inner workings of the tech involved on the Elections but everything is suspicious for you at this point.

Cops are lined up by the gates of C*M*L*C office to form a barricade. Such action only amplified the voice of the people, outright rejecting the winning tandem. Placards are raised, megaphones and Bluetooth speakers on full volume, flags are being waved around.

Everyone is still fired up and hopefully, this momentum persists on the coming days, until the commission takes accountability for their misdeeds.

(Or until all the fascists are overthrown again...)

Before you all have to go home for the day, you caught up with old comrades and exchanged numbers with them. You're ready to commit on prod work, EDs, etc. again. You didn't know you missed it until dipping your toes once more on volunteering during the campaign.

You're currently recuperating on a fastfood joint with your friends after the protest. You're busy wolfing down your fries as Sugi shows his phone to everyone at the table. You didn't peek for you're too lost in your headspace, not hearing whatever it is they're conversing about, several thoughts hounding you all at once. Despite the number of things passing through your mind, one fleetingly stood out from the rest. So, with a slight shake of your head to snap out of your trance, wiping the grease off your fingers, and functioning on autopilot, you took out your own phone, scrolled and tapped away, typed a quick short message to someone, and sent it without any other thought.

Three minutes later, you weren't expecting she would reply, but she did.

"thank you, y/n :)"

--

Jillian smiled a little at your good luck text. Before she could get even more distracted, she sent a small thank you and put down the device, screen down. She is having a hard time concentrating on studying for her finals which is today!

She lost sleep last night, crying over the results, holding her family a little closer than usual. Jill called out to her Papa, asking for answers as to why are things happening the way they do, asking for peace of mind, asking for his comfort.

A miniscule part of Jill who's selfish is rejoicing for her Mama's loss, because then she won't have to lose her to politics and her call of duty for another six years. Leni could have more time living her best life freely, have a bit more privacy, catch up on her K-Dramas for hours with no documents to read and sign, perhaps travel to places they haven't been to before, wishfully getting away from the constant fake news attack because she'd now serve as a private citizen; but Jill's selfless side would always win. Always.

She was raised well enough to always care about something bigger than her, and that something bigger is her beloved country.

It truly made no sense. They did everything they could, maybe crammed a little, but they poured their all.

Everything happens for a reason. God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers, but for how long do the Filipinos have to keep shouldering it on? Since the dawn of time, this small archipelago has fallen victim to greedy foreigners, now to its own greedy sons and daughters.

Jillian sighed heavily and massaged her temples to relieve some tension. She won't be able to join her family to church today. And she's grateful to the outpouring of support from everyone, Jill knows she needs some of it. People have immediately checked up on them since yesternight, she couldn't possibly reply to all, she's hoping they would understand. She mentally noted to get back to it when things sort of settled down.

Of course, the recent events also meant that the Un*t**m's supporters would be bolder on trashing their inboxes. Luckily Jill isn't too big on social media despite being Gen Z. She rarely logs in on her public accounts, she uses her private ones more. No one outside of her handpicked and trusted circle(s) deserves to get a peek on her personal life.

Despite all the overwhelming negative stuff, Jill chooses to look at the positive ones. She's still fine, she's graduating, she's going to see Taylor Swift, she got a loving and well-respected family. They will be fine.

She rolled her neck around. Is it too late now to wish to live in much less interesting times?

Jillian knows that even if the country did lose, that isn't the end of times. It's only starting.

Speaking of starting, her exam would start in an hour.

Three rhythmic knocks on her door and it swung open a little, Aika's head peering through the frame. She has a small smile on her face. "We're going na, bunso. Best of luck on your finals! If magutom ka, may merienda sa table."

The door opened a bit wider due to Tricia pushing it to enter the room. "Good luck sa exam, gerl! OBF!" She said and hugs Jillian. Tricia signaled to the eldest to join in and so Aika did.

Leni entered the space, too. A fond look on her face, glasses perched down on her nose bridge, hands inside her pockets. Jill had an expecting stare at her Mama, Leni only gave her a dimpled smile, not one to indulge physical affections.

So the Tres Marias looked at one another to communicate telepathically. With a nod, they swarmed the matriarch with a huge bear hug, recreating the one they did when they welcomed Leni on stage during the Makati MDA. But unlike that, this one lingers more, firmer, as though conveying they always got each other through it all. That this too shall pass, and with each other's company.

They let go of the group embrace and see that their Mama's eyes have a slight twinkle. She fixes her glasses and so whatever emotion that briefly showed itself disappears in an instant.

"We'll be praying for you, Anak. Always remember na proud ako sa 'yo." Leni sincerely said to Jillian.

Tricia's lips are starting to pout due to feels. The family noticed that the crybaby is about to, well, cry. They smiled and patted the tallest girl's shoulders and back. It's been a tumultuous couple of hours for the Robredos, so cut her some slack.

"Thank you, Mama. Proud din ako sa 'yo." Jill replied, a bit teasingly but still as sincere.

Leni nods once, and gazes at her first two daughters. "Let's go na! Baka ma-late pa tayo sa misa," she nags.

The sisters chuckled at their mother's nagging, and they filtered out of the room one-by-one. The moment has to be cut short for now. Aika gave Jill's hand one last squeeze before departing completely.

Jill sat down on her chair, heart a bit lighter, head a little clearer than earlier.

Jill logs in on her computer. She's prepared for her finals. She's been studying hard all month. She'll be fine.

They'll be fine.