Chapter 1
None of it worried Imy. Communicating, smiling at strangers, fake liking politicians, straight-up lying, studying, singing in front of many people. She was well aware of not being her true self. But none of this worried her. Because she purposefully excelled in sweet talking and her face sealed the deal with people. They stared at her when she pass, men catcalled her which is a disrespect but she took it as positive thing, and people adored her.
She knew even if their family was poor, having a beautiful face was her ticket to the world of the wealthy. She devoted her mind to exploiting rich people, but not just rich people. She chose boastful wealthy men to her advantage.
No. she did not sell herself. She’s too smart for that shit to happen because despite how she appears bold in conversation with older men that stared at her ass, she never surrendered her only dignity. Even if she is just a simple province girl.
She had a cousin, a member of the Senate of the Philippines, who just visited them in their town, Leyte. Paolo Romualdez. They were close since childhood so their parents approved of her asking to have a vacation in Manila in her cousin’s house in one week.
She didn’t particularly like politics although she was excellent in conversing with them but she preferred tagging along with Paolo so she could be immersed in Manila. She desperately wanted to live in Manila once she graduated in college to find work. Then execute her plan, find-a-rich-guy-to-marry. And after all it was her first time in the city and it was something to brag to step in Manila city like a typical provincial girl.
She could see the visible impact of politics on Manila, mostly because there are many buildings and infrastructure destroyed by the World War II. Politics. Politics. Politics. If only the world can live in peace without it!
But nothing held her back, not even politics until she came across some hateful guy.
The only guy who didn’t look at her the same way other guys did with their lustful eyes,
The only guy who didn’t try to ask her name or throw a cheap punch line to her.
The guy she met after stupidly entering the wrong bathroom in Malacanang.
The guy who shamelessly asked her looking intently, “Are you gay? Why are you in the men’s restroom?”
Imy was washing the hem of her shirt which was stained by a ketchup when she was eating a street food in the sink and immediately stopped and looked around to see a guy who looked just years older than her in a black suit. She was meters away but she could tell he’s just her level in tallness, his hair combed neatly, he had his one hand inside his slack’s pocket… handsome, yeah he is. She’d have to admit. It doesn’t help that he is in a suit, neat clothes that made him appear… professional…and his aura emits something agreeable about him. He has an air of intellectuality.
“I…” He was intently looking at her face, not at her overall outlook. The respect that came from it was heavenly. She didn’t wore any fancy clothes just a simple mint green t-shirt which was just stained by the way and jeans but mostly guys still check her body out and that, he did not. It was either he’s respectful or he wasn’t fazed by her beauty. “D-Do I look like gay?” She tried hard to appear confident but failed.
It was certainly the first time she would stammer in front of some guy. She did not usually even blink while her mouth already speaks something that would make them smile and comfortable around her but he…he kind of gives off an aura that Imy should think before she speaks. As if she was being interrogated in the court room for just being in the wrong restroom.
“Good.” He paused, a silence, probably concluding already his premises to why she was there. Maybe he thought she was a slut who wanted to find some rich guy to buy her off. And Malacanang was the best place to find wealthy men.
“I-I’m not looking for a dick-I’m sorry I didn’t see a sign this was for men. I-I just stormed of in here because I was in a rush, I just want to wash this stain in my shirt-
“Stop. You will not be convicted if you got the wrong restroom. It’s fine.” He waved his hand casually. His voice was deep. So rasp and deep. Like really deep.
“I know.”
“Okay, I’m not gonna piss. I just need to clear my head to get ready for another mindfuck.” He sounds tired. He paced around the room, his eyes and mind seems in another world until she spoke.
“You sure? I can leave. Although I don’t care hearing the echo of you pissing.”
He stopped. Looked at her and laughed softly as he wiggled his head slowly, seemingly doubting that she ever said that. She kind of like it. She’s been used to making people laugh but his was kind of different since he looked strict and his brain seems out of her league. He walked to the other sink just meter away from her and scanned her face as if he could read all of her in one stare.
“I’m seriously sure. I no longer have the privilege of holding back my piss like before.” He sighed. “Or would you like to hear me piss?” He joked and grinned at her.
“Nice proposal but no thanks.” She answered unbothered and casual. Then added, “Yeah me too, I wonder if it’s because I’ve been holding it back during the night until morning every day. I guess we’re both still afraid of ghosts.”
“No fucking way, I’m not. I just want to control it. Aren’t you already old enough to be scared of ghost? Do you still hold it back until now?”
“In the middle of the night when I feel afraid and I don’t want to meet a white lady. Ghosts are not a joke they say!”
“Neither is having your urinary bladder destroyed.”
She looked at him. Silence followed as they battle with their eyes. He has a good point. She thought.
“Hey-
They both heard a click coming from the front door of the restroom. Swiftly, they both look at each other and the guy quickly grabbed her arm and pushes her into one of the cubicle. The cubicle was small and narrow for the both of them.
“Your feet. Your feet.” The guy murmured to her ear and she was in a panic and didn’t understand what he meant by her feet. When she understood it, she jumped in him without thinking.
She snaked her arms around his neck for support. She cling as if it was life and death and shut her eyes closed, not being aware of her chest touching his and how closed they were to each other. They were seriously hugging. Imy could smell him, the whiff of a manly scent that came from him, a scent as if he just came from the shower.
Surprised, he stayed unmoved for seconds before he positioned his left hand under her right leg and his right on her lower back. When she felt his hands, her eyes widened and she immediately jumped off him and her shoes made a thud sound on the floor. She didn’t know what to do. She was sensitive to being touched. She didn’t want it from other men but it wasn’t the reason why she let go. It was the electrical feeling when his hands slowly touched her clothed skin that made her jumped off him.
“Who’s that?” The man who is clearly unzipping his pants, stopped and is confused and alarmed of the sudden sound.
The guy quickly searched for her waist. Imy made a squeak but the guy looked at her and whispered a, “shhhhh…” and his eyes told her to trust him which she did while he carried her in a bridal style. She thought it was better than her snaking her legs in his waist and almost hugging him.
It was awkward.
He stayed silent but his heartbeat didn’t.
“Who’s that?” The man’s voice repeated.
She could hear his loud beating heart that matched hers. What if she got caught in the men’s restroom? She will not be convicted, yes but the shame of someone assuming you were doing something dirty inside the bathroom even if it is not true is equal to being accused of murder you did not commit.
“Why?” She heard the guy replied as if the man would know him by just his voice. But he actually did know him by just his voice. Maybe he was famous. He must be.
“Ay I-I’m sorry Atty. Marcos.” The man lowered his voice as if threatened.
Wait-He’s a lawyer??!! What the hell?
When they both heard the flushing of water, and the loud click of door being opened and close instantly, Imy got to her feet in a second and hide her face from him. She can’t possibly look at him now but she caught glimpse that he also couldn’t look at her. He shyly scratch his head as his eyes search for something but her.
“I-I think he’s gone.” Imy said and swiftly look at him then to the floor then without saying a word, she walked around him and opened the door to leave the cubicle. Her arms brush in his as she passed him and her body reacted weird again.
The guy was left and for a second, he just remembered to breathe. In a quick moment, he also opened the door. He was relieved to have found her figure near the sink, her back on him. The sound of the rushing water in the faucet told him she was washing her shirt again.
“Thank you for saving me by the way. I still need to remove this stain. You can-
“Why are you here in Malacanang anyway?” His voice didn’t sound judgemental. It came casual, actually as if she was an old friend lost.
“I am tagging along with my cousin who’s a senator. Paolo Romualdez. “
“Hmm…Senator Paolo…”
“You know him?”
“Impossible not to…”
“Why? What stupid thing did he do again?”
“Slept in one of case hearing. And he was in the very front seat.”
“No. He would never.” Imy turn her head in disbelief.
“Ask him.” He shrugged.
“Ah… my poor stupid cousin…tsk.tsk.tsk.” She rolled her eyes.
Imy had still her back on him so she doesn’t know his facial expression.
She heard the sound of shoes moving then him leaning to the door of the cubicle which made a loud creak. “Out of curiosity, may I just ask something?”
“Sure…?”
“Why do you hate politics?” He asked directly. He is straightforward guy. He doesn’t run around the bush to ask something nonsense.
Imy faced him. How did he know? She thought.
“How’d you know?” Her thick eyebrows met together in confusion. Then she turned around to hide her shock. What does someone who hate politics say in front of a politician?
Does he read mind? Impossible!
“I heard you cursing it under your breathe earlier.”
Imy was still confused. “By earlier, you mean?”
“Just when I entered.”
Maybe she didn’t notice she was already saying what’s on her mind earlier? Yeah that’s probably it.
No point in denying. “Yes. Completely and absolutely. Like look at our country after this horrifying world war, this is done by politics, not ours but still it’s the root of it all!”
“Isn’t it the people behind it? People who had different perspective? Different ideals?”
“Fairly, politicians perspective too but politics was still the beginning of all of it.”
“You hate your cousin then who was a politician?”
She frowned. “Even if he is not, I still hate him.”
The guy cleared his throat. “Okay. So you hate me too?” He asked casually but Imy suddenly stopped washing her t-shirt.
“Why not? You’re one of them.” She breathed.
He laughed, “Fair then.”
“Is there any other premise of your hatred?” He leaned in the door of the cubicle.
“The never ending corruption. The lies. The promise that is always broken. Do I really need to enumerate all?”
He snorted. “Is it because your father didn’t win in an election?”
“No.”
“Because you’ve been hurt by your boyfriend who was a politician’s son?”
“Never--I don’t have any boyfriend.”
A pause. A silence.
“Ah.” He stepped closer to her then went beside her, “May I?” His mouth pointed at his hands and she looked up at him and she felt something flinch in her stomach. She moved a little to her right side and allowed him to wash his hands.
“This is the only faucet that works here, I’m sorry.”
“Yes why don’t you ask technicians to fix it since you’re all wealthy here. Just this one single problem and you can’t even fix here and all of you are intellectually inclined, what a shame!” she rolled her eyes at him.
“Now sorry lady but we’ll have to prioritize other people’s welfare before the issue in this restroom. This can wait but the people’s stomach can’t, especially the children.”
“Ow, you actually care about poor people?” She raised her eyebrow, quite impressed by his speech but she’s sceptical more than anyone. What if he’s just lying?
“Yes, I actually do.”
“Very well then, attorney. What do you think the Filipinos need now more than ever?” She looked at him as if his answer was life and death situation.
“A warm delicious soup in their stomach.”
Comfort.
He-He is not just all-brain. The guy feels. The guy knows. He seems to be a capable leader.
“Do you think Filipinos need it?” He called after her when she did not answer. He was afraid it wasn’t enough.
She paused and eyed him intently. “It’s the best I heard so far.”
He smiled at her. A humble and honest one. A smile without intention but the feeling of being relieved. As if he heard for the second time he passed the bar exam.
“Thank you.”
After just letting the minute slip in a comfortable silence, he remembered his trial. He immediately brought his left hand in view for the time. He was already five minutes late.
“I need to get back now, I’m already late in my trial.” He tidied himself and look at her, “It was nice talking to you. Good luck on removing that stain and also hating politics.” He smiled.
He was almost at the door already.
“Good luck on your trial. When I see you again, I’d like you to tell me things that’ll make me start liking politics.” She grinned at him knowing full well whatever he say, she will never change her mind.
“Let’s do that.”
With that, he left her. After Imy removed the stain on her shirt, she went out and waited for her cousin. One week went and she went home to Leyte with her parents. She graduated with teaching units. When she was accepted in one of the universities in Manila to work, she was delighted more than ever.
