OFF-TANGENT(A Lesbian Story)

Chapter Three

Mika's apartment, on the first floor of an old Victorian house, was hot when she came home late that afternoon. She thought about turning on the airconditioning but rejected the idea as impractical. By the time the apartment was cool, Kiefer would be there to pick her up for the barbecue at her father's house. She took a quick shower, put on a bare-shouldered sundress and sandals. She would usually stay away from heels every time she would go out with Kiefer. At six feet tall, he seems to have issues with her being tall. She stands five feet eleven. She went to sit and wait on the front porch steps where there was breeze.

The gingerbread-laden house had once been a mansion, built by a grocery wholesaler who had made his fortune before the turn of the century, when Dumaguete was a thriving town. Now after a period of disuse and decay, the house had been restored and cut into apartments. Mika's part was the front half of the first floor, what had once been the master's bedroom, sitting room, and nursery. It is small but it was sunny and bright. The tiny kitchen and bathroom were brand new. The airconditioning system was efficient, hot water was always available, and the location good. It suited Mika just fine. She especially liked her living room, which had an octagonal tower room extending off one corner. She loved to sit there in the window-seat during rainy seasons drinking her hot chocolate...

Chocolate! The mere word brought Vic Galang's face to her mind. Ang yabang! Kala mo kung sino mag-aasta. The nerve of her to say that there were two points of view about the factory's move--- hers' and the right one! All she had done was to express a decided difference of opinion. She only wanted to stimulate some discussion on this new project. So I might have asked the non-famous question. But someone has too! It seemed to her that everyone in Dumaguete was falling neatly into the line saying, "Yes, isn't this a wonderful idea?" without ever considering the possibility that it might all fall through and leave the city with a horrendous debt to pay off, without single additional job, and with another huge empty building in the industrial park. It was obvious that Vic Galang would have preferred to talk about chocolate and Mika's poetic soul rather than to get down to the issues.

"Well, she is going to discuss the issues." She said firmly. "If I am the only one who is willing to get-down in the mud with her, then that is the ways it will have to be. Somebody has to do it for the sake of this town."

It was after all, her job. In a town the size of Dumaguete, Mika had learned, the press too often acts as a sort of extension of the City Hall, publishing only the good news. But Mika was different. Her years in journalism school at the university had taught her to feel the full weight of the public trust that had been lodged in her as a representative of the people. A good reporter, she felt, had to be above personalities, willing to ask the tough questions and seek out the truth, no matter who might be hurt in the search.

She wished that everyone could just understand that she have got nothing personal against Vic Galang. She have said worse things about her own father, when she thought he was dodging questions!

Kiefer's car, a dark grey medium-sized sedan, pulled up at the front gate. She started towards it, and was not surprised when he got out and came around to open her door. It was one of the things she liked best about Kiefer, she decided. He was a perfect gentleman.

"I should have told you to dress casually." she said, raising her face for his light kiss. He was wearing a navy blazer, gray slacks and wing-tips, and his tie was a sober blue stripe against the white of his shirt. "It is only a barbecue, and there will be people there who are barefoot and wearing jeans."

He looked surprised. "If it had been formal, Mika, I would have worn a suit." He pointed out.

"What you are wearing is not exactly casual." She argued. "You are not at the bank now, you know."