The President Daughter

Chapter 5

Hindi ako mapakali habng nakaupo at nasa harapan ko si Rais.

Is this for real?

I mean I'm having a lunch date with her.

Shit.

It's a freaking date, not just lunch or whatever — Para akong nanaginip.

"Don't you like the food Zoe?" Rais asked.

Eh paano dahil sa kakilig ay hindi na ako nakakain ng maayos — pinanuod ko nalang siya.

Minsan nakakahiya talaga ako.

"No, no." Umayos ako ng upo at napaupo sa steak na nasa plato ko. I'm not a fan of steak kaya para makain ko ito kahit paano ay pina well done ko. "Masarap naman."

Pero parang hindi sya naniniwala sakin. "Are you sure?"

Tumango ako. "I think i Just want a.." Napakamot ako sa baba ko. "A rice."

I'm a rice lover, i can't live without rice. Iyong tipon na kahit anong kain ko pero kapag walang rice ay hindi ako mabubusog.

"What else?"

Nahihiya akong ngumiti kay Rais. "Wala na."

At sumenyas si Rais sa waiter na hindi kalayuan samin. "Rice please."

Umalis din agad ang waiter.

Matuturn off kaya sya sakin? Sana naman hindi.

Hindi ko lang talaga kaya na partneran ng mashed potatoes ang steak. Para lang itong dadaan sa lalamunan ko at hindi ako mabubusog.

Then while looking at my date i realize something. "Can i ask something?"

"Sure, what is it?"

"How to pronounce your name? Like as in r-i-c-e?"

"It is R-a-i-s." Rais politely corrected me.

Natawa ako. "Oh i see."

The beauty in front of me lean back a little as she smell her wine. "Rais is often translated as 'president' in Arabic, and as 'boss' in Persian."

"You are born to be a leader pala Rais." I'm amazed. "Baka maging president ka ng Pilipinas."

Because why not? Lahat naman pwede maging President basta Filipino citizen at qualified.

Another why not? Maybe Rais can embody her name and be a good leader.

Natawa si Rais with a little shake of her head. "No, politics is not my thing."

Well me too.

Politics is toxic.

"And what is your thing?" Grabe bibig at utak ko kapag nag konek.

Ang smooth.

Rais smell off her wine before saying. "You.."

I feel my cheek heats up almost immediately — what does she mean by that?

Titig na titig ako sa napaka gandang si Rais na sobra pa sa sobra ang poise. "M— me?"

At ngumiti si Rais sakin. "Your hobby, liking even dreams."

Oh. Dyosko. Akala ko kung ano na, kinabahan ako ng bongga.

But anyway, I'm thinking a good way to describe myself a little bit. "I love cooking." Sabi ko habang hinihiwa ang steak sa Plato ko. "Baking."

"Housewife material i see." Rais said in a whisper. "Kaya ka ba namili ng mga baking tools?"

Ang bilis nyang mag change subject.