Your Honor

Tour

It was a gloomy day in Bamban today, despite the weather being sunny. The people of the small rural city were not happy with the recent news, the young mayor was suspended and apparently the current acting mayor wasn’t good—kurakot pa nga sabi ng ilan.

But Alice was alive as ever, as if she wasn’t suspended at all. Nag-hain na siya ng petisyon sa Ombudsman upang tanggalin ang kanyang suspension na mararanasan niya sa loob ng anim na buwan. Mga abogado niya na ang bahala roon. Dahil ang inaasikaso niya ngayon ay kung paano siya mage-enjoy. 

Kasalukuyang bumalik sa Tsina ang kaniyang mga magulang at ang kuya niya. Una at dahil ayaw nilang maibestigahan ng korte, at pangalawa dahil ayaw nilang tugisin sila ng pulis. Nangangahulugan lamang ito na malaya siyang makakagalaw ng walang epal sa gagawin niya. 

She knows that sooner or later she’ll no longer be here, either getting thrown to jail or that method. Nonetheless, she enjoys her few days left; something she couldn’t even do since she was a child. 

“Farm?” Tanong ni Sen. Risa habang umiinom ng tsaa kasama si Mayor Alice. It’s only 8:00 am, the morning dew still lingers in their atmosphere; they are currently in the mayor’s backyard.

“Opo, gusto niyo po i-tour ko po kayo sa QJJ Farm…?” Pagpapaalam naman ni Alice, nakatuon ang buong pansin ng dalaga sa sasabihin ng katabi niya.

Risa quickly decides, “Ah hindi na, kasi ‘di ba sabi mi ito-tour mo ako around Bamban?” 

“Opo.” She replies as she sips her tea. “Magpapalit lang po ako. Wait po.” Alice then stood up and went inside. 

Nang maka-alis sa paroroonan ang alkalde, Risa gently calls Manong Ben at naki-usap na kunin ang regalo niya para dito.

“Will she like it?” Risa asks herself. “Dios ko, ano ba gagawin ko?” beat. “Ano na ba ang ginagawa ko?”

Risa stares at the distance, drinking chamomile tea absentmindedly. She wonders what could’ve been if she didn’t listen to Loren. Well ano pa bang magagawa niya, what is done, is done; what has been is Mr. Bean 

It was not a moment later when Alice finally stepped foot outside. With two helmets tucked under both her arms. The mayor was wearing a motor jumpsuit that perfectly clings onto her body.

She looked so badass, that’s what Risa thought. For someone who always wears modest and feminine clothes, Alice easily pulls off garments such as this. Not just that, she also has hobbies that are male-dominated. 

A testament that what men do, women can do it too.

Most times, even better. 

“I suppose we’re going to ride your big bike?” Risa casually asks, as if she didn’t nearly spit her tea the moment she saw the other woman in plain sight. 

“Yes po, Ms. Risa.” She cheerfully says. 

Risa rose up from where she was sitting. But she stopped, when she remembered ano yung pinakuha niya earlier. “Oh, before I forget, nandito yung prize mo for being a top fan.” 

Manong Ben entered the scene with a large Panda stuffed toy in hand—and when I say large, I mean life sized. The stuffed toy almost reigns over the 5’2 ft driver. Alice's eyes widened, she almost dropped her expensive helmets. Words cannot describe how happy she was when she saw it. 

Setting down the gears she had in her arms, she hugged the giant panda, almost falling like a child. Risa grinned, wider than she wanted to show; just imagine how she would have enjoyed this moment if they weren’t sworn enemies in the public eye.