#Du34Leni [Dubredo]

I. September 2015

I was invited in the Kalivungan Festival in North Cotabato to speak the opening remarks. I looked around me to check out some beautiful ladies when a person caught my eye. She was wearing a sleeveless barong over a transparent piña cloth cover-up. She held her phone and a brown shawl and was with a few security personnel. I know who this woman is. I observed her from a far for a while.

"Digong!"

I suddenly snapped back. "Ha? Bakit?"

He laughed. "Tulala ka."

"Ah, oo."

He looked at the direction I'm staring. He smirked. "Si Robredo ba tinitingnan mo?"

"Hindi uy."

"Siya nga."

"Bakit siya andito?" I asked.

"Special guest man. Kaibigan niya si Lala."

"Ah, si Lala," I say, as I continue to stare at her.

"Matunaw yan, uy." We laughed.

Suddenly, she turned to us and we were caught off guard. She smiled widely. I gulped. My companion smiled back and waved at her. He mouthed to me,

"Magsasalita din siya, pare. Uupo din yan dito."

--

I sat down at the front and waited for my turn to speak. I was told that Mayor Duterte from Davao City will give the opening remarks. His name is very familiar to me. I looked at him from my seat before he started his speech and our eyes met. I smiled at him. He smirked and winked. I felt warm heat spread across my face and I looked down and covered my mouth with handkerchief.

When he finished his speech, he sat beside me. I nodded to him. He nodded back and looked at me. I looked back.

"Can I cross my legs, Ma'am?"

I blinked and wondered why he asked that question. I noticed that my shawl that spreads across my lap extends to the side of his seat. I panicked a bit and immediately pulled away my shawl. "Sorry sir, sorry po naabala ko kayo," I said, blushing a little.

"Hala, hindi, baka kasi mabother ka lang ba, pag nagcross ako."

"Hindi po sir, ok lang po," I looked up to him. He smiled. He crossed his legs. I folded my shawl to just fit my lap. We looked at the stage.

"Leni?"

I looked at him. "Yes, sir?" He offered his hand.

"Rody," He said. I took his hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you sir."

"Rody nalang. O kaya Digong, puwede rin." He held my hand longer than one should normally hold one's hand after a hand shake. We stared at each other's eyes and laughed nervously. "Sorry," he said as we broke the stare.

"Okay lang po, sir."

"Wag nga sir, uy,"

We laughed again. The speaker on the stage suddenly spoke. We were quite for a while. I looked at the Governor and Vice Governor speaking to each other. They were smiling as the people clap their hands. The Governor pointed his hand towards the crowd and the Vice Governor nodded to her.

"Ano kaya pinag-uusapan nila no?"

"Huh?"

"Yan, sila Lala."

"Ah, oo nga po e. Parang ang saya nila."

"Ano kaya pakiramdam no, ng anjan sa taas?"

"Ano pong ibig niyong sabihin?"

"Yung nakikita mo yung mga taong masaya tapos ikaw yung leader nila sa taas?"

"Masaya po siguro. Pero sa tingin ko, mas masaya po na kasama ninyo yung mga tao at masaya sila na kasama ka. Kahit dito lang sa baba." I noticed that he looked at me.

"I agree with you." I looked at him as he looked on at the stage.

His eyes were twinkling.