The First Daughter

3

By 1 o'clock, Maine wanted to stop by a restaurant before going to the orphanage where she was scheduled to make an appearance. "Major Richards, baba ka na. Kumain ka na kasama ko." He obliges to her order and followed her into a tiny restaurant near the orphanage. It didn't seem fancy, and he never expected her to go to places like these. The waiter approaches them, and she orders for the both of them. "Kuya, isang Sinigang na Salmon, Liempo, Adobong Kang Kong, and Garlic Rice. Ikaw?"

"Garlic Rice nalang rin. Thanks."

The owner of the restaurant approaches her, and calls out for her. "Miss Maine! Grabe, ang laki laki mo na? Ang tagal mo nang di nakadaan dito."

"Opo, Manang Lydia. Ngayon lang ulit ako nakauwi." Wow, mabait din pala siya?

"Kamusta si Madame?"

"Okay naman po, busy. Di naman kami masyado nagkikita nun." Close?

The middle aged lady shrugs at Maine's comment. Maybe she was used to her being here all the time. She turns her attention to Alden and looks at him from head to toe. "Hijo, bago ka noh?"

"Ho?"

"Di ka pa nakakapunta dito eh."

"Opo. Bago po." He shakes her hand. "Major Richards po. Close-in ni Ma'am Maine."

"Alagaan mo si bunso ha. Pag pasaway yan, itawag mo dito, ako bahala." She gave him a knowing wink. Nako, Manang, kung alam niyo lang. Alden still looks confused why this lady seems very close to Maine.

"Wala naman pong problema." He glanced at Maine, who in turn gave him a death stare.

Alden excuses himself to go out to check if his parking was okay, since parking could be a bit problematic in the area. Manang Lydia taps him from behind. "Hijo, kamusta ka naman kela Maine?"

He nods politely at the woman. "Okay naman po."

"Sigurado ka? Di ko lang masabi kanina, pero kilala ko yang si Maine. Medyo pasaway." Alden remains speechless and let the lady finish her story. "Bata pa lang si Maine, buhay pa si Sir Teddy, ako na nag-alaga niyan. Cook nila ako sa bahay. Si Madame, siguro mga five siya non, naging Congresswoman na. So ayun busy parati. Lumaki si Maine medyo naghahanap ng pansin. Nung mga eight siya, nag-US na ako. Tapos nung nag college siya sa US, tumira siya sa akin ng mga tatlong taon. So halos ako na rin nagpalaki diyan. Umuwi ako two years ago para magbukas ng restaurant kasi may ipon na."

Alden softens to the idea that maybe Maine was just rebelling to seek attention from her mom. 9 years of being a Congresswoman, 6 years a Vice President, and a year and a half into her Presidency, maybe she really longed to be noticed. His head starts conflicting between feeling sorry for her and feeling annoyed at the lack of respect Maine has for him. Respect is a basic trait of human decency, how hard is it to give?

"Alden, ano ba hurry up! Lalamig yung food!" Maine peeps out with matching eye roll not noticing the woman beside him. Once she noticed, her eyes softened and immediately her face could not be painted. Lagot ka ngayon!

"Sorry, Manang."

The lady puts her hands on her hips and faces Maine. "Halika dito, mag-uusap tayo." Bye Maine, kain na ako. Huehuehue.

***

Maine softened all throughout lunch and was exceptionally nice. He stops the car at the orphanage where they were all waiting for her. "Thank you, Major Richards."

She goes down the SUV, and was led by her advanced party. Four more guards surrounded her, while the kids had welcome banners and a song performance to welcome her. She puts on a smile, and no it wasn't a smile for publicity or to keep up appearances. For the first time ever she saw Maine with a genuine, heartfelt smile. Maganda ka pala pag naka-ngiti.

She immediately waves to the children, and greets all the nuns who run the orphanage. The children immediately swarm their way to her to give her a hug and little paper flowers they made out of newspaper. It was amusing for Alden to watch her interact with the kids, because it wasn't the Maine at home. She felt calm and loose doing weird faces and dancing to whatever OPM novelty song there was.

"Ate Maine," Budak calls her out. "May games po kami. Sali ka po."

"Sige, Budak." Maine follows the eldest child in the orphanage to the makeshift stage made out of plywood.

"Newspaper dance po ito. Hanap nalang po kayo ng partner." The kid scans the crowd until his eyes zeroed in on me. "Kuya Tisoy! Kuya Tisoy! Kayo nalang partner ni Ate Maine."

I gestured for them not to include me. For the first time ever Maine looked at me tenderly while his laugh reached the corner of her eyes. "Dali na." She reaches out her arm, and I had no choice but to come up the stage as well.

"Ay ang gwapo ni Kuya oh!" Bilog, Budak's sister, started screaming followed by yihees and uyyys by the other children making Alden feel slightly awkward.

"Dali na. Pagbigyan mo na sila," Maine whispered to Alden.

After the game, Maine was making her way out of the orphanage, while keeping herself in a conversation with one of the nuns. "Salamat po ulit, Sister. Next time ho ulit, promise, I'll stay longer." 

"Nako, Ma'am Maine, sobra sobra nga yung mga pinadala niyong gamit para sa mga bata, and talagang nag-enjoy sila tuwing nandito ka." Tuwing? Meaning madalas? There must be more to you than meets the eye, Maine.

"Eh nakakatuwa naman po kasi talaga sila. Si Budak at Bilog nga ang laki laki na, dati kung magsapakan yung dalawa grabe ho, diba?"

"Ganon pa rin naman sila."

"Anyway, sobrang nag-enjoy po ako. Mauna na po ako ah? Salamat po nang marami," Maine gives the nun a hug and enters the car. A smile was still plastered on her face, with her eyes still glistening. 

"Oh Tisoy, tuwang tuwa yung mga bata sa'yo ha. Ingat sa pagmamaneho ha," Sister told Alden before he enters the driver's seat of the car.

"Opo, Sister." He buckles up and turns on the engine. "Saan tayo sunod, Ma'am?"

"Bahay na. Gusto ko na umuwi." She looks out the window, and Alden begins her drive. "Major Richards..."

"Yes?"

"Salamat kanina."