The First Daughter

4

Alden was cleaning his gun at the lanai of the Mendoza residence, when a light switched on. It was 2 in the morning. It was Maine with a glass of single-malt whiskey, and a cigarette in hand. She sat in one of the lounge chairs, until she noticed a sudden movement which made her look to the right.

"I was just leaving," Alden notified her trying to get out of her way.

"It's okay. You can stay," she puts her hand out as she takes a sip of her whiskey. 

"You really should stop smoking, Maine." Alden warned her. Smoking has been his pet peeve, since it reminded him of how Camilla died. It was three months before he was assigned to move to Mindanao, where Camilla was diagnosed with lung cancer. Yet, he still chose his assignment over the little time he could've spent with her. When she died while he was on duty during one of the typhoons, he blamed himself that he chose his service over the love of his life. He hasn't recovered since despite the numerous relationships he's had since Camilla. It was just not the same.

"Okay, you can go. I don't need to be told what to do, especially not coming from you. I am not a child, and you are not my father, so stop acting like you care."

This was enough to push Alden's buttons. He always had a genuine, caring personality and it was always a trait people liked about him. When he entered the service, it was also the trait that hinders him from performing well. He cares too much. In service, you should know when to switch off that button, in order to save the country... in order to kill when you have to.

"Where is all the anger coming from? It doesn't take a minute to be a decent person. You think the world doesn't care about you, but they do. Your mom cares about you if only you'd give her a chance," he shot back. He stands up and packs up his gun case.

"Don't you dare talk about my mother, Alden. You don't know shit." This time she takes the last puff of her cigarette and a swig of her whiskey. This time her words were slurred an indication that she was almost drunk.

"You're right, I don't. But I hope your trip to the orphanage at least gives you an insight how lucky you are to still have a parent."

"Let me tell you a thing or two about my family Alden..." she takes another sip. "My mom never cared about me ever since. It was all about grooming Niki to be the next politician, and Coleen to be the next one to fulfill all of her causes. Me? She never gave a second look. She was never there for my school plays, dance competitions, or parent-teacher conferences because I was not the smart one. Second, no one ever gets to tell me what to do. Not my mom, not my sisters, and most especially not you."

"No Maine, someone has to get through to you somehow. It may not be me, pero mahahanap mo rin yan. Kung gusto mo pabalikin mo nalang si Manang Lydia. Make her your mother figure, if you don't want to listen to your mom. Ako, I would give anything to still see my mom or the people who are gone come back. Eh wala eh, the world sucks. Hot shot lawyer, you say? Well, that hot shot lawyer was murdered because she was a fucking great lawyer, and that's how the world works. My dad, even if he were the highest ranking general here in the Philippines, he still couldn't protect her."

Maine hands him a whiskey glass, and fills it up with her whiskey. She passes one to him and puffs another stick. "Wow, Major Richards has his own demons. Who knew? You and I are more alike than you know, Alden..." He shuts his gun case, and stands up to leave her. "Getting butthurt, Alden?"

"I don't drink on the job, Ma'am."

***

At 5 in the morning, Alden finds Maine passed out by the lanai couch. He carries her up, only to be met by President Mary Ann by the hallway giving him way to pass through the stairs. "Passed out nanaman?"

"Good morning po, Madame." He struggles to salute the president as protocol would've suggested because he was carrying a hundred-pound girl whose dead weight is occupying his arms. "Sorry."

"Don't be. Sige akyat ka."

She follows Alden to Maine's room as he sets her down in her bed. She removes Maine's shoes and covers her with a blanket. She looks very sure of her self but not too boastful. The role of a president really suited her, and she was impossible to be disliked. "Alden, how is she?"

"Okay naman po," Alden hesitates whether to tell her the truth or not.

"Alam mo, may sasabihin ako sa'yo, di ko alam pero pagdating kay Maine hirap talaga ako. Kung anong nagagawa ko sa iba, di ko magawa sa kanya. Papa's girl talaga yan eh. Aminado ako nung pinapalaki ko siya naging busy ako. Wala eh, ganyan talaga kung ang daming nakaasa sa'yo." President Mary Ann settles by the couch near Maine's bed, and gestured for Alden to stay. Alden followed suit and listened to her. "So please be patient with her, hijo. I chose you to be her close-in for a reason. Mabait yan si Maine, it just takes time for her to adjust to people and she will really try to push your buttons."

"Ano po, Madame?" This statement confused Alden. Chose him for a reason? Why me, Alden thought. Why would the President want him to baby sit a rebellious and bratty twenty-one year old?

"Alam kong napakabait at pasensyoso mo, pati mga evaluation sa'yo would attest to how good you are not only as a soldier but as a person. I've witnessed your resilience as a soldier coming back from Mindanao. Alam mo your mom would be proud, Alden."

Alden looked confused at the President's words because he didn't know she knew of her mother. She immediately caught on with his confused look. "Ah si Rio... kaklase ko yan sa law school and we worked in a law firm, but after a few years we lost touch na. Ikaw naalala ko sa kanya, alam mo ba yun? Napakabait at napakabuti niyang tao."

"Salamat po, Madame."

***

"Good morning, Ma'am," Kuya Jose greets Maine who was about to board the car.

They were set to go to a family lunch with the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea. As protocol, the President, Coleen, Niki, and Maine are supposed to ride in different cars as a matter of security precaution. Maine was dressed in a white dress, a red clutch, and sunglasses to suit her bloodshot eyes, while her hands massaged the temples of her head.

"Good morning, Ma'am." Alden followed, and then fixed the seat belt and in-ear radio for all the PSGs to communicate. As Maine settled in her seat, Alden hands her orange juice and a Tylenol. She takes it in confusingly.

"Para saan 'to?"

"Hangover niyo, Ma'am. Mabuti nang inumin niyo na yan, para pagdating sa venue okay na kayo," Alden reasoned out while Kuya Jose smirked at the gesture.

Maine opens the bottle, and pops the medicine in her mouth. "Thank you." She takes a sip from the orange juice, and in a low whisper she spoke again. "And... sorry."