The First Daughter

6

Maine calls out Kuya Jose to prepare the car as she was going to have lunch with her sisters. Niki was home recently for a couple of days before she flies back to the States. Coleen has been busy the past few weeks with junkets all over the Philippines for her new project. They decided to have lunch together before Niki leaves, and while Coleen has a free weekend.

"Good morning, Ma'am," a woman in her late 20s greeted her, "I'm Anne, your new close-in."

"Saan si Major Richards?" Maine asked, and none of them bothered answering her. Kuya Jose just looked at her with a forlorn look. "Day off?"

"Naka preventive suspension po, Ma'am. Tanong niyo nalang kay Col. Madayag." Kuya Jose explained.

It was like Maine got punched in the gut, and her heart immediately raced. "Preventive suspension, bakit?"

"Tawagan niyo nalang po siya."

***

Maine couldn't get the thought that Alden was suspended. For what? She still couldn't figure out why Alden was going to be suspended. She didn't even have the appetite to finish her food. It wasn't late until her sisters noticed the change in her mood.

"Why aren't you eating?" It was Niki who broke the silence to get her attention.

"I'm just full, Ate." She continued to pick on her food. "Nag heavy breakfast kasi ako."

"I noticed your close-in has changed. Di na yung gwapo? Anong nangyari dun?" Niki continued asking Maine questions.

"Uhm..." Maine cleared her throat. "Preventive suspension daw."

"I know," Niki's voice was now sterner than usual. "Col. Madayag informed mom awhile ago. What I want to know is why he was put on preventive suspension based from you."

"What did I do?" Maine put an eyebrow up. Now she was on the defense.

"Maine, the guy was put on preventive suspension because of a kiss. A picture was leaked online, but was stopped before it could get worse. He's being publicly scrutinized for making unjust advances towards you, which is against protocol. Now tell me, did he kiss you?" Niki's tone was already something she could not mess with. Maine was afraid when Niki used that tone, and from the way it looks, she now realizes the mistake she's done from last night. She didn't think the repercussions of her actions when she did that. She was impulsive, jealous, and possessive of the fact that someone like Alden had charmed his way to her friends.

"No, I kissed him." Her voice started to tremble. "It was my fault. Ate, I... I saw Chris and then my friends were talking how good looking he was..."

"Maine naman! Ang tanda mo na. As your sister ha, we're not going to baby you anymore, pero look how your actions will affect the people around you. Look what it will do to mom. Look at how the public has been throwing stones at Alden, for what? Kasi gaga ka? He might be barred from getting promoted ever, or worse, he might be stricken off his title. For once in your stubborn, reckless life mag-isip ka kung tama mga ginagawa mo." Coleen always was the crass one, telling her straight-up how things should be said.

"Ate, I made a mistake. I need to talk to mom and Col. Madayag. Please help me."

As if on cue, the President was calling. She answered the phone with her lips trembling. "Mom?"

"Maine, the tabloids have already caught up with what happened. Although pictures were already removed..."

"Mom, it's my fault. It's not his fault. I kissed him because I wanted to act reckless. Mom, what can I do? I'll do anything."

"I'll tell you when you get home, you might not like it."

***

Immediately after lunch, the three of them went home and met the President by the dining, together with Col. Madayag, and the palace spokesperson, Atty. Carpo. Their faces didn't look too happy. The sisters settled on the empty seats and another seat was still vacated.

"Maine, sit."

"Mom, it's really my fault. Please, Col. Madayag, don't suspend Major Richards."

"Okay, here is what we proposed. You're not going to like it," Atty. Carpo said.

This time Maine was all ears because the guilt was eating her up. She can't bear the thought of causing someone to lose his job because she knew that no matter how rebellious and reckless she can be, this was by far pushing it to the limits. This was too much. A knock was heard from the door of the dining room, and two PSGs led Major Richards in to sit down on the empty chair beside Maine. She looked at him apologetically, while he just avoided her gaze.

"I'm so sorry, Major Richards. I wasn't thinking. I was impulsive and was trying to be difficult. Please, Col. Madayag, please reinstate him."

Atty. Carpo got back to her proposal on how to turn it to good press. "Maine, you and Major Richards are going to be romantically involved from now on." Before Alden could even react, she didn't let him finish. "Of course, it's up to you how to do that, leave it to us to fix everything first, and when the story dies down, then we'll issue a statement that you guys have broken up. By then, we will transfer Major Richards to another assignment so his name is cleared and his reputation becomes good again."

"I'll do it," Maine said immediately without even thinking.

"WHAT?!" Major Richards could only react so much, but there wasn't anything unlawful with the request. As a good soldier, he only needs to oblige. As far as he's concerned he will do what he ordinarily does as her close-in but other than that, it's up to them how to clear his name. Just a few more weeks or months, Maine is no longer his concern anymore. If he has survived all his assignments in the past, how hard is it to survive now right?

***

After the meeting, Alden still hasn't left the dining room processing everything that's happening. Maine refused to leave looking for the opportunity to be able to talk to him without the prying eyes and ears of other people. There was an awkward silence that filled the air between them, and it was Alden who decided to break it by standing up.

"Major Richards," Maine tried to get his attention.

"I already said I'll do it."

"I'm so sorry."

"Stop ruining my life, Maine."