The First Daughter

15

Sana proud ka sa kung ano ka... The words of the President had been playing in his head over and over, until the next morning. He couldn't help but feel happy with the outcome of his talk and how he got over the hurdle of admitting his feelings out loud. It was also a way to assure himself that he was not just feeling confused, but rather he really did love Maine. Wala nang atrasan, Alden. Nasabi mo na sa Presidente, he thought. Still, the thought of last night's conversation would still earn him his famous bedimpled smile.

"Good morning, Maine. Saan lakad natin today?" Alden greeted her while Maine went to the pool area.

Maine decided to have her breakfast in the garden, and Alden just emerged from his room across the garden. He was already dressed, while Maine was just in her black v-neck and yoga pants. "Good mood ka ah." Alden scratched the back of his ear, and just smiled. "Uhm, wala naman this morning. Chill lang. Maybe after lunch if I don't get too lazy?"

"Okay, sige. I'll tell Col. Madayag nalang and update him with our itinerary today. We will deploy Major Dizon and Major Cruz with Madame today sana kasi she'll need more people. High risk kasi yung lugar," Alden explained and he just earned a nod from Maine.

"Alden..." Maine called him out softly. "Can we talk?"

Alden sits down on one of the lounge chairs and gives Maine his full attention. He doesn't say a word, but Maine begins what she wanted to stay. "Uhm, paano ba..." She hesitates for a bit. "Alden, I'm requesting for your transfer."

He was confused, and the reason behind it might either make or break his career in the service. It could go on his performance record and permanent file. Did he cross the line? Did he commit anything wrong? Immediately his mind flash backed to last night when he hugged her. "May nagawa ba ako?" 

"No, don't get me wrong. I have nothing against you. It's just that I need to work on myself for me, and not because you're telling me not to do this or that even when I know you don't mean any harm. Your intentions are so pure. I've been lost and down for the past years, and I've been immature and childish because of that, and I think I've been too comfortable that I have you to call me out. I even think of you as my friend more than some bodyguard." She reaches out to touch his hands and Alden moves his hands to his lap. "Pero nasasakal ako in a way that I want you to always be near me. I always want you there. I can't function pag wala ka. I don't even know why I always seek for your opinion or whether or not your opinion matters. Sa lahat ng gagawin ko, kinoconsider ko whether magagalit ka or matutuwa ka ba, pero ang dami ko nang nasasaktan eh. When I hurt Elisse, I knew I needed to change for me. I'm lost, Alden. I feel na hindi ko na makikilala sarili ko dahil a part of me is lost when I'm with you because you take that piece with you."

"Maine..."

"Please, I'm not done. I consider you as one of my friends. I think you're even more genuine than some of the friends I have. I think in order for me to have this... whatever this friendship is... is for me to let myself breathe and not have you 'work' for me. I asked Col. Madayag this morning, and Major Hizon will be taking your place, and you'll be assigned with my mom starting tomorrow. Diba patapos naman na assignment mo sa akin in three weeks, why not shorten it now?" 

Alden just kept a stern face. After all what's three weeks? If given the choice, he would've stayed. He would've chosen to protect and care for Maine even if she were the snootiest, brattiest, and most obnoxious ward ever. "Bakit? Paano kung ayaw ko?"

"Alden, just let me breathe. That's all I ask. Promise, nothing will ever change. I am still Maine, and you will still be Alden. You just won't feel obligated to protect me because it's your duty. You will still see me from time to time." She reaches for Alden's hand one more time, and this time he takes it. "I promise, Alden."

***

It's been three weeks and somehow their schedules have never matched. The President has been flying to different provinces, and barely do they see each other except for the occasional hi when they see each other in the morning before the President leaves. This time, they were preparing for a one week trip to Singapore for an ASEAN Summit.

"Leaving again?" Maine asks her mom as she helps her pack her things.

"Hay, Hija. I'm so tired already. If I had known how are this job would be, I wouldn't have taken on the role."

"Mom, you're not a President for nothing. The people and the country believe in you. I know I don't get to say this much, but I do, too." Maine gives her mom a hug and kissed her cheek. Something she'd always done as a child before she resented her mom for being an absentee parent.

"Anong nakain mo? You're incredibly sweet, Sweetie."

"Nothing, mom. I just realized some things while you were away."

Her mom gives her a knowing look, and she smiles at Maine. "Dahil ba 'to kay Alden?"

"What?" She blushes like a lovestruck teenager trying to avoid her crush from her parents.

"I see how much he's changed you, and I think it's healthy. He has a positive influence on you, Maine."

"Mom naman! This is weird, okay! I don't want to talk about it with you!"

"Maine, I already talked to Alden about you several times, okay? Close na kaya kami. Ikaw kasi eh, pina-assign mo pa siya sa akin. I thought you were strong-willed, but... what's the term? Pabebe? Pabebe rin pala." She laughs at the way she teased her daughter and how it was affecting Maine.

"What do you talk about?"

"Secret! Tell you what? Are you free this whole week?"

Maine nods. She was just fixing her applications for Graduate School, hoping to apply in some of the best law schools in the country. She, Anica and Maisie had decided to try out law school together while they were young.

"Okay, maybe you can come with me to Singapore. Maybe we can squeeze in a free day or two."

"Really?" Maine's eyes lit up like it was Christmas. President Mary Ann never brought her to any of her junkets before because Maine had school and other extra-curricular activities. She misunderstood that it was her preference to keep herself busy, instead of thinking these were a welcoming distraction to the lack of attention she was giving.

"Yes, mag-pack ka na rin. It's been awhile since we went on a trip together. I just have condition..."

"What is it?"

"Behave ah."