CONTIGO

UNANG KABANATA

"A day will come when the story inside you will want to breathe on it's own. That's when you'll start writing." -Sarah Noffke

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YSABEL'S POV

              Bogo shipda
               Ireoke malhanikka deo bogo shipda
               Neohi sajineul bogo isseodo
               Bogo shipda

              "Ate Ysa! Huy Ate! Gising na huy!"

I slowly open my eyes and stretch my arms. Nakakangawit talagang maupo ng matagal. Kasakit sa pwet mga Mare huhuhu.

     "Ate!"

Tinaggal ko ang aking earphones at hinarap si Catalina, my younger sister.

    "You're so loud Cat! Bakit ba?"
           
      "We're here na kaya Ate duh. Kanina pa lumabas si Mommy dahil magsisimula na ang program kaya tara na!" She said and open the car door on her side.

          "And may muta ka pa. Yak! Tsaka yung laway mo sa baba mo punasan mo Ate. Kaderder talaga neto." She commented. Sasapakin kona sana siya pero bigla nyang sinara ang pinto at tatawa-tawang tumakbo. Naisahan na naman ako letse. Umiiling-iling ako habang kinukuha ang liptint na nasa bag ko at inayos na ang aking sarili.

       "Oonga, may laway pala talaga pffft" I said at pinunasan ito. Nang okay na ay lumabas nadin ako ng kotse. Pinagpag ko ang casual short red lace dress na suot ko and scan the place. Andito kami sa Gymnasium somewhere in San Fernando, Bulacan to conduct my Mother's campaign for President. The gym is full of people, all wearing red shirt.
              
Well, kung hindi nyo naiitatanong pero tanungin nyo na din, ako nga pala si Maria Ysabel P. Mercado. I am 19 years old. And that loud girl earlier is my younger sister Dianne Catalina P. Mercado. She's 15 naman. Dalawa lang kaming magkapatid kaya kami lang ang nagsasapakan sa bahay. My Daddy, Alexander E. Mercado passed away when I was only 10. He was shot to death when he was outside our house. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin nakukulong ang gumawa nun kay Daddy that's why gusto rin tumakbo ni Mommy as President para mabawasan at mapuksa na ang ganitong krimen sa ating bansa. Para wala nang maapektuhan na bata tulad ko nun. Enough with the drama! Pumunta na ako sa stage. I sat beside my Mother. I looked at her. She's busy reviewing her speech.

                "Mommy, you look nervous. Don't worry. You will do great again Mom. It's like a piece of cake to you. Just say your intentions and put your heart in every word" I said while smiling.

                 My Mother, Ingrid Mercado is the best Mom for me. Kahit wala na si Daddy ay sinisigurado nya na maayos kaming lalaki ng kapatid ko. Hindi nya kami pinabayaan kahit busy sya. Me and Cat received so much love from her. She is also a perfectionist. From small details to large, she wants it perfect including our beloved country, the Philippines. She believes that she can change our country in a positive way. Yun naman talaga ang kailangan ng bansa natin upang umunlad. Ang pag babago. I support her for that. I am and will always be because I'm so tired of the poverty, corruption, crimes and also descrimination here. Kung ako ay pagod, ganun din sya that's why she decided to run as a President this 2017 Election from being a Senator.

                 "Thank you sweetheart." She said and held my hand.

                 Umakyat na sa stage yung magsisilbing Emcee hudyat na magsisimula na ang program. Ang mga tao na andito ngayon ay nagsiupuan at nagsi-ayos na. Sinilip ko si Cat.