XIII. "Gusto Kita"

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A/N: With all the issues and struggles we are facing at the moment, I hope this is something which could light our moods up. 😉

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The people stopped talking the moment the President entered the premises.

"Ba't naghinto man daldalan niyo", he asked while pretending to scratch the back of his head.

The people laughed and started to head towards Digong to give their respect to him. They noticed that the President seemed to be in his best mood.

"Naghinto man... Ituloy lang ninyo... You know, guys, it's okay na madaldal - malalaman ko man agad kung may problema sa inyo dahil gi-tahimik - Tingnan ninyo si De Lima", he said as he was laughing, "Ang ingay dati ng gagi... Ngayon - wahhh!" The people laughed again as the President made a funny face - with his usual tongue out expression.

"We are gathered here to... uhm... you know- put!@#$%^, hindi ko man alam kung paano simulan ang meeting... We have some of our best lawyers here... Paano man kayo mag-usap sa korte?"

The lawyers laughed.

"Dili ko man alam... Baka mamaya magbato man ako ng joke 'di ga- baka ako man kasuhan ni Chief Justice o ni Ombudsman," he said as he touched his chin. "Kanina man doon sa assembly ng mga mayors... may isa na maka-dilaw... nagbiro man ako tungkol kay De Lima... noong nagtawanan, siya lang ang- sabi ko, paktay na! Gi- bukas nasa dyaryo na naman... 'di dagdag man sa ikakaso sa akin..."

After everybody loosened up already, the serious talks came in and they barely noticed the time - which led to an overtime meeting.

"Wala man- 'di man nagsabi ng oras ang mga gaging..."

The room was filled with laughter again.

"Ganyan man ang mga put!@#$%^! Dili man sinasabi ang oras kaya lagi man akong late... Pagalitan na naman ako ni Robredo... Paktay kayo sa'kin!"

The crowd cheered upon mentioning the Vice President's name.

Digong, realizing how giddy the people are, continued with his story.

"Lagi man akong late kapag may- kaya kapag magkasama kami ni Leni sa isang- gaya man 'yang graduation... 'Yang sa PMA... Inis ang babae pagdating ko... Nakangiti man sa akin pero-", he chuckled, "ayaw man ng late dahil lagi siyang maaga. She is always on-time."

He continued telling the story as he slowly leaned back on his chair - looking far away, as if remembering what happened.

"Inimbitahan man kami ni Mayor Domogan of Baguio City to have a dinner with his family- you know... courtesy dinner... Nagpasabi man si Ma'am kay Bong na dadalo siya... Ito naman si- kinabukasan na sinabi ng gaging... Dili ko man alam na maghintay pala doon si... Isang araw man akong late..."

The crowed laughed and some even clapped.

"Pagbaba ng chopper doon sa PMA... Pinauna ko man silang bumaba lahat... Noong nakababa ang mga tao- for the first time after so many years nagtawag man ako sa Diyos... Hindi nga- totoo... Nag-"Our Father" ako sa loob..." He laughed at his own joke. The crowd went wild.

"Noong nandoon man kami sa stage... Dili man ako- sa baba man ako nagtingin-tingin... Paglapit ko man, nag-smile man siya, pero madiin ang hawak", he recalled. "Sinubukan ko man kausapin... Sabi ko man, "Ma'am, you are so beautiful..." Nag-ngiti... Tapos sumali man itong si Defense... Sabi ko "Gwapa man si Ma'am Leni... Gusto ko 'yan..." Tumawa si Del... Sumeryoso na ang babae..."

"Gusto ko man sabihin na gusto ko man ang ayos- dili man ako pinansin hanggang matapos... Nandoon man ako patingin-tingi... Ayaw akong lingunin... Nagpaalam tapos alis na... Akala siguro ng gaging...," he cut his story.

"'Di, totoo

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"'Di, totoo... Mabait man 'yang si Leni... Gwapa rin... Gwapa talaga..." He said as he smiled shyly in front of the people.

Cheers.

"Kayong mga- magsiuwi na kayo... Baka matulad kayo sa- late magdating, paktay na kay-," he said as he adjourned their meeting.

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