The Dreamers

XII

Kung kahapon ay may pasabog si Javi na pag-amin, ngayon naman ay may literal na pasabog ang San Vicente.

Nag-raise ng alert level kagabi sa Bulkang Pali, isa sa mga bundok na sakop ng San Vicente at ng katabing bayan ng San Lucas. Malayo ang SV city proper sa Pali, pero kung sumabog man ang bulkan, limang baranggay ng SV ang tatamaan.

"Was the announcement released?" Javi asked the team.

Nasa meeting kami ngayon kasama ang special task force na binuo for this crisis.

"Yes, disseminated na ang information. We're in constant communication with all baranggay chairs." Rom answered.

One of the things I admire about Javi is his ability to stay calm amidst the panic. And he's able to do that because he is prepared for things like this. Solid ang crisis management plan dahil isa ito sa mga una nilang pinaghandaan.

"I know that this is a difficult time for everyone. There's fear and panic. But remember that the whole of San Vicente is relying on us. Handa tayo dito. Kaya nating lahat to." Javi said just before he closed the meeting.

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We are prepared. Pero minsan kahit gaano ka ka-prepared, bubulagain ka pa din talaga ng tadhana.

As soon as Phivolcs gave the go-signal, naging mabilis ang evacuation ng mga pamilya within 10km radius from Pali. Dahil handa na ang SV for a wide-scale evacuation, everything was smooth. 

Pero naging mabilis din ang kalamidad. In the next 12 hours, niyanig naman ng magkakasunod na mga lindol ang paligid. Ngayon, bukod sa evacuation ng nasa immediate danger zone, kinailangan din magdeploy ng resources para sa mga nasalanta ng lindol.

Dito na kami natutulog sa SVMO. Everybody from Javi's team has been working non-stop. Pero kung pagod kami, mas hindi ko kakayanin ang pagod ni Javi.

I knocked in his office three times bago ako pumasok. He was on the phone, but he asked me to come in. Umupo ako sa harap ng table niya habang inaantay siyang matapos. I brought a couple of reports and his dinner.

Ever since nalaman ko na hindi siya nakakakain ng tama, I've started bringing him his dinner along with my daily comms report. He would be eating his food while I will be briefing him with updates from all departments. This is the only help I can give him.

"But Sir—" he insisted. He sighed. He pressed his face on his palm. He sighed again.

"Got it, Gov. Yes. Okay. Thank you." He dropped the phone and took a deep breath.

"No luck?" I ask.

He looked at me and shook his head. "Ayaw pumayag. Even with the data I presented. I have to pull them out and think of another solution." He leaned back and closed his eyes.

I can see his exhaustion. The past week hasn't been easy. 

So, I stood up and went to his side of the table. Naramdaman niya ang paggalaw ko kaya binuksan niya ang mga mata niya. I smiled at him. 

"Tara." Yaya ko sa kanya. I held out my hand for him to take. He looked at it, then back at me. 

He took it and I dragged him out of his office and towards the in-house garden in our building. I sat him down an empty bench. "Rest for a while."

He looked at me and then laughed. He buried his face in his hands and mumbled something before looking at me. 

He smiled, took my hand and dragged me down to the bench. "Halika nga dito!" He sat me on one end while he lied down, head on my lap. He took my hand and pinatong niya sa mga mata niya. He gave me his phone and said, "Wake me up after 15 minutes. Answer all calls." 

He was still holding my hand na ginamit niyang eyemask, while his other hand rested above his chest.

Gulat ako, Ma.

Hindi ako naka-react agad. And when I recovered, I chose not to. In a few minutes, I feel Javi's muscles relax. Tulog na siya. At least, mission accomplished.

Lagpas na ng 15 minutes pero I don't have the heart to wake him up. I was brushing his hair with my fingers when I feel his phone vibrate. I pick it up and look at the caller. Jess.

"Hello, Javi, nasaan ka—" malakas na sabi ni Jess.

"Jess, wag kang maingay." I whisper, hoping not to wake Javi up.

"HOY SINO KA AT BAKIT HAWAK MO PHONE NI MAYOR—" Sigaw ni Jess kaya nilayo ko ang phone.

"Para kang tanga, Jess. Si Val, to." Bulong ko.

"Val? Sinong Val? Yung crush na crush ni Mayor?" Jess exclaimed.

I laughed and was about to answer nung maramdaman kong bumangon si Javi. Kinuha niya ang phone mula sakin. "What do you need?" He sleepily asked.

Sleepy Javi is cute.

I look at him habang patuloy lang niyang sinasagot si Jess. Halatang inaantok pa siya, kasi pupungas pungas pa at nagkukusot ng mata. 

Ang cute. Parang tuta.

He looked at me at the same time na binaba nya ang phone niya. He must have asked me a question.

"Ha?"

"I asked you kung bakit di mo ko ginising. I'm sure kailangan mo na din magpahinga." Ulit niya habang nagiinat,

"I couldn't. You looked cute asleep." I say. He raised his eyebrows and I realized my mistake. "I mean you looked deep in sleep." Bawi ko.

He chuckled. "Ah, so you think I'm cute?"

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at tumayo na rin. "At sino naman kaya yung patay na patay sakin." Bulong ko, after hearing Jess' slip of the tongue.

He laughed. "That would be me." He looked at me. "I've told you that before, right? I like you."

Wala din paliguy-ligoy tong si Mayor, ano?

Last week, matapos niyang bitawan ang mga salitang iyon casually, saktong kumatok si Mang Rad kaya naputol ang usapan namin. Hindi na namin napagusapan ulit yun kasi nga umepal si Pali. Pero nabring up na naman ngayon.

He laughed at my speechless reaction. "Back to work." Nag-inat pa siya uli. 

Akala ko paalis na siya nang bigla siyang umikot at naglakad papunta sakin.

He enveloped me in a hug. "But before that, recharge muna ako ulit." He whispered. 

After a few seconds, he let go of me and smiled. "Thanks for taking care of me, Val. I'll wait for the day na aminin mo sa sarili mong gusto mo din ako." He winked at me and walked away laughing.

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@ajnotawriter (Twitter)