It's You, Always You

The New Presidential Adviser

The next morning, Lily came to the palace early. Before going to Oscar's office, she went by living room to visit the household staff and gave them some gifts.

Ambo: Maraming salamat po Ms. Lily, mukhang bagay na bagay to saakin.

Doray: Oo nga po Ms. Lily, naku excited na akong suotin to.

Caloy: Ako din excited, mukhang ang sexy ng dating niyan sa'yo. (he laughed out of kilig)

Binatukan ni Doray si Caloy at lahat sila nagsi-tawanan.

Aling Loring: Maraming salamat po Ms. Lily, malaking tulong po ito kahit papano.

Lily: Walang anuman Loring, masaya akong nagustuhan niyo. (she smiled sweetly)

Aye and Ana entered the room.

Aye & Ana: Good morning po Ms. Lily!

Lily: Good morning! Ito nga pala yung regalo ko sainyo. (she smiled and handed them gifts)

Ana: Wow! Ang gaganda naman po ng mga nito! (she said with excitement)

Lily: Para sainyo yan. (she said joyfully)

Aye: Talaga po? (he smiled widely)

Lily: Oo! (she answered happily)

Aye and Ana looked at each other while smiling then they looked at Lily joyfully.

Aye & Ana: Salamat po Ms. Lily! (then they hugged Lily and Lily hugged them back)

Lily: Walang anuman! (she said happily)

Aye: Aalagan po namin ang mga ito! (he said with joy)

Ana: Oo nga po! (she added)

Lily: Oh siya, pupunta muna ako kay Mr. President.

Household Staff: Maraming salamat po!

Lily: Walang anuman! (she smiled at them and left the room)

She entered Oscar's office and greeted him.

Lily: Magandang umaga Mr. President. Ah... Oscar.

Oscar just chuckled and greeted her back.

Oscar: Magandang umaga din Lily. (he smiled) Kanina ka pa ba? (he asked)

Lily: Hindi naman, dumaan lang ako sa household staff mo.

Oscar: Ahh. (he slightly smiled)

Secretary Olegario entered the room.

Diana: Ms. Cortez, buti naman at andito ka na. The appointment papers will be here in the afternoon. Once the president signs that, you'll be one of the presidential advisers. But you also have to sign a few papers.

Lily was looking shocked.

Oscar: May problema ba Lily?

Lily: Wala naman. Ang bilis pala ng process. (she shyly laughed)

Diana: Pinasadya talaga ng pangulo na madaliin ang appointment papers.

Lily: Ahh. (she smiled and looked at the ground)

Oscar just smiled at Lily. They sat down and started talking about some political stuff while waiting for the appointment papers to arrive. A few hours later, Secretary Padua and Secretary Borja entered the room.

Arturo: Here are the appointment papers. (he handed the papers to Secretary Olegario)

Diana: Thank you Secretary. (she checked the papers) Mr. President? (she gave the papers to Oscar)

Oscar signed the papers immediately and gave it to Lily. Lily stared at the papers for a while.

Oscar: Nagdadalawang-isip ka ba? (he asked)

Lily: Hindi naman. (she said while smiling and signed the papers immediately) There. (still smiling)

Delfin: Congratulations Ms. Lily, or should I say, Presidential Adviser.

She looked at Secretary Borja and chuckled.

Lily: Okay na yung "Ms. Lily", don naman kayo sanay. (she paused for a second) Or do you really have call me that? (she asked curiously)

Oscar chuckled and Lily looked at her.

Oscar: It's not necessary. Kahit anong itawag nila sa'yo, basta't komportable ka. (he smiled)

Lily just smiled back and they stare at each other for a while.

Diana: Mr. President, we still have a meeting with General Dela Cruz.

Oscar breaks from staring at Lily and looked at Secretary Olegario.

Oscar: Of course.

Lily: Mukhang matatagalan 'yang meeting niyo, mauna nalang ako. (she smiled)

Oscar: Sige, mag-iingat ka. (he smiled at her and faced Captain Salonga) Captain Salonga...(he was cut off)

Lily: Wag na Oscar, maabala ko pa siya, alam ko naman ang daan palabas. (she smiled)

Oscar: Sigurado ka? (he asked)

Lily: Oo. Mauna na ako. (she smiled at him and the secretaries then she left the room)

Oscar and the Secretaries went to boardroom to have a meeting. It was already past eight o'clock in the evening when the meeting was finished, Oscar ate his dinner then visited Aye and Ana in their room. The children were playing with their new toys.

Oscar: Oh mga bata, gabi na ah, ba't di pa kayo natutulog?

Aye: Naglalaro pa po kami. (he smiled)

Ana: Tignan mo Mr. President oh, ang ganda noh?

Oscar: Saan niyo naman nakuha 'yan? (he asked)

Aye: Bigay po ni Ms. Lily! (he said joyfully)

Oscar: Talaga? Kelan? (he asked curiously)

Ana: Kaninang umaga po, dumaan po siya saamin para iabot ang mga regalo niya. (she said happily)

Oscar just smiled softly. He was staring blankly at the toys Lily gave the children for a while and just can't help but admire her again.

Ana: Alam mo po, ang lambot po ng mukha niya. (she said joyfully)

Oscar snapped out of staring blankly at the toys.

Oscar: Anong sinabi mo? (he asked)

Aye: Malambot daw po mukha ni Ms. Lily. (he chuckled)

Oscar: Paano mo nasabi?

Ana: Hinawakan ko po yung pisnge niya kahapon, ang lambot po. (she answered with excitement)

He just chuckled and imagine himself holding Lily's face.

Aye: Mr. President okay lang po ba kayo? Mr. President? (he touched Oscar's shoulder)

Oscar: Ah... ano yun?

Ana: Kanina lang po namin napapansin na natutulala kayo. Okay lang po ba kayo Mr. President? (she asked)

Oscar: Wala to. Pagod lang siguro. Matulog na kayo. (he slightly smiled)

Aye: Sige po.

Oscar: Sige na.

Oscar tucked them in to bed.

Aye & Ana: Good night Mr. President!

Oscar: Good night!

Oscar turn off the lights and left the room then went to bed. The next morning, it was reported in the news that the president has a new adviser.

Months has passed, they successfully finished the project regarding the arising dengue infections in Tondo. And as the months passes by, Oscar's admiration for Lily deepened.

Oscar was from the wake of Senator Julio Bautista's father. On the way back to the palace, they stopped at a red light. As Oscar looked to the car window, he was shocked with what he saw. He saw Lily having lunch with a tall and handsome looking guy which made him sad and made his heart ache.