She Loved, He Fought (The Daughters' Series #1)

Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Girlfriend

Nagkatinginan kami ni Elias at ang dalawa naman ay natahimik. Hindi naman sa gusto ko siya paalisin at isa pa day off niya ngayon. It's a perfect day to bond with him but if they would just talk about Brianna they should go or at least not discuss it in my face.

I don't wanna hear it.

I raised my brow.

Akala ko ay tatalikod na siya pero nang lumakad siya patungo sa lamesa ko ay kinabahan at bahagyang natigilan ako. He leaned over my desk and planted a kiss on my right cheek. My cheeks flushed. I didn't know what to react especially that there's a couple watching us.

"Bye, I'll text you..." he smirked when he saw my stunned reaction. "Watch your phone."

I nodded and gazed him in silence as he made his exit from my office. Hindi nakatakas sa akin ang pagbulong niya kay William bago tuluyan na umalis. Nanlaki ang mga mata ni William at saka ako nilingon. His eyes seemed apologetic but he didn't utter a word.

Alas tres ng hapon nang magpasya akong umuwi. Wala rin naman masiyadong trabaho at isa pa tumawag din si Mommy na ngayon ang uwi nila galing Batanes. They've been campaigning for almost three months now; they went to different provinces of the country to help and try the cultures of our ethnic groups. That's part of my father's campaign disguised in charity work.

Now that he confirmed his candidacy for national office, their team has to step up the game. And probably that would be the top topic of our family dinner later. On the other hand, I am sort of nervous. For sure, apart from the talk of politics, Mom will open a discussion about the company's welfare and as an Acting President I am pressured. Now that I can feel again the weight of our name on my shoulders.

Everyone's busy the time I got home. Ang lahat ng kasambahay ay alerto sa lahat ng inuutos ng Mayordoma. Ang gusto kasi ni Mommy ay sa malaking bakuran ang family dinner namin mamaya at dahil ngayon nalang ulit sila uuwi talagang doble ang paghahanda. Tita Cristina was also helping our house helpers in arranging things at the backyard.

It was undeniable how my heart beat becomes more profound each ticking clock.

We all headed to the mansion's top open space when I got a call from my Dad saying, in five minutes their private plane will descend to the helipad. Ang mga kasambahay ay diretsong nakahilera at sa likod ng mga ito ay ang mga body guards. Kami naman ni Tita Cristina ang nasa pinakaharap. Sa kabilang banda, hindi ko maiwasan ang mamangha sa pagbabagong kulay ng alapaap. Ang kaninang kulay kahel na kalangitan ay unti-unti na napapalitan ng dilim.

Minutes have passed, the evening gusts of wind encircling us grew stronger as we all looked up at the private plane that's about to depart in front of us. I suppose that this scene was breathtakingly beautiful. It was a closest scene of the country's President with his First Lady finally returning home. And at this very moment, it wasn't the chills running down my spine, but it's the pride that I can feel in my bones. Especially, when my eyes caught an eagle pin in my Dad's blue collar as a symbolism of his full gratification in the Philippines' sovereignty.

I may not like politics but I want my father to win more than anything.

The instant they stepped off from the plane, I ran immediately to my Dad to welcome him with a warm embrace.

My old father chuckled. "You probably missed us, Hija."

Tears were starting to pool in my eyes. It was overwhelming, and I couldn't seem to let go of this father-daughter hug. Because deep inside I believe that he will win this election, and by that time, I know I couldn't hug him this tight, and at the same time, this light anymore without feeling the whole country trying to set us apart─ reminding us that he now belongs to the millions of people.