A Day in the Night Sky

Kabanata 11

Safe

My treatment for my Mom remained. Hindi nag-iba ang pananaw ko sa kanya kahit na puma-ibabaw ang panghihinayang at pagkadismaya sa maaari niyang nagawa. Chaos tried to tell me that it was just a hunch. But something tells me that it's more than that.

Politics is very, very dirty as much as how sweet and endearing the promises of the politicians are. But still, I hoped that she could have been different because I knew her better. Or maybe, I never really knew the true nature of the woman who conceived me.

Nakataas pa rin ang security levels sa amin. Lalo na dahil kumpirmado na ang mga tatakbo sa ilalim ng Laban Partylist, kung saan naroon si Vice President Gomez. Mom subtly confirmed it in the media.

"Are you really sure about this, Mel?" Nag-aalinlangan na tanong ni Daddy.

We're in Mom's private office sa bahay at pinag-uusapan ang nalalapit na eleksyon ngayong Hulyo.

Bumuntong-hininga si Mommy. "This is a big step for me. And terrifying. But I've wanted this for a long time, Fidel. And this is my only chance for something."

"What is it, Mom?" Tanong ko.

"Basta. We'll get there, eventually."

Nanatiling tahimik ang opisina sa mga sandaling 'yon hanggang sa tinawag na kami ni Manang para kumain ng hapunan.

I couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling. Sure, it is very unsettling because of the pressure. Now that Mommy took it to the next level, mas dadami ang mga espekulasyon sa pagpapatakbo niya sa Maynila. And danger is always right next to it.

However, it's the different kind of 'unsettling'. I wish I named it right then. But I couldn't.

Chaos is back for his second term na rin sa UP. Hindi na siya gaanong nagpapakita ulit sa mansyon. But he remained as an intel kay Mommy. I don't know how that works. All I know is that through emails ang reports ni Chaos.

Before he went, paulit-ulit ang bilin niya sa akin na huwag gagawa ng kung anong maaaring ikapahamak ko.

"Matagal pa bago ako makabalik. Sana naman gamitin mo ang talino mo at huwag na huwag kang gagawa ng kahit ano."

Tumango lang ako at hindi na nagpumilit pa. During his stay, I have been cornering him most of the time to give me the list. Pero ayaw niya talaga. And I know I couldn't do anything.

"Please give me the full program for proper dissemination, Thea." Utos ko sa secretary.

"Sure, Yna. Pero baka matagalan pa. Hiningi ko na 'yon kanina sa office pero sabi nila hindi pa raw settled ang lahat."

I took off my glasses and moved away from my laptop. We're here on a Saturday at school preparing for our prom and for the turnover sa susunod na student government officers.

"Half-day lang sila ngayon 'di ba? Kailan nga ulit 'yung prom?" Tanong ni Leo.

"Next two weeks pa naman. Tapos parang ma-momove pa 'yan."

"How about Monday, kaya ba?"

Bumaling si Thea sa akin at nag-isip. "Siguro. We will try. Hindi rin kasi nila sinabi if may part pa ba tayo sa decoration ng lugar."

"It's in Shangri-La, right? Ba't pa tayo sasali sa decos if may planner na naman silang kinuha? Not to mention it's one of the best hotels in Taguig."

"Feel ko hindi na, eh. Gusto lang talaga nila tayong pagurin!" Reklamo ni Leo.

I sighed when they started ranting about their last year in junior high school. It's true, though. Parang nakagawian na ng mga teacher na ipagbanat ng buto ang mga taga-student government lalo na ang top 3 executives kasi kami ang nasa last year ng junior high. Yung iba ay nasa lower years.