𝐴𝑙𝑤𝑎𝑦𝑠

4

"Ayun! Oo no worries hindi mo na kasalanan yun. Bakit ba? Eh malay ba nila kung ito na pormahan ko these days. Biro lang. Pinapatawa lang kita. O shall we? Ladies first"  

She nodded and smiled at me as a response to what I said. This girl, I don't know what's with her but I just can't let her go that easily. Many would say she's not worth it because of her flaws and of course that includes her past, but for me she is. To be honest, it makes her even more worth it because you'll see how she handle things, how independent and strong she is as a woman that makes her so perfect in my eyes. Yes, she is nowhere near perfect especially with her "spoiled brat" attitude, but for me, she's more than that. Once you know her more deeply you'll be able to say that "Ah iba sya". I could really say that every aspect that I want in a girl, she has it. Before I wanted a girl who's traits are close enough with my Mama's traits but then I met her. She also has some of Mama's traits, but not most of it. But nevertheless I can say that she's really unique and that makes me fall for her more everyday despite her imperfections and despite all odds.

While she's walking she's sort of leading the way but I made sure to catch up so that we're at the same pace. 

"So uhm, how are you?" I already broke the silence because I don't think she'll even talk to me so I decided to start the conversation instead. I just really want to have a chance to talk to her even for a short time.

"Huh? Oh uh I'm fine. You?" She looked at me for a second with a small smile.

"Ako? I'm fine rin naman. But if you'll ask me if for today, yes I'm fine pa rin but ano, I'm happy rin. Wala I'm just happy hehe" I stopped right there, refraining myself to talk more about the reason why I am just so happy at the moment. What she doesn't know is that I'm happy simply because I'm with her right now. I just can't stop staring at her so it's a good thing she's not looking back at me or else she'll catch me in the act. She's just really an addicting sight that I would love to look at forever.

"Oh I see. That's nice. I mean kasi you're happy" 

"Ikaw? Are you happy?" hoping she'll say no because she's not with me, but of course I'm expecting that she is and I would be glad if she is indeed happy.

"Oo naman. There's no reason naman for me to sulk in sadness" as for what I expected, she said yes. I'm happy for her. But I would be happier if I'm one of the reasons for her happiness.

"I agree with that. We should always be happy nga naman. If I may ask, bakit naman? Oh let me guess, lovelife no? Uy wag mo na ideny nababasa't napapanood ko kaya" I laughed so that she won't notice that my question was serious. I just really want to know. Good thing she laughed as well with that so perhaps she didn't notice something fishy or whatsoever.

"Wow I'm impressed. Updated ka pa rin pala sa showbiz despite having a busy schedule, Mayor. Anyway, no hindi lovelife. Wala ako nun ano ka ba" still laughing while shooking her head she answered me.

"Talaga ba? Nako baka shino-showbiz mo ako, Miss Aquino. Dali na tayo tayo lang naman. Biro lang. Pero kundi lovelife, edi ano naman?" consistently looking at her, I'm really interested with what's going on with her right now personally. It's been years.

"Hmm ito oh. She's the reason" she opened her phone and let me have a look at it. She's showing me her wallpaper. It's her daughter. Last time I saw her daughter was during a political event and that was years ago already.

"May I see? I mean ng malapitan sana" she gladly handed me her phone and I took it. I looked at the picture closely. She's beautiful just like her mother. She got her complexion and somehow she does look like her but I feel her daughter looks more like her father. Although I don't know nor ever seen her daughter's father, I just felt like it because her looks are not that much of a "Kris' look" if you get what I mean. "Oh updated to? Grabe ang laki na nya. Last time I saw her kasi matagal na and also, di mo naman sya masyadong nilalabas sa public. By the way she's really beautiful just like you. She got your complexion and I believe attitude rin based sa narinig kong conversation nyo kanina" I laughed with my last statement because I think my observation's true. She may not look like Kris a lot but I'm sure she got most of her mother's attitude.

"Yes, updated yan. Kuha yan actually sa recent trip namin but that was for Kris TV eh. But yeah even I couldn't believe na my baby girl's growing up na talaga" looking at her she seems happy and proud while talking about her daughter. "Ah yes tama ka. Hindi ko sya nilalabas sa public kasi I don't want her to feel all the preassure of being my daughter or by just simply being part of my family. I want her to have a normal life as much as possible. But talaga? Yun observation mo? Well kind of. Pero I think she got most of her father's attitude. Quiet but makulit at times lalo na if it's just the two of us. But uy thank you sa compliment mo about her" I returned her phone already and one thing I didn't know is that we're smiling at each other just like the old times.

"You made the right decision. About dun sa giving her deserved privacy. Tsaka masyado na yung stress ng mga bata. Tama lang na wag ng dagdagan pa ng sobrang public attention. Oh so she got most of her father's attitude pala. Eh complete opposite mo pala tatay nya eh!" suddenly she slapped my arm while bursting into laughter. I missed that laugh of hers. "Aray! Grabe ka sa 'kin. Totoo naman eh. Sabi mo kasi tahimik. De biro ko lang yun. Ito naman. Pinapatawa lang kita"

"Buti nga sayo. Ah sige ganyanan after I entertained you and let you make sabay sa 'kin on the way sa parking ah" she gave me a pout like a child that made her cuter than she is.

"Uy biro nga lang. Ito naman kahit kailan napaka matampuhin" I said in a calm nanunuyo voice because I just know this woman so much. 

"Kidding lang. Actually agree naman ako with what you said. Kind of opposite nga kami nung father nya but despite of that, mas marami pa rin naman kaming similarity, I think. Tsaka opposite attracts kaya"

"Tahimik ka rin naman ah. Required lang talaga sa trabaho mo yung ganyang image kaya siguro ganyan ka na rin nakilala ng lahat. Yan na yung tumatak in other words. Anyway, diba Luna's her name? That's what everybody calls her eh. But Luna lang talaga name nya? Teka, ano ba full name nya? Uy pero ang ikli ah kung yun lang pala. Sorry gaya nga ng sabi ko kanina, di na ako ganong kapamilyar kasi nga sobrang seldom lang naman nyang lumabas sa television for example hehe"

"Ganon na nga siguro. Oh well that's life. Uh her full name? We call her Luna. Nasanay na sa nickname na yun eh" I don't know but of all of a sudden she kind of buckled right there for no reason at all.

"Ah so nickname nya lang pala yung Luna? All along akala ko real name nya yun. So if hindi pala yun real name nya, edi ano? Na curious ako dun ah. I assume may Luna somewhere sa name nya no? Tama ako diba?"

"Real name? Uh ano. Uhm... Oh wait look andito na pala yung car ko. Sorry to cut our conversation short but I really need to go home na rin eh. Anyway, it was nice to talk to you again. Ingat ka" all of a sudden she went so uneasy when I asked her about her daughter's full name or maybe again it's just some coincidence? She even cut our conversation short. Hmm, maybe it is. What am I even talking about? Also, maybe she's just really tired.

"Ay oo nga. Sayang naman we're having a great coversation pa naman. Di bale may next time pa naman eh. Pwede pa ulit mag catch up. Oh bag mo pala. Here let me help you" I assisted her first as she's going inside of her car already and after I gave her bag to her again.

"Uhm yeah. Sige it was nice to see you and thank you ulit about sa pag accept ng invite namin for the show. Bye. Ingat ka" she said with a smile. I felt a little sad because that's it already. We're parting ways again. So I gave her a small smile.

"Nako wala yun. You're always welcome. Basta ikaw. I mean, basta kayo hehe. Anyway, thank you rin and ingat ka. Ingat kayo pauwi"

And from there, she just gave me a smile as her last response before the bodyguards closed the door of her car. I stood there and waited for their convoy to leave the area. Once I made sure that they left already, that is the only time I went to my car. As my bodyguards closed the door, I slacked off and looked at the ceiling of my car. I missed her already. I wanted to hug her or even kiss her a while ago but I know that I can't so I controlled myself so much. I'm sad but at the same time, I'm happy and can't stop myself from smiling because of the thought that I ended my tiring day with her. Talking to her, laughing with her, or just simply being with her. But one thing's on the top of my mind now and I won't even control myself with this... I'll win her back. I'll get her back.