FALLING FOR THE DERANGED PRESIDENT

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Anything mentioned in this story is just a product of the author's imagination. Any mentioned names of characters, places, things and even the concepts are just chimera. Any similarities of these in real life is unintentional and the author should not be held accountable. ––––––––––––––––––––– "Robi! Robi!" She went inside the empty grade two classroom. Iginala niya ang mga mata para masigurong wala talaga ang anak doon pagkatapos ay lumabas nang walang makita kahit anino. She's been looking for him for how many minutes now and it's already five in the evening. Wala ito sa classroom nila and the last time his classmates saw him was a few hours ago, doon sa playground. Dapat kanina pa sila naka-uwi. Where the hell could he be? "Robi, where are you?!" Jeia walked through the pathway leading to the back of the school. He might still be exploring 'things'. It was a vast carpet grass-covered lawn in which random trees are everywhere, cypress too. Umupo siya sa sementong bilog na nakapalibot sa isang puno doon, nahahapo. Kanina pa kasi siya naghahanap dahil dapat nakauwi na sila ngayong oras. The sky is getting darker. "Don't tell your mom I gave you this, okay? She might freak out again." "But...she said chocolates are bad for my teeth." "Yes. But it's not if it's only a few." Napalingon siya sa banda kung saan niya narijig nag bulungan. She can't be mistaken! That's Robi's voice! Kinkabahan man ay nilapitan niya ang cypress tree sa gilid, malapit na sa pader. It was a bunch of cypresses so the people talking are perfectly hidden. "Robi?!" gulat na may kaakibat na talim na tanong niya sa dalawang tao sa likod ng mga puno. Tumayo ang lalaking matipuno while Robi nearly jumped, stepping closer to the man as he saw his mom glaring at them. "Mom! What are you doing here?" Nalaglag ang panga ni Jeia. "Ako pa ang tinatanong mo, Robi? My goodness! Ano'ng oras na? I told you to wait for me at the benches but you were nowhere to be found! Jack said you played with them for a few minutes then disappeared!" bulalas niya. Ngumuso ang anak niya at yumuko. " Don't scold the kid. It's my fault, I befriended him after I gave him sweets," he cooly said. Jeia turned to the man she never wanted to talk to. "Befriend huh? Sinong nagsabi sa'yong pwede mong kausapin ang anak ko? Not because you're the president here means you can do what you want," malamig na sagot ng babae. "Of course I do, Ms. Diego. You are just a teacher here and I'm your boss, but it seems like you lost respect for your employer." he smirked at her. Pinigilan ni Jeia ang sarili para hindi sumabog sa inis dahil sa presensiya ng anak. He can't witness her being 'disrespectful' towards her boss. Instead, she calmed herself and looked at Robi. "Sweetie, can you go the parking first? Mom needs to talk to Mr. Mijares for a moment." Hinaplos niya ang buhok ng anak at marahang kinausap. Before he walked away, he spoke to the man. "Thank you for the chocolates, Sir. Konti lang po ang kinain ko dahil baka masira ngipin ko. I don't want my mom to worry about me po," ani nito at umalis. Her heart warmed at his thoughtful act. She was really thankful that her son grew up witty and considerate even without his Dad. "What are you doing with my son, Mijares?" mariing tanong niya nang mawala sa paningin nila ang bata. "What do you mean?" Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. "Don't play dumb now, Sage." Pinantayan nito ang tingin niya. " Sorry, Ms. Diego. I don't get you." "Bullsh*t. Bakit mo ba nilalapitan ang anak ko? I get that you're the president but being very attached to the pupils is quite inappropriate." Yes. He's been constantly indulging her son with anything he wants with an insensible reason. Palagi niyang nakikita ang anak na kausap ng 'presidente' ng eskwelahan ang anak niya sa kung saan saan. His son was never friendly kaya nagtataka talaga siya. "Nothing. Your son is just so cold to his playmates so I think we can get along. Wala akong kaibigan dito sa school ko and I find children cute so..." Impossible! This man holds one of the biggest companies local and international but here he is! A president of his own school and she still can't believe he likes children! Kumunot ang noo niya at humalukipkip. "Tss. That is still an invalid reason. You can try and befriend other teachers here and not some 'kid'. My son, specifically." The man licked his lips as he stared at the most lovely mad teacher he has ever seen. He don't know why but he wants to get on her good side through her son. To his chagrin, it was the opposite that has happpened! D*mn. "Ms. Diego, can't a man my age be friends with an eight years old boy? I believe, it's not stated in any laws." nanunuya ang tingin nito. "No. You stay away from my Robi, Mijares. I don't want an assh*le like you to influence my son. At huwag mo na rin siyang bibigyan ng kung anu-ano, kahit pa yang mga chocolate na yan," she coldly spat. " Assh*le huh? If I am one, you wouldn't be as mad right now, you'd be furiously crazy. Daddy na sana ang tawag sa'kin ni Robi at buntis ka na sana ngayon for our second baby...but no. I am not an assh*ole, Jeia," he replied languidly with an irritating grin. His adam's apple moved as he talked and Jeia never found someone as sexy as this man before. His muscled body cannot hide from the three piece suit he's wearing and his jaw is perfect. Ipinilig niya ang ulo niya dahil sa mga naiisip. "Shut up. That's not gonna happen soon so you shut the f*ck up, Mijares. Ayoko nang makarinig pa ng kahit ano mula sa'yo. Gusto ko lang layuan mo ang anak ko dahil ayokong makita kayong nag-uusap." Without waiting for a response, she turned her back on the gaping Sage. The stone cold teacher, Jeia Picarra Diego, left a handsome bachelor billionaire, Sage Mijares, with his jaw dropped. Never once did he expect that a woman can leave him this speechless! Itong babae laang na ito! "What did I say about strangers, Robi?" Ngumuso ang anak niya sa narinig. Pauwi na sila sa bahay kaya naisipan niyang kausapin ang anak. Naabutan niya kanina ang anak sa loob ng sasakyan niyang nakadungaw sa bintana, nakatingin sa direksyon kung saan patungo sa kinaroroonan nila kanina. He was still holding a ferrero rocher in his hand. "Don't talk to strangers." Mahina nitong sagot. " Then why did you talk to that man?" marahan niyang tanong. Ayaw niyang pagtaasan ng boses ang anak dahil wala naman itong ginagawang masama. "He's the school's president, mom. How can I ignore him?" mababa nitong saad. Hindi nito intensyon ang mang-asar pero naasar siya ng kaunti. Sometimes, she hates it when he's being smart. Nawawalan siya ng imik. "But he's still a stranger, son. 'Wag ka na ulit makikipag-usap sa kanya at tumanggap ng anumang ibibigay niya. You don't know him that much." Her son didn't answer. Alam niyang nahiwagaan ito sa sinabi niya dahil inuutusan siyang layuan ang president nila. They're supposed to show respect and interact kindly with the owner of the school but her mom literally told him otherwise! Kaya hanggang sa makarating sila ng bahay ay nakanguso si Robi at hindi nagsasalita. 'Tsaka lang ito ngumiti nang makapasok sa loob ng bahay. "Lola, we're here!" hinablot niya ang bag at lulukso-luksong hinanap ang lola. "Robi, don't forget your shoes." Lumabas siya sa sasakyan pagkatapos mai-park nang maayos sa garahe. Halos matisod siya sa couch nang lumabas ang ina sa kung saan at bihis na bihis ito. "Wow. You look beautiful, grandma." "Beautiful?!" Parang dinura niya ang salita. "Aww, salamat apo. You look very handsome too." Humagikhik ito. Her mom sashayed to their way and stopped when she's in front of Robi. "Robi, why don't you go to your room and change?" Para makapag-usap sila ng ina. My God. She can't take her mom walking around wearing such a ridiculous dress! Nilapag niya ang shoulder bag sa couch at ang laptop bago hinarap ang ina. "What the hell are you wearing mom?! Are going to some club? You are not a teenager for Pete's sake!" Ngumiwi ang ina at malambing na yumakap sa braso niya. "Jeia...pagbigyan mo naman ko ngayon. I can't be shamed in front of my friends. Ano na lang ang sasabihin nila? Na wala na akong pera, wala akong pambili ng Vera? Na we're poor?-" " We are poor Mama! Hindi na tayo katulad ng dati na kahit anong gusto mo ay bibilhin mo. Things are different now, we need to be frugal to save. Kung wala akong trabaho, wala tayong kakainin! Ano ba, Ma?! Hindi ka pa rin nagbabago?!" Jeia's internal struggle not to scream in frustration was real. Isang sosyalera ang Mama niya noon pa man kaya nahihirapan itong mag-adjust ngayon. Her father always finds ways to pamper her mom with luxurious things, brought her to soirees and such. Now that he's nowhere, her Mom still can't stop herself from spending much. "Don't worry, daughter. He called and-" "Ma! Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin sa inyo na tama na! Tama na, Mama! I don't want to be associated with him again. Please Ma..." Kulang na lang magmakaawa siya sa ina para lang pakinggan siya nito. She never listened to her kahit paiyak na siya. "Anak, he's trying to help us kahit na wala siya dito. See? He gave me a bank account and it has a million! We can now buy a condo or something." Umaktong nag-iisip ang mama niya. She tightly closed her eyes and massaged her temple. What should she do with her mom? Parang lumalala ang pagiging spender nito. No. She can't let that man enter their life again. She's scared that he still has contact with her mom, that means he knows everything about their whereabouts. "What did he tell you, mom?" Mas mahinahon niyang sabi. " Oh. Nothing much. May pinadala siyang debit at credit card and said we can use it anytime." " Give it to me." " Huh? Why? You're going to buy something too?" Nanunuksong tanong sa kanya nito. " No. I'm going to return it." Malamig niyang pahayag na nagpamulagat sa mama niya. "What?! You can't do that!" Naghihisteryang bulalas nito. "Oh, I can mom. Now, give it to me." Inilahad niya ang kamay. "Jeia!" "He's a criminal, Mom! How could you accept something from a killer?!"