Freeing Miss President

Chapter 8

"A-ahm.. Ayos naman. Thank you, Terrence," sabi ko at kinuha ang bag ko sa kaniya dahil nasa tapat na kami ng bahay ko.

"Thank you? May bayad yun!"

Agad napatingin ako sa kaniya. "What do you mean? Here, I thought I would save money then magpapabayad ka--"

"Kiss."

My cheeks heated with what he said, "W-what?"

"Kiss," sabi niya at ngumuso pa.

"Kiss mo suntok ko, gusto mo?" inis kong sabi sa kaniya.

"Pwede rin, suntok ng pagmamahal," sagot niya kaya agad ko siyang pinaghahampas.

Patawa tawa pa siyang umilag. Akala ko pa naman matino na siyang kausap. Hindi pa rin pala!

"Ave?"

Napahinto kaming dalawa ni Terrence at napatingin sa nagsalita.

"U-uncle Denver..."

Nakatayo si Uncle sa may gate still wearing his office attire. He wasn't looking at me pero nakatingin siya kay Terrence.

"Good Evening, Sir. I'm Terrence Conjuanco, classmate of your niece."

Napatingin ako kay Terrence. Gone the goofy and maluko Terrence, he is now serious and his voice is screaming respect. The heck?

"I'm Ave's uncle," sagot naman ni Uncle Denver.

Kinakabahan ako sa kanilang dalawa. They're both goofy and jokey jokey but ano itong mangyayari ngayon? What's with this mood? Ako ang kinakabahan!

"Ah, Uncle..." kinakabahan kong tawag kay Uncle. Is he mad that I am with Terrence? Is he mad that I rode a jeep? Is he mad that I am with a boy? What if he thinks that Terrence is my boyfriend? No!

"Hinatid lang niya po ako," I said.

Uncle Denver smiled at me before looking at Terrence again.

"Liniligawan mo ba ang pamangkin ko?"

My eyes widened. "Uncle!"

Tumawa si Uncle kaya nakahinga ako ng maluwag. Pag tingin ko kay Terrence ay hilaw itong nakangiti. He's probably nervous with Uncle's behavior too.

"Joke lang pero kung may balak ka sakin ka dadaan, totoy."

He warned Terrence. As if Terrence would court me, ngayon nga lang kami nagkasama. That's just simply impossible.

Did he just called Terrence, totoy?

Natawa ako habang iniisip yun kaya napatingin sila sakin. Napatikom ang bibig ko, "Sorry."

"May sakit ka ba, Miss President?" surprisingly sabay na sabi nila. Nagkatinginan sila at tinuro pa ang isa't isa. They're both... crazy.

I guess they'll both go crazy together. Para silang mag-ama o twins na ngayon lang nagkita.

"Thank you for today, Terrence. Una na ako sa loob, Uncle."

Pumasok na ako sa loob. My first time riding a jeep was such a heartwarming experience fore me. Meeting Manong driver and seeing how hardworking he is. I just want everybody to have a smile like he have while doing something for his family even though it's hard.

Napatingin ako sa babae nakaupo sa sala. Her face is not familiar with me. Who is she?

"Pamangkin, umalis na si Terrence."

Rinig kong sabi ni Uncle Denver at ginulo ang buhok ko.

"Uncle, who is she?" tanong ko. I saw her standing up and looked at me. Looking at her I can tell she is professional. The way she dressed and moves.

"I want you to meet Doctora Ali, Ave. She's a psychiatrist--"

I stopped. "A psychiatrist?"

"If ever you need help, you can--"

"I don't need help, Uncle! I am not crazy!" I screamed.

Nagulat si Uncle pati yung babae. Even I was shocked with myself. I felt their stares at me and I can't help but to be anxious.

Tumakbo ako papunta sa kwarto ko kahit na tinawag ako ni Uncle. I am to confused with how I acted. Why... why did I shouted?

It was just... I don't know. My mind is in a complete chaos right now. I don't know what to think first. I wanted to ask myself why I did that? But thoughts of their reaction on what I did came gushing like water to me.

All of them think that I am perfect. That I am organized. That I am independent. That I can be a role model to all. A good example. A synonym to the word perfect.

But what they did not know. Those are just the traits I want to think I am. What I want other people to think I am. What I want them and myself to believe I am.

I am not a synonym of perfect.

I am a complete antonym of perfect and a synonym of the word... caged and chaos.