Nights Like This

CHAPTER 6

'Senator Frank Serrano filed his certificate of candidacy this morning, seeking another term as a senator. The first term elected senator was accompanied by his Human Rights Advocacy Ambassadress wife, Calista Lopez- Serrano and their son, Mayor Conrad Serrano of Pilar City who also filed for Congress with his wife Atty. Emilia Serrano last week.'

Huminto ako sa tapat ng aking TV when the news about my father came out habang hawak ang akin coffee mug. The reporters and journalists flock on them as they exit the building.

"Sir, any words about the wish for re election?" sabi ng isang reporter sa kanya. The girl almost shoved the microphone tomy father's face so he stopped from walking and maintained his composure and smile. Mommy's behind him also flashing her best smile.

"You know, it's a very obvious decision 'no? Of course, kung may opportunidad na pag silbihan ang ating minamahal na taumbayan, i g- grab natin. Iyan naman ang nasa puso ko mula ng ako'y pumasok sa pulitika. I want to dedicate this passion to our people and serve them the best and give them what they deserve," naka ngiting sabi ni Daddy sa camera. His eyes are sparkling with his burning passion, as what he calls it.

'Senator Serrano is praised by the nation with his participation to various bills and laws that benifits the nation. His family is dubbed to be the model family and is looked up by families.'

The news about my father ended as I sat to the sofa. I leaned on the table at the center of the living room para abutin ang remote control and pressed the off button.

I blew on my coffee and sipped on it. Ipinag cross ko ang paa ko sa sofa wile I enjoy my coffee. Mag a- alas dose na and I over slept. Ayos lang dahil day off ko naman and I really intend this day for my self and do all the chores that I haven't done tuwing may pasok ako.

My phone beeped to a text message kaya dinampot ko iyon to read kung ano yun.

Mommy:

Your father's disappointed, Camila.

And I replied,

Camila:

I'm sorry Mom. Things are hectic here in the office. Paki sabi kay Daddy, babawi ako. Love you!

I heavily sighed and then binitawan ko na ang phone ko but it rings and Mommy's calling me.

I breathed deeply.

"Hi Mom," bati ko. "Can you hear me?"

I can hear different voices in her background and it's kind of noisy so I wondered kung naririnig nya ako because based on the volume, she's close to them.

"Camila! We're here at the restaurant with your Dad and Kuya. You're the only one missing here," aniya.

"I know, Mom. I'm sorry for being not around. Babawi ako if I have free time," sabi ko sa kanya.

Mommy's asking me to go with them kanina sa filing of candidacy ni Dad and of course, I created an excuse that I cannot go because of this and that. I am the only daughter na laging out of sight on times like that. I just cannot bear myself faking a smile while pretending to be someone important in front of the camera. They don't need me there.

"Your father called Gabriel and he confirmed that you are not in the office. He had it checked. He even asked him to move your day off for today. Where are you?" tanong nya. Her sweet voice became doubtful.

My heart pounded a bit but I tried to stay calm like nobody's interrogating me with my palusot. I am not a good liar and it will show if I mess this up.

"Uhm... yes, Mom. I'm not at the office. I'm at the factory today because I have some files to hand over and to check here," I said. I did my best not to stutter and to be calm.

"Okay. We are organizing a dinner for the family at Harris Hotel on sunday. Wear your best dress because media will be present."

I sighed. "Mom can I-"

"No." Mom's voice became stern and strict. "You have to go, Camila. You can't avoid these things and disappoint your furthermore."

The media's presence at the dinner will never be considered as a simple family dinner. I bet they will be advertising how perfect of a family we are.

My family is in line of public service. Even my younger brother Fritz has plans to enter the military and become a general which gained instant support from the family. Me, however, I had to fight for my the things that I want to do.

My parents wanted me to take medicine because they thought that it would be good for the family to have one and I said no. I want to be in the business industry. I said I wish to be an employee of a company and work myself to the top but my family thought that that would be impossible. They don't want me to work myself up. They expect me to be at the top. Agad agad.

That's the reason why they're pushing me with Gabriel. They said, if I aint gonna be one then at least marry one. It's obvious to see that I am the black sheep of our family so rather than having people redicule me, I'd rather stay on the lowkey side which is quite impossible for the family that I have.

"Okay, Mom. I'll be there," I confirmed.

Wala naman akong magagawa. My father will flip if I continue to do things on my own. He wants us present in everything that is covered by media because we have to be the model family.

It's just funny when Dad wants me to be present in all of his endeavours when he was never present with mine. He'll always say that it's because he's always busy serving people and he didn't even have time for his own daughter's graduation ceremony para isabit ang medal sa leeg ko when he can attend a ramdom school 's ceremony at nakaka pag abot naman ng diploma sa anak ng iba.

Funny, right?

So, kahit na medyo uncomfortable ako sa presence ng kuya ko dahil sa away namin, wala akong magagawa. They will really do anything just to make their names smell good and appeal to the public. They're my family but I abhore that way.

"Okay darling. Be in our house in the afternoon. Ako na ang pipili ng dress mo and I'll have Lucinda's team for our glam."

"Yes, Mom."

I ended the call and prepared myself to go out. For groceries only. I miss the bouncing lights and the blast of speakers but I have to refrain myself from being seen in the club right now. As two of my brother's affiliates saw me, other people might have seen me too. I cannot stir an issue because my brother and my father just recently filed a COC. They'll be mad if the attention is being directed at me negatively especially when that might backfire on them.

I poured myself a bowl of cereal with fruits para lang magka laman naman ang tiyan ko bago ako umalis and I showered quickly then drove myself to the grocery.

I specifically listed the the things that I will have to buy on my phone last night so hindi na ako magtatagal pa. After I got the things that I'll buy, ikinarga ko na sa kotse ko bago bumalik sa loob ng mall to have a simple meal dahil gutom na naman ako.

Nag crave ako bigla ng fast food so I walked inside a fast food restaurant and ordered a rice with chicken meal, burger patty steak and spaghetti with ice cream on the side.

"Sigurado ka ba Nana? Wala tayong pera para dito," a voice of a girl said. Lumingon ako sa katabi kong table saka nakita ang isang bata na naka uniform pa of a familiar public school. Kaharap nya ang nanay nya na naka simpleng shirt at jeans lang din.

"Ayos lang 'nak. Birthday mo naman ngayon kaya pinag ipunan ko 'to. Kahit ngayon lang," sabi ng nanay nya. She was counting the coins na nilabas nya from her old wallet.

I couldn't help but to feel touched on that sight. It made me re think of all the privilege that I have. I literally have everything that I could wish for. I don't have to save up money just to afford this.

Sana lahat pantay pantay and pribilehiyo.

"It's nice to see you here," said by someone with a very familiar deep voice.

From looking at the mother and daughter, Inikot ko and ulo ko pa harap saka inangat. I almost choked on my spaghetti that I was chewing when I saw Sir Vance in front of me. For the first time, I am sesing him in jeans and plain black teeshirt holding an iced coffee.

Wala talaga. Wheather he wears a suit or a simple teeshirt, he still looks good on it like he could walk at runway at any minute.

"Sir!" bati ko sa kanya. I placed my hand on my mouth and continued chewing hanggang sa malunok ko.

He pulled the chair in front of me and sat there. I just stared at him, wondering kung anoang ginagawa nya rito.

"Hi, Camila. It's surprising to see you here huh," aniya. Sir Vance supressed his smile and crossed his arms infront of me.

"Do you want to eat something, sir? It's my treat," I offered him.

"I'm good, Camila. I just had lunch with a friend. I didn't know na off mo rin?" aniya.

"Today wasn't supposed to be my day off but the HR contacted me and moved my off for today." And it dawned me. Maybe the reason behind why they moved my day off was because Dad really wanted me to be there so he contacted Gabriel like what Mom said.

Well, wala naman na silang magawa because I didn't show up.

"Really? I thought hindi puwedeng mag sabay ang off ng dalawang head?" nagtataka nyang tanong.

Of course. It's really questionable why the manager and the assistant manager has the same day off when KSW don't let that happen in case something happens.

I nervously smiled. "I guess there's always an exemption."

"What are you doing here? Going on a date?" tanong nya. His head is tilted on the side while his eyebrows are shot upwards.

My forehead creased. Date? Here at a fast food restaurant?

"No, sir. I just shopped for groceries." I swirled my spaghetti and put it directly to my mouth. "Ikaw, sir? What are you doing here. You are the most surprising person that I bumped with. You don't look like someone who'll waste his time to roam around the mall."

Sir Vance looked amused when I said that. His lips curled more na halos umabot na ang ngiti nya sa tenga nya. "Really? Why? What do you think I like doing on my free time?" tanong nya.

I put down the utensils and then I clasped both of my hands habang naka patong ang siko ko sa lamesa. I squinted my eyes on him and stared at him. He didn't even flinch kahit titigan ko sya.

"If it weren't for your eyeglass, you look like you could be... I don't know... meeting girls at the cafe? You know? Meeting people?" I told him but that was sugar coated.

What I meant to say is that he looks like someone that can go around and collect girls because his looks could make that possible. He looks like that anime character that's a tsundere and girls love that.

Sa office ps nga lang, he could form a fan club there sa dami ng nag a- abang just so they could steal a glance at him.

Sir Vance's laughter echoed at our table because of my personal evaluation on him. My mouth parted seeing how my boss laughed in front of me because at office, he rarely speaks. Let alone laugh.

"That's harsh! Do I look like I meet different girls?" hindi makapaniwalang sabi nya. "I don't meet girls, Cami."

Getting competitive, I said to him, "Then what do you wanna do on your free time?" hamon ko. "Sir?"

I must be dumb. I momentarily forgot that he's my boss! Oh my gosh Camila! I looked at my boss' expression to see if he was offended on my sudden disrespect but he looks like he's not because he's still smiling, looking more amused.

"That's Vance for you, Camila. You don't have to sugarcoat anything. We're not at work. It's fine," he assured me but I'm still having my doubt wheather I should lower my guard down or nah.

"And as for the thing that I like doing in my free time... it's watching movies," he confessed.

Okay. That's totally opposite to what I guessed but he looks like somebody who likes movies rin naman.

"Do you want to watch a movue with me so I can prove myself that I like doing it?" nakangiting sabi nya while I freezed in shock.

What now?