The meeting

I never imagine seeing myself at my state right now. I never thought that I'll look up to something and admire it more than I did in my country's flag.

And I never thought that in just a snap someone will break the walls I had build for a long time. I vowed to myself that I will only offer my greatest admiration to my country.

But here I am right now admiring the most beautiful emerald that I've ever seen. Admiring the sincerest and kindest words that I could ever hear. And it all comes from a green-eyed General.

"Ms. President!"

"Ms. President ano po ang nangyari?"

"Are you okay Ms. President?"

I escaped from my trance when I heard voices from different newscasters and even the blinding flickering flashes from their cameras.

Agad namang dumating sila Erick at Emmanuel at iba pang mga sundalo para pigilan sila sa pagpasok sa loob ng ambulansya.

"It's done Ms. President," General Andervano announced with a sweet smile in his face.

I stared for seconds at his emerald eyes, and I saw nothing on it, but admiration and care.

"Thank you General," I smiled.

"Ms. President ano po ba ang nangyari?" Muling tanong ng mga newscasters.

Pinili kong bumaba na lang ng sasakyan upang hindi na sila magsiksikan pa sa pag-akyat sa ambulansya.

"Everything was unexpected, we got into a war after being ambushed by a group of terrorist's called PPA or Poor People's Army," I calmly answered.

"Hindi po ba kayo nasaktan sa nangyari ma'am?" Muli nilang tanong.

"I'm definitely fine just a graze in my arm. But the PSG from the burnt car are not,. Sad to say but they're all gone," nanlulumo kong wika.

"Nahuli na po ba 'yong mga terorista?" I nodded in their question.

"We caught their leader he was the only one left standing," sabat ni General Andervano.

Sinenyasan n'ya 'kong magpatuloy sa paglalakad at s'ya na lang ang sasagot kaya't tumango na lamang ako.

Kung tungkol sa mga terorista ang tanong ay mas may karapatan s'yang sagutin iyon dahil iyon naman ang trabaho n'ya.

"Ma'am, okay lang po ba talaga kayo?" Tanong sa 'kin ni Erick.

"Yes I am," tipid kong sagot.

"Hindi po ba sumasakit iyong sugat n'yo?" Tanong sa 'kin ni Zalysha. Umiling ako sa tanong n'ya.

"This was nothing compared to what those bodyguards have been through, they was burnt alive."

Life is not unfair I know. Because I just can't say that life is unfair just because of the pain and tragic things that I've been through. For I know that life is not the one who's unfair it's the people.

And what happened earlier is one of an example. Those terrorists have been unfair to us. They're giving us a surprise battle without us having the time to build our guards.

Well everything that happened in this night are unexpected, even General Andervano's presence.

—————

"Eury are you sure you're okay?" Muling tanong sa 'kin ni Mnemosyne.

She kept asking that question maybe for the nineth time?

"M I'm fine."

"Okay, but hey balita ko dumating iyong knight and shining armor mo?" Kinikilig n'yang wika, that made her look electrocuted.

"Ms. President, I know that I'm just an ordinary weapon in your vast battlefield of politics. You hold the highest position in the country right now. But this ordinary weapon want you to know that it's admiring the beauty you possess. Your words, your principles and your heart who wouldn't admire you for that? A woman with a strong will. A woman with a gun on her hand, and a woman with just."

"Shit!"

I immediately cussed when I again remember his words. What's with that General that let me keep my guards down for him?

"Remembering something embarassing huh? Or something that touches your ego?" M said teasingly.

"I don't know," I shrugged in frustration.

I don't know if what that damn General did to me. Why it became like this? Muli na namang nadagdagan ang mga kahinaan ko. His damn piercing emerald eyes are now my weakness.

It is so powerful that it makes my knees wobble; and his words, it softenes and soothes my heart very well.

"So panalo na 'yong manok ko?" My eyebrows creased.

"Anong manok?" I asked in curiosity.

"General Andervano is my manok in winning your heart," she answered while giggling.

"Oh enough with those M, no one will ever win my heart. My country only got it?"

"Eury naman I'm just thinking for your own goodness. I don't want you to grow old without someone giving you good morning kisses, I just want someone to take good care of your heart," napangiwi na lang ako sa sinabi n'ya.

Surely M think a lot of stupid ideas.

"M Centrum can," I kid.

"Was it a joke?" And yeah again she opposed it.

Well I know that I'm not good at joking and definitely joking doesn't suit my personality.

"Whatever M, I'm going."

I grab my denim jacket to cover my wound.

"Hey saan ka pupunta?" She asked.

"Malacañang," tipid kong sagot.

"Ano? Eury you need to rest," giit n'ya na bigla na lamang sumeryuso ang boses.

"M I'm fine okay, daplis lang naman ito. I need to work. I know you don't understand me that well, but M when you're a President there's no time for you to rest, your country always comes first. That's the life of a President M, I hope you'll get use to my schedules." She nodded in defeat.

"Yeah and because of that surely you won't get marry," napapa-iling n'yang wika.

"Whatever M, I'm going please tell mang Erwin for me," I shouted habang papalabas na 'ko ng kwarto.

"Take care I love you," she said sweetly.

"I do too."

I grabbed my keys from the cabinet near the front door and edge my way to the garage.

"Oh hija, anong ginagawa mo rito sa labas?" Salubong sa 'kin ni mang Erwin matapos ko s'yang madaanan sa hardin.

"Pupunta na po akong Malacañang."

"Ay ganun ba? Aba'y sandali lang ipagmaneho na kita. Teka maayos na ba ang braso mo?" Nag-aalalang wika n'ya

"Huwag na po kaya ko naman po. Ipagpatuloy n'yo na lang po ang ginagawa n'yo. Maayos na rin po ang braso ko," I smiled.

"E sigurado ba ka ana?" ( Are you sure on that? )
I nodded.

"Hala sige pag-amping ha?" (Alright, take care okay? )

"Yes po."

Habang binabaybay ko ang daan patungong Malacañang ay hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang mga nangyari kagabi.

Almost 30 terrorists died last night. To think it's a great number, I'm sure they're force weakened right now after they lost their two leaders.

Speaking of leaders. That captured one last night I'm sure he know something about Mr. Guanzon's death.

Muli ko na lang itinuon ang atensyon ko sa daan. Sandali akong huminto sa isang checkpoint.

Wala pa ang checkpoint na ito noon, pero matapos ang nangyari kagabi, probably the military and police forces tightened the security around this place especially in the Malacañang palace.

"Ms. President," one of the soldier who checked on me saluted at me.

I saluted back at him.

"Why are you driving alone Ms. President?" He asked.

"Emmanuel and Erick are probably in the hospital," kaswal kong sagot.

After Emmanuel got a gunshot in his leg and Erick a stab in his arm, they was admitted in the hospital.

"Pahigpitin n'yo pa ang seguridad... " I paused for a while and took a glance in his uniform badges to know his position.

"Sergeant," I completed.

"Copy Ms. President," he answered with a salute.

I saluted back at him and again drove.

Sa labas pa lang ng Malacañang ay naroon na ang mga media. They're probably waiting for my presence and for my words.

Agad namang dumating ang mga taga-PSG upang alalayan akong makapasok nang matiwasay sa loob ng Malacañang.

"Good morning Ms. President." Mr. Alejandro greeted me.

"Good morning Mr. Alejandro, I'll leave those to you," I smiled while pointing the bunch of medias outside.

Tumango sya sa 'kin saka ngumiti.

The securities allowed the media to enter inside the Malacañang to have a word with Mr. Alejandro.

Nagpatuloy na lang ako't pumasok na sa opisina ko. Maya-maya lang ay dumating na si Zalysha galing sa ospital. I ordered her to go to the hospital last dawn to check Erick and Emmanuel's state.

"Good morning ma'am," she greeted me.

"Good morning are you okay now?" I asked securing what she feel.

The battle last night was too traumatizing for her, she even got hostaged.

"Maayos na po ako ma'am," I nodded.

"Ahm Zal can you set a cabinet meeting?" Utos ko sa kan'ya.

She took her tablet and started listing schedules into it.

"And also remind me to get the data about the rehabilitation centers in the country," I added she again nodded.

"Ma'am tumawag nga po pala iyong heneral kanina," kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi n'ya.

"Sinong heneral?"

"That green-eyed General last night ma'am," my eyebrows creased.

"And?"

"He asked about you," she uttered teasingly.

"What did he said?" I asked curiosly.

"He wants to have a meeting with you."

"Ano? Bakit?"

Parang bigla akong nataranta, ang isipin pa lang na makikita ko s'yang muli ay nakaka-kaba na.

"For the security," she answered.

Security?

I shook my head up and down before I can forgot what he said last night that he was the new General in the 1st infantry battalion.

Now my mind is arguing whether I'll agree with it? Or not?

Just imagining him sitting upfront me and exchanging words to me was damn intimidating!

Marahas kong naibagsak ang kamay ko sa mesa, dahilan para magulat si Zalysha.

"I'm sorry," I uttered in conserve.

But why the heck am I feeling this? I'm Eurydice, a de Lara. I'm carrying the surname of my brave father I shouldn't be like this, I'm his daughter! Hindi pwedeng makaramdam ako ng takot dahil lang sa isang heneral.

"When is my vacant?" I asked Zalysha after I made up a decision.

"Cabinet meeting at 10:00 AM, checking the caught terrorist at 11:00, gathering data's in 1:00 PM, checking proposals, probably in 4:30 ma'am," she said after scanning the schedules.

"Okay set it there."

Muli ko na lang ibinalik ang mga paningin ko sa mga papeles na nasa harapan ko. Nangangawit na ang mga kamay ko kaka-pirma nito ngunit wala akong magawa.

Bukod pa roon ay kailangan ko pa itong basahin. I don't want to sign it without reading tho.

Sometimes I doubt my capability of leading this country. Kung sa simula pa lang ay ganoon na ang mga naranasan ko, how about the upcoming days? Will I be able to survive? Will I be able to lead this country towards peace and innovation?

But as what as I've always said, not giving-up is my weapon. I know being a President is not that easy, pero wala na akong magagawa. This is my dream. I chose this field so I'll have allegation on it.

After the couple of hours in cabinet meeting, visiting the caught terrorist, and even signing and reading the different proposals finally I have the second to sit on my chair and refresh my mind.

Ikalawang araw ko pa lamang ngayon sa pwesto pero nakakapagod na. Infact this is even more exhausting than being an army. Because in this field you are not just obligated to work physically but even mentally.

"Ma'am the General is here," biglang wika ni Zalysha. Napabuntong-hininga na lang ako bago tumango.

"Good afternoon Ms. President," he greeted then saluted at me.

I nodded in him as a response.

"Have a seat General," I casually said while gesturing the chair upfront me.

"So I heard that what you want to talk about is the security?" Walang paligoy-ligoy kong wika.

"Definitely yes. I already conduct a checkpoint sa bayan ng San Miguel where the Malacañang is located. It's for your safety." Panimula n'ya.

"And?" Malamya kong tanong.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang nais niyang sabihin.

"I just want to ask something personal," my eyebrows creased.

"Was it about last night again General Andervano?" I asked trying to sound calmly amidst the fact that I'm so intimidated with his presence. I even tried to avoid his piercing eyes many times just to keep my heart from beating faster.

"Precisely," he answered confidently.

"I'm sorry but you're wasting my time General Andervano. If this meeting is just all about those..." sandali akong tumigil nang naglapag ng kape si Zalysha sa 'min.

Hinintay ko muna s'yang lumabas bago magpatuloy.

"...as what as I've said, if this meeting is just all about your confession last night then I'm out of it. I have something more important to do," wika ko sabay tayo at naglahad ng kamay sa kan'ya bilang tanda na tapos na ang meeting namin.

But he remained sitting not minding my reaction.

"No it's not that Ms. President. Gusto ko lang sanang itanong kung ano ang koneksyon n'yo sa mga rebelde. This is the first time that the terrorists tried to abduct a President, so tell me what's your connection towards them? " He asked directly.

I awkwardly sit back. That was embarassing!

But why is he even asking this?

"You're not accusing me right General?" I inquired trying to get his point.

"Ofcourse not Ms. President."

I heave a deep sigh.

"I've encountered their leaders in one of the Quezon mountain battles. It was the daft war where I killed their leaders, resulting them to avenge their death and massacre my family," I answered trying to sound firm.

"I'm sorry to hear that," he apologized. I just shook my head to him as a response.

"Kagabi iyong teroristang binalian ko ng braso, he was the brother of those killed leaders. He definitely want to abduct me, he even proposed to give the peace in this country as long as I'll go with them. But ofcourse I didn't let it happen," tumango s'ya sa sinabi ko.

Pansin ko ang pagkuyom ng kamao n'ya na nakapatong sa mga kandungan n'ya.

"Are you okay General?" I asked. He just nodded as a response.

"By the way why are you asking this?"

"We need to know all the data's regarding to that ambush first before we make an expedients," tumango na lang ako sa kan'ya, sabay simsim sa kape ko.

"So is that all General?" I asked.

"Yes, Ms. President," he replied casually.

I don't know why but I can feel that we are both tensioned. Maybe because this is the first time we talked to each other in a very formal way.

Nasanay pa naman ako sa mga kalokohan n'ya.

"Oh okay," I said awkwardly while trying to smile.

I extend my hand towards him to do a handshake, and he took it without hesitation.

"Fvck this formality baby!" Bigla n'yang wika, saka mabilis na hinila ang kamay ko dahilan para mapausog ako sa mesa.

Shit!

"Oh I'm sorry, I'm sorry, are you hurt?" Aligaga n'yang wika saka umikot para alalayan ako.

Pinanlisikan ko s'ya ng tingin.

"Actually, I just really want to see you, I'm so sorry my President," tila takot n'yang usal.

At ayun lumabas din ang katotohanan. This meeting is just a part of his escapades.

"You wasted my time General!" I uttered in asphyxiation.

Agad siyang nagtaas ng dalawa n'yang kamay na tika sumusuko.

"My apology, but my heart really yearn to see your angelic and goddess face " bahagya akong napasinghap sa sinabi n'ya.

But I can't deny the fact that the butterflies in my tummy are on it's duty again.

He stare at me intently with his piercing eyes, but the innocent admiration remained on it.

I can feel the cascading emotions within me, even the rush of the chemical serotonin.

"I'm sorry baby, but you're my weakness. Now I can't continue with my day without seeing you and even feeling your presence," he said gently.

"And I want you to know. That even I'm the known young and good General, you're still my greatest fear, and my beloved surrender," he added.

Likewise General...

|End of chapter 17|
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