Mahigit dalawang oras akong nagtatakbo sa gitna ng magulong daan upang maghanap ng mga taong matutulungan.

Marami ang nabagsakan ng mga bahagi ng mga establisyemento. Lalo na't ito ang capital ng syudad at dito halos nakatayo ang mga restaurant at coffee shops.

Kinamusta ko ang ilan sa mga tinulungan ko na ngayon ay nakahiga na sa stretcher. Ang mga ngiti nila ay sapat na sa 'kin upang maibsan ang pagod na nararamdaman ko.

Saglit akong umupo sa compartment ng isang sasakyan saka tinawagan ang vice-mayor ko.

"Mr. Minerva, how's the city?" I asked to my vice-mayor over the line. After all, I'm still a Mayor in QC. And I have a responsibility left there.

"It’s good Mayora, nag-umpisa na rin yung Cash for Poor program natin," he said vigorously, causing me to heave a sigh of relief. It's good to hear na hindi sila nilindol.

"Just call me if anything happens."

"Yes Mayora, by the way how are you? I heard you're in Cebu right? Are all good there?" I took a deep breath in his question. There's nothing good in here.

"Nah, it's devastated," I heard him let out a sigh of disappointment.

"Kamusta ka? Are you okay?" He asked, fret evident in his voice. Mr. Minerva is just at may age, tho his two years older than me. Katulad ko ay isa lang s’yang batang politiko. Kahanga-hanga nga at nanalo s’ya, sabagay ay may puso naman talaga s’ya ng isang pinuno.

He's a good man tho, and even though his young, unlike me, he know a lot about politics. No wonder, he's a POLSCI graduate.

"Wait your name is over the news," my brows creased in his words.

What did he say?

"Oh that's my Mayora!" He exclaimed vigorously.

"What's going on there Minerva? " I asked curiosly.

"Hey Eury! You're really an incredible woman! Lalo mo 'kong pinapahanga," napasentido na lang ako sa sinabi n’ya.

Here we go again with his so-called feelings for me. I don't like boys and will never. Everyone that surrounds me knew that. But this man here over the line, never cease to be expressive with his feelings for me. But I never really give a single attention to him. I don't care in his feelings tho. I just see him as my vice-mayor, nothing less and nothing more.

"Oh my! gotta go!" I uttered ditherly after seeing the bunch of medias running towards me, with some people who I helped beside them. I think I know what's going on.

"Mayor de Lara!" at huli na nang sinubukan kong tumakas. Nakakabulag na flash ng camera at nag-uunahang microphone, ang pumigil sa 'kin. At kaliwa't kanan ang nakabibinging sabay-sabay na pagtatanong ng mga media.

"Bakit po kayo nandito?"

"May mga tao po'ng nagsasabi na tinulungan mo raw sila,"

"Nangangampanya po ba kayo dito?"

"Usap-usapan ang pagtakbo n’yo sa pagka-Presidente, parte lang ba ng iyong pagtakbo ang iyong presensya ngayon?" Ang kahuli-hulihang tanong na narinig ko ang nagpa-init ng dugo ko.

Liningon ko kung sino ang newscaster na nagmamay-ari sa tanong na iyon. She's from DXL station. Inagaw ko ang mikropono'ng hawak n’ya, at buong tapang na itinaas ko ang aking noo at tumingin sa camera nito.

"I know that all of you knew that I'm running for Presidency. And I guess the issue that politicians having their presence in any kind of tragedy just to pretend that they're as kind as angels was never been new to you," I firmly said with my head held high.

Alam kong hindi lahat ng tao ay maniniwala sa mga sinasabi ko. But I don't care about that, as long as I'm telling the truth, it will always be fine with me. I don't need everyone to believe in me, sometimes me believing in myself is more than enough.

"But I am not here to perfume my name and to have a title. I'm here because I know that there's a lot of people who needs help. And it will always be an honor to be one of those people who gives it to them," matigas kong wika habang nakapako ang paningin ko sa camera na nakatuon sa 'kin.

"Pumunta ba kayo rito after hearing na lilindol?" The same newscaster asked again.

"No. Me and my fellas in our partylist, just got back here from our campaign in one of the towns in Lapu-Lapu. It was really just a perfect timing, that the time we reached the capital was also the time the earthquake occurred," I answered nonchalantly. No matter how I want to walk away from here and help those people in the catastrophe, I still can't do it. I still have something to say.

"But why you didn't run away, when you know that this place is dangerous?" the newscaster asked again.
Now this is nonsense!

"Why would I do that? Why would I run away when I know that I can help? And besides, this is what I'm born for. I was born to help people as long as I can. And there's no way I'll be running away from it," I said firmly, asphyxiation evident on my voice.

"Oh, so you're saying Mayora de Lara, that your presence and even your companions in your partylist here is not part of your campaign?" Muling tanong nung babaeng newscaster.

The audacity of this woman!

"Of course not, we don't have any intention regarding to that," I impatiently answered, while trying not to raise my voice in the nonsense questions of the stupid newscaster.

"Oh is that so po?" My eyebrows arched after hearing the tone of the newscaster. Now she's being sarcastic. What a strong one.

What is her damn problem!?

"Yes! Why? You want me to answer something opposite from that?" I sarcastically answered. She immediately bowed her head and mumble 'my apology'.

"There are people who said that you helped them, was that true ma'am?" Magalang na tanong nung isang newscaster. I nodded as a response, not because I want to be known from it. But because it's the truth, and sometimes there's nothing wrong in saying the truth, even when it sounds like you're bragging.

"Ano po ba ang masasabi n’yo sa kalaban n’yo ngayon?" He added. Umangat ang gilid ng labi ko sa tanong n’ya. That was out of the topic.

"He's good," tipid kong sagot. I didn't meet my opponent yet. But I have heard a lot about him. He's a senator before, and compared to me, he already have a lot of experiences  and exposures when it comes to politics.

Well what should I expect? Matagal na s’ya sa politika at bukod pa roon ay may edad na rin s’ya. He's on mid-50's I guess so?

Kilala na rin s’ya ng karamihan ng mga kongresista, maging ang mga tao'y narinig na rin ang pangalan n’ya noon pa man. Kung tutuusin ay wala akong laban sa kan’ya, kung pagbabasehan ang edad at kasarian maging sa tagal ng panahon na inilagi sa politika.

Pero para sa akin ay hindi naman talaga roon nasusukat ang pagiging isang mabuting pinuno.

"Are you confident that you will win this election ma'am?" Muling dagdag nung lalakeng newscaster. Iwinasiwas ko na lang ang kamay ko sa ere, nangangahuluga'ng ayaw kong sagutin ang tanong n’ya.

Ayaw kong magsalita ng tapos, kung nababatid ko naman na wala pa iyong kasiguraduhan. With that, ay nagpaalam na 'ko. May iba pang media na humabol, pero hinarang na sila ng iba kong kasama sa partido. And then it turns out na sila na lang ang tinanong ng mga nonsense na tanong.

I edged my way towards the devastated road that was sprinkled with the eccentric cars. Hindi kagaya kanina, ay kaunti na lang ang mga taong nakahiga ngayon sa kalsada at sugatan. Bukod pa roon ay hindi na ito napuruhan masyado, mga paunang lunas lang ang kailangan.

Nagulat ako matapos makita ang isang bulaklak na Marisol sa harap ko, hawak-hawak ito ng isang maliit na kamay. Liningon ko ang pinanggalingan nito at kusa na lang akong napangiti matapos makita ang isang batang babae na nakasakay sa wheel chair.

Inabot n’ya sa 'kin ang bulaklak ng may ngiti sa kan’yang mga labi. Magiliw ko naman itong tinanggap.

"Thank you for saving me po, and also my mommy," nakangiti'ng turan ng bata.

Sa aking pagkakaalala ay s’ya 'yong batang naipit sa isang pasabog na sasakyan. May benda na s’ya sa kan’yang noo, maging ang kan’yang isang braso ay naka-cast na rin. Habang ang kan’yang mga paa ay nakabenda na rin.

Kung tutuusin ay isang himala para sa isang bata ang magkamalay nang ganito kabilis sa isang seryusong pinsala.

"You're welcome dear. By the way how are you?" I smiled sweetly at her. She smiled back at me that wrinkled her cute and bright eyes.

"I'm doing good po, my leg just hurts a little bit lang po, but I'll be fine po," Lalo akong napangiti sa paraan nang pagsasalita n’ya.

Masyadong magalang ang bata para sa henerasyong ito. She didn't even remove the word 'po' from the every sentence. I gently disheveled her hair and patted her head. She's so cute that she reminded me of my little sister Calliope. She was at this age when she died. What a tragic life.

"It's good to hear that. Paggaling ka lang ha?" I said sweetly to her.

"Uhm Mayora, thank you so much for saving my daughter, I owe her life to you," biglang wika nung mama ng bata. I smiled at her and gently patted her shoulder.

"It's my pleasure to help. Besides, I'm not just the only one who helped you," nakangiti kong wika sa kan’ya. I even smile wider after remembering General Andervano and of how eager he was during that time to save the kid.

"Pasensya na po hindi ko po kayo nakilala kaagad kanina, kayo po pala iyong tumatakbo sa pagka-presidente. I hope for your victory Mayora," magalang na sagot nung babae.

"Thank you. Anyway what's your name? And this cute girl over here?" Tanong ko sabay pisil nang mahina sa pisngi ng bata.

"I'm Euny po. Euny Alvensia," pakilala sa 'kin nung bata gamit ang maliit at inosente n’yang boses.

"Oh so we almost have the same name."

"Your name is Euny din po?" Inosenteng tanong nung bata. I shook my head at her question.

"Nope I'm Eury, Eurydice de Lara," nakangiting sagot ko kay Euny. Napangiti naman ako sa reaksyon n’ya, namilog pa ang bibig nito.

"You have a beautiful name po just like me! By the way she's my mommy po pala, mommy Ainie," masiglang wika ni Euny at s’ya na ang nagpakilala sa mommy niya. Tumawa naman nang mahina yung mama nung bata dahil sa kakulitan nito.

"Nice to meet you guys. By the way thank you for this pretty flower Euny," I smiled while patting the head of the kid.

"Pinapabigay lang po iyan sa 'kin. He said he wants you to have that flower po, 'cause you're as beautiful like that flower po," my eyebrows furrowed in her words.

"Euny, he said it's a secret," suway sa kan’ya ng mama nito. But I just smiled awkwardly to them and mouthed 'it's okay'.

I started to walk away from them after I bid goodbye. But the words of the little girl keeps on disturbing my thoughts. If it was not the kid who gave me the flower then who would it be? I heard the little girl mentioning a he. But who would it be?

"Magandang araw po Mayora," I came back to my senses after hearing a manly voice beside me. I averted my eyes on its direction. And there I saw the man, na tinulungan namin ni General Andervano kanina matapos maipit ang paa n’ya.

Nakasaklay na ito at may benda na rin sa iba pang bahagi ng paa n’ya maging sa maliit na sugat n’ya sa noo.

Nagulat ako matapos n’ya akong abutan ng isang piraso ring Sunflower. Nag-aalangan man ay tinaggap ko ito.

"Maraming salamat po Mayora, at tinulungan n’yo ako. Dahil kung hindi n'yo po iyon ginawa ay baka mas malala pa ang natamo ko," my heart softened after hearing his words full of sincerity.

This is the most beautiful part of helping. Hearing sincere thank yous and even different kind words from the people you helped is indeed overwhelming.

"You're welcome sir besides I'm not alone," nakangiting wika ko sa kan’ya. Hindi ko gusto na ako lang ang pasalamatan ng mga tao, 'cause he deserves it too.

"And by the way kamusta na po ang paa n’yo?" I added. Bumaba naman ang tingin n’ya sa isang paa n’ya na ngayon ay nakabenda na.

"Medyo masakit pa po, pero mabuti na rin ito at hindi nabali," I smiled at his words.

"Magpagaling lang po kayo," I uttered while gently tapping his shoulders. He answered me with sweet smile too.

"Iyon po'ng Heneral pala kanina, nobyo n’yo po ba iyon Mayora?" Nawala ang ngiti sa mga labi ko sa sinabi n’ya. I immediately shook my head and smiled awkwardly.

"No, of course not," I said trying to smile awkwardly. The man smiled at me too causing the skin near his eyes to form a wrinkle. He's on his early 40's I guess so.

"Akala ko po. Maraming salamat po ulit Mayora," wika pa ulit nung lalake. Tumango naman ako sa kan’ya habang nakangiti.

"It's my pleasure,"

"Nawa'y marami pa po kayong matulungan," dagdag n’ya. I just awkwardly smile at him.

"Thank you for the flower, " wika ko bago tuluyang umalis.

"Pinapabigay lang po iyan," umarko ang isang kilay ko sa sinabi n’ya. This one again?

"Sino?" I asked out of curiosity, but he just shrugged his shoulders.

Bitbit ang dalawang piraso ng Sunflower, ay nagtungo ako sa may pinagparadahan ng mga ambulansya. Malayo pa man ay rinig ko na ang hinaing ng mga tao, habang ang iba naman ay umiiyak pa.

Now, this is how powerful nature is. It can cause outcries of agony and fear.

"Mayora, you're wounded," wika sa 'kin nung isang taga-red cross.

"No I'm okay," pagtanggi ko nang akma n’ya akong gagamutin. Alam kong may iba dyan ang higit na nangangailangan ng first aid at atensyon n'ya kaysa sa 'kin. Besides, I can handle the pain, or let's just say I can't feel any pain from it.

"But Mayora yo—" I cutted her words off.

"No I'm fine, really am, just go over there, may mga tao pang higit na nangangailangan nang tulong mo," wika ko sabay turo sa unahan kung saan ay may mga taong nagsisigaw pa sa sakit.

"But it—" a deep and manly voice cutted her words off.

"No it's okay miss, let me handle this," wika ng isang pamilyar na boses.

"Okay sir," nag-aalanga'ng sagot nung babaeng taga-red cross bago tuluyang umalis.

"What a really stubborn woman," napapailing na wika niya, habang nakataas naman ang isang kilay ko.

"What are you doing here?" Walang emosyon kong sagot habang nakapangalumbaba at nakatanaw sa malayo.

"Trying to help someone?" Pabalang niyang sagot.

"And who's that unfurtunate someone?" I answered sarcastically.

"Of course you! Isn't it obvious Mayora?" He answered back with the same manner. Napakagat na lang ako sa pang-ibabang labi ko upang pigilan ang pagkawala ng ngisi ko matapos mahimigan ang tono nang pagka-inis sa boses n’ya. Hot headed, tsk.

"Who says I need your help?" Tuluyan nang lumitaw ang ngisi ko.

"Your leg," sagot n’ya sa paraan na para bang napipikon na.

"What are you doing?" Agad kong tanong nang bigla n’ya 'kong hinila patungo sa compartment ng isang sasakyan.

"Umupo ka," tipid n’yang wika.

"What?" I answered in disdain.

"Sit," he ordered in conserve with authority in his voice.

"Aw!" Agad kong daing matapos n’yang galawin ang sugatan kong paa.

Why does it hurts now?

"Hindi pala kailangan ng tulong huh," he said teasingly and sarcastically. I just rolled my eyes heavenward, and let him treat my leg.

Habang ginagamot n’ya 'ko ay hindi ko maiwasang titigan ang mukha n’ya. Ngayon ko lang napansin ang matangos n’yang ilong na parang perpektong-perpektong inukit.

Maging ang makapal n’yang kilay, ganoon din ang kan’yang mga pilikmata na umaarko pa pataas at pababa. Even his mango shaped face, and his flawless skin. Napakakinis ng balat n’ya na kahit alikabok ay mahihiyang dumapo rito.

"Awww!" Muli akong napahiyaw sa sakit ng buhusan n’ya ng alcohol ang sugat ko.

"What a dauntless woman, pero sa alcohol lang dumadaing na?" He uttered sarcastically, habang may mapangkutyang ngiti.

"Kung ikaw kaya ang sugatan ko at paliguan ko ng alcohol?" Pabalang kong sagot habang binibigyan s’ya ng isang matalim na tingin.

"Hey relax, you're such a hot headed woman," natatawang wika n’ya, na lalong nag-painis sa 'kin. Ako pa ang hot headed ngayon? Tsk. He may be handsome, but he's a pain in the ass.

"Did you like the flowers?" Biglang seryuso n’yang wika. I just nodded and suppress a smile.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" He asked. I again nodded while looking at the Sunflower. It's indeed beautiful.

"Hey, you're not answering," mahina n’yang wika. Nakakunot ang noo kong binalingan s’ya ng tingin. Oh right, he's too focused on my wound kaya hindi n’ya nakita ang mga pagtango ko.

"A-ah yeah it's beautiful, I love it," sagot ko habang pilit na nakangiti. Gusto kong suntukin ang sarili ko nang ma-utal ako, dahilan para s’ya na naman ngayon ang nakangisi.

"Glad you love it."

"Huh?" Naguguluhan kong wika. Ngunit, sa kabila niyon ay hindi ko pinahalata sa kan’ya ang nalilito kong reaksyon. S’ya ba ang nagpabigay sa 'kin nito?

"Es hermoso comotú," Lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi n’ya. Was it Spanish? Yes I can understand Spanish but just a little. At ang tanging naintindihan ko lamang sa sinabi n’ya ay ang salitang 'hermoso'.

The nerves of this man!

"What's the shit are you saying?" I retorted.

"It's beautiful like you,” My eyes widened in shock after he translated it. I stare at him like I'm weighing if he's kidding or not. But here he go again with his so serious expression.

Damn! He really is!

"I never thought that I could meet a woman like you. A woman with a strong will power. A woman cloaked with determination, dignity, integrity and justice. You are a woman beyond beauty. Please tell me how can I have that woman," Lalong umawang ang labi ko sa tila wala sa sariling usal n’ya.

How could he be this straightforward?

|End of chapter 7|
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