It was less than a year before the elections and the tottering pile of papers grew larger and larger that it was a miracle if I was able to go home with the sun still shining outside. Sometimes, if it did, I'd still be carrying a leather bag case full of these papers for my perusal before I lull myself to sleep.

The past few weeks deprived me of sleep and the ghastly results showed on my face. I cringed when I saw how dull it looked on my compact mirror. Sally, who was leaning on the divider of my cubicle, gave me an I-told-you-so expression and I slumped my back on the chair.

"You need to take a day off," Sally said firmly. She had been going on and on about how I managed to age five years older in a span of few weeks. "Sleep and rest is essential for the soul."

"Yeah, I'd sleep better once the Twin Towers on my desk become as plain as the fields of Central Luzon," I retorted.

She was about say something when our new co-worker, Jane, approached my desk. "Ma'am, here is the latest report on the Development Assistance Fund," she said timidly before hurrying away.

I quickly scanned the file and my untrimmed eyebrows knitted together.

"What's wrong now?" Sally asked, noticing how I looked.

I was about to answer when Colbie Caillat's voice rang in the air, singing a feel good song that calmed me a bit. I grabbed my phone and looked at an unknown number calling me.

"Hello?"

"Hello!" a woman's voice shouted and I pulled the phone several inches from my ear. I could here someone else speaking on the background. "Jasmine! Are you Jasmine? The daughter of Lena?"

I raised an eyebrow even though I know the caller woudn't see me. Sally did the same. "May I know who's on the line?"

"It's me, you're Auntie Hanning. You know, you're mother's second cousin. You went to my house last summer with your Mama." I mouthed the word 'excuse me' to Sally while covering the mouthpiece and she strode back to her cubicle. "You remember? You played volleyball at the plaza with Ruby and Jella. Then you had to borrow Ninay's shorts because you got your period and-"

"Oh yes! Auntie Hanning! Of course I remember you," I interrupted. Gosh, of course I remember her. She was nice enough to lend me her daughter's pair of shorts. The problem was, she told everyone why I needed a change of clothing. She even told the cute guys watching us, what actually happened!

"Good, good, good. How is Maynila?" Auntie Hanning asked in a friendly tone.

"It's okay. A lot of traffic, more humid than Sigayan but it's nothing I can't handle," I answered off-handedly.

"Good, good, good."

Why was she calling me? She never called me before. I'm pretty sure she didn't just miss me because just before I left Sigayan, I remember seeing her at the town plaza with Ninay and when I greeted them, they turned away as if they haven't seen me.

"Where are you working now?" Auntie Hanning asked again.

"Still at the H.O.R," I replied and remembered that people didn't know that it was an acronym for official title of the Congress. "The House of Representatives, the Congress."

"Oh! So you're working for a congressman?" Her voice sounded like she was impressed.

"Yes, I am working with Rep. Mateo. Actually, I am in the middle of -"

"I didn't know that you work for her," she interrupted.

"I've been working with her for more than a year. As a matter of fact, I am in the middle of my job when you ca -"

"You're very lucky to be working for a prestigious lady like her," she mused. Where is she going with this? "This was your first job, 'no?"

"Yes."

"How did you manage to get your job? Did one of your Papa's colleagues call Congresswoman Mateo?"

I couldn't help but feel a little bit irritated at her inquiry

"No, Ms. Amanda asked me if I wanted to work with her in public service. I first met her at a community outreach in Sigayan and kept in contact. She asked me to join her right after she heard I passed my licensure exam," I proudly said. Though, I noticed that she didn't interrupt me and listened attentively to what I've said.

"Oh, that's amazing. And you called her, Ms. Amanda? You're pretty close aren't you?" she said admiringly.

I didn't answer her last remark. I had a feeling where this is going and I didn't like it. I had a lot of things to do and worry about.

"Auntie Hanning, it was nice talking to you but you see, I have to go back to my job -" I excused but she interrupted again.

"Of course, of course, hija. You must be very busy so I won't be keeping you any longer. Before I go, do you remember Ninay? The one who lent you the -"

"Yes, I remember her." It was my turn to interrupt her.

"Of course! Of course! You are a smart girl. You can't possibly forget," she chuckled. Her sweet-talk didn't flatter me. It only annoyed me more. "So about Ninay, you see she already graduated last Summer and she's still looking for a job. Maybe you can help her get a job there too."

I sighed inwardly. Of course. The Sigayans believed that the best way you could land a job is if you know the 'right' people. It was a trait common to the people in my province. Even my father believed that too. But I thought differently. I believed that skill can be enough to land myself a decent job. And it did.

"Did she send her resume?"

"Oh, does she have to do that?" she asked, apparently surprised. I frowned at her ridiculous question.

"Yes, Auntie. She has to send her resume to the HR along with her transcript of records, a copy of her diploma," I heard her dictating the person in the background as she repeats everything I said. "A cover letter and her civil service eligibility."

"Civil service? Hija, Ninay hasn't taken it yet," she said with a tone of worry.

"'Nay, I have taken it! I didn't pass, remember?" I heard the voice from the background say.

"Tumahimik ka!" Auntie Hanning scolded the person, whom I presume to be Ninay. "Jasmine, are you still there?"

I was contemplating on whether to end the call and tell her later that the line disconnected, but my conscience won't allow me to lie so I answered her.

"Yes, Auntie." I answered. "Ninay needs to pass the civil service exam in order to work for the government."

"Jasmine, hija. You're pretty close to Congresswoman Mateo, right? Maybe you could, you know, put in a good word to her about Ninay and maybe she doesn't have to take that silly exam. Your boss is a Congresswoman after all."

If it was possible to deepen an already deep frown, that would've been what my face looked after she said those words. She's asking me to break the rules just to get her daughter a job?

"I'm sorry but I can't do that. It's -"

"She's your cousin. You should help her. We're family," she persuaded.

"I know but I can't break the rules just to get her a job," I replied firmly. "The law requires that all public servants must pass the civil service exam."

"Ahay, you can easily get that certificate in Recto! My Mareng Hilda told me. Ninay could get one there," Auntie Hanning replied with a slight raised voice.

"That would be fraudulent," I retorted.

"That's 'cause you only made us think to do that because you won't help us!" she yelled.

What?! I gasped incredulously. This woman is unbelievable!

I tried to keep my voice calm. "I didn't tell you to fake her document. I only said she has to pass the exam -"

"Yes, yes, yes. You say that only because you didn't want to help her. Oh siya, I didn't know Lena raised you to be a child with no sense of utang na loob."

Before I could even reply, she ended the call. I sat at my chair, mouth agape, staring disbelievingly at my phone.

I knew that the people of Sigayan believed in the padrino system, but this? This was going too far!

"Another annoying client? You look like you can tear someone apart." Sally asked without looking up from her monitor. Then, she turned to face me."Wait, was it Mr. Sol?"

"What? No!" I replied. "It's a distant relative." Yes, distant relative and I'd keep her at relatively fair distance from me.

"Oh, I thought it was Mr. Sol," she replied sadly.

"What made you think of that?" I queried.

"Well, it's high time he'd call you about the invitation he gave months ago. Ms. Amanda said she'd be sending you as her representative. She gave your number to him." Sally replied off-handedly.

"What? Ms. Amanda never told me that!"

"Uhm, well, now you know. Maybe she'd tell you later." Sally turned her attention back at her monitor.

For once in my entire career, I wished I wasn't Ms. Amanda's EA. The annoying call from Auntie Hanning was already too much today. I closed my eyes to clear all the negative thoughts brought by my relative's call, only to see Mr. Sol's haunting smile in my mind.

"Ugh!" I screamed to myself. Now, I have to deal with him too! Ms. Amanda knew I couldn't stand him. She didn't know the exact reasons per se, like how he distracts me and how I'm scared that I'm starting to believe he might be right.

"Ma'am Jazz?" a small voice asked timidly. I whirled in my swivel chair and saw Jane standing in front of my desk. "Ms. Sally said you found something wrong with the report I prepared?"

The report. I remembered what I found earlier before I got distracted. Compared to Auntie Hanning and Mr. Sol, this was a more pressing matter that I should carefully handle.

"There isn't anything wrong with it. Could you do me a favor and give me a copy of all the transactions, the receipts, invoices, request documents for the fund?" I asked her.

"Sure, Ma'am. Jazz," she smiled in relief.

"I told you to just call me Jazz," I smiled back at her.

"Yes, Ms. Jazz," Jane replied and went back to her station.

Yes, the unusual report on the Development Assistance Fund is something I should look into and even though I hate to admit it, I know that what I saw in the report is exactly what Mr. Sol has warned me about.