Chapter 13

Oh, how I love natural calamities.

It was three in the morning and Archie received a call from his executive assistant about how the town was in the middle of a disaster. I pretended to be asleep, but I had been awake the whole time. Nung isang araw ko pa inaabangan iyong forecast. I knew that anytime this week ay tatama na iyong bagyo. And according to experts, this would be the biggest in recent history.

In every disaster, there is an opportunity. That's why a lot of people got rich during the war time. Most people saw despair, some saw opportunity. They leveraged the chaos and gained a whole lot more. I mean, I'm not saying that it's the moral thing to do... It's not. But life's never fair and you're deluding yourself if for one second ay iisipin mo na magiging patas ang mundo.

If you want something, grab it with both hands and never expect that it'd be handed to you on a silver platter.

"Did I wake you up? I'm sorry..." Archie said as he kissed the top of my head.

Nagpanggap ako na kakagising ko lang. "What is it?"

"Work," he said.

"It's too early..." sabi ko sabay tingin sa orasan. "3AM."

"I know. I'd tell you to go back to sleep, but I know better," he replied and then cupped my face and kissed me on the lips. "Get up, love. We have work to do," dugtong niya bago ako marahan na hinatak patayo mula sa kama.

I was never really a fan of wearing sweatpants. I'd only voluntarily wear it when I go to the gym or to my spin or rowing class. But today's an exception. There's a disaster. So, I wore my black tights and a loose white shirt. I also put my hair into a nice little bun. I wore little makeup, but I still made sure that I looked nice and put together.

"God, you always look nice," Archie commented when he saw me. He was wearing a pair of dark pants and white polo shirt. May suot din siya na dark rimmed glasses. He looked so nice. Maybe I should tell him that. It doesn't hurt to compliment him once in a while.

"Thank you," I replied. "You look nice, too."

"Of course," he said as he put his hands on both sides of my waist. "I don't want people to think that you chose an ugly man as your husband."

Bahagya akong natawa. "How very thoughtful of you."

"I know, right?" sagot niya sa akin.

We got in the car. He loves this car. This was my gift to him when he officially won the election. It was a bullet proof Range Rover. He almost drooled when he saw the car. Pinigilan kong matawa sa reaction niya. He can be adorable sometimes.

Pagdating namin sa munisipyo ay marami ng tao roon. I stood there and watched as Archie began to lead. He didn't know this, but he's quite a good leader. Maybe he hasn't realized it yet, but he likes helping people. Ako rin naman. I mean, it's always a good karma tuwing makakatulong ka sa tao. But aside from good karma, I also want to use it as leverage. Wala namang masama kung gusto ko ring gawin 'yon. Ang mahalaga, nakakatulong pa rin ako.

Archie's main team already mobilized different teams in charged with different things. May naka-assign na sa packing ng relief goods, sa temporary shelter, sa first aid, sa search and rescue, at sa kung anu-ano pa. I was actually quite impressed.

"Is it already done?" I asked Cheryl.

Tumango siya. "Nakaayos na po."

"Alright," I said. Dumating na kasi iyong media. I just wanted to make sure na kung sinuman ang maiinterview ay sasabihin nila kung gaano nila naaappreciate iyong pagiging handa ni Mayor Gallego sa ganitong kalamidad. I knew that the previous Mayor received quite the flack before dahil hindi sapat iyong relief goods sa dami ng nabiktima ng bagyo. So I made sure that this time, hindi na mangyayari iyon. I contacted one of my ninongs and asked for him to donate some to our town and he didn't let me down. He sent ten trucks worth of canned goods and noodles na nilagay namin sa mga bag na pinamigay. Hindi ko sigurado kung magagamit ba lahat, but better safe than sorry. Mas mabuti na iyong may sobra kaysa kulang.

"I think you made a great decision," Cheryl said.

"About what?"

"Not putting Mayor Gallego's name on the relief packs."

I gave her a curt nod. "It's too on the nose," I replied. "Politics is different now," I continued. "We have to adapt with the times."

Nakahanda naman na lahat kaya naman habang naghihintay ay tumulong ako sa pagpapamigay. These people were very thankful for very little. I love them. And I love how my training just naturally kicked in. And by the time I was already done ay halos hindi ko na ramdam iyong mukha ko sa pagngiti.

"You should eat," I told Archie who had been working since 3AM. It's already 4PM. Nakamasid lang ako kanina pa sa kanya and aside from three bottles of water that he finished, wala pa siyang kinakain na kahit ano.

"I'm fine," he replied.

"Eat," I sternly said. "Just a few bites."

Tumingin siya sa akin. "Fine..." he said like some kid.

Naupo siya at saka nagsimulang kumain. I made sure that he knew that I was watching, so he finished every bite. Things calmed down... for a bit. Nasa gymnasium na iyong mga tao. Most of them were already settled in their temporary shelter aka the tents.

"Sana mahanap sila," he said.

"The team's working full time," I replied.

"I know... I just wish they listened."

Instead of answering, I just gently tapped his back. There's a family who was living near the river. They were given plenty of warning na tataas iyong tubig, but they chose to stay for whatever reason.

And as expected, the water level rose up in the middle of the night. When they're all sleeping. And now, the entire family's missing.

I saw the camera pointing at our direction kaya naman pasimple kong inilagay iyong kamay ko sa pisngi ni Archie at marahan siyang tinignan. Archie looked so tired and defeated. Just the perfect photo for this tragedy.

That picture would end up in the headlines—I'd make sure of that.

* * *

At around 8PM, I finally convinced Archie to go home. I told him he needed to eat, take a shower, and then sleep. And when he's well rested, babalik kami dito. Mas walang mangyayari kung pagod lang siya. Besides, this was the very reason kung bakit kami may team. It's all about delegating.

"Go to sleep," I told him. Nakahiga lang kami sa kama pero ramdam ko na gising pa rin siya.

"Trying," he replied.

"Try harder."

"The mom's a housewife and the dad's a trash collector, but despite that, he managed to send his kids to school. Pa-graduate na raw iyong panganay ng college," he whispered. He's still really bothered by the family.

I didn't know what to say that'll make him feel better. Kasi kung ano ang tatanungin, wala na iyong pamilya. It's been almost a day. Wala pa ring balita. What were the chances na buhay pa rin sila? Plus, I don't want to speak ill of the dead... but they were given warnings. Multiple warnings. They chose to stay.

"Do you think they're gone?" he asked.

"I don't know," I replied. The safe answer. I think they're definitely gone, but he won't hear that from me. Seeing how affected he was by this, I won't choose to be the bearer of this bad news.

"You can't save everyone," I said instead.

He pulled me closer and I felt him sigh into me. "I'd still want to try."

* * *

He set the alarm for 6AM at kahit na ganoon kaaga iyong alarm niya ay mas nauna pa rin siya. I told him to make me coffee while I checked the updates in the group message. Gusto ko kasi na kahit wala kami roon, kahit natutulog kami ay alam ko kung ano ang nangyayari palagi.

"Everything's being managed well," I told him. "We can have breakfast here."

"Doon na lang," he replied.

"No," I said firmly. "You can spare twenty minutes to eat breakfast with me."

Tumingin siya sa akin. "You don't even eat breakfast."

"I will today," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Okay..." naguguluhan na sagot niya.

"You didn't eat the whole day yesterday."

"I did."

"After I almost shoved the food down your throat."

Nakatingin siya sa akin at biglang napa-ngisi. "Are you worried about me?" he asked in a teasing tone. I rolled my eyes. Humalakhak siya. "You are worried!"

Hindi ako nagsalita, pero ayaw niya akong tigilan. Tawa lang siya nang tawa na para bang galak na galak siya.

"What if I am? It's normal that I'm worried."

"Yeah, it is... because you care about me."

"Sure."

"And you love me."

"If you say so."

Humalakhak siyang muli. "I do say so."

"Just toast the bread, please."

"I will," he said pero naglakad muna siya palapit sa akin at saka hinalikan iyong tuktok ng ulo ko. "I love it when you're worried about me. I should skip meals more."

I gave him a deadpan look.

He laughed.

He's much happier as compared to yesterday, so that's a win.

We had toast and eggs and coffee bago kami bumalik sa head quarters. The water level's starting to go down kaya naman nabawasan na iyong mga tao. Ang susunod na kailangan namang gawin ay iyong clean up.

"Mayor!" biglang pagtawag kay Archie. Sabay kaming napatingin ni Archie sa tumawag sa kanya. "Nakita iyong anak na panganay. Nasa ospital ngayon!"

Agad na nanlaki ang mga mata ni Archie. "Iyong pamilya?" he asked, but he was met with silence and a slow shaking of the head.

Archie made it a priority to visit the poor girl.

I made it a priority to inform the press.

"Be discreet," I told Cheryl. Alam ko na ayaw ni Archie ng media, but this was a golden opportunity. I stood outside, letting Archie have his moment with that poor orphan. Nakaupo iyong babae sa kama at umiiyak habang nakaupo si Archie sa may gilid at hawak iyong kamay nung babae. The girl looked disheveled and distraught. Archie looked very sympathetic—the very image of man you'd want as a leader.

"This," I said, as I stared at them, "This is the money shot."

**

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