Just One Touch

1

Chapter One: Your Hand

*This is a work of fiction.

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"Paparating na raw ang presidente!"

"OMG! First time kong makakakita ng artista!"

"Gaga! Hindi siya artista. Politician siya!"

"Palibhasa kasi, wala kang alam! Artista muna siya bago sumabak sa politika!"

"Ay, ganern ba?"

Kahit sinasaway na ang mga ka-trabaho ko ng aming boss, ay tuloy pa rin sila sa pagdidiskusyon. Actually, hindi lang sila. The hall is filled with noises...mostly are girlishly squeals.

We got lucky that our department is one of those who can meet and greet the President—Atty. Aries Aragon—in this fancy Hall in our building's 16th floor. Since we are a government office, *the President should visit all companies owned by the government at least once every his/her term. I was kind of excited to meet him since I had voted for him in the last year's very controversial election. His platform was nice and I can see that in his one-year tenure, he has already done so much. But, I knew that that kind of reason would earn a snort from my colleagues. They are excited tonight not solely because of the President's presence, but more so...his son's.

"Ang tagal naman yata!"

"Excited na akong makita si Small! Grabe, sa TV pa lang sobrang gwapo na. Paano pa kaya sa personal?"

"Edi tigok kana, girl!"

"Okay ka lang ba, Smile?" my friend, Cassy asked me while the girls around us are busy giggling.

I nodded. "Oo naman. Ang sarap nung fish fillet, eh!"

"Iba ka talaga, ano? Hindi ka man lang ba kakabahan? Huy! Mami-meet natin ang presidente ng bansa! Tubuan ka naman ng kaba!" tumatawang sabi niya.

"Bakit naman ako kakabahan? I am excited. Ay, diba nga pala, kapag excited ay kinakabahan din? Kaya malamang kinakabahan din ako ng kaunti?" I placed her hand on my chest for her to feel my heartbeat. "Ano sa tingin mo?"

She gently pushed my chest while laughing. I laughed too, because her facial expression was epic! "Ewan ko sa'yo! Kailangan mo pa raw talagang ipahawak sa akin iyang suso mo? Aba, edi ikaw na! Oo na, Smile! Ikaw na ang may pinakamalaking suso—" she stopped talking as everyone in the room grew silent. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. We are hearing whispers and small laughter in the room! Cassie's words were the last thing everyone heard and had it happened to anyone else, I would have laughed too, but she is my friend and we were the ones who talked! Suddenly, the lights went out, loud gasps filled the room!

Buti na lang! Pero bakit kaya nagblack out? Alam ba nila na kami iyon? Baka dumating na ang presidente at narinig niya, I'm sure papatayin kami ng echosera naming boss!

A spotlight went on to the stage, revealing the MC and the President!

"Everyone in this room, we know that it is a great honor to be visited by the President of our country. We shall show him tonight the greatest respect he duly deserved. It is truly my pleasure to be introducing to you—Atty. Adriatico "Aries" Aragon!"

Nakahinga kami nang maluwag ni Cassandra. Akala ko ay mahuhuli na kami. After ng speech ng Presidente ay iniwan nya na ako para makapagyosi na siya sa labas habang nilalantakan ko naman ulit ang fish fillet with tartar sauce.

"Hoy, Smile! Kayo ni Cassy yung nagtatawanan bago namatay ang ilaw, ano? Aminin! Kilala ko ang boses ninyo, mga bruha kayo ha! Agaw eksena pa kayo sa presidente!" sabi ni Sir Kirby, ang aming boss. He's gay. He is super cool kaya lang ay may pagkamaarte at kadalasan ay nang-e-echos. Ang gusto ko sa kanya ay hindi niya hinahayaan na mailang at matakot sa kanya kaming subordinates niya. We are truly lucky to have him as our boss.

Tumawa ako. "Oo, Sir. Pero huwag kang maingay, ha. Kinabahan talaga kami nun! Tsaka, hindi pa naman nagsasalita yung presidente nung nag-uusap kami, ah!" Our co-departments nearby laughed too, and joined our conversation.

"Pati ako kinabahan para sa inyong dalawa!" sabi ni Cindy.

"Apir! Akala ko nga rin, Sir, mapapagbintangan din ako dahil nasa tabi ko lang si Cassy!" sabi naman ni Ria.

"Anong huwag maingay? Eh kayo nga itong nag-iingay! Parang may narinig pa nga akong salitang suso eh. Gusto ko sanang malaman kung ano 'yon kaya lang naisip ko, paki ko ba sa suso? Eh ayaw ko nga no'n for some reason, diba!" mabilis na sabi niya kaya naghalpakan kami ng tawa. "Pwera na lang kung nakadikit sa akin 'yon. Tsaka, ano ba kayo? Diba napag-usapan na natin na kapag may ganitong event ay pwede n'yo na akong tawaging Madam." Nagtawanan kami nang sobra but eventually died down when the President, as well as the group of people behind him, is now heading towards our table.

"Hala, kasama niya yung anak niyang si Small! Papalapit dito!" bulong ni Annie.

"Hindi naman gwapo, diba, Pre?" tanong ni Joel kay Joseph, mga kasamahan ko rin.

"Kapal n'yo!" umiirap na sabi ni Ria.

"Guys, be professional!" Sir Kirby told us subtly.

We are all smiles, as the person who holds the highest position in the country, approaches us.

We all stood to greet him, "Good evening, Sir!"

"Wow! Muntik nang magsabay, ano?" biro niya. Tumawa kami, nahihiya. "Good evening," he said with a smile while scanning each one of us; his eyes somehow lingered on me as he smiled more, or so I thought. I just returned him a smile, too.

"Sir, do you want to sit with us? Let us call the waiter to get you a comfortable seat—" Sir Kirby offered.

Atty. Aragon laughed softly and waved his hand. "No, but thank you. I just want to greet all of you since you seemed to have the happiest table in this party." He then again smiled sincerely, looking more charming in person than in TV. My officemates immediately apologized if we had inconvenienced him with our noises which again, the president politely denied, "No, I am actually happy that you are enjoying now and you gave me the warmest welcome here in your office." We all smiled, not knowing what else to say as we are still in awe, that the humble and charming president is right in front of us! Nakaka-starstruck!

"Mr. President kung mamarapatin mo po sana, gusto raw po nilang makadaupang palad din ang anak n'yong si Small, lalo na itong si Ria!" sabi ni Joel at tumawa ang boys sa table. Hinampas siya ni Annie at halos sabunutan siya ni Ria. Yung boss naman namin na si Sir Kirby ay biglang humilaw ang ngiti. Akala namin ay magagalit ang presidente ngunit nagulat kami nang tumawa pa ito at itinulak ang anak n'ya nang kaunti palapit samin!

"Introduce yourself, son! Huwag mo akong ipapahiya, ha. Actually guys, pinapag-asawa ko na nga itong si Small eh. May mairereto ba kayo d'yan?" We all laughed. I looked at the younger man who looked flushed at the moment. They really look alike.

The awkward atmosphere awhile ago is now gone...but at last...when it's my turn to have a handshake with his son, the air felt colder and as if some additional lights on the ceiling were being turned on dramatically one by one.

I offered my hand. He smiled as he accepted it.

"Smile," I said with my name, smile, and it's amusing how his lips stretched to smile even more! Oh, I know where this is going...

"I'm Small, and you are...?" You are tall actually...

"Smile," I can't help but grin. I hope he'll get it this time.

"Oh, wow," his eyes sparkled. "Is that your name?"

"Ehem!" His father faked a cough and smiled meaningfully at his son. My officemates and Sir Kirby are smiling and cheering (for some reason which-I-don't-wanna-ask-because-I-already-know-why!) like crazy at us when I realized that my hand is still being held by Small!

"Yes, that's my name. Nice to meet you, Sir Small." I replied coolly. Not wanting to make that a big of a deal, I then freed my hand from his grasp. His father is smiling from ear to ear, pati rin yung body guards! And that guy Small, did I just see him blush?