Her Perfect Imperfection

Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: THE STORY OF HIS IMPERFECTIONS

Thirdy

I MET Dani in a political party held in one of my family's mansion. Nagpa-plano pa lang na tumakbo noon ang tatay ko sa presidential position. And the people around us that night were his self-proclaimed allies. Kasama doon ang tatay ni Dani na si Congressman Garduce na anak ng naging campaign manager ni Lolo noon. Our family were somehow interconnected, making for us to get closer without facing any problems.

Dani was former model, businesswoman and thought leader of our age. Maraming nagsasabi na susunod siya sa yapak ng kanyang tatay na tingin ko'y magsisimula na. Ako lang naman ang nasa political party na walang ka-plano-plano na tumakbo sa kahit anong posisyon sa gobyerno. Simply because I don't want my hands get dirty in the game of power, connections and money.

Kuntento na ako sa pagiging abogado ko at alam rin naman ng mga magulang ko na wala talaga akong balak tumakbo. Kuya Clarence may have because he embodied Daddy from the way he articulately said his speech down to his plans in life. Sigurado na siya sa lahat kaya hanga ako sa kanya at kaya rin ako abogado ngayon iyon ay dahil sa aking kapatid.

“Third, aren't going to mingle with those woman who's definitely want to try checking you out?” tanong ni Kuya sa akin.

Tumingin ako sa tinutukoy niya at nakita ko na sa akin nga sila nakatingin. “I have no time for that. This is what I need to prioritize now, Kuya,” I said, waiving a book reviewer for my entrance exam at Oxford Law.

“Doctor of Juridical Science. . . hindi ka pa ba kuntento sa Master of Laws at Juris Doctor degree mo?”

“Hindi pa.” Umiling si Kuya at tinapik-tapik ang balikat ko bago nagpaalam na may lalapitang kakilala.

The truth is I don't need any degrees or an office in the government. With or without those, I'm still the fourth son of the aspiring president of this country. Dad gave me not only his surname but also his name. Sabi niya ako daw ang anak niyang susunod sa yapak nila ni Lolo pero nagkamali siya.

Hindi ako iyon at ang gusto ko lang ay tahimik na buhay.

Luminga-linga ako sa paligid, naghahanap ng maaaring puwestuhan na tahimik kaso wala yata noon dito.

Huminga ako ng malalim at aktong magbabasa na ngunit isang malamyos na tinig ang pumukaw sa akin.

“Did you know that a normal guy won't bring a reviewer in this kind of party?” tanong ng parehong tinig na aking narinig. In front of me is a goddess. She's beautiful yet mystery were all over her eyes, making wanted to know more about this lady. “I'm Danielle Garduce and you are?”

Nakatitig lang ako sa kanya na tila ba kinakabisa ko ang bawat detalye ng kanyang mukha. I've seen her before. Ngayon lang nagkrus ang landas naming dalawa at siya pa ang unang lumapit sa akin.

“Are you done staring?” Dani asked.

“I'm Thirdy. Thirdy De Luna.”

“Hmm. . . the wonder child of Senator Matthias De Luna. . .”

“Yes. . . that's me.”

“Do you want to go out with me?”

That question doesn't sound in general. Itvis as if she wanted me alone. Dani asked me out because out of all the people around us, I maybe piqued her interest. Sino nga bang lalaki ang magdadala ng reviewer sa isang private party na gaya nito?

Ako lang dahil mas priority ko ang makakuha ng degree kaysa makihalubilo sa iba. I'm here for the sake of good pictures with my family. And I bet my other siblings except Kuya Clarence shared the same feelings with me. I cannot see Ellis and Noelle around while Kuya JD is busy chatting with his wife - maybe it's about medical terminologies only them can understand.