The President's Secret | Vicerylle

1: The Secret

"Mr President, she's here." his assistant said through the speaker phone.

"Send her in."

"Yes, Mr President."

Vice took a long breath in bago nya ito inirelease. He stood up from his chair at sinuot yung blazer nya while he checked himself out sa mirror sa isang tabi. He also fixed his hair at ang neck tie nya bago humarap sa may pinto ng kanyang engrandeng office, to meet this special person.

Again.

When he saw the door knob twist, napahinga na naman sya ulit ng malalim at hinold nya ang hininga nya na ito hanggang sa pumasok yung bisita nya.

"Hi." she greeted.

"Hello..." he greeted back.

"You wanted to see me?" casual na sabi ng babae at hindi umaalis sa kinatatayuan nya.

"I wanted more than just to see you." sabi ni Vice na may galit sa tono ng pagsasalita nito.

"Mr President..." she said with a hint of warning sa boses nito.

"Cut the crap, Karylle!"

"This was a mistake, I'm going."

"No! Wag kang umalis..." sabi ni Vice na napunta bigla sa tabi ni Karylle at hawak na ang kamay nito to stop her from going.

"There are cameras all around this room, wouldn't want your wife to see us, would you, Mr President?"

Vice frowned dahil sa sinabi nito kaya naman dali-dali nyang hinila si Karylle sa isang tabi - sa isang tabi na alam nyang hindi sila mahahagilap ng CCTV cameras around his office.

"Mr President, let go of me!" Utos ni Karylle at hinatak pabalik ang kamay nya from Vice.

"Karylle, I just want to talk to you." sabi ulit ni Vice calmly at hinawakan ang isang balikat ni Karylle.

"Please don't touch me." sabi ni Karylle at nag move back from Vice.

"Don't touch me? I didn't hear you complaining about me touching you a few years ago! If I can recall correctly, gustong gusto mo nga eh." It was already too late when Vice realised what he had said.

She slapped him hard across his face kaya naman napalook down si Vice sabay pagbulong ng sorry.

"Ano bang problema mo? Tahimik na ang buhay ko... Wag mo na akong isali sa napakagulong buhay mo."

"Why did you leave?"

"I wanted to leave."

"Why did you leave ME?"

"I don't know what you're asking."

"Karylle, I love you."

"Please, Mr President, let me go."

"Listen to me, I love you. I still love you. I will always love you!" Vice said at pilit na niyayakap si Karylle.

"Mr President, ano ba!" sabi ni Karylle at tinulak ng malakas si Vice palayo, this action caused him to trip back on his feet kaya naman nag land sya sa floor, hitting his head on the corner of his desk.

Nabigla naman si Karylle sa impact ng ginawa nyang action kaya kahit na alam nyang she should take this chance para umalis, she chose to make sure na Vice was okay.

Lumuhod si Karylle in front of him at inangat ang ulo nito sa may lap nya, forcing him to sit up.

"I'm sorry, are you okay?" tanong ni Karylle at itinaas ang ulo ni Vice to check his forehead na natamaan.

She panicked when she saw blood kaya naman kahit may phobia ito sa dugo ay kinuha nya ang handkerchief nya from her bag at takot na takot na itinapal ito sa noo ni Vice kung saan nasugatan ito.

"Karylle, I'm okay, open your eyes... Wala ng dugo... Hey, it's okay." Vice tried to re-assure her dahil alam nito ang phobia sa dugo ni Karylle. He held the handkerchief on his head habang tumatayo, helping Karylle up with him.

"I'm sorry, hindi ko sinasadyang itulak ka ng ganoon kalakas. Ikaw kasi eh!"

"Alam kong takot ka sa dugo, pero pwede bang tingnan mo naman ako?" request ni Vice at hinintay na imulat ni Karylle ang mga mata nito to look at him straight in the eyes.

When she did, he felt himself freezing on the spot dahil sa lamig ng tingin sa kanya ng mga mata ni Karylle. The woman he fell in love with was gone. The warmth that he used to see in her eyes was gone, but deep deep down, alam nyang his Karylle was still there.

"Karylle, eto na ako oh... Ang layo na ng narating ko."

"I know... From the small town Kapitan ng Tondo, to becoming a Mayor, then Senator, and now to achieving your dream, ikaw na ang Presidente ng Pilipinas... I haven't asked you this yet... How does it feel?"

Vice didn't have to think twice before answering her question. He made sure na he looked straight into her eyes when he said it.

"Lonely."