Chapter 04-

With his rugged features, a man stood in a quiet contemplation from his aura through his eyes, brown, deep and reflective, were firmly fixed on the canvas. His dark attire in typical to blend of strong presence of unwind emotions, hinted with so much of him reflected on the existing dark shade of purple keeping on the art.

A hushed silence envelopes the space as our eyes met together, ruled with so many unnamed emotions all blending of an unspoken and countless breaths. With my strong demeanor of breaking the ice, presented in striking contrast and radiating light aura than him, I cut it off immediately.

Tumikhim ako nang malalim. Habang inaayos ang buhok ay hindi ko mapigilan na isipin ang nararamdaman ko kanina. Ngunit magsasalita na sana ako nang biglang may narinig kaming boses mula sa likod. Another broken by an authoritative deep voice of a man in his 50s after the distant noise of the closed door giving us hint that he just got there.

It didn't escape me through where the door might be while we exchanged glances for seconds. The man at first, suddenly offered a faint smile at me with his eyes in curiosity. He looks quiet familiar as he turned another angle in my side, looking at the man beside, aging like a fine wine, maturing with grace, refinement, and well-maintained old man.

The heck.

This man right in front of me is no other than Congressman Rios! Mixed of emotions, in sudden, crawled into my sanity as my heart sank to my realization of meeting the primary suspect of Tandang's assassination couple weeks ago. Gustong-gusto ko s'yang sigawan, awayin, at pagsalitaan nang masasama, ngunit ibang-iba ang naramdaman ko nang makita ko s'yang ngumiti sa akin.

I was in sort of distracted as he genuinely smile, his eyes looking at me innocently in no sense of harm. He was never a good man at my own perspective. I thought of him of being a villain-type of an old and creepy politician in leering expression towards people who possessed only power and influence that makes his townspeople uncomfortable and uneasy.

Lamunin na sana ako ng 'saang kalupaan ngayon.

"Theo."

The old man uttered to called him.

Pero ano raw? Theo? Is that a name of just a fine endearment? I thought of them as sexually related as their physical features bearing in the same features but an old version of Brad Pitt on his times by his endearing romance with Angelina Jolie.

His lips tightly pressed together in tension and determination. Kusa lang natanggal ang titig ko sa matanda at makisig na lalaki nang tumikhim ang lalaking katabi ko. Bigla akong ginapangan nang hiya nang lumingon ako sa kanya.

Nakataas ang mga kilay. His frustrated expression in presence twisted into a snobbish sneer stood in front at the old noble man. He was not looking at me but I can sense his irritation as he was being called.

Again? It is Theo, huh?

"Good a-afternoon, sir," nauutal kong tugon nang 'di lumala ang sitwasyon.

Why the heck was he's not answering if he was being called by his name as Theo? Masungit akong tumingin sa kanya dahil hindi siya nagsasalita sa congressman. Lumapit ako nang bahagya sa tabi n'ya. Pasimple ko s'yang sinadya na sikuhin gamit ang kanang balikat at agad naman s'yang lumingon. Suplado pa rin ang kanyang mukha.

Ano bang pinagmamalaki n'ya sa harap ng isang congressman? O ano bang pinuputok ng lalaki na 'to at parang naputulan ng dila para maging rason n'ya na 'di pagsungitan ang matanda?

Naniningkit ang mga mata n'ya habang nakatingin sa akin sa tabi. I feel so small on our distance as I slightly noticed on him bending over his back when he did it. But not as small as I expected. I am not wearing heels for today just a good timing for me being competitive on my height to this guy.

"Tawag ka..." halos 'di ko mabuka ang bibig nang sabihin ko 'yon sa kanya.

Pilit iyon at ayoko sanang gawin kaso nahihiya ako para sa kanya. Masungit, suplado, at mayabang pa. And to my name, we might meet in so many parties soon.

The old man chuckled while shaking his head. Quiet familiar, his voice really says so.

"That is okay. Sorry to interrupt you two. I was just about to call him about something sana. My apologies to you, hija..." he said as he leaned on my vision.

"P-Po? No, sir--- I mean, Congressman. No problem naman po," I do not know what to say. He is not saying anything. Damn it!

"What is your name and why are you here, hija?"

I suddenly dropped my jaw.

I have never been amazed someone in politics aside from Tandang who's introduced me how it good governance works in our province. The way he curved his lips to speak and gazed his eyes on me, the more I feel his sincerity to his people. I can see how genuine he could have done. 

  Hindi ko alam pero bigla akong nakaramdaman ng hiya sa mga naiisip ko sa kanya bago ko s'ya tuluyang nakilala. There is something on his uplifting personality every time he smiled to the people. You can definitely judge him being a good man. 

"Hindi ko rin po alam, congressman. Sa katanuyan, baka nga po n-naliligaw na ako. I was not familiar po kasi of this building. Kanina ko pa po sana h-hinanap ang rest room pero wala p-po akong maki---"

A gentle warmth of touch on her elbow, slightly brushed her tension and her nerves on the edge while talking to the old man. Causing her to turn her head to look at him, his touch was like a lifeline in the sea of anxiety threatened to drown her confidence and melting away the tension coiled her like a spring.

"Relax."

In full of gentleness, as if he understood her unease conveyed empathy by just meeting their eyes together without the need of words. She was forced to stop from speaking intimidated by the old man's presence. But then, there was him, her racing heart began to steady as her breaths became deeper and more measured.

"Chill, little sunshine," he said in soft whisper with another reassuring eyes and remained guarded. With his gazed upon no hint of amusement. 

Someone I heard clearing his throat mockingly, the congressman. Agad akong lumayo sa kanya.  Then, he pursed his lips into thin line. Masyadong mabilis ang nangyari nang 'di ko napansin ang matagal na titigan naming dalawa. 

Napalitan ng seryoso at nakapirmi ang kanyang tingin sa amin. Nakataas ang kanang kilay habang may misteryosong ngiti sa mga labi. Looking at meaningfully, hiding his mischievous smirk on his face while exchanging glances with us. 

Nang napansin ko rin ang kanyang mga mata, he's looked at where he still holding at the back of my shoulder. Bigla kong inalis, inilayo sa kanya ang braso, at wala naman akong narinig na protesta mula sa kanya. 

"