Chapter 2 G**d For Him

( Sena )

“It was traffic earlier. I wish our customers are late,” the doctor said.

I nodded playfully at her although my mind was imagining how I should borrow money from Joshua again. ‘Text him like he did to me earlier?’

As we neared the Herald Residence, which happened to be sitting just behind Dra. Evenarte’s Clinic, I noticed the crowd in black tuxedos. They looked like businessmen, or maybe agents in an inflation protest, or maybe a JS prom was to be held in the Convention Hall. 

“What’s the occasion?” Dra. Evenarte mumbled the same question I have in mind when she saw them.

“Temporarily no entry for everyone.” Several marshals barricaded the sidewalk by the front of Herald Residential Building.

‘Seriously? Don’t you tell me some royalty owned the sidewalk too? ‘

Before we could move, the doctor and I were caught in the sudden wave of media and press representatives. We became victims of pushing and elbows until we drifted to a less occupied corner. But not even my pissed-off boss complained. Media is powerful in the Philippines. She knew too well that the media can create a biased footage of her complaining about it, spread it online, and drag her reputation downwards. We just stayed standing, low-key and curious, as we watched the crowd double.

One journalist suddenly started a live broadcast shoot. We were in his backdrop so I took the opportunity to go cute in my first TV appearance and photobomb his newscast. ‘Can’t blame me folks, I lost my ID!’ I lifted my ID cord and pointed a finger at the missing ID case. I did a sign that in case found, should please be returned to me. Desperate times called for desperate measures. I needed it. I needed that pass: No permit + No exam = No Graduation Day.

Okay girl, you just advertised your problem nationwide.

I just hoped that whoever found it didn’t make fun of my ID picture. Because you know what the ugliest government ID that ever existed? A Voter’s ID. Comelec didn’t even bother to hire a photographer who had the guts to tell people they look like shits before their picture were taken or at least tell us to fix this or that because we don’t look great on camera, the web camera.

The crowd stirred noisily when the black expensive cars arrived.

Hmm, the prom list not completed yet?

Bodyguards in black got off the cars and helped contain the frenzied people and media. They didn’t care getting hurt or hurting anyone. It still didn’t make sense to me why those people were acting like that?

Until I was surprised to see the President of the Philippines by the entrance. ‘Was he the reason?’ He’s just a human. ‘Why were they going nuts about seeing him?’ A limo pulled in and everyone seemed to be awaiting who might be inside. ‘A celebrity? There’s a celebrity?’ I tiptoed to get a better view until I was unknowingly pressing on Dra. Evenarte’ s shoulder for support.

A foreigner, tall and robust, walked out of the vehicle. I didn’t see his face because his bodyguards formed a four-lined barrier behind him. But whoever that man was, the Philippines surely overreacted at his presence. ‘Did the people think that that guy would be throwing money?’

“Ooh, sorry.” I gave Dra. Evenarte an apologetic smile when I realized where my hand was. ‘Please don’t get angry at me’. Peace. She’s often a bit sensitive. “I just got carried away.”

Our attention was suddenly drawn back to the residential building when we heard a faint thud and the gasps that followed. Although it wasn’t my fault, I swallowed guiltily as I looked at the man on the floor. He didn’t move at all, not dead, but because of that epic fail slipping incident. Who would’ve thought that the special visitor would slip like that?

He didn’t look mortified but his face screamed murder. I knew he wasn’t used to getting embarrassed. ‘Very wrong, dear visitor’. Someone must’ve been pissed off by your showing off so he decided to give you the limelight of shame. Filipinos are cunning. They’re prideful so don’t make it a big deal.

Nobody moved. Even the President was too surprised to have seen what happened. He immediately approached the poor guy as the men in black helped their boss up. Everybody in the media got back in their senses and shot their own photos of the important event. Lights flashed and drowned me until I was reminded of my fear of lightning. I was suddenly anxious. ‘A trauma?’ Cold sweat beaded at my back and apparently, the ice cream I ate earlier didn’t help.

I wanted to slap those people two cheeks at a time. They were making a commotion out of something that’s not so important. They should be concerned of nature and not of a single human being.

“When are we leaving this place, Sena?” the doctor asked impatiently.

How should I know? My eyes were already ballooning like a tarsier as I gasped for air. I felt like I was running out of breath. And in the most unexpected time, I saw my ID. One of the guest’s bodyguards was waving it in the air.

Did the ‘special visitor’ slip because of my ID? With my name and picture on it, I felt like dying. Oh, the f---ing shit! ‘Did I just make a future trending topic online?’

I bit my nails as I thought of what I should do. Our school’s ID cord was neon green so I obviously recognized it. I badly needed that thing but it was impossible to demand getting it back, scot-free, without paying great first for putting the visitor’s name to shame.

“Didn’t they know that they’re ruining other people’s business by this showy welcome for a person I don’t even recognize,” the doctor complained. On point. But oh God, just who’s that person? I already wanted to piss my pants.

Another strike of bad luck, we saw Jayzel.

He smiled at us. Geez, he didn’t know he’d get reprimanded by the doctor. Dra. Evenarte was so pissed off at the moment. Jayzel, if only you let me in, I would’ve had done my job in the clinic already. Good luck to your poor soul.

I smiled at him. I was his karma and my karma were my ID! Annoying, ain’t it? Anything in the world can be a person's karma.

“You,” Dra. Evenarte turned at him coldly. “You already knew that Sena’s an employee here but why didn’t you let her in the clinic right away? Do you want me to tell the management about this? Your agency?”

Jayzel bowed his head down in response.

That’s what you get. Then I made a funny face at him. He was obviously picking on me every day! ‘Now what? Gonna make fun of me again? Don't you dare!’ When the doctor turned away from us, I gave him another tongue out.

‘Enough Sena’. Karma might judge you again and you’d be defenseless once more.

“Bro, I'm haughtier than you.” I patted him on the back. Shit. I couldn’t help myself from picking on him in return.

The doctor had just opened her Little Dentist Clinic, the flat screen television and light bulbs automatically turning on. I put my ‘favorite’ old sling bag on my desk; favorite in the sense that it was the only bag I had and I didn’t really have a choice.

My eyes were immediately drawn to the television when I heard a Flash Report. I breathed deeply. Oh my gosh, Sena! You'd be in the news now! You're famous, my friend!

My knees weakened as the report went about the little accident the Multi-Billionaire of the Philippines had. ‘Papa God!’ But fortunately, the news didn’t include whose ID it belonged to. Damn, I wanted to go home and sulk all day.

“Good for him.” Dra. Evenarte murmured.

Yes, Doc it would be fine if that ID didn’t belong to me! I should’ve just left it in my drawer.

@Death Wish