Chapter 4

• (Kayla POV)
• It was noisy everywhere and I was reeling in annoyance. My priority is my ID.
• ‘If ever, where the hell did I drop my stupid ID? In the jeepney? On the way?’
• I trailed back to where I walked earlier but I didn’t find it. I won’t give up. I badly need it. The examination is holding tomorrow.
• “Kayla,” someone called me. It was Dra. Gail. My boss, whose name I prayed to be late, was indeed super late.
• ‘Thank you, Papa God, You never forsake me!’
• “Are you looking for something?” She usually knew whenever I was troubled because it has been my habit to pout when I’m distracted.
• “My ID. I lost it,” I answered.
• “Oh well, the guard didn’t let you in again. Come with me and I’ll talk to him about it.”
• I was glad that she came but I really needed my ID. I took her offer anyway. It was payback time for that guard. ‘Hanzel, was it?’ His name sounded feminine but I liked the ring to it.
• My name Kayla sounded as if my parents just blinked at the sky and the clouds formed the words to name me. It meant ‘slim’ and ‘fair’.
• ‘Fair life. But where was the proof that my life’s been fair to other?’ People would laugh if they knew the meaning behind my name but see that I’m living my life the complete opposite.
• Geez, I thought as I gave up on the idea of finding my ID again and went with the doctor.
• ‘You’re screwed Mister Guard; my boss is in a bad mood. Ha! It’s not my fault that she’s gonna vent her anger on you.
• Dra. Gail, fry him up really good so he’d stop picking on me every morning! Oh Hanzel, you should just admit that you like me!’
• I giggled at my wild assumptions. Bwahahaha.
• Stupid mind. But yah… I hate myself. I’m just as screwed as you Hanzel. Because I lost my permit, I’d have to ask for money again from my brother Anthony who already has his own child to support, Caton. I’ve been so irresponsible to even deserve the money he’s working hard for.
• Damn. I’m totally damned!
• “It was traffic earlier. I wish our customers scheduled for appointment today are late,” the doctor said. I nodded playfully at her although my mind was imagining how I should borrow money from Anthony again. Text him like he did to me earlier.
• Maybe?
• As we neared the Kayzer Hawk Residence, which happened to be sitting just behind Dra. Gail’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.
• Hmmm? Is this the reason why the early morning happened to be traffic?
• “What’s the occasion?” Dra. Gail mumbled the same question I have in mind when she saw them.
• “Temporarily no entry for everyone.” One guard responded.
• Several marshals barricaded the sidewalk by the front of Kayzer Hawk Residential Building. ‘Seriously? Don’t you tell me some royalty owned the sidewalk too?’ Kian Kayzer Hawk, who are you really? A living god?
• 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. Hehehe.
• Can’t blame me folks, I lost my ID! I am so desperate.
• 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 plus No exam is equals to No Graduation Day.
• I NEED IT!
• Okay girl, you just advertised your problem nationwide. That’s a good job Kayla myself.
• 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 (Commission on Elections) 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? They are idiot to cause such unnecessary actions. Whoever it is, he is just a human.
• Until I was surprised to see the President of the Philippines by the entrance. I’ve never seen him personally, honestly.
• Was he the reason? Yet, 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. Gail’ s shoulder for support. When I got a perfect view… A foreigner, tall and robust, walked out of the Limo. 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? Yay. I like that idea, but it is impossible.
• “Ooh, sorry.” I gave Dra. Gail 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.
• Ahahaha.