Chapter 6

Isay POV

Isay is preparing to go to the market, she will accompany her Nanay Mirna because there is no one to drive. The people are in the copra plantation so she is the only one to come and after all she is not doing anything.

They use their four wheels mini truck which only four persons can fit. The driver, the front passenger, and two persons at the back passenger. Just right to use when they are delivering food to farm workers.

When they arrived at the town, it was obvious that the people were busy with the upcoming festival. There were flags hung even it is still a few weeks before the festival, the people were very excited.

Young people were also practicing dance at the plaza since the mayor of the town has prepared a fun dance competition. The winning team will get a big amount as a prize, that is why people are all preparing and excited.

One time, the mayor went to their house to asked permission to her father if they can use the basketball court that her father built. It was a good timing that her father was not there that day otherwise he won’t stop bothering her father.

The court was built because every time they have a family reunion, her relatives always play basketball as their hobby since almost of her cousins are men. They are only three women and two of them are both married, that is why her family is very excited to get her married.

"Nay, you go first. I'll just find a parking space and I will follow you after," she said to the her.

Isay went round to find a parking space but she couldn't find one, there were so many people that it was hard for her to find a place to park.

When she turned around in a street corner, she saw a vacant parking space but she saw the mayor with his team so she doubted to go. She is very sure that she will be seen by him if she will park there. But she had no choice since she really couldn't see any vacant parking space so she just parked there.

When she checked her side mirror, she saw the mayor approaching to her direction.

"Tsk ... there is really nothing can’t get away from you." she whispered to herself then got out of the car.

"Isabel!" he called, but she ignored it as if she didn’t hear him.

She was poked by the man and acted surprised.

“Oh! Mayor Vicko Sotornino!” she said in his full name.

“Seriously? Full name?” he said then smiled at her. "Are you alone or you have someone with you?" he asked.

She smiled at him, "I'm with Nay Mirna." she replied sparingly.

"How are you? I have not seen you much anymore. Are you hiding from me?” he asked as he pouted his lips. Seriously, I really cannot take to watch it.

"No, it's not. Just a bit busy." she just said.

"When I went to your house the other day, I did not see you." the mayor said.

"I left that day because I accompanied big brother Ryan." she honestly answered as she really actually left that day.

"Oh, really. By the way, I would like to invite you to join Miss Talisay, our beauty pageant that will be held at our festival. Would you like to join?" he asked.

"Sorry mayor, you know that I would never think of joining such thing like a pageant." she flatly refused.

"I told you not to call me mayor anymore Isabel, just call me Vic." he snout, which I really want to hit it until it explodes.

"I'm sorry to reject your invitation but I'm not into pageants.” she declined. “Oh, I have to go already, Nay Mirna is waiting for me. I’ll take my leave now, Vic." she said goodbye and the mayor smiled when she called him Vic.

Mayor is certainly handsome, tall and smart; it cannot be denied that he is also absolutely good at leadership. Most women in their area do their best to get his attention and be noticed. However, it is her that doesn't pay attention to him but is the one who he sees. She doesn’t know what to do anymore on her long hair, even she had cut it several times ... LOL

"Alright Isabel, let's just meet at the court." he joked which makes her turned around.

"At the basketball court." he said laughing at his own joke. She just smiled for not to embarrass him.

"Sure Mayor Vic, I’ll take my leave now." she said goodbye.

Just when she entered the market, she saw her Nay Mirna talking to someone. When Nay Mirna saw her, she waved at her then she walked to their direction and approached them.

"Isay, how are you?" asked the old lady.

"I’m fine, how about you madam?" she politely answered.

“Woah! Look at you darling, such a beautiful lady you are. Will you join the Miss Talisman pageant? You will definitely win if you join.” the old lady said.

"Oh, no. I have no interest at such things." she denied.

“Why you should dress like that? You look like a man!” said the other old lady.

“Don't you have a boyfriend yet?" asked her.

"No, madam. I don't have that in mind yet." then she smiled.

“You are too gorgeous not to have a boyfriend yet, such a waste of gene.” she just smiled at what the gossip old ladies said to her.

"Okay, that’s enough. We should have to go and shop. We don’t want to catch up at night on the road. We will go ahead." her Nay Mirna said and bid goodbye to the old ladies she was talking to.

When they got away from the old ladies, she asked the old woman.

"Nay, why do we have so many Marites in the barangay?" she asked jokingly.

“Who is Marites? That’s Aling Norma and Sonya, I don't know any Marites in our barangay.” the old woman answered that makes her laugh because she couldn't follow her joke.

"Uh oh! Nerve mind Nay. Let's just go so we can finish and go home right away." she just said.

Isay was very tired from their shopping. Since her Nay Mirna is already too old, she carried almost all they have bought. Some of them are heavy, so she felt severe pain in her body.

So, she plans to take a shower and soak her body in the bathtub once they get home for her body to somehow relax.

When they got home, they took care and sort the things they have bought right away. Then she went to her room and took a shower. After taking a bath, she went to the rooftop which is her hangout place.

All her memories when she was still studying are there. Her trophies for all the sports she participated in, especially the girls’ volleyball and basketball which she was often the MVP. She also joined chess and won, but when it comes to academics, she is a failure. She really had no interest in studying but she can still pass even she doesn’t like to read, such as luck she has.