untouchable

3

You smoothed out your pink shirt in preparation for another long day ahead. As much as you thoroughly dislike being proven wrong, you are glad to be proven wrong. This time only.

Ever since you participated as a volunteer, your burnout also decreased. You hate how more human interaction outside your comfort zone helped. You even gained new friends, rekindled with old ones, and it also improved your people skills. Your friends have been nagging you to recalibrate your work-life balance, put more percentage into life than work, expand or try out new hobbies. It will work wonders, they said. You'll thank us, they said. That's why you want to lovingly punch their faces in thanks, for once again being your solid foundation outside your blood family. It's quite scary how well they truly know you when you yourself is struggling to figure out how your mind works. You don't think you'd survive longer if it weren't for them. You'd be lost without your friends.

You would never admit that though, even over your dead body, won't stroke their egos.

Now, the campaign is keeping you on your toes, giving you something to do outside work. You hate how dependent you've become, that once all of this is done, you'd probably be lost again. This gave you another purpose to live out another day.

With a sigh and a shake of your head, you willed yourself to stop being emotional for now or it will lead to a breakdown. It will ruin your already jampacked schedule.

You still tag along Aika most of the time, even coming with her when she goes to provinces. It's not that you don't enjoy Tricia's company for she is a delightful company, you just gravitate more towards Aika as you're both the eldest daughters of an Asian household. There's an unspoken solidarity between the third parents of the family. JD and Shein often complains when one of them is left with the couple that is Aries and Sugi, how unfair you were. So to switch things up, all of you planned who will join who.

"Grabe naman kayo sa 'min, kung ayaw niyong maging third wheel, edi hayaan niyo na lang kami ng baby ko!" Aries retorted during one of your hangouts.

"Ay hindi p'wede yarn. Kailangan may isang magbabantay sa inyo," JD answered.

"Mga gago, hindi naman kami mga bata!" Sugi exclaimed.

"Exactly! Kaya to keep it family friendly, one of us has to take one for the team." Shein concluded.

You laughed at your friends' silliness. "Sige na, minsan feels ko sawa na sa 'kin si Miss Aiks, so next week kay Doc ako."

"Sama kami!" The couple said in sync.

You hate third wheeling as well, but sighed in defeat. It's your turn to babysit after all. "Oo na lang."

Today, you will campaign at the barangay you grew up in, home court advantage for you. It's a vote-rich barangay after all, and you heard your siblings are joining as well so more ground could be covered. There will also be a mini rally later this afternoon, and VP Leni has confirmed she will attend. You admire how your candidates are willing to go everywhere, having no stones left unturned.

The rendezvous point is at the Barangay Hall. You're frankly excited to go around the neighbourhood, but at the same time nervous. H2H campaigns weren't always pleasant, but it's still a learning experience for you. Your barangay is riddled with supporters of the other camp, so this might be tough. You arrived early at the Hall, exchanging smiles with the trike drivers (who are all Kakampinks, too) that you passed by. It's as if you're a candidate yourself. As a daughter of a fellow trike operator, you're known amongst the toda.

"Uy, Y/N! Mangampanya kayo ngayon?" Kuya Rolly, a family friend, asked you. A yassified Leni Robredo tarpaulin is plastered at the front of his trike.