Mon Amour: An Affair to Remember

I. Retraction

A/N: Sorry for the long overdue updates of my other stories. I hope this will help in making up with you, guys! Hello to my plant friends out there! This one's for you again, LD, N, LR, and V. ;)

Malacañan Palace
January 4, 2017

"Mayor, nasabi ko na po sa Chief of Staff ni Ma'am yung pinasabi niyo."

He nodded. "Ano'ng sabi nila?"

"Sasabihin daw po agad kay Ma'am. May appointment lang daw po ngayong umaga. Pinasabi ko po na limited lang yung seats sa Vin d'honneur kaya hindi na po siya invited."

"Ay put@#$%&! Anong klaseng put-! Bakit ganoon man ang sinabi mo?! Sinong maniwala na kulang ang upuan kaya hindi naimbita ang bise. Sana sinabi mo na lang na dahil mag-away man kami kaya binawi yung imbitasyon." He stood up from his seat and slapped the table hard — so hard that a PSG opened the door to check what's happening.

"Sir, ano ho ang —"

"Isara mo man ang pinto! Okay lang kami rito." He cut him off.

The PSG politely closed the door and Digong continued to grill Martin Andanar because of the mess he did.

"Mayor, sabi niyo ho kasi bahala na ako magpalusot para bawiin yung invitation kay Ma'am Leni. Mayor, mas mabuti na ho na ganoon yung reason instead of sabihin natin na may away kayo ng bise kung saan —"

"Anong mas mabuti doon eh ang labas man niyan, inapi ko man 'yang si Leni. Magagalit na naman siya sa akin tapos maglalabas-labas na naman ng statements sa mga gagong media na 'yan!"

Digong is so furious that Andanar chose not to speak anymore.

"Ayusin mo man ito, Martin! Nagpapalabas ako ng statement mamaya kay Abella. Magkakagulo man mga sasabihin niyong dalawa."

Martin hesistated. "Pero Sir —"

"Walang pero-pero! Ayusin mo 'yan." He stood up and walked out of the room.

Martin still answered him even though he is no longer inside his office. "Okay, boss."

Office of the Vice President
(9:00 AM)

"Madam VP, ano po ba ang gusto niyong embellishments dito sa gown niyo po? Would you like some beads or sequins?"

Leni just smiled and politely declined the suggestion of the designer. "Simplehan lang natin, Ma'am. Kulang din tayo sa time eh. Okay na sa akin 'yang off-shoulder design na ipinakita mo kanina."

"Are you sure, Madam? Madali lang naman po idagdag yung mga embellishments."

"Huwag na. Hindi naman ako ang titingnan ng mga tao doon. Well, titingnan siguro ako dahil sa mga issues namin ni Pangulo, pero sa damit, hindi naman siguro." She chuckled softly.

"Okay, Madam. Copy!"

The designer took Leni's measurements first, then explained to her briefly the design of the gown that she's going to wear for the first Vin d'honneur in Malacañang.

"Sige po, Madam since okay naman na po ang measurements, we'll inform na lang po your staff for the final fitting."

"Okay, maraming salamat ha. Kahit rush tinanggap niyo pa rin knowing na marami kayong clients na naghihintay rin." She felt apologetic because she felt like she's causing too much inconvenience to the other customers.

"Naku, Madam! Kayo naman po ang VP kaya naiintindihan naman po namin 'yon. No problem po." The designer and her staff smiled genuinely at Leni.

Leni felt more bothered, but chose not to speak about it anymore. Instead, she just thanked them again and accompanied them towards the exit of the reception house. It did not take long after the designers left when her staff called her.

"Ma'am!"

"Yes, Philip?" She smiled.

"May problema po kasi tayo..."

Her staff looked so worried, but Leni, being her usual calm self, maintained her composure.

"Anong problema ba 'yan?"

"Binawi po ng Malacañang yung invitation para dumalo po kayo sa Vin d'honneur."

Leni was surprised that she couldn't speak for a minute.

"Ma'am..." Her Chief of Staff shook her left shoulder.

"B-bakit daw?" She stammered.

"Limited daw po pala ang guest list, Ma'am. Hindi na raw po tayo kayang i-accomodate."

Many thoughts occurred in Leni's mind. It took her a while before she could speak again.

"Oh, I see. Limited guest list... Ako yung Bise Presidente, pero limited ang guest list..."

"Ma'am, are you okay?"

"Yes, yes. I'm okay. P-pakitawagan niyo na lang yung designer to tell them na...n-na hindi na ako magpapagawa ng damit. Salamat." She knew that a tear was about to fall from her eyes, so she walked towards her office immediately as she didn't want her staff to see her vulnerable.