Imee is now a Senator of the Philippines, twenty seven years have passed since her child was taken from her and twenty one years since she and her husband decided to live separately. But until now losing her daughter still lingers in her mind and heart, it still hurts her so much.
She still hopes that one day she will find her child, not just her the whole family including her ex husband. A lot of news has reached her about her missing child but all that seems like nonsense, so many little girls have taken DNA test but all the results that come out are negative.
"Where are you my daughter? It's been twenty seven years na, anak. Please, come home to mama" she thought. A tear dripped from her eye. It hurts her so much to think about her daughter who she have never seen or even carried in her own arms since she given birth.
She was startled when she heard a knock so she immediately wiped away her tear, fixed herself and sit properly. "Ma'am?" said by a woman as her face peeked through the door, "Come in!" she said.
The woman was Julianna, her personal assistant. She walked towards Imee holding a paper. When she got close, her hands were shaking, Imee is a strict person that's why many people are afraid of her and she's afraid to her. Although she already seen a little bit of her soft side, it just that when it comes to her work, Imee is a different person. She's been working as a personal assistant of Imee for seven years.
"A Resignation Letter?" Imee asked as her eyes widened while reading the paper. "Yes Ma'am" she answered, nervously. She doesn't know if her excuse were valid but she hopes Imee would understand.
"Why? Masyado ba akong naging mataray sayo?" Imee said in a serious tone, she looked at Julianna then raised a brow at her, "Oh... No, ma'am" she answered.
"That's not the reason why, I'm working for you for seven years and I think its time for me to think about myself. I want to focus with my life because I'm not getting younger anymore." She added. Finally have a courage to say that, she really hopes she would allow her.
"By focusing on your life, you mean finding a guy then build a family?" Imee asked. She shallow a lump in her throat, "Yes, ma'am" she answered, politely.
Imee smiled at her and picked up her sign pen, "You made a right decision, akala ko di kana mag aasawa" she joked, signing the paper and hand it back to her assistant.
"Have you already found him? the one?" Imee asked. Julianna can't help but to smile infront of her, she nodded "Yes, ma'am"
Imee stood up to hug her, "Congratulations! I hope you won't make the same mistake as i did" she said as she caressed her back. She maybe strict, b!tchesa, and prangka towards her but she still treats Julianna as her own daughter since she was just two years older than Tamee.
She pulled out, "Thank you po, Ma'am" said Julianna, she took the paper then bowed her head in front of her and walked away. She stopped when she reach the door to look back at Imee who is watching her, "Enjoy life!" Imee shouted. Julianna nodded before she proceeded leaving the room.
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Twenty seven years have passed but never in those years that she never missed to visit the hospital where she lost their baby Tamee, as everyone in the family would call their only princess. Ever since she lost her daughter she start donating a lot to that hospital and when she has free time, she visits here in the hope of finding and bringing back her lost child.
While walking around the hospital, in the distance she noticed a woman crying while arguing with the clerk over her hospital issues.
When she got closer, "Hindi po pwede Ma'am. Dapat po kase at least 30% ng total bill-" Woman in the cashier said, "Please naman! Yan lang meron ako ngayon. Please..." Woman ranted upon hearing the news.
Imee suddenly stopped for a while as she heard the voice of a young woman ranting over the cashier of the hospital.
"Ito lang po yung kinita ko ngayon, ate. Please tanggapin niyo na po. Kailangan ko na makapirma sa liver donation list para po sa tatay ko! Nag-aagaw buhay na siya oh. Parang awa niyo na. Please." She pleaded.
Imee felt deja vu, she was exactly like that when her father was taken to the hospital during the time when the whole world was against their family. She knows how it pained because it already happened to her long time ago, she walked towards them.
"I'll pay for their hospital bill just put her on the priority list for the liver donor recipients." Imee ordered the clerk as she took a Cheque and signed it. "O-Okay po, ma'am." The clerk immediately obliged.
The young lady was surprised with the sudden happening, she exhaled in extreme gratefulness. "Maraming salamat po" she politely thanked Imee, "Babayaran ko nalang po kayo kapag nagkapera na po ako ulit." she added and bowed in front of Imee.
Imee shook her head "Nako, ano ka ba! Alam ko feeling ng ganyan kaya naisipan kong tulong nalang ito sainyo ng ama mo" she said while still not looking at the young lady's face because she was putting her things back in her bag. "Salamat po talaga, Miss?" the young lady asks.
Imee looked at the young lady, she was stared at her for a second and smile before she reached out her hand to her, "Imee. I'm Imee Marcos, and you are?". The young lady accepts the hand shake, "Louisa Jeanne Agustin po, pero "Issa" nalang po for short" she said.
While Imee was shaking hands with the woman, she felt an electricity flowed into her hands. She seemed to have a feeling that she couldn't explain, as if she had known her for a long time. She seems to feel like most people called... Lukso ng Dugo.
Imee offered her for a coffee or tea, at first she was refusing but Imee insisted. They went to the hospital's cafeteria, the two sat and start talking about a lot of stuffs.
Minutes have passed, she found out a lot about Issa, they just met but they are very comfortable with each other. "Issa?" said Imee while sipping her tea, Issa looked at her, "Po?" she asked.
"Narinig ko kanina kase na hindi sapat yung pera na kinita mo. Ask ko lang, ano bang trabaho mo?" Imee asked, "Wala po akong permanenteng trabaho. Pa-raket raket lang po ako, Miss Imee" she said shyly as she tucked her hair behind her ears.
"I need a Personal Assistant, baka gusto mo maging Personal Asistant ko?" Imee said, Issa's eyes widened when she heard what Imee said. "Ako po?" she asked and Imee nodded.
"Hala! Maraming salamat po, hulog po talaga kayo langit. Hayaan nyo po sa susunod babawi po ako sainyo" she said and hugged Imee causing Imee to be surprised at what she did but she just hugged her tightly too. "Ano ka ba! Di na kailangan" Imee said as she caressed her back.
While hugging something fulfilled in Imee's heart, lots of questions and feelings building up inside her. She never felt something like this to anyone, only Issa make her feel this. She was happy especially her heart and she doesn't know why, "Is this you, anak?" She thought. She's hugged Issa more tightly like she doesn't want to let her go and her tears are starting to formed in her eyes.
The young lady felt warmth in Imee's arms, she finally felt a hug of a mother that she's been longing for a long time. She admits that she's enjoying being in Imee's arms and she doesn't want to let her go too but her shyness eat her up again. She pulled out of the hugged, "Sorry po, Ms. Imee" she said.
Imee shook her head, "No need to apologise. I know you needed a hug" she said. Issa looked at her and smiled, showing her not-so-obvious dimple.
Imee took something inside her bag, "uhmm... here's my card it includes my office address, room number and floor" handing her card to Issa.
Her eyes widened as she saw the card "Senate. of. the. Philippines." she said, "Why?" Imee said and looked at her with a confused face. "S-Senate?... S-Senadora po kayo?" she asked, Imee chuckled "Yes, I am".
Issa suddenly felt ashamed because she didn't know that she was talking to a Senator of the Philippines the whole time, she wasn't updated on what happening in the Philippines because she's too busy focusing on her jobs to get her ill father, healed.
Imee noticed that Issa became shy when she found out that she was a senator, "Huy, nahihiya ka nanaman sakin" Imee said. The young lady smiled at her, "Ano ba! hindi naman ako nangangain ng tao" she joked as she tuck her hair behind her ears, making the both of them laugh.
It's her first time seeing Issa laugh, her heart was so happy to see that. She want to spend more time with her but she has a lot to do as a senator.
"I have to go na, marami pa akong gagawin. I'll be expecting you in my office tomorrow" Imee said as she stood up. The girl modded, "Goodbye, Issa! It was lovely meeting you" she added as she hugged Issa.
"Likewise. Goodbye po, Miss Senator!" Issa replied as she caressed Imee's back. They pulled out, "See you tomorrow!" Issa nodded and watched Imee walked away from her.
The night has come and Imee has returned to her place of residence, while staring blankly at the ceiling she still can't forget the meeting she and Issa had at the hospital earlier. she can't help but to smile.
She took the blazer she was wearing earlier, she smelled it and the scent of the young lady can still be smelled on it, "Ano ba yan! para naman akong baliw nito" she chuckled.
She took a glance at the clock and saw it was already late so she decided to turn off the lamp beside her and sleep as she was excited to see that young lady again tomorrow.
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