Note: Please be reminded that all of the things that you're going to read here are just parts of my malikot na imagination. If you are uncomfortable with this type of story, please don't read.
Everything that you may read here, MUST STAY HERE. Thank you.
Layag mga kabacclaan!
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TWO WEEKS AGO
"Ready kana to work again, love?" Leni asked Risa while hugging her on bed.
"Para sa bayan, yes." Risa answered with actions. She put her right hand on her chest.
Leni giggled.
"Pwede isang araw pa? Tapos dito lang tayo nakahilata buong araw. Please. Look oh. Sarap-sarap na nakayakap lang sa'yo."
"Himala atang inaayawan mo ang trabaho? Kung pwede lang 'ga, gusto ko rin yon. Pero kelangan na natin bumangon. Bilis na."
"10 minutes, please. H'wag ka munang magalaw." then Leni hugged Risa tightly.
Risa brushed Leni's hair by her fingers.
Since nagkabati sila, Leni became more clingy and affectionate, which Risa really loves.
"'Ga?"
"Hmmm?"
"What if something will come na you need to choose between your integrity as the vice president and me, what will you choose?"
Leni was startled by Risa's question to cause her to sit on the bed.
"Ba't naman ganyan mga tanungan mo, love?"
"Wala lang. Bigla lang din sumulpot sa isip ko. I mean, it's not impossible to happen, right?"
"Well, konting panahon nalang naman, bababa na ako sa pwesto. And matagal na rin naman akong inuulan ng batikos and fake news, so why should I worry about my integrity now?"
Risa just waited for Leni to continue.
"Pinasok ko 'tong alam ko yong mga possibilities. At the end of the day, I am just Maria Leonor. Not a vice president, not a lawyer, not an economist. Just me. And asides sa mga bata, I only have you, Risa. My position is temporary. But you? I want you for the rest of my life."
Risa remained silent. Leni held Risa's hand and intertwined her fingers with Risa's.
"Therefore, I will choose you. I will always choose you, Risa."
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"Mada'am, nagsalita na po si VP Leni."
Risa's body was shaking. She was not sure if it was because she was not yet eating for lunch or because she was nervous to hear Leni's statements.
Her staff then showed her the video.
"Magandang hapon po sainyong lahat. Alam kong marami nanaman ang nagulat sa kumakalat na balita ngayong araw. Sa totoo ay, kaming nandito sa OVP ay hindi na nagulat sapagkat araw-araw naman kaming inuulan ng batikos at mga paninira. Ang totoo po ay totoong nagpaBaguio kami ni Senator Risa noong holiday season at kami nga yung sa hotel at bulaluhan....."
Risa inhaled deeply.
"Leni." she said while biting the tip of her forefinger.
"Pero yung iba, hindi kami yon...."
Risa's tears immediately fell after hearing what Leni said.
"Diyos ko naman. Hindi ba umubra yung mga lalakeng na-link saakin noon at ngayon sa babae naman? Please lang, h'wag n'yo naman sana sirain ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Senator Risa. Matalik lang kaming magkaibigan. Sinabi ko noong wala akong boyfriend at wala akong kabalak-balak magboyfriend pero hindi ibig sabihing girlfriend ang meron ako." then Leni huffed and smirked.
Risa wiped her tears.
"Mukhang hindi ata kayo napapagod mambato ng mga fake news. H'wag kayong mag-alala, hindi rin kami mapapagod sagutin kayo. Sa muli, magandang hapon. Mabuhay kayong lahat."
Risa gave back the phone to her staff.
"Thank you."
"Kain kana po mada'am. May binili pa rin po kami kahit hindi ka po nagsabi." then her staff gave her a paper bag.
"Kainin nyo po yan ha? Tawagin nyo nalang po kami kapag may kailangan ka po."
Risa just nodded but she knew she won't be able to eat them.
Loren and Grace arrived and immediately went to her desk.
"Napanood na namin. Okay ka lang?" Grace.
"Oo naman. Hindi ko naman inexpect talaga na aamin s'ya. Pero, grabe. Masakit pa rin pala itanggi." Risa said while tears were trying to escape from her eyes again.
"What you are feeling is valid, Ris. But of course, Leni has reasons for it. Pag-usapan n'yo nalang pakauwi n'yong dalawa. And next time, if wala naman talaga sa plano n'yong mag-out, mag-ingat nalang kayo. I think masyado kasi kayong nakampante. Knowing na puntirya lagi si Leni ng mga damuho." Loren.
Risa again just nodded. Her mind was not coordinating with her anymore.
"I just wanna go home. Pwede na ba?"
"Sige na. Kami na bahala sa'yo. Kaya mo ba? May mga media pa rin sa labas, e." Grace.
"Ano pang sense para iwasan sila. Nagsalita na si Leni."
Loren and Grace remained silent. Both of them knew Risa was in pain but they also know only Leni could take away the pain she caused.
"Una na ako, ha."
"Sige. Update mo kami kung nakauwi kana."
Then Risa went out the hall with some of her staff.
They were already in the lobby and they could already see the media.
"Sabihan ko lang po ang security, mada'am." one of Risa's staff.
"No need. Let them." and she continued walking.
The media then again panicked seeing Risa approaching. The security still controlled them not to get near nor touch Risa.
Risa stood up and rose one of her eyebrows. The media immediately asked same questions but Risa finished every thing in one go.
"VP Leni has spoken, right? Matalik lang kaming magkaibigan. Now, please? Mas marami pang mabibigat na problema meron tayo at mas dapat tuunan ng pansin. Open your eyes sa mga mas dapat niyong makita. Hindi sa relasyong hindi naman talaga nag-eexist."
Her staff looked at each other after what Risa said. Then Risa continued to walk and left the media.
"Done for today ladies. Thank you. Ingat kayo pauwi." her good bye to her staff then she got in her car.
While driving, she thought where to go, at Leni's or at hers? She ended up in a convenience store and bought cans of San Miguel Beer. She then drank immediately in the parking lot. She didn't noticed that she already finished three cans.
"Bat parang wala atang lasa 'to ngayon?" she asked herself.
After some time, she decided to just go in her house.
She immediately took a shower and prepared some food for her pulutan since she still has couple of cans of beers. She started to drink again while watching some movies. Later on, her phone rang. It was Leni.
"Ngayon, tatawag ka? Bahala ka dyan."
It kept ringing so she decided to turn it off and continued drinking.
She already finished two cans when someone knocked on her door.
"Leni?!" she exclaimed.
"Ma? Andyan po ba kayo? Ianna po."
"Oh."
She got up and opened the door.
Ianna hugged her immediately.
"Bakit hindi po kayo sumasagot sa calls and texts namin? Si ate Issa gusto nang umuwi from Siargao. Si Sinta hindi raw po makafocus sa exams nya. Si Kiko naman hindi daw po sya mapakali. So here's me. Nag-undertime ako kasi sabi ni manang umuwi raw po kayo."
"Ay ano ba yan. Parang hindi nyo naman kilala si mama. There's nothing to worry about me."
"Ma, can you stop pretending? Kahit ngayon lang. Nakapag-usap na po ba kayo ni mama Leni?"
Risa sat on her bed.
"Hindi. Ni hindi nya nga sinagot mga tawag ko before sya nagbigay ng napakaganda nyang speech. I feel disregarded. Tapos ngayon tatawag-tawag sya."
"You still need to talk, ma. For sure, mama Leni has her reasons. I know, nasasaktan ka ngayon mama, and it's valid. But that's the real struggle of being us. Of being mga bakla. Sabi nga ni Angelica Panganiban sa isa nyang movie, "Hindi nyo ako maiintidihan dahil hindi naman kayo mga bakla." and that's true, ma. No one will understand us kundi tayo-tayo lang rin naman. I know mama Leni will reach out to you soon. Try to listen. Okay? Then after, let out all your emotions as well. I know mama Leni will listen to you, too."
"Is this still worth it, anak?"
"Of course, ma. Hindi naman importante ang ibang tao diba? As long as you love each other. And hello? Andito kami always to support both of you, ma. You don't need other people's validation. And ma, I'm telling you, mas masarap at masaya kapag lowkey lang. Mas maraming nakakaalam, mas magulo. Basta ma, usap kayo ha?"
"Salamat, nak ha. Oo, pero di muna siguro ngayon. Lalo na't nakainom na ako. Pasabihan nalang din mga kapatid mo na kapag nagtanong sakanila si Leni, wag nalang sagutin."
"Uhmmm..." Ianna scratched her nape.
"Bakit anak?"
"On the way po kasi ako dito sinabi ko na pong andito ka sa bahay."
"Ianna!"
"Sorry na, ma. Diko naman alam na ayaw mong kausapin, e."
"Well, baka hindi naman yon pumunta. Iidlip na din muna ako. Medyo nahihilo na din kasi ako."
"Alright, ma. I'll give you time na po for yourself. Nasa kwarto lang po ako if you need anything.."
Then Ianna left. After some time, Risa fell asleep because of tiredness and alcohol.
She felt like she only slept for five minutes or so when someone slowly shook her shoulder.
"Ianna, anak. Kakatulog ko lang."
"Love.... "
Risa's eyes automatically opened and she felt the effect of the alcohol disappeared when she heard Leni's voice.
Risa didn't move nor talk.
Leni laid on bed and hugged Risa.
"Love. Sorry. Alam ko galit ka."
Then tears started to fall from Risa's eyes.
"Love, kausapin mo naman ako. Gising kana diba?"
Risa remained silent.
"Please? Love. Uy. Kapag di kapa humarap di mo na ako lab."
Ah, talaga ba Leni? Risa said in her mind.
"Aray. So hindi mo na ako mahal?"
Risa faced Leni.
"Talaga ba, Leni? May panahon kapa sa mga paganyan-ganyan mo? Love? Usap? Wow. Nakakahiya naman sa'yo, ha!"
"Sorry. I know I disappointed you."
"You really do. You know what, masakit itanggi pero alam mo yung mas masakit? The mere fact na hindi mo man lang ako kinausap bago ka nagsalita! Ang bastos lang!"
"Sorry. Ang gulo kasi kanina sa OVP. Gusto nila agad-agad ako magsalita about sa issue. They didn't give me time to contact anyone."
"Wala ka bang sariling isip? Leni naman. Dalawa tayo dito, diba? Kaya nga sinabing "tayo" kasi hindi mo solo yung relasyon! Ang sakit lang din. Dalawang linggo palang simula nung sinabi mong ako lagi ang pipiliin mo. Leni eto na yun. Nangyare na. Pero ano 'to?"
"Risa, I chose you."
"What is this nonsense, Leni? Pinili mo ako? Ts. Paanong ako ang pinili mo?"
"Listen. I chose you, Risa. I know gusto mo pang tumakbo next election and this kind of issue will not be good to you, sa plan mo."
"What the fuck, Leni! Hindi ikaw ang magdedesisyon para sa'kin. Alam mo namang kahit noon pa hindi ko namang pinagpilitan sa'yong maglalantad tayo diba? Kasi okay na ako sa kahit hindi. Pero ngayong parang kasalanan ko pa? Leni, putang-ina naman!"
"Risa, please understand."
"Understand? Lagi nalang akong umiintindi sa'yo, Leni! Hanggang kelan ako mag-iintindi? Ha? Hanggang kelan? Hanggang kelan ako maghihintay na hihingin mo naman ang opinyon ko sa mga bagay? Hanggang kelan ako maghihintay na desisyon nating dalawa ang iiral? Pucha naman Leni! Simula noon ikaw nalang lagi nagdedesisyon e! Anong silbi ko sa relasyon na 'to? Tagaintindi nalang, ganon? Hanggang doon nalang?"
"Risa..."
"Kung ganito lang naman, tapusin nalang natin 'to. Napapagod na ako, Leni."
Leni was stoned hearing what Risa said.
Leni held Risa's hand.
"Risa. Lasing ka. Please. Wag ka namang padalos-dalos."
"At ako nananaman ang padalos-dalos? E di ikaw na ang perfect, Leni."
"Risa. Please. Calm down. Pag-usapan natin 'to ng maayos."
"Tapos na akong umintindi, Leni. Tama na."
"Risa, no. I can't lose you."
"The moment you decided to disregard my side, you already lost me, Leni."
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OOOPS. Takbo AveMaria. Andyan na sila.
See you around(???) hehe 🌈💗💜