"We broke up," Risa told her after the Labor Day event. Leni didn't ask why though. She didn't need to know.
They didn't talk about Leni's grand gesture either. Whatever it meant to both of them, whether they had differing interpretations of it, didn't matter. That grand gesture was enough to reassure them both that they're still here. They're still with each other in this fight. And that they'll be okay.
Now and always.
They were back in Iloilo today, solidifying their hold on the province a few days before May 9. With careful movements and calculated stares, Leni watched Lucas and Risa interact. They looked like they ended on good terms. He was in Risa's motorcade and he cheered for her as they paraded along the streets.
Leni was happy that their breakup was devoid of drama. After seeing Risa's panic attack, she feared it would happen again, or maybe worsen, if she and Lucas ended their relationship badly. She also feared she'd lose Risa for good if that happened.
The post-rally dinner was an event in itself. Her campaign team acknowledged Iloilo as one of their biggest bailiwicks, hence, a celebration took place. Leni was seated beside Risa as the program went on and she felt her head spin from tiredness.
"Okay ka lang ba?" Risa asked as she heard Leni wince.
"Ay, yes, okay lang. Pagod lang," Leni smiled kindly.
The senator nodded in reply and handed her a bottle of water. "Here. Masakit ba ulo mo? Hihingi na ba kita ng gamot sa staff mo?"
"Risa," Leni laughed. "Okay lang ako. Malapit naman na matapos 'to. Salamat."
"I'm just worried."
"Alam ko. Thank you."
The pair exchanged a smile and returned their attention to the program. Not long later, the event ended and their staff signaled that their transportation was waiting outside. As Leni stood up, Risa instinctively assisted her. Leni flashed a grateful smile.
Attendees clamored over to Leni wanting to snap a picture with her. She tried to accommodate all of them the best that she could but there were a lot of people and she was too tired. The VPSG surrounded her but they never pushed people away because they were instructed by the Vice President herself to never do such.
Risa gave her a questioning look and she replied with a restrained smile. Taking it upon herself, Risa guarded Leni, serving as the separation between her and anyone who got too close.
"Thank you," Leni whispered.
"You're welcome," Risa replied.
—---------------------
They weren't staying at a hotel tonight. Instead, they were in one of those transient houses because there weren't as many people staying tonight than usual. Half of the campaign team stayed with them, half were already in the location they were expected to be in the next day.
Time was of essence for the pink campaign. Only a few days remained and they had no time to waste.
Leni's tiredness crept up on her earlier during dinner but there she was, wide awake in bed because sleep decided it wouldn't visit her tonight. She got out of bed and walked to the shared living room, her speech for later and a pen in hand. Leni settled on the couch and read through the paper, making revisions every now and then.
"Oh, akala ko pagod ka? Why are you still up?"
She looked up to Risa's whisper and she saw her still in sleeping clothes, hair tousled and attempting to stifle her yawn.
"Hindi ako makatulog eh," Leni replied, tapping the empty space beside her on the couch.
"Dapat nagpapahinga ka. Maaga pa tayo aalis bukas," Risa whispered again and sat down.
"I'll be fine naman. Ikaw, bakit ka gising?"
"Kukuha sana ako tubig pero nakita ko gising ka."
"Risa," Leni called out.
"Oh?"
"Bakit ka bumubulong?"
Risa laughed loudly and realized that there were other people sleeping and they might hear her. "Sorry," she said in between her laughter. "Pangarap ko kasi maging bubuyog."
Leni smacked her arm lightly, laughing along with her. "Pwede naman magsalita dito."
"Baka magising sila eh."
"Magsasalita ka lang naman, hindi ka naman sisigaw."
Risa gazed at the paper in Leni's hands. "Is this your speech for tomorrow?" She asked, voice in regular speaking volume now.
Leni nodded and handed it to her. Risa read through Leni's speech and the older woman laughed at how her eyebrows would raise in amazement, and when she'd whisper "oohh's" every time she'd find a good line.
"Well?" Leni asked.
"Anong well?"
"Ano sa tingin mo?"
"Sa tingin ko, kailangan ko ng kape."
Leni gave her a confused look and she shrugged, standing up to make herself a cup of coffee. "You want one?" Risa asked and Leni agreed.
A little while later, Risa returned to her seat and handed Leni one of the cups. "Okay, my thoughts," the younger woman began. "Maganda 'yung anggulo ng speech mo. It's about what we started — hope, volunteerism, all that. It doesn't exactly talk about us winning in terms of elections, but winning in terms of starting something better for the country or fighting the good fight."
Leni sipped her coffee, listening carefully to Risa. "That said, however," she continued. "Sa tingin ko, kailangan mo munang magpahinga. Mangangampanya na naman mamaya, you should take advantage of your free time now."
"Hindi ako makatulog, tinatamad ako mag-wordscapes. What do you suggest I do?"
"Okay, alam ko na," Risa shifted, propping her legs on the couch, and faced Leni. "Nakwento ko na ba sa'yo 'yung time na naligaw ako backstage sa isang rally?"
"Huh?" Leni copied her, placing her arm on the backrest of the couch and resting her head there as she listened.
"Kasi ang daming nagpapicture sa'kin so I tried to take a picture with all of them, hanggang sa kung saan na ako napadpad as in! I didn't know where I was tapos nahiwalay ako sa staff edi nagkanda-ligaw ligaw na ako."
The older woman laughed, the image of Risa running around backstage like a lost kid forever etched in her mind. "Para kang kiti-kiti ang likot mo!"
"Hey!" Risa pouted. "I was being nice to them kaya. Saka it wasn't my intention to get lost."
"Oo na, what happened then?"
"Sa exit ako nag-enter."
Leni sputtered, realizing that it wasn't the perfect timing for her to take a sip of her coffee. "Risa, ano ka ba naman," she said in between her giggles.
"Ah, may isa pa..." Risa went on, telling Leni the fun instances she had on the campaign. Most of her stories involved her just getting lost everywhere and her staff having a hard time looking for her.
"Oh my god, I remember no'ng na-sprain ka dati!" Leni teased.
"Hoy, nakakahiya," Risa blushed, hiding her face in her arms.
"Ano sabi mo no'n? Nobody, nobody but Mar ka pa dyan."
"Leniii," she whined.
"Kaunting araw na lang natitira sa campaign, 'wag ka sanang ma-sprain ulit ha?"
The two women laughed and continued exchanging anecdotes about their lives. Some of them were reminisced memories of their experiences either together or apart, others were about their lives during the years they were apart. They didn't know how much time passed, how deep in the night it already was, but they were happy.
In fact, it was the most they've ever been happy since all this started. Nothing big happened, no abrupt kisses or heartbreaking hugs, no talk of their relationship or what they should do about their issues, no sadness or grief, no anger or confusion.
It was just them.
In that small moment, it was just them, telling each other their life stories, making each other laugh, listening and talking, uncaring of the time nor the place they were in.
At some point that evening, their laughter died down, cups became empty, and comfortable silence enveloped them. It was quiet, serene, and peaceful.
It was everything they ever wanted.
Of course it still was not exactly everything. But for now, it was more than what they could ask for.
Maybe it was already morning, maybe it was still evening, they didn't know. But sometime between the sun rising and the moon setting, in between serene mornings and peaceful evenings, a sliver of hope appeared.
Was it hope for the campaign? Or was it hope for the two of them?
It didn't matter. They were here — in this small, simple moment, and nothing else mattered.