"VP, alis na po tayo."
I nodded and thanked my staff, climbing inside the van. We were in Zamboanga today and as usual, sobrang aga ng simula ng mga araw namin. Slowly but surely, I can feel the momentum creeping up on our side. Pero I know na we still have a long way to go.
My phone beeped and I saw a notification which instantly made my day brighter. "Good morning, Leni! So excited to see you later sa rally. Ingat :)"
It was from Risa. Wala siya sa mga rally the previous days and I had to admit, nakakamiss rin ang presence niya. Marami man akong nakakausap before and after the programs, but I still find Risa and I's conversations different. Perhaps because I already formed a strong bond with her.
"Good morning rin, Risa :) Take care also and see you!" I replied, a smile formed on my face.
Normal naman 'to diba? Na nakangiti ako kasi one of my closest friends texted me saying na excited siyang makita ako? Excited lang rin siguro akong makita siya.
"We're here na po, VP."
I inhaled, breathing courage in and stress out, then I stepped out of the van and waved to the crowd.
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After another grand entrance, I bumped the fist of my senatoriables na nasa stage. Pagkarating ko kay Risa, she bumped my fist excitedly.
"Hi, namiss kitaaaa." She greeted.
"Namiss rin kita, kwentuhan mo ako mamaya!" I replied eagerly.
Naupo na ako and listened to the rest of the program in front of me but I couldn't get Risa's voice saying that she missed me out of my head.
Normal lang rin naman sa friends to miss each other diba?
Before I knew it, it was my turn to say my speech.
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Nasa function hall na kami ngayon at katatapos lang mag-dinner. Ang daming kumakausap sa akin kaya I still haven't had the chance to talk to Risa. Lumapit ako sa table nila and asked them how they were doing.
"Oks lang po, VP. Tara sali ka, inom tayo San Mig Light hehe," pag-aaya ni Teddy.
"Lahat kayo iinom?" I asked, glancing at Risa. She gave me a thumbs up, grinning.
"Opo, Madame. Kaya sali ka na para happy lahat," sagot ng representative ni Sen. Leila.
Nilapitan ako ni Risa para abutan ng isang bote. "G na 'to si VP Leni. Bawal siya humindi kapag ako na nag-abot."
Desisyon 'tong babaeng 'to ha. Everyone around us laughed and cheered. "Sige na nga pero konti lang dahil maaga pa tayo bukas."
We drank and shared stories. Ang sasaya kasama nitong mga 'to kasi ang kukulit at ang daldal. "Selfie dapat tayo kasi minsan lang makainuman ang second highest official in the land," said Teddy.
Inabot niya kay Risa 'yung phone kasi nag-offer siya na siya na lang hahawak. Pwede na siya maging selfie stick. Ang haba pala ng braso niya. At talagang hawak niya pa 'yung San Mig niya sa picture. Tinago ko 'yung iniinom ko syempre mahirap na baka gawing big deal pa ng iba.
Hindi lang ayun ang ininom namin. Nag-shot kami ng Alfonso pero umisa lang ako. Si Risa? Ayun, hindi ko na alam ilan ba nainom nito pero lasing na siya. Her whole face was red at sobrang giggly niya na kahit maliit na bagay tinatawanan niya.
Ang cute naman.
She went over and sat down beside me tapos tumatawa siya. Nakakatawa ba 'yung mukha ko? Wala nga akong ginagawa eh.
