An unexpected change of dynamics in the Senate has turned things upside down for four of its republics. Will power prevail over principles? Who will win between love and ambition?
What does all these mean for the relationships they built over the pa...
Migz's handling of the Leni-Loren feud (or lack of it) proved to be a kiss of death to his days as Senate President. Discontent brewed on his ability to lead the chamber the following days after Loren's resignation, leading to uncertainty over its survival.
Amid the discord, however, a window of opportunity opened for the Senate's growing minority bloc. Soft allies and swing members of the chamber have expressed the desire to join the bloc, until eventually, they got the numbers to confidently unseat Migz from his position.
That fateful morning, the new Senate majority organized themselves in a caucus. The plan? Install a new set of leaders that can serve as a stronger fiscalizer in the twilight years of the current administration.
After days of discussions and drafting the new set of committee chairs, the new majority has elected Kiko Pangilinan to the Senate Presidency.
"Kiko's quiet strength and convictions, I believe, are his biggest asset in leading this august chamber towards its new role as a check and balance in a space where our democratic spaces get smaller and smaller.", Leni said in her nomination speech.
Pia, on the other hand, took Loren's old post as Senate President Pro Tempore by virtue of being the most senior senator within the new bloc, while Risa took the mantles of the Majority Floor Leader post.
In another set of circumstances, this would've been a cause for celebration, but as Pia sat atop the rostrum to fill in for Kiko as he delivers a privilege speech, a bittersweet feeling evoked from her seeing a vacant seat where Loren could've been.
"Regina, my girl, I hope Risa and I make you proud. We're just picking up from where you left off."
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A/N: I would like to thank everyone who made it this far in my first book after a long hiatus. So much has changed since my last book as TitasOfManila, and I'm happy to be able to keep writing again after so long.
This was originally supposed to be an equal showcase of both Leni/Risa and Pia/Loren as pairs, but around the fourth chapter, the direction I wanted to take changed, hence the events that unfolded.
As TFTL's story ends, another one begins.
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WATCHING SUNRISES:
In the first of a series of spin-offs to Talk First, Think Later, Pia and Loren, whose relationship status still remains in limbo, find themselves on two different paths after the Great Senate Feud of 2025.
On one path, there's Pia, thrust into the gargantuan task of being part of the new Senate leadership in one of the most polarizing administrations. On the other, there's Loren, who just ended her 27-year Senate career and jettisoned to London on short notice after her so-called "allies" dropped the ball on her in the hopes of fixing herself and her family out of the public eye.
How long can Pia hold on to every hope before the dam breaks? Will Loren keep her promises, or will she bail once more?
