Ace of Clubs

Settling In

"Sa'n ka na? Kinakabahan ako."

Risa smiled as she read the text. It was Leni's inauguration as VP and she couldn't be any prouder. She wouldn't miss this event for the world. Everyone was waiting for Leni to arrive, curious at how she would be feeling. From being a lawyer to a congresswoman, and now the Vice President of the Philippines.

And Risa's here with a backstage pass at how Leni was truly feeling.

"I'm here na sa venue. May grand entrance ka ba?"

"'Yung pagbaba ba sa white na van considered as grand entrance na?"

"Depende kung pa'no ka bababa. Ayusin mo baka magmukha kang kidnapper ha." She grinned, imagining Leni's reaction. She'd probably be frowning at first but laughing afterwards.

"Grabe sa kidnapper."

"I'm just reminding you, wifey. Pero don't be nervous. You're exactly where you're supposed to be. You got this."

"Thank you, Ris. You're the best. Malapit na kami. See you later!"

In the days between their dinner after the elections and Leni's inauguration today, they didn't go over the divorce again. Since they still had a lot of things left to do and finalize, including work to begin, they didn't have the time. So the pair agreed to start working on it after their proclamation and inauguration. Once everything settles, they agreed.

After this, they'll officially be working together to end their marriage. How ironic is that? Most would be working to fix their marriage, or to keep it going. But here they were, 2 months after getting married, planning how to end the mess that one drunken night created.

Hay nako, Ace of Clubs. Dapat illegal kang inumin. Risa thought.

Leni finally arrived, wearing the most elegant of dresses. She looked simple, sophisticated, and glowing. She delivered her speech, a little teary eyed as she mentioned how unbelievable it was that she's here, in front of a crowd, as the second highest executive in the land.

Just like what Risa stated in her text earlier, Leni looked exactly where she was supposed to be.

Risa cheered the same way that she always would for Leni. Arms raised above her head, the smile on her face as wide as ever, and her hands clapping enthusiastically. When Leni got down from the stage after the program, Risa was one of the firsts to welcome her. They leaned in for a quick beso but her lips ended up on the corner of Leni's mouth.

Woops, she thought. Muntik na. She received a side eye glance which looked a lot like a teasing (or a warning) one from the newly-inaugurated vice president.

"Sorry, 'di sadya." She whispered half-heartedly.

"Chansing." Leni replied, smiling as Risa finally snapped a selfie of the two of them together.

"We'll talk later ha?" They exchanged another kiss on the cheek before parting ways because Leni had to accommodate a lot more people for pictures.

There was a victory party after the event and as usual, Risa found herself seated beside Leni. "Ikaw ha, pasimple ka pa kanina." Leni nudged her.

"Oh, 'di ko naman sadya eh."

"Pwede namang sabihin na lang na gusto ng kiss. Hindi ko naman 'yun ipagkakait sa misis ko."

"Okay noted, mamaya pahingi."

The pair laughed at their antics. At this point, making light of their situation became their coping mechanism. It wouldn't do them well to be rattled by their poorly-made decisions. We're friends, Risa thought. We've got nothing to worry about.