The Billion-Dollar Proposal (COMPLETED)

XIV: Unfinished Business

A/N: Chapters 14 & 15 will be the last chaps for the vice-presidency era ni Malens. 16 onwards will be fast-forwarded to the campaign proper days before post-election. Giving you a heads up as early as now para wit kayo mabigla. Malungkot ang lahat for today's video at aware akong nababadtrip na kayo sa'kin pero patience is a virtue mga bading emz shahshahaha. 1.6k with only 14 chaps published is quite INSANE like omg waha thank you thank you po! Pardon me for the grammatical errors and misspelled words.

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Everything felt...strange.

She suppressed the fact that she had remarried shortly after the death of her first husband for the better part of three decades. She had been deceiving the people in her immediate environment for the previous ten years, leading them to believe that she was living alone in a condominium close to the OVP. She had been jumping around in different cars in an attempt to escape being spotted by the paparazzi and other showbiz blind item outlets. She had been filtering text messages and emails and as much as possible, less coincidental meets with him. She had been lying to the general public about herself throughout interviews, keeping shameful yet significant information from them.

Mas naging mabigat ang naging kalooban niya kumpara nung kasal pa lang silang dalawa ni Bongbong. It's true that they argue constantly and at every opportunity they have within the four walls of their own home, but she had no idea how calm her life could be when he was there until he was taken away from her completely. Even before the 'physical' Louise came into the picture. Did she start developing feelings for him, or is it merely the fact that she has to "let go of the things she became used to" that is making it difficult for her to even consider the possibility of moving on? Well, hindi niya rin alam, but there's only one thing she's certain about.

She's legally free, yet she wasn't feeling happy nor satisfied. Not even in the slightest.

She was just given a courtesy call by President Duterte very early in the morning, and as a result, she is currently being driven by the PSGs exclusively in the presidential vehicle. It was only the night before that she returned home from Los Angeles and made the decision to sleep and rest in her condo unit. She was relieved that she had not brought everything to their primary residence and had instead chosen to leave some formal outfits in her closet, this allowed her to continue to prepare for the formal meeting.

Her daydreaming and thought forming were disturbed when her phone rang. It was her sister.

"Ay, sa wakas sumagot ka na!" she immediately squealed on the other line.

"Sorry, Des. Nalowbat ako, kauuwi ko lang kagabi e. May jetlag pa," Leni confessed.

"Ganun ba...kaya pala," Lourdes replied. "Tignan mo missed calls mo, nakailang tawag ako sa'yo."

"May kailangan ka ba?" tanong na lang nito sa kapatid.

"Mangangamusta lang ho sana..." Leni instantly knew what it's gonna be about. "Hindi ka ba nahirapan?"

"Bakit naman ako mahihirapan, hindi ko siya minahal at mas lalong hindi naman ako minahal nun," Leni nicked some fun fact over the somersault she's feeling right now.

Lourdes's lips twitched over her sister's mantra, "Sus, nagsinungaling pa nga. Kahit naman hindi kayo nagmahalan nun, 30 years mo ring kinilala ang sarili mo bilang Mrs. Marcos. Hindi ka man sa feelings mag-momove on, sa adjustment period ka naman papahirapan."

When rational arguments like these are presented, Leni is always left with the impression that it was worthwhile saving Lourdes back then. Her sister was always worthy of the price she paid. The three siblings continue to hold hands and lean towards one another for support despite the fact that their parents have both passed away. The Vice's people were the only ones who were ever privy to her joys and sufferings. Her own biological family.