Emancipating The Love (On-going)

Chapter 1

Commenced Changes

Mornings are opportunities disguised in alarm clock sharply ringing, and aroma of good coffee brewing, the smell strong enough to awaken the system; worn professionalism and first day of city office.

The sun seemed to shine brighter as it bled through the sheer curtains, allowing the soft-yellow light to scatter through the room just enough to tell the arrival of another day.

A yawn escaped Lea's mouth, heavy and full, like a complaint she couldn't resist but allow her body to express. There was already a pressing weight that lingered somewhere in her, as if tiredness was already creeping before anything has officially started yet.

Despite the night of sleep, she didn't totally feel rested. It was though her body already knew the exhaustion that will not give her any privacy nor room to breathe, staying with her even in her room, and her bed.

She hasn't done anything yet, but the anticipated exhaustion is already hitting her so hard, it makes her want to curl under the comforter and hide from it.

Yet she knew, she couldn't. So she groaned, and after a moment of idleness, she finally pulled herself up, like a responsible adult should be. Especially, like an accountable person like her should be.

She has an oath to fulfill, a whole municipality to manage, issues to clear and solve, a life to keep together. She couldn't rot in bed. Not when the dream she only used to envision herself to live, is a reality she's now facing.

Lea padded to the comfort room, the shower doing her a favor by steaming up her system to a more awakened sensation. Suddenly, everything made sense, and now, she's looking forward to her first official day as the mayoress of Muntinlupa.

She knew what she signed up for the moment she took her course, and she will stand on her decision because it's hers. Just hers. Bravely hers.

A familiar set of brown orbs stared back at her. One that tells a story she already knows. Her own life story.

Dressed in black suit, hair sleeked in a high ponytail, standing tall in 3-inch stilettos and conditioned mind and body, Lea glanced at her reflection in the mirror, holding a poise of someone who has been waiting for that moment.

She met her own eyes once again and a bloom of pride surged somewhere in her. The feeling sent electricity to her body, reaching her face, stretching a small smile that brightened her poker face.

Lea smoothed her clothes once again as if it wasn't ironed enough. She adjusted her posture, straightening her back ever so slightly. A habit she does when something in her stomach just won't fully settle. A motion that aims to deceive her mind into thinking she's all okay, because she's composed. Well, she appears as if she is.

She smiled wider, inhaling an embrace to steady the quiver in her. She's set. Perfectly groomed, seemingly collected.

Okay. Now, she's prepared to be the new Mayor of their city.

Or that's what she thought.

At 8:30 in the morning, with no breakfast, a silent and organized office yet a scattered mind, chaotic from all the work that greeted her a welcome, Lea's head started pounding when more and more papers came as if it was piling in mockery, telling her she wasn't doing enough, that her productivity isn't sufficient.

She kept on going, disregarding the growl of her stomach, and the plea of her falling eyes to take break. She felt the strain making her bead ache worse, yet she was determined to take off a chunk from her workload.

Deeply focused with proofreading one proposal, Lea finally took her sight off from the compressed letters when knocks came softly from the wooden door of her office. Fleeting, but quick, giving her a breath she needed.