Split Decision

Hocus Pocus

At precisely 8 am, Risa arrived in her office and briefed her staff on the various things on the agenda for that day before heading back to her working office to start on some deep work.

With the 2028 elections well underway, a few extra activities come up on top of her legislative duties. There are mobile clinics to set up in the provinces, partnerships with LGUs to cultivate, and some media engagements to put her name out to make her stand out from the moneyed competition.

Risa's sights have always been in the long game. She always dreamed of an ideal world where everyone had an equitable share of the proverbial pie, whether it be in health, in the justice system, or even loving who they love and being their best selves

Being underestimated and told that she can't do things were things she's used to. After all, she wasn't born yesterday, and she's been playing the game for so long that she's heard all variations of naysayers.

Risa browsed through the legislative calendar for next week and reviewed the bills and resolutions in various stages of the legislative process. With the control of the legislative calendar and the Senate Rules in her hands, she could now shape the future of the Senate as an institution and eventually the society at large with a few key decisions.

Think, Risa, think. Ano dito gusto mo nang maipasa na laging nasasagasaan sa Second Reading? Most importantly, which of these will look good on pubmats in your eventual 2028 campaign?

It constantly pissed Leni off when Risa mentioned the importance of having a long-term strategy when planning one's political moves, especially when embarking on a national campaign. More than strategy, however, one needs to play chess at the same time the opponent does.

Long story short, one must take their gloves off and fling just enough mud at the competition to make a mark. That was exactly how the opposition got seven seats during the midterms, right?

Yes, one needs to stay true to their principles, especially in an arena where money and convenience reign supreme, but to be able to do things, one would need power. Lots and lots of it.

And in politics, a powerful perception is the greatest show of force.

Perhaps this was why she and Loren got along so well in this regard. Apart from their shared advocacies and ideals, they both knew the power of the image, thanks to their media background.

Do big things, surround yourself with big people, and you look big and squeaky clean no matter what the rust and guts are underneath. On the flip side, you can offer the greatest thing known to humanity, but if humanity thinks you stink, what's the damn use?

How she could get Leni to understand that, she still doesn't know. Alam mo naman mga double Taurus...kung ano ang nakasanayan, doon siya.

Risa finalized the legislative calendar for the week to her liking after half an hour and reread it. She didn't put all her pet bills up top to not raise any suspicion, but she did sprinkle a couple of them each day to make it look like things were in motion and moved a few she didn't support further down. "Perfect."

Before she could get up, someone started knocking at the door. "Come in."

Risa begged in her head. I hope it's not Leni. I hope it's not Leni. Not now, please...

The door was then unlocked, and Risa sighed in relief when Pia emerged with two cups of coffee on hand. "Busy ka ba, Ris?"

"Was just about to wrap up, pero sige," Risa said, her eyes remaining glued to her paperwork. "Pa-lagay na lang ng kape sa desk ko. Salamat!"

Pia set down the two paper cups and sat on the chair in front of her. "So, Ris, anong updates sa legislative calendar?"

Risa faced Pia and removed her glasses. "Well, I shuffled a few bills around tapos minove ko ung debates for Anti-Hospital Detention, the CDC Bill..."

To her surprise, the Lady from Taguig stared at the Lady from Capiz with a confused expression and yanked the legislative calendar away from her. "Teka, akin na muna 'yan."

"Hey, that's mine," Risa glared. "Bakit mo kinuha?"

Pia wore her eyeglasses and scanned through the document. "Ris, this calendar is very different from what we agreed on in the Rules Committee hearing. Diba hindi pwede basta-basta baguhin ang calendar unless nag-agree tayo sa committee?"

Risa rolled her eyes. "Wala man lang appreciation na inuna ko ung ibang pet bills mo, Peej?"

"I appreciate the sentiment, but this is not the way to go at this," Pia said, attempting to phrase things as calmly as possible. "Kung ganito lang gagawin mo, bakit pa tayo may Senate Rules?"

The Lady from Capiz threw her hands. "Great, now you're sounding like Leni too. My God, dalawa na kayong panira sa diskarte ko."

Pia let out an affronted gasp and bolted up. "Risa, do you even hear what you're saying? Eh kung sa bills mo yan gawin, ano gagawin mo? Magpapaka-spoiled brat ka?"

Risa also stood up, yanked the calendar away from the Lady from Taguig, and shot her a furious glare. "Give me that! And stop calling me a spoiled brat, Pia!"

"But that's what you're being right now," Pia yelled. "Ris, I've been in the Senate for four terms, and this is the first time I've seen someone try to pull this stunt. Dapat tayong nasa leadership ang unang susunod sa Rules eh, especially you as the Majority Leader!"

The Lady from Capiz is almost at boiling point. There were many things she wanted to say, but instead of spelling out what she thought, Risa decided to give Pia an out and pointed at the door. "Get out."

"Ris, pagusapan natin ito..." Pia begged. "Please, magtawag tayo ng isa pang hearing sa Rules."

Risa's voice turned cold and calculating. "Get. Out."

"But..."

"NOW!"

The Lady from Taguig shook her head and made a heel-face turn towards the door before slamming it shut. Risa sank back down and scowled. Of all the people she expected to support her, sila pa ang humaharang? What gives?

She then rolled her eyes before getting back to work before she was due to attend another Senate hearing later in the day.