Jorge and Leonie were about to leave the grave of the two at the Libingan ng mga Bayani when she saw a very familiar person whom she had lost connection with 20 years ago.
"Jorge." a very familiar voice called her while she was walking towards her
"Sister Rose?" Jorge responded
"Rose nalang. Ako nga." Rose answered
"Congratulations sa pagkapanalo mo sa election and sa book signing mo na kakatapos lang at sa lahat ng milestones sa buhay mo na hindi ko nasaksihan." Rose congratulated her
"Thank you po. It's been what? 20 years since we lost our communication? I kept finding you on social media pero hindi kita makita. I would have wanted to celebrate those milestones with you." Jorge told her
"I know and I'm sorry kung bigla akong nawala." Rose apologized
"No, it's alright. Nagtaka lang po ako why you stopped communicating with me. Nag-overthink ako na baka may nagawa akong mali kaya ganun and I processed it on my own. I realized na maybe the reason why we lost connection is because I came out as bisexual and you were so disappointed in me kaya ganun." Jorge told her
"No, Jorge. Kabaligtaran pa nga. I am so proud of you. I am so proud that you came out kahit alam mo ang magiging consequence ng decision mo and I am ever so proud because you did not stop to fight for the rights of the LGBT community. You won, the community won when the SOGIESC Equality Bill was passed into law." Rose told her
"Thank you." Jorge said and paused
She looked at Rose and asked
"Akala ko nasa Ecuador ka?"
"Umuwi ako." Rose said and paused for a while
"Umuwi ako dahil —" she paused again when she noticed Leonie hiding behind Jorge
"Sino siya?" she asked her
"Oo nga pala. This is Leonie Therese, my daughter." Jorge said and introduced Leonie to Rose
"Leonie, anak. Say hi to Tita Rose." Jorge said introducing Rose to Leonie
"Hi Tita Rose." Leonie greeted her
"Hello, Leonie." Rose greeted her back
"May anak ka na pala. So you're married now? and it's private?" Rose asked her
"No. I am a single mom. I'm not married." Jorge responded
"Sorry, hindi ko gets. Anak mo sa pagka-dalaga si Leonie?" Rose asked again
"No. I surrogated her. Biologically speaking, she is my half sister." Jorge said
"If you want to hear the story, sumama ka nalang sa'kin. We will have a family dinner, I'll introduce you to them. Magkukuwento ako habang nasa daan." Jorge said and they went up the car
"Mama and Mama Risa were married April 5, 2025." Jorge started to tell the story
FLASHBACK
In 2027, the aspiring candidates for the 2028 elections filed their certificate of candidacies. Risa was being persuaded by her party to run for President especially now that she is the First Lady but Risa respectfully decline the offer because she already decided that she would retire and spend the rest of her life by the side of the woman that she loves, Leni.
27 years after Risa and Leni wed, Jorge decided to talk to them about surrogating a child for them for the third time.
"We have tried many times, anak but it failed. Maybe we weren't meant to have a child of our own." Leni told her youngest daughter who was already a spinster
"Jorge, anak. You have done so much for us. You have sacrificed yourself to surrogate for us but you already had 2 miscarriages." Risa told her
"Mama, remember when you said that three times' a charm? Let's try it for the last time and if it will not work, then we will stop." Jorge told them
"In a few years, I'll stop menstruating and baka hindi na'ko fit to bear a child for you. You have one more frozen embryo left di po ba?" Jorge tried to convince them
For the last 15 years, Jorge has had 2 miscarriages while carrying Risa and Leni's child.
"If it will not work again this time, you will not do it again. We do not want to put your health at risk." Leni told her
Jorge agreed and she went through in-vitro fertilization again and after 9 months, she successfully delivered a healthy baby girl on February 24, 2050.
Leni and Risa were at Jorge's bedside when the baby was born and they both held their little girl in their arms.
"I finally saw our little girl, I am ready to leave the world." Leni whispered to Risa
"If that will happen, I will come with you because I promised to be with you until death do us part." Risa said
"Ano po ang ipapangalan niyo sa bata?" the nurse asked
Leni and Risa looked at one another and then looked at Jorge.
"Leonie Therese." Jorge told the nurse
"Leonie in honor of my mama, Maria Leonor and Therese in tribute to my wonderful mom, Ana Theresia." she added and smiled
On May 27, three months later, little Leonie Therese was baptized. During the reception, Leni and Risa informed Jorge that they will go home first to rest but when Jorge arrived at the condo, she found the two women lifeless while holding each other's hands.
The two women spent the last 30 years of their lives by each other's side.
END OF FLASHBACK
"I see. I am sorry for your loss but I am happy na makita ka ulit, Jorgina girl." Rose told her
"Unfortunately, I am not that Jorgina girl anymore. Ilang years na lang, magiging senior na rin ako." Jorge responded
"But you are still beautiful as when you were young. Mas glowing ka nga ngayon." Rose commented
Jorge blushed when she heard what Rose said. When Jorge was still in her teenage years studying in a boarding school in Parañaque, she developed feelings for Rose who was then a religious and was their Assistant Headmistress. She can still feel that "kilig" after all those years.
"By the way, bakit ka nga pala umuwi?" Jorge asked Rose again
This time, Rose went silent because she doesn't know how tell Jorge the reason why she left the convent.
The cae stopped because they finally arrived at the restaurant.
"Hindi kita ija-judge, promise." Jorge added
Before answering Jorge's question, Rose took a deep breath and took out all the courage that she have and said
"Umuwi ako dahil hindi ko na kayang kimkimin yung nararamdaman ko."
"I'm in love with you since you were 16, Jorge pero pinigilan ko kasi sobrang bata mo pa noon at isa akong — " Rose paused
"Madre." Jorge replied
"I waited for the right time na sabihin sayo pero wala akong lakas ng loob. Naalala mo yung sinabi ko sa'yo na dahilan kung bakit ako pumasok? May promise kasi ako sa kanya at natakot akong sirain ang promise na yun pero Jorge, humingi na ako ng tawad na tinalikuran ko ang bokasyon ko. Napagtanto ko kasi na aanhin ko ang nalalabing taon ng buhay ko kung hindi naman ikaw ng makakasama ko?" Rose added
Jorge was surprised at the confession that the woman whom she loved since she was 16 years old just made.
"Sist— Rose." was all that she could say and then she embraced her
"Mahal din kita." she whispered
YOU ARE READING
I CHOOSE YOU (sequel of The Fourth Robredo Daughter)
Fanfiction"May it be here or in another lifetime, I will always choose you." Published: July 2, 2022 ~~~~~~~~ DISCLAIMER: This story was written out of the writer's wide imagination. Names of people dead or alive were used for this story but it does not refle...
