One November night, while Leni was preparing for her class at Harvard, she received a call from Risa.
"Hi langga. Ready for your class?" Risa greeted and asked her
"Yes po, langga. Now preparing my powerpoint kasi in 30 minutes ay nandito na mga students ko." Leni responded
"Kailan nga matatapos ang stint mo riyan sa Harvard?" Risa asked
"December ga, makakauwi na ako." Leni responded
"Hay. How I wish that time would fly so fast so that I can take refuge in your arms again. I really miss you, my Leni." Risa said and pouted like a child
"Ga, how I also wish na matapos na rin itong stint ko sa Harvard. The country needs me, my children, especially Jorge, need me. You need me and I need you to be by my side always." Leni told her
"Ang hirap naman talaga kapag LDR. Hindi ako nadidiligan." Risa said and sighed
"Ana Theresia Hontiveros Gerona!" Leni called her out
"Ano ulit yun ga?" Risa asked
"Ang alin?" Leni responded with a question and avoided eye contact
"Yung tawag mo sa akin?" Risa said, grinning
"Wala." Leni responded, blushing
"Hindi eh. Hindi wala yun eh. May tinawag ka sa akin eh. Loud and clear. Paulit nga ga." Risa said
"Ikaw talaga. Sige na, mahal matulog ka na kasi may event ka pa bukas sa Esquire hindi ba? My Maverick of the Year." Leni told her
"Ano ba yan. Iniwasan ang tanong ko. Okay." Risa said
"Good night, my Ana Theresia Hontiveros Gerona." Leni told her
Risa smiled and responded
"Good night, my Maria Leonor Gerona Hontiveros."
------
After her work at the senate the next day, Risa went to prepare for Esquire's event that she will be attending.
Anje was with her while the hired glam team were doing her hair and make up.
"Sayang, Leni is not here so she's not gonna see me being awarded Maverick of the Year." she said
"Ma, it's fine. Nag-usap na kami ni Jorge and Malens already agreed na makipag-vc sa'kin during the event so she can see you." Anje told her mom
"You and Jorge will do everything talaga so Leni and I won't miss a thing about one another no?" Risa told Anje and held her hands
"Makita lang po namin na masaya kayong dalawa, masaya na rin po kami ni Jorge." Anje said
A few moments later, they were finished preparing Risa for the big event and were taking photos of her.
"Kung ako kay Malens, uuwi ako para hindi ko ma-miss ang gandang yan." Anje said out loud
Aside from her family and staff, no one knows about her relationship with Leni.
"Si Jorge kasi nag-send ng picture. She will be attending a UP event in behalf her mom and she looks stunning tonight." Anje alibied
The people in the room seems to be convinced of what Anje said and continued with what they were doing.
After the preparation, Risa went to Esquire's event along with Anje and her staff and they were greeted by a lot of people.
"Congratulations po, Senator Risa!" the people would congratulate her
A few moments later, the event started.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, let us all welcome our Esquire Maverick of the Year, the Honorable Ana Theresia 'Risa' Hontiveros." the host said and the people clapped their hands and gave Risa a standing ovation
Risa went up the stage to receive her award and to give her speech.
"I would like to thank each and everyone who believed in me and in my capabilities. I am dedicating this recognition to the Filipino people whose rights I am fighting for since the start of my public service, to my family, my kids who are my source of strength, and to my President, Madam President Leni Robredo who continues to inspire me everyday and who serves as a beacon of hope for all of us. Our fight for good governance has not yet ended, we have just begun kaya walang iwanan, tuloy ang laban!" then the crowd applauded
"Thank you so much for that very inspiring message, Senator Risa Hontiveros."
The program went on and they also had dinner at the event. After that, Risa decided to go home.
"Anak, let's go." she called Anje and they went outside when they saw a familiar van
"Van to nina Leni ah." Risa thought to herself
A few moments later, Arnel, Leni's driver and one of her PSGs.
"Good Evening po, Senator Risa, Ma'am Anje." Arnel greeted her and Anje
"Good Evening din po, Kuya Arnel." the two greeted him
Arnel then opened the door of the van and Leni said
"Good Evening, my favorite senator."
Risa's heart leaped with joy upon seeing the love of her life.
"Langga! You're back!" she exclaimed
"Mama Lens!" Anje also exclaimed
"Akyat na muna kayo before the media finds out." Leni said and Arnel guided the two in entering the van
Jorge transferred seat at the back so that her mom and Risa could sit beside each other. She knows how much they missed each other's company.
"Langga, I'm so happy to see you." Risa said and kissed Leni on the lips
They shared a short but sweet kiss and their girls could do nothing but look at their phones instead of watching their moms kiss.
"Buti naman tapos na po kayo." Jorge said when the two women let go of one another's lips
"Sorry naman, anak. Masyado lang naming na-miss ang isa't isa." Risa said and chuckled while Leni looked down while blushing
"Ma, masyado na po kayong PDA sa harap namin ni Jorge." Anje told her mom
"Alam namang single ang mga anak tapos maggaganyan." Jorge complained
"Kuya Arnel, alis na po tayo." Leni said and Arnel drove them to a restaurant
"Congratulations to my Maverick of the Year! I'm so proud of you, langga." Leni said and handed Risa a bouquet of lavenders like she always give
"Thank you so much, langga. You never fail to surprise me. The last time, you went to Berlin, and now, you did your best to spend time with me kahit na dapat ipapahinga mo na 'to kasi may flight ka pa bukas." Risa told her
"I'll always give time for you, ga." Leni responded
"By the way, you look so wonderful tonight. Hindi pwedeng hindj kita uuwian." Leni added
"Hays. Van moments." Jorge whispered
When the two women went out of the van, Anje told Jorge.
"Mukhang may madidiligan na naman ngayong gabi."
"Korek ka diyan, Honti kasi —" Jorge responded and paused
"SA GOBYERNONG TAPAT, MADIDILIGAN LAHAT!" they both exclaimed
YOU ARE READING
I CHOOSE YOU (sequel of The Fourth Robredo Daughter)
أدب الهواة"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...
