Last Dance With You

Chapter 2

"Sir, I heard pinapa renovate ni first lady yung bahay niyo sa province?" The entire country still calls Leni, first lady even after the annulment. She was the best first lady, the best partner but little did he knew that title was burning her alive.

"I didn't know that, wala siyang na banggit saakin" he said to his secretary, Carla. "Di po ba conjugal property niyo yun sir?" Bongbong did not answer immediately, he breathed heavily then put his ballpen down, "we were planning to live there after my term, we were both sure that it will be just us since the kids will be away for school and they will have their own lives ... but it looks like it's never going to happen"

Carla felt the heaviness of his heart, she knew more than anyone how much Bongbong suffered because of the annulment but she cannot also blame Leni for leaving him. "I'm sorry sir" she uttered.

"That's life ano, it's really unpredictable. Anyway hayaan mo na sya kung anong gusto nyang gawin sa bahay. Baka kapag kinontra ko sya hindi na pinggan ang lumipad saakin" he tried to lighten up to the mood so Carla just gave him a smile.

"Okay sir, by the way sir, Miss Charlotte wants to ask if uuwi ka daw ba sa condo tonight? She's going to cook daw po" Bongbong wipe his face, "tell her I'm really busy tonight baka sa bahay ko muna ako mag stay. Kailangan ko matapos lahat ng work ko bago yung graduation ni Jajah." He said.

"Noted sir. Do you have a gift for Jajah?" By this time, Carla knew how to be the best secretary for Bong not just in work but also in his personal life. "Wala pa nga eh, ano bang pwedeng bigay ko sakanya?"

"How about a car sir?"

Bongbong shook his head, "naku, I need to consult that to Leni first."

"Hmmm sige sir, I'll try to think about it po and I'll give you the list within this day"

"Thank you Carla, you are the best. Wala na talaga akong time for that" he said, feeling guilty that he doesn't even have a time to buy his son a gift.

***

She found comfort in cooking and baking. It became her companion during the hardest time of her life. She was able established a cafe bakery.

Her business was really successful that she opened three more branches in Metro Manila. Everyone loves her pastries and coffees. She also finds joy in dealing with the customer might it be demanding or welcoming.

After the annulment, Leni found the courage to do the things she loved without having to think about Bongbong's situation. When they were still married, she always had to consider him. She cannot do things for herself because she's doing things for him.

"Ma'am, andyan na po si Engineer tsaka si Architect" her secretary said. Leni remove her apron and went to her office.

"Hi Vince..." she hand shake with Vince, "hi Lens, it is so nice to see you again"

"Yes, me too. This is Robert, the architect" Vince introduced a middle age man, tall and handsome. Leni offered her hand and smiled at him, "it's nice to meet you Robert"

"Nice to meet you too first lady"

"Oh no, just call me Leni." She said. Vince showed her the floor plan. She was really excited about it so she inspect it carefully, "ohh this is nice, I love how you put a window on my kitchen. It's breathtaking to watch the nature while cooking" Leni said to Vince.

"It was Robert's idea" Vince corrected her. Robert just smiled at her and she return the gesture.

"I see, grabe finally meron na akong malaking kitchen. This is exactly how I want Vince. Thank you so much" Leni said then remove her eyeglasses, "it is all Robert's idea" Vince uttered proudly.

"Oh, I am so happy that you read all of my emails" Leni said to Robert.

"Yes Leni, all 47 emails" Leni laughed, "I like that. I like someone who listens to me" she replied.

Her secretary went inside the office and said, "ma'am, may appointment ka po sa salon in 30 minutes"

"Ahh yes, anyway thank you so much for this but can you please leave this here I will put down some notes." Robert took his pen to start writing about Leni's note.

"Actually I have one little tiny note, in the master's bedroom, there is no his and her sink" Leni said. Robert writes on his pad while saying, "oh why?" but Leni did not answer that's when Robert realized his question.

"Oh I'm sorry, I forgot" of course everyone knew about the annulment, it was a national headline.

"That's fine. Some people still don't get over it" she replied. They bid their goodbye and Leni proceeds to her car.

***

By now, Bongbong knew how to live an invisible life even during his term. His trick is less security, less attention. He also make it a point to be incognito as much as possible.

After being in the office the whole day Bongbong decided to eat in one of his favorite restaurants near his office. He chose alfresco dine in so he could see the sunset whole drinking his coffee.

Sometimes, he just wants to sit and do nothing for an hour, to refresh his mind. While watching the sunset, he saw an old couple, holding each other's hands.

He stare at them the entire time, thinking it could be him and Leni if only he chose his wife and not his calling.

The old couple went inside the restaurant. Bongbong took his phone then dialed Leni's number. After a few rings, she answered.

"Hello..." he did not speak immediately, he doesn't know what to say to her but it's too late to put down the phone.

"Hi lovey" he uttered.

"Why?" she asked. Bongbong could hear people talking in the background. "Nasa labas ka?" He asked.

"Ahh yes, nasa parlor ako." Bongbong smiled, imagining Leni sitting on the salon while holding her phone and playing candy crush. "Kamusta si Manang Mila?" He asked randomly but Leni did not answer, he waited for a whole minute, checking his phone if they're still in call. After a while, Leni spoke, "she died 7 years ago Bong" she replied.

Bongbong closed his eyes, feeling ashamed of himself. It reminded him how absent he was as a husband for many years.

This kind of situation always made him understand Leni more in leaving him and forgiving her for hurting him.

He knew they were both in so much pain that resulted their annulment and he also knew that he was to blame for that.

"Ah I see, anyway I heard na pinarerenovate mo ang bahay" he uttered.

"Oo eh, gusto ko kasi talaga mag karoon ng malaking kitchen, medyo maliit kasi yung current kitchen natin. Gusto ko kasi mag lagay ng complete equipment para may napag lilibangan ako" Bongbong listen to her carefully because never once he heard that Leni wanted a bigger kitchen.

He's trying to remember the day they planned the house.

"Hindi ba talaga pwedeng iexpand yung kitchen? Kasi —" the architect interrupted Leni, "Ma'am, kapag pinalaki pa po kasi yung kitchen masyado na pong mag oovercrowd sa living area niyo"

Leni looked at Bong, he was typing on his phone, "love, tignan mo. Hindi ba pwede?" Leni asked for Bongbong's support.

"Kung ano yung sinabi nung architect love." He simply answered without even looking at her. The architect smiled, "so we have a deal?"

Leni did not answer, but Bongbong did. "Yes Architect, thank you so much for this. We love the plan"

It made Bongbong heartbroken that he let Leni experienced that. When they were a young couple he loved to listen to what Leni says but during the last years of their marriage, he was not listening to her anymore.

"I'm sorry for not giving you the kitchen that you want" he whispered. Leni was silent, the apology was too sudden and too late.