If there's anything I have learned in the 4 walls of the senate, it's that: always take advantage of silence and peace. It may be a minute or 5 or 30 but there's just hum, that quiet moment. I take it in and let myself indulge in it. It is what keeps me sane after having the most nonsense debate with a fellow Senator or let's just say that a person who is fighting for the right in this country's justice system very much needs to take that minute every time they can. In that few minutes, let's just say I also love looking at her. If the sunset were a person, it'd be her. She's soft, but not meek or timid but graceful and elegant. I have no idea how a 'stressed' person could look like an angel. An angel with burning fire in their eyes. She is not perfect but she is the streaks of pink and purple that spans for miles— she shines and glows not like any other.
I'm thankful that I'm here with endless moments of peace and still with her, though silence is very much not a word in her vocabulary but having her by my side is worth trading for silence. Ever since we both retired from the buzzing world of politics, we decided to stay in her farmhouse in Batangas. It's away from all the pollution and it's more lovely here.
"Hon, wanna go for a ride?" She said while she stood up from the dining table, her hair still unkept and wearing her favorite pambahay.
"You'll take Storm?" Storm was her favorite stud out of all 3 horses we kept in the farm.
"Yeah, so when bunso decides to get up, she can take Comet naman. You can take Avery para masaya!" The kids were home for the weekend and it was somehow already a tradition that they would go for a ride and take turns with the horses.
"Sige lang, Kiko can take Avery later. I'll stay in the Lanai." The house had a big porch and you could see the whole farm there. It's where Tonio liked to stay.
"You'll paint today?"
"Depende, maybe I'll just read."
Risa went upstairs and changed and headed out to the stables. It was a good day— the sun was out but it wasn't too hot and it wasn't even humid. Tonio looked at the happenings in the field and saw the very happy Risa as she and Storm galloped. She really finds solace in the simple pleasure of horseback riding. He admired her as her wavy hair flew with the wind and she could see how Risa was so gentle with Storm. "Good boy!" "That's it! There you go!" He hears her.
As she made her way across the field, Tonio got his canvas and began to sketch. He went his way and sketched and painted and he didn't notice that it was already dark out. Risa had come to fetch him for dinner and saw him so immersed with his painting until she realized.
"Ako ba yan?" She said as she kissed his shoulder and hugged him. He nodded as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "Alam mo, if hindi kita asawa, I would think you would be a stalker."
"Edi buti nalang asawa mo ako."
"Ang ganda, Hon. Ang ganda ko diyan."
"Ikaw nga yan kanina eh. You were so beautiful I had to paint you."
"Bolero."
"Hindi ah. Totoo yan and I honestly would love to paint you again soon. You'll be my favorite subject and everything."
"I'll be your muse, ganon?"
"You are my muse, darling. My favorite subject always." He said as he leaned nearer and kissed her.
"Loverbirds, kala ko kainan na?" Kiko knocked and eventually they had to cut their kiss. "Mamaya na yan, ma. Nagugutom na po mga anak niyo." Issa, Helena, and Sinta followed their Kuya and were 'making maka-awa' which earned a laugh from both Tonio and Risa.
I think it's safe to say that they are very thankful for the love that they have. The love that people might say that they only see in movies because somewhere between the stressful times in the Senate Plenary to the mediterranean-inspired kitchen in Batangas— it was a fairytale love story with no end.
Prompt Credit: @.theresiatrllns
