A Presidential Affair [feat. LNRS]

(Ch 4) Set You Free

"VP, you know what po? Tito Rwin makes the best adobo ever!" Arlo enthusiastically flexed Rwin's adobo at Luchie, "mommy, you put adobo on VP Garcia's plate po so she can try it."

"Arlo, anak, VP Garcia's allergic to chicken. She can't have tito Rwin's adobo. She can have tata Pi's lumpiang sariwa though," Drey spat out without even thinking.

"Mommy, do you know VP Garcia personally? You seem to know a lot about her naman po," Arlo pouted.

"Arlo, anak, your mom is also a fan of VP Garcia. That's all. I mean... we have met the VP before. Well, way back when she was still in position. Hence, she knows about the secret garden and why I call her ate as well," Pia smiled at Arlo.

Drey smiled and nodded in response, "y-yes anak. That's it. Tata Pi's right."

"Oh. Otey! That's nice naman po mommy," Arlo said as he proceeded to have his meal.

"Nasa'n 'yung daddy ni Arlo?" Luchie asked breaking her silence, "sabi niya sa akin kanina he has another mommy. I thought maybe he meant his dad at baka nalito lang ang bata."

"He doesn't have a dad and he's not confused. He's really got another mom. Does he not look familiar to you, ate?" Pia replied.

"How old are you na nga ulit, little sir?" Luchie gently asked Arlo.

"I'm four po," Arlo said raising four fingers.

"Patricia and Lucianne, this is not the time or place to talk about this. Can we not have lunch in peace?" Drey asserted.

"Addie—"

"Don't even start with me, Lucianne. It is bad enough we are sharing the same room right now. Pinagbibigyan ko lang ang anak ko sa hinihiling n'ya. So, please, just have lunch so if Arlo would like to spend more time with you then I'll let you guys do so."

"Okay," Luchie sighed. She knows she can never win against Drey.

After lunch, Arlo was sleepy so yaya Helen brought him upstairs for his siesta. Pia and Rwin decided to stroll around the farm, leaving Drey and Luchie at the villa.

"Addie," Luchie said breaking the silence, "can we talk?"

Drey grunted, "nagsasalita ka na, ano pa bang choice meron ako? Actually meron, aakyat ako sa kwarto ko tapos di na ko babalik dito sa baba para magmukha kang tanga."

"Sungit," Luchie half-whispered.

"Narinig kita, Lucianne. Pwede ko namang totohanin 'yon. Want mo?"

"No, of course not. Mag-usap sana tayo ng maayos. I mean... it's been five years. Five long years at kagaya ng sinasabi ko sa'yo kanina before lunch — Adrianne, mahal pa rin kita. Hindi nawala, hindi nagbago. I still feel the same way for you. Patawarin mo sana ako if I didn't fight for us the way I should've. Magulo pa rin kasi ang isip ko nu'ng mga panahon na 'yun eh."

"I understand, Lucianne. You're forgiven. But our love is lost amongst the stars now. Tapos na 'yung chapter natin. Maybe lesson na lang para sa ating dalawa. Hindi lahat ng laban kaya nating suungin at mapanalunan," Drey said as she fixed the throw pillows on the sofa.

"Pero may mga labang kailanman hindi dapat binibitiwan," Luchie replied giving her a back hug.

"Lucianne, please. Tama na. Hindi pa ba sapat 'yung five years apart para ihinto na 'yung nararamdaman natin pareho? Love's a battle we can't ever win," Drey said as she closed her eyes and melted into Luchie's arms wrapped around her.

"Adrianne, is Arlo ours? Hindi na ba talaga pwede? I mean kung anak ko rin si Arlo then maybe we can try again. We can give him a complete family. Hayaan mo akong mahalin kayo sa paraang deserve n'yo."

"Arlo is MY child, Lucianne. Sa akin lang. Please. Can this please be the last time you'll come here? Or that he ever sees you?" Drey said as she released herself from Luchie's embrace, "do not confuse my son with your presence."

"Do not confuse Arlo or do not confuse you? Ramdam ko naman kasing kahit ikaw — mahal mo pa rin ako, Addie. Pareho lang tayo ng nararamdaman. So, bakit hindi pwede? Or is it because may iba na?"

"Lucianne, there's no one else. There hasn't been anyone else. I've given you my all. I loved you with all my heart and soul. Apart from my late husband, sa'yo ko lang binigay ng buong buo ang puso ko. What we had was a sad beautiful tragic love affair, Lu. Because had you been happy, had it been enough, had it been fine then you wouldn't have just left," Drey said as her tears poured.

All the emotions and words she kept holding in for the past five years came pouring out. All those sleepless nights thinking and wondering about the what ifs and what could've beens finally had a chance to be said out loud.

"Akala mo ba hindi ko naisip na what if nasa buhay ka namin ni Arlo then sana kumpleto yung pamilya natin while he was growing up. I've always wished na sana one day you'd come knocking by my door and you'd tell me na mahal mo pa rin ako and that I could've introduced our son to you. What if I fought for us and didn't wait for you instead? What if I fought for you when I should've? Lucianne, ang dami kong regrets. I've always wished na sana hindi tayo naghiwalay, na sana kasama kita during the time I was pregnant and giving birth. I've always wished na sana... na sana mas pinaglaban ko pa 'yung relasyon natin. Pero lahat 'yan hanggang what if at sana na lang dahil tapos na ako sa kabanata natin, Lu. We're way past our due," Drey sobbed, "please leave."

"Addie... please? Hayaan mo akong bumawi sa'yo. Sa inyo. Don't blame yourself for everything kasi kahit ako naman may pagkakamali rin. Mali ako na iniwan kita. Mali akong binitawan kita. Hindi ko dapat 'yun ginawa," Luchie said as she wiped the tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Once again, VP Garcia, it's Drey now. Please leave the premise of my sister's farm and do not show up here again," Drey said as she composed herself.

"I'd hate to lose you for the second time in this lifetime, Adrianne. Pero irerespeto ko ang gusto mong mangyari. Salamat sa pagpayag sa hiling ni Arlo. At least kahit minsan man lang nakasama ko kayong mag-ina ko for lunch," Luchie replied with a sad smile then headed for the door without looking back.

Drey couldn't help but cover her mouth to mask her sobs. She immediately ran upstairs soon as Luchie was out of her sight. She locked herself in her room and cried her heart out.

On the other hand, once Luchie got in her car, her tears fell too, one after the other. Then she inhaled deeply, "if loving you, my Adrianne, means letting you go then I am setting you free. Hindi madali at magiging napakasakit na proseso nito sa akin pero kakayanin ko. Even after knowing na may Arlo pala na nag-eexist. I wish you happiness, pangga. Mahal na mahal kita."