La Douleur Exquise: Imee Marcos

Alternative Ending

It has been ten years, a lot has happened, secrets and realizations have been unleashed - a lot has changed.

It was a sunny mid-July day, like the bees encircling the blooming flowers and the birds chirping in the trees, Imee also started her day active and early as ran across the Boston Logan International Airport, trying to find herself a taxi that could bring her to her destination.

"Dios mio! Wala bang magpapasakay dito?!" she interjected as the second cab drove right past her.

A car stopped infront of her as the backseat's darkly tinted window rolled down, "I told you to wait for me," Rodrigo, uttered as he went down to assist her with her luggages.

"Sorry.. Well, I just thought you were pre-occupied, it's a busy day after all," she smilingly apologized before they both enter the car.

"Ako? Pre-occupied? Para sayo? No way! How was your flight?" Rodrigo collectively asks.

"It was fine, though, ang jetlag lang! The senate session ended until 9pm the other night, then I had to take the last flight out, I'm so exhausted!" she rants out.

"Mabuti nalang talaga't retire na ako diyan," Rodrigo replied. He finished his presidential term about four years ago, now, Bongbong's the president.

"Remind me that this is my last term in politics, please! I can't wait to finally take long rests with you!" Imee replied as she lovingly stared at Rodrigo.

"I'll be your living reminder that you'll have what you deserve after everything!" Rodrigo replied as he let Imee lean on his shoulder.

"I love you, honey!" Imee smiled as she lovingly stared at Rodrigo. "I love you, too!" he replied and gave a peck of kiss on her lips.

They shortly arrived at the apartment, and settled down before Rodrigo asked Imee to accompany him for brunch.

"Nagluto ako ng paborito mo'ng pinakbet, with daing and kanin!" Rodrigo speaks as they both sit on the dining table.

"Thank you," she smiled as she sat down.

"Tomorrow, we have to go to the hospital for our routine check ups ah, don't you even try to debate with me on this one, Rodrigo," Imee sternly said.

"Yes madam," he teasingly replied.

"Ma-"yes madam" ka diyan, batuhin kita ng ampalaya," she responds.

"Sinong babatuhin ng ampalaya?" Eloise chimed in as she entered the door, along with Irene and Greggy.

"Anak! Good morning!" Imee greets as she opened her arms waiting for a comfortable embrace from her daughter.

"I missed you so much, mommy, Madam Senator!" Eloise remarks as she hugged her mother and sniffed her of her scent.

"Stop calling me, madam, ano ba yan you take after your dad, hate it!" Imee responds as she lathers Eloise with kisses.

"HA HA HA HA HA, I won't - just, stop kissing me!" she giggled and wiped her face.

"Arte!" Imee chortles.

"We picked her up from their baccalaureate mass, nag-breakfast na din kami. Hiniram muna namin ni Greggy, 'la kasi kaming babae eh!" Irene explains and smiled.

"Asus, no problemo, Renie!" Imee chuckled.

"Will Bonget and the rest of the family be here?" Imee asks.

"Bonget is on a plane now, he's with Mama, Aimee, Cid, and his family," Irene replied.

"I don't know if the boys will be here, they all said they were busy!" I said.