A Presidential Affair [feat. LNRS]

(Ch 6) If You're Not Here

A few months later...

"Kumusta na po si mama?" Luan, one of Luchie's daughters, asked Drey as she sat down beside her.

"Still the same, anak. No further progress but at least she's stable. Sana nga magising na s'ya. Ilang buwan na rin siyang gan'yan. I bet she hates it," Drey replied.

"Malamang nga po at hate ni mama 'yang nakahiga lang siya d'yan," Luan said with a sad smile — reminiscing on good old days.

"But alam mo, anak... if I am certain of one thing, it is that fighter naman ang mama mo. So sure ako, one day soon... gigising na rin s'ya. We just have to keep positive. O siya, anak, alas-sais na. I'll go ahead, ikaw na bahala rito ha? Please call me if anything changes."

"Thank you for looking after mama, tita A. Highly appreciated po naming magkakapatid na rumerelyebo po kayo sa amin para bantayan si mama rito sa hospital. Hindi n'yo naman po ito need gawin, tita. And yes po, I'll contact you when and where needed."

"Maliit na bagay, anak. I love your mom enough to stay with her through sickness and in health."

"Sana hindi na lang kayo naghiwalay," Luan sighed, "you still evidently loved each other even after ending things. Nakakapanghinayang."

"H'wag kang manghinayang. Magising lang ang mama mo, I promise to never leave her again."

Luan then gave Drey a hug, "thank you, tita."

"Always welcome, Lu. Mauna na muna ako," Drey said as she gave Luan a brief hug back.

~~~

"Mom, you're late again po," little Arlo scolded his mom, "It's 7:20pm na po. You were meant to be here by 7pm. I already finished po my dinner na."

"I'm sorry, anak. Natraffic lang ang mommy," Drey replied as she gave Arlo a kiss on the cheek, "nagtatampo ba ang baby ko sa akin?"

"Hindi po because tata Pi told me naman why," Arlo said innocently, "you're helping looking after madam VP sabi ni tata Pi. She's a good friend of yours po raw ih."

"Patricia!!!" Drey called out to her sister from the dining room where she was sat with Arlo who has just finished his dinner as he stated.

"Oh? Ate, anong problema? Makasigaw ka naman. Nasa kusina lang ako," Pia said as she came up to the dining room wearing an apron.

"Ya Helen, pwede bang pakiakyat na si Arlo sa taas?" Drey asked, her gaze not leaving Pia's.

"Opo ate," Helen replied, "come baby, akyat na tayo. Susunod na lang si mommy mo. Mukhang may pag-uusapan silang important ni tata Pi."

"Okay yaya," Arlo replied as yaya Helen held out her hand.

Arlo quietly gave both Pia and Drey kisses on the cheek before he held yaya Helen's hand. Drey made sure Arlo and yaya Helen made it upstairs before she spoke again.

"Sit," Drey told her sister.

Pia heaved a sigh but obliged, "I think I know why."

"Exacto! Bakit mo naman sinabi kay Arlo na magkaibigan kami ni Luchie? Ano ka ba naman, Pi!" Drey ranted, "alam mong the more you tell Arlo our relationship, no, MY relationship with Luchie... just the more closer it is to getting to the point na mas kailangan ng aminin sa kanya na nanay n'ya rin si Luchie. My goodness naman, Patricia eh. You're putting me at a very tough spot with my son."

"Teka nga, Drey. Wala ka namang dapat ipagkaganyan. Ang sinabi ko lang sa anak mo, malapit kayong magkaibigan ni ate Lu. Nothing more. Isa pa, ano bang gusto mong gawin ko? You want me to lie to my nephew about your whereabouts? Hindi naman yata tamang magsinungaling ako roon sa bata. He does not deserve that. Masyado na tayong maraming tinatago sa kanya. The least we could do is be transparent with this situation. Walang mali sa sinabi ko kay Arlo. And top it all, akala ko ba mahal mo pa rin si ate Lu? So, why are you so scared na malaman n'ya ang tungkol kay Arlo or malaman ni Arlo ang tungkol sa kanya? Don't you think it's about time that they both learn about the truth? Pag-isipan mong mabuti," Pia replied before she stood up, "iche-check ko lang 'yung binebake ko sa oven. Pag-isipan mo 'yung sinasabi ko then when I come back, pag-usapan natin. Give me a minute."

As Pia disappeared into the kitchen, Drey was left with a lot on her plate. She started contemplating about what Pia had just lectured her with. Pia isn't wrong when it was pointed out that Drey still has feelings for Luchie. Pia isn't wrong either when she questioned Drey's fears. What was she scared of? Well, ano nga ba?

Drey thought of it long and hard but she couldn't come up with anything but the fact that she was the one who solely raised Arlo. Then again, that was her personal choice.

When Pia reappeared from the kitchen, she sat across her sister.

"Ano? Napag-isipan mo na?"

"Do you think I'm selfish? Makasarili ba akong hindi sabihin sa anak ko who his other mother is?"

"Alam mo ate... if I'm being honest, oo. Dahil naghahanap naman si Arlo at nand'yan naman si ate Lu. Actually, kung tutuusin mo it is also by chance already na nagkita na silang mag-ina di ba? Fate already pulled them close to each other. Ikaw lang naman ang nakapagitna roon. And you chose not to introduce them to each other as is."

"Masisisi mo ba ako? I raised my son alone, Patricia—"

"By choice, ate. Mas pinili mong iyan ang gawin kaysa sabihin kay ate Luchie na nagbunga 'yung lahat ng hirap n'yo with in-vitro," Pia immediately cut her off.

"Sa totoo lang, I just recalled lahat ng nangyari before the accident. Luchie knows. I told her already," Drey said as her tears fell down, "tapos sinabihan kong h'wag na s'yang bumalik dito at magpakita pa. T-tapos naaksidente s'ya. My goodness, Pi. Ang sama sama kong tao. Karma siguro ito eh."

Pia can't help but stand up and comfort her sister, "everything will be okay, ate. Tiwala lang. Things will be alright and you'll have the family you've always dreamt of."

"Sana nga, Pi. Sana nga."