Madilim ang kalangitan sa lungsod ng Maynila. Samu’t saring makukulay na ilaw ang nakalugar sa bawat kalye at distrito, hindi mahulugang karayom ang mga tao na nakakalat sa lansangan kahit oras na ng hapunan. Iyan ang mga unang impresyon ng alkalde ng maka-tapak siya sa kapitolyo ng bansa.
Tumingala siya sa himpapawiran; madilim. Kung anong liwanag ng nadaraanang gusali ay siyang dilim ng kalangitan. Maihahalintulad siya sa langit, hindi busilak ang damdamin.
Pumasok si Alice sa loob ng restaurant, kasama niya ang kaniyang kapatid na si Seimen. Inimbitahan siya ng Ikalawang Pangulo na mag-pulong. Ikalabing anim ng Mayo ng sila ay nag-harap.
“Good evening, Mayor Guo.” Pag-gunita ni Sara Duterte sa alkalde ng Bamban. Nakipag-kamay ito sa kaniya.
“Good evening din po, VP Sara.” Pag-bati naman nito ng may ngiti. Ipinakilala niya rin ang kaniyang kapatid. “Eto po pala ang kapatid ko, Si Seimen Guo.”
Hindi maitatanggi na magkakilala na noon pa sila Sara at Alice. Nagkilala ang dalawa dahil sa dating pangulong Rodrigo Duterte. Higit sa isa na rin ang naging kasunduan nilang dalawa—sa katunayan, nabahagian ang alkalde sa kontrobersyal na confidential funds ng Ikalawang pangulo, ginamit niya ito upang magipa-ayos ang ilang bahagi ng POGO Hub na na-raid sa Bamban, pati na rin sa Porac.
Napag-usapan din nila ang maaring maging hakbang ng alkalde upang hindi mapatalsik sa pwesto; at yun na nga ay ang paibigin ang lehislador na si Risa Hontiveros.
“Type niya yung mga katulad mo, balita ko” Sambit ni Sara sa kaniyang ka-syoso.
Bagamat labag sa loob ni Alice na gawin ang kasunduan, ginawa pa rin niya ito. Ayaw niyang mapahamak ang kaniyang pamilya at madawit sa gulo.
Aminado ang alkalde na hindi maganda ang kaniyang hangarin simula pa lang. Noong una ay naparito ang kaniyang pamilya upang mag-negosyo, pero hindi kalaunan ay naki-sangkot na sila katiwalian. Sa kabila ng katotohanan na napamahal na siya sa mga tao ng Bamban hindi maitatanggi na isa siyang espiya ng Tsina.
“Alam mo na gagawin mo ha?” Paninigurado ni Sara.
“Opo.” Tugon naman ni Alice, datapwat labag sa kaniyang loob ang linlangin si Risa.
“You know how easily I can destroy you, Mayor Alice. If hindi mo nagawa itong plano natin within a month, you have to say goodbye. June 22 is the due date, understood?”
Tumungo si Alice, “Yes po, VP Sara.” Bago matapos ang kanilang pagpupulong ay nagtanong muna siya, “Ano pong gagawin ko after po magawa ang plano?”
Nag-isip si Sara, “It’s on you kung anong balak mo. Pwede mo naman siyang patayin, just like what you always do.”
“Hindi po ako mamamatay tao.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sorry.” mapanuya itong tumawa, “Mga tauhan mo nga pala ang gumagawa, ikaw lang ang nagpa-plano.”
Nagdidilim ang paningin ni Alice sa mga sandaling iyon, pero pinigilan niya.
Mas lalo siyang tumamlay ng makita ito sa loob ng restaurant, kasama pa ang abogado na si Leni Robredo. "I'm sorry, Sen. Risa." Sambit niya sa kaniyang isipan.
Pag dilat ng mga mata ni Alice sa umaga, wala na sa kaniyang tabi si Risa.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟
She was betrayed. Risa Hontiveros—a strong smart independent woman, was fooled by a goddamn Chinese Spy; what’s worse is, that the spy was helped by her fellow Filipino.
She doesn’t know what to feel, staring off the distance. The coffee her secretary brought earlier turned cold, and she hasn’t even touched nor
drank it. Most of the time, whenever she had problems she was quick to solve each one of them. Yet as of now, she couldn’t even think.
She couldn’t blame anybody but herself for her sheer stupidity. She couldn’t even blame Senator Legarda for urging her to date the mayor, afterall, she’s in love with Alice; and she’d date her even if Sen. Legarda didn’t ask her to. Risa was just too in denial to admit, but she’s attracted to Alice since the beginning.
Today is June 22, 3 days before the Executive hearing. A lot has been exposed about Mayor Guo, including that of her real identity. The senator did not care when it was first revealed, she did not mind whether Alice was a real spy—she’d probably still help her—, and now she regrets it.
Sinta’s words rang through her like a train of memory that hits you harder than nostalgia; guilt, that was all she felt. She, a senator of the Philippines, indulged herself in this monstrosity.
She hates Alice Guo.
Risa fished out her phone from her handbag when she heard a notification. It was from Alice, a spam of messages asking why did the senator leave so abruptly. She also noticed a box inside her handbag, held by a paper bag. She took it out and saw a necklace, adorned by jewelries and gemstones. She fondled it, it was a Tiffany & Co Diamond Pendant necklace worth $3,600: roughly around 211,000 pesos.
A knock was heard from the door, “Hello, senator Risa.”
There she is, our enabler, Sen. Loren Legarda.
“Good afternoon senator Loren.”
“Musta ka na?” She says, sitting on the chair in front of her work table. “How’s Alice?”
“Wag na natin pag-usapan pa yung babae na yun.”
“Ay, hindi mo na tinuloy?” She asked, worriedly.
“No, hindi na.” A lie. Of course, Risa continued to talk with the mayor unbeknownst to Loren, however she continued not for the benefit of their plan.
She continued for love.
“Well, if that’s what you think is best.” Sen. Loren replied.
They conversed about the usual things senators talk about. It was a nice distraction from all of her sickening thoughts.
But it was stopped when Risa’s secretary hastily entered the room. “SEN. RISA!!!” She screamed.
“Bakit, Portia?!” She asked, standing from her desk.
“Tingnan niyo po yung balita!” Portia said while running out of breath. She gave her phone to the senator.
Risa’s eyes widened when she realized her most feared situation happened.
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![A/N: Goodluck sa lahat!! [^___^]](https://img.wattpad.com/d48733d380a78958bc0bb5bf38af2fa5fbfc233d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f51736f76415952696f2d685357513d3d2d31392e313764633465393534383466346431643934343733343938313730332e6a7067?s=fit&w=720&h=720)
