To Win a Loser's Heart

Step 7: Decide

"I want you to make me part of your cabinet."

Bongbong did not know why he was disappointed when Leni completed the sentence that night. Was he expecting more from an enemy? He had no idea. What could he even expect from her? Of course she wanted a position on his cabinet. Why else would she be interested in him?

"Anong sinabi mo?" Martin asked. He was seated comfortably on the couch in front of his new office at the Malacañang.

They just sat down for a while after all of his things were transferred. Wishing to find some advice, he told his cousin about what the former vice president asked of him.

Putting down the pile of paper he was holding on his desk, he shrugged. "I said 'no'."

His cousin gave him a look of disbelief. "I don't believe you." He shook his head. "You said 'no' to THE Attorney Leni Robredo?" He emphasized the word 'THE'.

His soft stare turned to a glare. "Bakit ba masyado mong binebenta 'yon? She's so..." He struggled to find the word. Gorgeous. Intelligent. Honest "She's... normal."

Martin laughed. "It's just that..." He almost could not continue due to his laugh. "I'm going to tell you a secret." His laughter stopped.

He stared at him — silent.

When his cousin realized that he was not going to speak, he continued. "Do you know BongLeni?"

Bongbong blinked in confusion. "Bong- what?"

Martin scoffed. "Sus...BongLeni. BongLeni." He repeated twice. "Bongbong Marcos and Leni Robredo." He said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Truth be told, Bongbong got that the first time. However, confusion remained plastered on his face. "What's that? Is that a new political ideology?" There was no word to describe his expression at that moment.

"It's a ship."

"Ship? Barko? May barkong pinangalan samin?" He paused. Instead of trying to figure it out, he continued arranging his papers and folders.

His cousin gave up on his ignorance. "The people want you two together." He finally revealed.

"Together? As a tandem?" He shook his head. "No. I got Sara for that."

"You idiot." Martin threw a piece of crumbled paper in his direction. " They want you as a couple."

His hand stopped midair on its way to place another file of paper on an organizer. "Why would people think that?"

Martin finally stood and grabbed the pile and placed it for him. "I don't know." He began helping him arrange his things — placing his name plate at the table.

"So, pa'no mo nalaman 'yon?" Bongbong asked with his hand on the backrest of his office chair.

"Did you forget that Aimee is an admin ng fandom ng political rival mo?"

His eyes squinted. "Can you not remind me that? That traitor."

Martin laughed once more. "She basically has all the updates from BongLeni to LenRisa to Dubredo-"

The president raised both his palms. "Wait. What the hell is Dubredo?"

"Duterte-Robredo." His cousin shrugged. "Remember that Duterte had a crush on Leni back then?"

He scoffed again. "Hell no."

"Jealous."

"I'm not."

Martin stopped and thought of a way to tease him more. "May balita pala ko kay Robredo." Then, he proceeded to act like he said nothing interesting.

"What?" Bongbong even held his shoulder to get his attention.

"Huh?" He continued acting clueless.

It was obvious that Bongbong was running out of patience since he started to raise his voice. "You said something about Robredo. Anong nangyare?" He was now using his 'I'm the president' voice.

Martin tried to stop his smile. "Wala 'yon. Nothing interesting. Hindi mo naman s'ya gusto 'diba?"

Bongbong stopped asking and went back to sit on the couch — leaving him to continue the work. He thought that it would be a waste of time to even think about it. Instead, he turned on the television. Not too long after,  he groaned. Martin noticed it and grinned.

"WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO LENI?" He snapped — standing from his seat and throwing the remote which flew and cracked not too far away.

Martin made a cross sign using his index finger. "Relax..." He approached him like he was a wild animal — with his hands raised carefully stepping forward. "She's leaving her condo here — going back to Naga."

Bongbong calmed down but his brows were still furrowed. "Why?"

"Why not?" Martin retorted but kept his voice soft. "She has nothing to do here sa Manila anymore. She's going back to her home."

He sighed and strode out of the office — leaving his cousin behind. He went straight to his car and informed his PSG that he would be just visiting a friend. They refused to allow him to leave alone but eventually gave up.

It was a few minutes drive until he reached his destination. Outside the establishment, he found the woman he was looking for. She was putting boxes in the trunk of her car. Seeing her having a hard time on one of them, he rushed and grabbed it from her.

"What the-... President?" Leni Robredo blurted out.

Instead of putting the box inside the trunk, he started walking towards the building.

"Teka. President. Anong ginagawa mo?" There was a hint of annoyance in her voice again this time.

He stopped and looked back at her. "Ikaw. Anong ginagawa mo?"

Her brows knitted. "Nag-iimpake?"

"Bakit ka nag-iimpake?" He placed the box on his feet.

"Uuwi?" She was still confused with what was happening. "Babalik na ko. Wala na kong gagawin dito."

He crossed his arms. "Pa'no mo gagawin ang trabaho mo as the DepEd Secretary?"

"Edi-...what?" She heard what he said and understood what he meant he knew she needed assurance.

"Be my DepEd Secretary."

"I-" She was dumbfounded.

"Please?" That was the first time he tried to soften his voice not just to her but to everyone.

At that moment, he already knew what he was feeling but he did not want to admit it. At that very moment, he realized what he wanted.

He closed the distance between them and held her hand. She was still too shocked to respond. "Please stay."