Alice Pov:
During the motorcade campaign with Senator Loren Legarda, she unexpectedly brought up the topic of Ms. Risa.
"Ah, Alice, did you miss her?" she asked, catching me off guard.
"Ang alin ho Senator?" I replied in a playful tone, trying to mask my surprise.
"Hmm, look Alice, I know about your past with risa ako pa ba paglilihiman mo?" she probed, leaving me momentarily speechless.
"She's no longer a Senator," she dropped the bombshell.
" Bakit po" I questioned, feeling a mix of curiosity and concern.
"She resigned recently, and the Senate President approved it. Following that, she booked a flight to the U.S.A.,"Loren explained.
"aalis po siya? But why?" I asked, my concern growing.
"She felt ashamed in front of the public,"
" Asan Po Siya ngayon?"I inquired, wanting to know more about Ms. Risa's current whereabouts.
"She's avoiding her home and staying in her private condo, keeping to herself and rarely venturing out," Loren shared.
"Is she still in her previous private condo po?" I probed, seeking more details.
Loren nodded in response, confirming that Ms. Risa was still residing in her condo.
After a long day of campaigning, I returned home feeling exhausted. Upon my arrival, Dong greeted me, but I avoided his embrace and headed straight to my room. Despite my efforts to distance myself, he followed me and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"may Usapan Po tayo mayor dong" I reminded him firmly, trying to maintain boundaries.
"Alice, when will we return to how we used to be? I care for you deeply. Why is she still on your mind?" he questioned, his tone filled with longing and uncertainty.
"Let's stop pretending po We don't have a genuine relationship, and I don't harbor romantic feelings for you. Our engagement is merely a facade to protect our past with Ms. Risa. I still hold affection for her, and I want to shield her from any suspicions besides tinatakot mo lang naman ako" I explained, asserting my true feelings.
"mahal mo ko diba and If you didn't, you wouldn't allow me to kiss and hold you," Dong challenged, seeking validation of his affection.
"nandidiri ako sayo every time you kiss me and I regret agreeing to this charade,"
I confessed, pushing his hands away and creating physical distance between us.
As Dong followed me to the garden, his demeanor shifted to one of reassurance, promising not to intimidate me. Despite his earlier intensity, he now exuded a calm presence, offering support in a more composed manner.
When I turned to face him, he had disappeared, leaving me to ponder the complexities of our strained relationship.
Reflecting on the facade of our engagement and the fear of our past being exposed, I grappled with a sense of regret and unease, fearing the judgments of others and the repercussions of our entangled past.
The following day, while enjoying my morning coffee and catching up on the news, I learned of Ms. Risa's resignation as a Senator.
"Why" I murmured softly, the news stirring a mix of emotions within me.
Suddenly, Mayor Dong arrived and placed the keys of my condo and car on the table, taking possession of them without my consent.
"You're free now. By the way since you do not reciprocate my feelings lalayuan nalang kita"
