In the high-stakes world of politics, love and betrayal often walk hand in hand. Six years ago, Alicia Go, a psychology student, fell in love with a mysterious woman she met while living away from home for college. That woman was Theresia Aguerro, t...
Risa's never going back home to the White House. She felt it the moment she saw that house again—it always reminded her of Alice and their core memories together. She respected Alicia’s wish not to see her, but one day, she knew she’d come back to her.
"Anak, di ka pa rin ba kumakain?" Elaine, Risa’s mom, asked. She was so worried about her daughter; Risa had changed so much, and she didn’t know why.
"Busog pa ko, Mommy, eh. Magpapahinga na lang po ako," Risa said while lying down on her bed.
"Ilang buwan ka nang ganyan, Risa. Anong nangyari sa'yo? Kumakain ka lang isang beses sa isang araw tapos parati kang puyat. Risa, magsabi ka kung may problema ka, hindi ganitong hinuhulaan pa namin kung bakit ka nagkakaganyan—"
"I'm broken, Mom! She left me, at kasalanan ko 'yun!" Risa said in a loud voice. Elaine was shocked to see her daughter crying and looking pale from hunger.
"What?" Elaine was confused about her daughter’s sudden outburst. "Anong ibig mong sabihin?" Risa sat up and positioned herself at the edge of the bed.
"I love her so much, so, so much, Mom," she said, bowing her head. Her mother hugged her. "Mahal na mahal ko siya, Mom, pero dahil kay lecheng Patricia at sa estado natin sa buhay, nawala siya nang ganoon-ganoon lang," Risa sobbed, trying to control herself, not wanting to reveal everything to her mom.
"Sabihin mo sakin lahat, anak. Compared to your dad, hindi kita iju-judge dahil mahal kita at tanggap kita. Sabihin mo sakin lahat, makikinig ako," Elaine said as Risa looked at her mother and began to confess everything.
"Two years ago, I met Alicia Faye Go, a psychology student from Banawi University. Naging kami, and we lived together in the White House. Itinago ko siya sa lahat ng tao, and everyone thought I was still single, but they didn’t know I was living with someone," Risa sobbed, smiling as she remembered Alicia.
"What? All this time, hindi mo man lang sinabi sa akin?"
"Dad knew it, pero ang alam niya, hiwalay na kami. What I felt was joy when she was by my side, Mom. She was my light, my strength, my source of energy, my everything." Risa stared blankly into space as she spoke. "We were happy all the time. May konting problema, pero nasusulusyonan agad. I met her family in Santander, and they treated me as part of their family. I experienced things I never experienced in our family—there, it was full of love, only love."
"I'm sorry, anak, hindi ko alam," Elaine said, feeling pity for her daughter. It was painful to see Risa like this, carrying such a heavy burden, while the public thought she was happy. In truth, she was deeply depressed.
"It's okay, Mom. Wala naman tayong magagawa. Iniwan na niya ako, and she hates me. Ayaw niya akong makita," Risa said, weak and exhausted. She lay down again, holding her stomach.
"Anak, pupunta na tayo sa ospital." Elaine ran outside to get help. Daniel came immediately and carried his sister, who was now unconscious.
---
The next day, Alicia saw the news on TV. The news struck her mind like lightning—Risa was in the hospital. Her doctors said Risa had anorexia, an eating disorder often triggered by emotional pain or depression. Alicia was deeply worried about Risa’s condition, so she rushed to the kitchen to cook for her.
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