Accidentally Yours

Stranded

After dinner, Risa and her team made their way to the auto shop where her van was parked. As promised by the Mayor, the van had already been fixed.

“Thank you, Mayor,” Risa said, smiling at the Mayor, who stood beside her.

Before the Mayor could respond, the sky darkened, and a sudden storm poured down without warning.

“Sabi ng news kagabi walang ulan ngayon,” Brie muttered , Risa’s secretary, her eyes scanning the stormy sky.

Angel, the Mayor’s secretary, approached, holding her phone. “Mayora, the weather observers just texted. They’re saying the storm will only get worse. They’re advising against entering or leaving Bamban due to the possible risks.”

Risa sighed inwardly—of course, luck wasn’t on their side tonight. “Looks like we’re staying,” she said as Brie started searching for a hotel on her phone.

“I’ll book a hotel, Senator,” Brie said, her fingers swiping across the screen.

“I don’t think you’ll find anything available,” Alice, the Mayor, explained. “The town’s full of tourists this time of year.”

“Po? So what now?” Brie looked up, her brow furrowed.

Alice smiled kindly. “My house is nearby. You’re welcome to stay there. It’s just the four of you plus the driver, right? There’s more than enough room.”

“Are you sure about that?” Risa asked, her expression softening with gratitude.

The Mayor nodded. “Of course, it’d be rude of me not to take care of my guests.”

Risa’s team exchanged glances, visibly relieved. “Salamat po, Mayora,” Brie said, echoing the sentiments of the others.

Alice turned to Risa “I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable.”

Risa smiled, appreciating the gesture. “Okay, if you’re sure.”

And so, they drove through the rain to the Mayor’s house, which was indeed just a short distance from the auto shop.

The house was stunning—a Spanish-style villa with white stucco walls, terracotta roof tiles, and arched doorways, centered around a charming courtyard with a fountain. Inside, the sleek modern design contrasted with the old-world exterior. Large windows filled the rooms with soft light, illuminating minimalist furniture and polished floors.

Risa’s team was star struck by the grandiosity of the place. “Kayo lang po nakatira dito, Mayora?” Brie asked, her wide eyes taking in the surroundings.

"Anlaki po" one of the commented

“I live with my maids, and my family sometimes comes home,” Alice said, leading them to the guest rooms. “There are two rooms available. Some of the others are filled with storage, and they haven’t been cleaned yet.”

“We can all fit in one room, po. You can take the other,” Brie quickly offered to Risa

Risa waved her hand dismissively. “No, no. It’s alright. Brie, you can stay with me so you’re not cramped.”

Once everyone was settled, Alice explained, “There are clothes in the wardrobes, if you need them. And if you need anything else, my room is just down the hall.”

-----

Hours passed. It was now three in the morning, and Alice sat in the living room, hugging her knees as she stared out the large window. The storm outside raged on, the sound of rain pelting against the glass like a rhythmic drumbeat.

She hadn’t slept properly since the moment she arrived in the future. Some nights she stayed up too late; other times, she woke up far too early. Tonight was no different. Despite trying to sleep, her mind wouldn’t rest. On the table before her sat an empty glass of milk—her attempt to coax herself into rest. Her eyes wandered back to the night sky, lost in thought.

She had found different bottles of sleeping pills in her room earlier, along with an old diagnosis paper for insomnia. It dawned on her how exhausting her future self’s life as a mayor must have been—so much so that she had developed a sleep disorder. She shook her head, wondering if that was her fate too.

Her thoughts spiraled. Sometimes, she imagined a way to return to her past, to undo all of this. Other times, she just thought about how she had, her future self let herself get to this point in life.

She was pulled from her reverie by a soft tap on her shoulder. Startled, she turned to find Risa standing beside her, wearing one of Alice’s pajamas. The sight made Alice’s heart race, though she quickly suppressed it.

“Can’t sleep?” Risa asked, sitting down beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them.

Alice shook her head. “I’m trying to,” she said softly. “What about you?”

“I never sleep well in beds that aren't mine,” Risa admitted with a small smile. “But Brie is definitely sleeping peacefully.”

Alice chuckled. “Do you want me to make you a glass of milk? It might help.”

Risa shook her head. “I already drank some water. I was on my way back to bed when I saw you here.”

They sat in silence for a while, simply sharing the quiet of the storm outside. The tension between them seemed to ease in the stillness.

Finally, Risa broke the silence. “Is this your childhood home?”

Alice let out a small laugh. “I wish. No, I bought this place when I was eighteen. My childhood home was on a farm.”

Risa raised an eyebrow, surprised. “I thought your father was wealthy? Shouldn’t he have given you a better place to live?”

Alice’s expression darkened slightly. “He did. For himself But I stayed on the farm until I was old enough to buy my own land.” Her voice held an edge of bitterness.

Risa sensed the shift and softened her tone. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

Alice brushed it off with a wave of her hand. “It’s all in the past. I don't understand why you're so surprised I'm sure you have read about it in my records”

Risa didn’t respond, her eyes thoughtful. After a few moments, Alice spoke again.

“Why did you become a senator?” Alice asked, curiosity in her voice. “You were an incredible journalist. I don’t see why you’d change careers.”

Risa smiled, though her eyes seemed far away. “I hear that a lot. But as cringe as it sounds, I wanted to make a bigger impact, A change for my country. I thought politics would give me that chance.”

Alice nodded, understanding. “And do you think it was worth it? Leaving journalism behind?”

Risa thought for a moment, then smiled. “Yeah, I think it was.”

They exchanged a look, a mutual understanding passing between them. Neither woman knew exactly where their paths would take them, but in that moment, under the stormy night sky, they found comfort in each other’s company.