Echoing of Power and Passion

63 (LenRisa)

Risa arrived at her hotel, she was about to take a nap when Loren texted her.

*Hello Sen. Ri, halika samin, it's my birthday kasi and I want you to be here* Loren texted.

"Yeah, sure. Asan ba?" Risa replied.

*Sa house ko lang* Loren responded.

"Okay, I'll be there. Happy birthday, Loren."

*Thank you! Hihintayin kita*

She immediately washed up and changed her clothes to go to Loren's house to celebrate her birthday.

Nagstop muna siya sa isang mall to buy gifts for Loren. After 30 minutes, she arrived at Loren's house.

"Hello Loren, happy birthday!" Pababa pa lang siya ng sasakyan, agad na sinalubong siya ni Loren.

"Thank you!" Nagbeso sila at pinapasok kaagad ni Loren si Risa. Risa was shocked when she saw their other friends, pati si Atty. Kiko and VP Leni. She was surprised kasi matagal-tagal na din niyang hindi nakita ang mga ito pagkatapos ng eleksyon.

"Oi, sa wakas nandito na ang LenRisa!" their Gen Z friend was filming them and talking about LenRisa, but Risa wasn’t aware about that so she asked the Gen Z.

"Ahhh Miss, what are you talking about?" She was confused and sat on the Gen Z’s side.

"Ayy sorry po, Sen. Ri, akala ko po alam niyo na," she bowed her head out of embarrassment, but Risa made her feel comfortable.

"Just tell me, gusto ko rin malaman. Isa pa, hindi ako masyadong active sa social media eh. I have admins kaya sila lang yung nagpapost sa account ko," she smiled. The Gen Z seemed convinced and shared about LenRisa.

"Ako po pala si Ina, 20 years old, and I'm a fan of LenRisa." Nagkasalubong ang kilay ni Risa.

"Fan? LenRisa? Ano yun?" She asked several questions since wala talaga siyang idea until Ina showed her phone, which displayed a picture of her and VP Leni hugging each other during the election.

"We have a fandom po called LenRisa, combination ng names niyo, Leni and Risa po," Ina said, also showing her some TikTok and Facebook posts related to LenRisa.

"Sorry, hindi ko alam na during the election may ganito pala." She laughed a bit, enjoying the videos she saw on TikTok. "Ano to?"

"Wattpad po, it’s a fanfiction story about LenRisa. I’m so sorry po, may smut dyan pero hindi po ako ang nagsulat. Nagbabasa lang po ako, you know, just to imagine na totoo talaga ang LenRisa," Ina smiled.

"Kaya pala grabe ang sigawan ng mga tao pag magkatabi kami ni VP Leni. May malisya pala yun sa kanila?" Risa laughed, seeing more photos and videos on TikTok and Twitter.

"Yes po, I'm glad na nalaman niyo po ang fandom. LenRisa still exists po lalo na ngayon, pag nakalat ulit yung mga pics niyo with VP Leni," Ina said, and Risa was excited to learn more, deciding to search it online.

"Thank you for the information, Ina, I truly appreciate it," she smiled and stood up, still enjoying the LenRisa content.

"Senator Risa," someone called her, and it was Leni. Risa stopped eating and focused on the ex-VP as she sat beside her.

"Hello VP Leni, how are you po?" she asked with a smile.

"I'm good, how about you?"

"Okay naman po." She felt a bit embarrassed, thinking VP Leni might know about LenRisa and feel uncomfortable.

"I know it, Sen. Risa. Matagal ko nang alam ang LenRisa. Akala ko nga alam mo na, pero I always kept it to myself kasi nakakahiya naman sa'yo," Leni said, and someone handed them glasses of wine.