Accidentally Yours

Safe Travels

Senator Risa Hontiveros sat quietly in the airport lounge, waiting for her flight to Davao City. Attending this charity event was the last thing she wanted to do, especially in a city she hadn't planned on visiting not in a million years. But after relentless nudging from her colleague Loren, and despite her reservations, she finally agreed. Davao was the Duterte’s hometown, and Risa was well aware of how some of their supporters felt about her presence. She wasn’t easily swayed by insults, but this trip felt different—a mixture of unease and curiosity gnawed at her.

As she waited, Risa wandered over to the coffee counter, buying a lemonade just to distract herself. She turned her phone off not wanting any distractions, letting her eyes roam over the crowd until they landed on a woman nearby—a tall, slender figure in chic, high-end streetwear: a black cropped top under an oversized bomber jacket, loose track pants, and a black leather handbag with gold chain straps, her long, silky hair cascading down her back.

The sight startled Risa, making her catch her breath. Alice? she thought, but immediately dismissed the idea. Alice Leal Guo had too many controversies surrounding her. It seemed inconceivable that she would be at the same airport, let alone boarding the same flight.

Her thoughts were interrupted when the barista handed her the lemonade. Shaking off the unsettling feeling, she moved towards her gate.

---

Alice Leal Guo settled into her first-class seat, looking around the dimly lit cabin. She had kept her plans quiet, not wanting anyone in her circle to catch wind of her journey to Davao. Her phone buzzed with messages, but she silenced it, she knew that later on her friends will find out where she was but until then, she will face the consequences of her actions later on. Slipping a sleeping mask over her eyes. Sleep was something she desperately needed after a sleepless night combing through her ledger, attempting to piece together some unsettling connections.

As her mind drifted, she thought about her upcoming confrontation with a man she'd come to regard as dangerous, even arrogant—a self-proclaimed "son of god" whose influence had woven itself through her life in ways she was still uncovering.

---

Risa boarded shortly after, finding her seat beside the woman who was fast asleep under a sleeping mask. She glanced sideways, her heart skipping a beat. The woman really did look like Alice. She thought about waking her, just to confirm, but decided against it. She settled into her seat, determined to focus on her book instead.

As the flight continued, Risa noticed the woman shivering slightly in her sleep. Without much thought, she reached for a blanket, draping it gently over her. Just then, the woman shifted, her head leaning slightly towards Risa’s chair, bringing them close enough that Risa could feel her breath. Risa's pulse quickened as she carefully leaned away, feeling a strange flutter from the simple gesture. She settled back into her seat, trying to ignore the quickening beat of her heart.

---

"Philippine Airlines welcomes you to Davao City. For your safety, please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the seatbelt sign has been switched off," the pilot's voice announced as they descended.

Alice stirred awake, lifting her sleeping mask and blinking at her surroundings. Turning, her eyes met a familiar face beside her. Risa Hontiveros. The senator was fast asleep, a book resting on her lap, her glasses askew. Alice’s eyes softened as she carefully set the book aside and removed Risa's glasses, taking in her peaceful expression. "Beautiful," she murmured, noticing the blanket draped over her, wondering if Risa had placed it there.

I hope she didn't recognize me

Before disembarking, Alice slipped her own blanket over Risa, whispering a request to the flight attendants to let the senator rest a bit longer. She stole one last glance to the sleeping senator before hurrying off, her mind already racing with plans to ensure her secrecy in Davao.

---

The Night Before

In the heart of a sprawling compound, a man gazed out over the dimly lit grounds as one his men entered his office. "More police have arrived, sir," his men reported, a touch of unease in his voice.

"They’re digging through every possible entry just to enter the compound," another man with a suit who looked like his attorney stated.

The weight of the accusations against him felt suffocating. He turned sharply to his men. "I need to leave the country."

The man in the tailored suit raised a skeptical brow. "Everyone’s watching you, sir. How can you possibly leave?"

A dark gleam flashed in the man’s eyes. "The charity event in Davao. It’s tomorrow night—that’s my chance." He looked around at the silent faces of his men. Before any of his men can protest "I refuse to rot in prison for a crime I didn’t commit!" His voice boomed, echoing through the room.

Just then, his secretary entered, her voice quiet. "Pastor, Mayor Guo has called. She wants to discuss business."

The man smirked, a hint of irony in his expression. "That woman, is she really so reckless as to want a meeting here? Arrange it, but somewhere far from the compound, someplace discreet." He turned back to the window, muttering to himself, Alice Guo, what are you playing at?

---

Back in Davao, Alice exited the airport terminal, her mind alert and her heart steeled. She couldn’t afford to be seen by anyone who might recognize her—least of all someone like Risa.