A year and a half after the fallout between veteran senators and, unbeknowest to their colleagues, ex-lovers Loren Legarda and Pia Cayetano during the end of the 16th Congress, the two esteemed lawmakers crossed paths once more after spending time i...
All Pia wanted was a peaceful night to herself, especially on her rare lazy days. With the children settled in bed and the dogs fed and settled, she plopped down on the couch to watch the news to lull herself to sleep.
Of course, who else would be there to greet her but that woman. The last person she wanted to see this time of the day
"Ano ba yan? Di ba ako tatantanan nitong bruhang ito?"
She changed to another news channel. Unfortunately, the same face greeted her. Same thing when she changed to a third. Pia huffed, turned off the television, and grabbed her phone to text Risa, the only one she knows who's probably up at that hour of the night, about what she saw.
Risa's face greeted her on FaceTime. "O ano na naman, Pia? May problema ka na naman sa kanya? Akala ko ba peace na kayo?"
"Marami. Every time I see her face, I want to slap her. And besides, she still hasn't earned my trust yet."
"Pia, I understand that you're hurting at nabasag ung trust mo sa kanya, but I think she's seriously willing to make amends. Medyo sablay minsan at masyadong fence-sitter, but overall she seems to be a good person."
Pia's eyebrows furrowed at what Risa just said to her. "Good people cut off 1 billion pesos for things that are needed by millions of Filipinos? Parang ngayon ko lang narinig un. Hello? nakakalimot ka ba?"
Risa shook her head. "Baka nga nagsawa na sa boses at pagmumukha ko sa finance committee hearings to ensure na nasa budget ung funds for the contraceptives eh."
"Still, she should've been more upfront about it. Nung 16th congress di niya sinabi un eh. She went behind everyone's back sa Bicameral Conference Committee at bigla nalang tinanggal ung budget sa final version"
Risa sighed. "Pia, binantayan ko talaga siya pagkatapak na pagkatapak so sa Senate. I've seen her in action and I think she seemed genuine in making amends."
"Hmm, sure, kasing-genuine ng LV bag sa Divisoria... Basta ako, I don't care about what she thinks anymore." Pia said, rolling her eyes.
"Is that code for something else, bes?"
Pia stared at her aghast and appalled at what Risa just said."Ano? Where did that idea come from? Bakit ko naman ma-mi-miss yang bruhang yan? I only agreed kasi ayaw akong tantanan, plus might as well be civil with her considering nakasalalay sa kanya ang GAA natin."
"Weh, miss mo lang ex mo, eh." Risa chided.
"I don't-- Wait, how did you know about...us?"
A knowing smirk appeared at Risa's face. "I have my sources."
Just when Pia's about to respond, Risa's phone buzzed. "Sige na, pinapagalitan na ako ng princesa sa WhatsApp. Matulog na daw ako."
"Sige, ako rin naman eh." Pia said, waving at Risa.
Risa waved back before dropping the line at FaceTime.
Pia laid back on the bed and huffed. The more she tried to forget about her, the more clearly she remembered every single detail - the softness of her hair that contrasted with those defined cheekbones, her love for passionfruit juice and a good discussion about the environment and climate change...those little things.
She went to her gallery and browsed at all of the photos of Loren she had accumulated over the past 9 years they've worked together. A good chunk of them were photos of her being not quite so ready for the camera - a far cry from the image she projected in public.
Loren rarely sported a smile, but she knew that when her eyes sparkle and her nose crinkles a certain way, that was the real deal.
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And now, thinking about it, Pia would do anything to see that up close again.
