Titas of Philippine Politics: In Snapshots [Multiple Pairs]

Just a Text Away [Leni/Loren]

Leni arrived at the Senate building a couple of hours earlier than the scheduled budget hearing, which meant waiting inside Senator Loren's office for the hearing to start. 

At this point, Leni wasn't sure if she's in a senator's office, or an annex of the National Museum. Various paintings by Filipino artists adorned the walls, and on one side lay various textiles handwoven by various indigenous peoples all over the country. One can tell right away that whoever occupied this office has a very artistic eye.

Just then, Loren's distinct, booming voice bounced on the walls, almost startling her. "VP Leni! So glad to finally see you."

Loren proceeded to shake Leni's right hand with both her hands and a smile plastered on her face. She then proceeded to show her the artworks, giving Leni a brief (well, as brief as Loren could go) background of each work, as well as the stories associated with each. Leni waved at her to get her attention, but Loren's motor mouth rambled on and on about a story she thought was of particular interest. Grabe, parang di  na naman nauubusan ng kuwento si Ma'am...

"Uh, Senator Loren?"

For once, Loren finally stopped talking and covered her mouth. "Ay, sorry, VP Leni. Medyo napasarap lang ng kuwento. Anyway, kumusta pala ang buhay VP?"

"Okay naman, Senator. Medyo nakakapagod minsan, but I'm totally committed to transforming the OVP and I hope magiging maayos ung budget hearing mamaya."

"I hope so, too. You know, sometimes I still wonder what if I won in 2004 and in 2010 and I'm in the position you are in now, pero di talaga, eh. Then again, I guess it was a blessing na rin. If not, I wouldn't be given thig big an opportunity."

Leni flashed a smile and eyed the intiricate details of a T'Boli jacket framed and hanging on the wall. She's heard quite a few stories about Loren and her reputation, but upon actually meeting her, some of them appeared to be contrary to the things she's heard about her.

"Pupunta ba si Risa sa hearing mamaya?"

Loren placed a hand on her chest and gasped at her asking about Risa right away. "Ay, si Risa agad? Di man lang ako kinumusta?"

The two of them let out a hearty chuckle before Leni continued. "Okay, kumusta ka na?"

"Maayos naman. Definitely more relaxed than ever now that this is my last term and I don't have politics over my head."

"I see. Now how's Risa and is she coming to the hearing later?"

Loren smiled and playfully slapped on Leni's shoulder. "Naku, VP Leni, baby sis ko yang si Bubsy. Kung may umaway sa kanya diyan they're going to have to answer to me. As for your second question, you know she's gonna drop everything to see you, right?"

Leni gazed afar to the window view near Loren's table and sighed. "Miss ko na kasi siya eh. Medyo matagal na kaming hindi nakakapagkita at super busy na namin."

"Define 'matagal' for me." Loren said, raising an eyebrow.

"Uh...two days?"

Loren's face scrunched before bursting into a fit of laughter. "Clingy niyo... Kami nga tumatagal ng 1 week na hindi nagkikita eh. Lalo na pag may training siya sa triathlon."

Upon hearing Loren's last statements, Leni did a double take to ensure she heard things properly. "Teka, akala ko single ka?"

Loren's face froze upon realising she didn't know about the current state of her relationship with a certain congressman from Metro Manila yet. "Can we say that our relationship is complicated and leave it at that?"

"I need details, Loren." Leni said, eyeing her with a knowing glance. 

She's heard various stories from Risa, Leila, and Grace, but she wanted the details to come from her own mouth.

"Eh, saka na."

"So sino ung kausap mo kanina before you met me? Kasi parang kilig na kilig ka sa kausap mo sa phone eh."

A deep blush appeared on Loren's cheeks and as she pursed her lips in an attempt not to smile. "Wala, wala un."

Just then, Loren's phone rang prompting her to answer it in front of Leni. "Hello? You know, Madam Bruhilda, di ba sabi ko sa inyo di ako pumapatol sa pangit this early in the morning. Hay nako, Pia, I told you three times already na nilagay ko sa loob ng suitcase mo ung jacket na pinahiram ko sa iyo. Gamitin nga ang mata paminsan-minsan, okay?" 

A moment of pause for Loren to listen to the other end before she continued. "Änong gusto mo gawin ko? Ipa-LBC yan, then I wear it for a while before shipping it back to you? No?"

Loren let out a sigh. "Alright, mamaya teleport ako diyan, okay? Okay, bye, pangit."

Leni chuckled while listening to the entire conversation. "Clingy."

"Nasa Korea kasi siya ngayon eh."

"And you don't miss her?"

Loren gasped in fake surprise. "Me? Ma-miss si Bruhildang Pilar? Oh, you've got to be kidding me."

Leni rolled her eyes. "If you say so, Senator."

With a little bit more time to spare, Loren whipped out her phone and sent Leni her number. "Sige, I'll text you my number in case you need any help, or kahit someone to talk to lang."

"Sure ka?" Leni inquired. "You know naman na package deal kami ni Risa, right?"

"I already get a lot from Risa as it is. Sige, dagdagan na natin."

"If you say so." Leni said.

A staffer then called them out, signalling the start of the budget hearing.