A Woman's Place is the House and the Senate

Valentine's Message [Pia Cayetano/Loren Legarda]

With the rest of the festivities over and done with, Pia took to the center of the circle profusely apologizing for coming in unprepared for the celebration. "Sorry, kakagaling ko lang ng tri kahapon kaya di ako prepared sa talent portion. But I just want to say I missed all of you. Sobra. Sometimes I still crave for the days na nasa GSIS building pa rin ako bonding with all of you kasi iba pa rin talaga."

She then said her messages addressed to Nancy, Cynthia, Grace. Mostly asking how they were doing in the Senate and how much things have changed since she graduated from the chamber, and wishing them the best of luck because they needed it.

Next,she continued with her message for Risa - her partner in crime during the RH bill with the esteemed Senator Miriam Defendor Santiago. How after three attempts she finally made it. "Napunta sa iyo committees ko. You have big shoes to fill. Literally and figuratively. Pero ayos lang kasi parang pareho lang tayo ng shoe size."

With that, Risa couldn't help but elicit that soft, delicate giggle she's known for.

She then moved on to a few short messages to Leila and Leni - people she only knew by name and reputation. "Ang masasabi ko lang, idol ko kayong dalawa."

"And that ends my speech. Thank you and happy valentine's day sa inyong lahat."

Everyone applauded Pia's messages for everyone and cheered on and greeted each other Happy Valentine's Day. Then in the middle of the chatter, Loren suddenly shouted at the crowd. "HOY BRUHA MAY NAKALIMUTAN KA ATA."

Pia looked at her like a deer in headlights and then dug into her pockets as if looking for something. "Huh? Sino nalimutan ko? I think dinaanan ko na ata lahat. Sino? Sino?"

"Si Leila na hindi mo kilala naalala mo. Ako, hindi? Aray naman. I'm hurt." Loren said, clutching her chest in a dramatic manner.

The tears started to fall on her face when Pia suddenly started speaking again. "Oh, here we go. Last not the least, this next message is dedicated to someone very special in this room."

Everyone in the room piped down, making the room so silent one could hear a pin drop.

"This person and I have known each other since 2007. 10 years? Imagine that? Ang dami na naming napag-daanan noon pa. Well, back then I was in the middle of processing my annulment so I didn't pay much attention. But then at some point after 2010, nagsimula mangyari ang lahat."

The rest of the people in the room looked at Pia attentively and held on to every word she said.

"It all started during the death anniversary of my son. That moment, ang daming nangyari the past week, and I had to endure being with babies for longer than I could handle, so after the session I broke down and cried sa table ko. So nakita niya ako nun and all she did was hold me until maubos ung luha ko kasi di ko na talaga kaya.

Tapos she shared to me na she actually had a miscarriage na rin pala at around the same time as my son died so we went to her office and lit candles sa isang area doon sa may sulok and then we shared some lunch.

After that we hung out before session kasi at that time kami-kami lang ung babae noon with Senator Miriam so we really had to stick together.

At some point after that, I started noticing her in...certain ways. Wag na natin sabihin kung anong ways iyon."

Leni and Risa eyes each other and giggled in a corner, for they knew what Pia meant when she said that.

"So one time, I asked her 'Gusto mo dinner tayo? Tayong dalawa lang? And you know what she said?"

She then continued, this time mimicking Loren's signature lilt. "Are you like asking me out? What made you think na papatol ako sa iyo? Di ako ganyang ka-desperado."

To that, Grace, Cynthia, and Nancy laughed and pounded the sofa they were sitting on.

"Spoiler: Mahina ang bruha sa pag-tago ng kilig niya."

Pia then fast-forwarded the story to sometime around 2013. "Tapos medyo nagiging medyo malalim na ung mga usapan namin by this time. Like...personal things. So one time tinanong ko sa kanya, because at this point annulled na ako talaga and I haven't dated in a long while, 'Ano kaya feeling ng may girlfriend?'"

Just when Pia was about to continue, Grace interjected. "So paano nga ba?"

"Gusto mo idemo ko?"

Loren felt a dip in her stomach the moment Pia uttered that. Part of her wanted to scream out 'Please? Kiss me already!' but not exactly a good thing to say in front of many other people. The longing became so much that she started bawling in front of everyone.

"So ayun, things changed, which I won't elaborate. Sa amin na ng bruha iyon. For three years, we were happy. Siguro mas magiging masaya pa kami if we didn't feel the need to hide our relationship then.

Then 2016 happened. After which we didn't talk for a year and a half."

Pia choked upon remembering that dark period, but soldiered on with the rest of her speech. "Course, we had our own separate lives. Then we crossed paths too many times to count so we said 'Okay let's give each other a second chance' And you know? we made it work."

She took a deep breath and paused for a moment. "Anyway, nasabi ko na kung sino ito at some point, but this is the story of me and the woman named Lorna Regina Bautista Legarda, also known as Loren, Blossy, Legardz, Bruha, and most of all, the love of my life."

The tears that started falling from Loren now overflew now that the emotional dam has crashed. As much as she hated crying in front of other people, things have proved to be too much for her to handle. 

At this point, even Pia barely managed to hold herself together without breaking down. "Thank you for giving me a chance, and taking that second chance. Ang laki ng pinagbago sa buhay ko for the better because of you, and I know you would say the same thing about me. I call you Bruha a whole lot pero at lagi kong sinasabing pangit ka pero alam mong iba ibig sabihin ko dun."

Loren fanned her face as the tears fell and her eyeliner ran. "Bwisit kang bruha ka."

Pia scanned the room and discovered that the other senators were also crying along with her. In fact, Risa and Leni were already hugging each other, but she couldn't tell if they were really hugging or doing something else. 

She then approached Loren and sat down beside her, took both of her tiny delicate hands and looked into her tear-stained eyes before planting a soft kiss on her lips. Loren's breath hitched and she continued sniffling at the public display of affection. One she's not quite used to, but loved anyway.

Risa whispered to Leni while all of the events went on, tears falling from her face."Di ko na kaya, Pangga." 

Leni started at them and sniffed through the whole deal, just like the rest of their companions.