1971 {Rodrigo Duterte x Leni Robredo}

06 Hold

January 10, 1971

"Ano ba ang ginagawa ko dito?"

Leni laid down on her bed with eyes wide open. The food on the table beside her still lay untouched.

Since the day she talked with Rodrigo, she still had been unable to figure out what to do next. Does she find ways to go back to the present era? How? Should she stay in this era? Until when? Should she tell Rodrigo that she was from the future? Will he even believe that?

It was difficult being all by herself and having no one else to talk to. The sound of her breathing was the only noise that accompanied her. Everything else was unfamiliar. The sound of cars and motorcycles outside had been muffled by shut windows and closed curtains.

She felt trapped.

If she were to choose, she would gladly get locked up in a prison cell back in the present era than be in this place where there was not a soul with whom she could confide with.

She felt so alone.

All by herself, everything seemed like a huge mountain that dangerously loomed over her - threatening to topple at any moment.

Tears were beginning to swell from her eyes and she tried to blink them away, but they fell to the side of her face anyway.

Was this how she'd be spending the rest of her days? Locked up inside her head and dreaming of a situation that seemed impossible to attain? Was she going to rot away and spend the rest of her life like this?

There was a sharp knock on her door.

"Leni?"

It was her cousin yet again. Without a reply from Leni she entered the room.

Leni quickly wiped her tears, as she turned away from her cousin. Elizabeth proceeded to walk towards her.

"Leni...hindi ka nanaman kumakain." Elizabeth's hand caressed the side of her head as Leni's back faced her.

"Umiiyak ka nanaman ba?"

Leni shook her head in reply so as not to worry Elizabeth.

Paano niya nalaman?

"Narinig kita sa labas ng kwarto. Malungkot ka nanaman."

She sat beside Leni, placing a hand on her shoulder.

They stayed silent for a few moments before Elizabeth spoke.

"Natatandaan mo pa ba yung pabor na hiningi mo sa 'kin noon?"

Leni nodded but still refused to face Elizabeth.

She remembered asking Elizabeth if she could see Rodrigo. It was a favor that did not do her any good.

"May kapalit 'yun." Elizabeth spoke.

This statement opted Leni to face Elizabeth in shock. How could she demand a price for it? This was unfair! She didn't think that Elizabeth was that kind of person.

Seeing the look on Leni's face Elizabeth laughed.

"Kalma lang! Seryoso mo naman! May kailangan ka lang gawin."

Leni slowly sat up and faced her cousin. She was right though. Leni did owe her one. She decided that whatever request it was she was going to accomodate it.

"Ano yun?"

Hearing her cousin speak for the first time that day, Elizabeth smiled, even though she basically had to force Leni to speak in the process.