Say You Won't Let Go

XII. Why Can't It Be? (Part 1)

A/N: This update is brought to you by some random thoughts and life changes. Anyway, this is a two-part story. I will upload the second part sometime next week. Stay tuned! ;)

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Leni carefully put a few drops of the lavender essential oil in the humidifier before she tucked herself in the wool blanket which is always placed in their couch. She grabbed her phone and opened her Spotify app to listen to some classical pieces to keep herself relaxed. After making sure that her phone's connected to the Bluetooth speaker, she placed it on top of the center table and proceeded to get herself comfortable in her spot. She closed her eyes as she slowly massaged her temple to ease the tension that was built with a sudden confrontation earlier.

"If the girls are here, I'm sure I will feel better..."
She said inside her mind. Her kids were out of the house - Tricia on her medical school duty; Jillian on her training in Subic; and of course, Aika is at Harvard.

She stopped massaging herself, but her eyes remained closed. No matter how hard she tried to stop herself, her mind could not help but recall what happened in one of the Presidential suites of the Manila Peninsula earlier that day.

--

She was told to proceed inside the suite by the PSGs outside. She thanked each of them and quickly let herself in. The PSGs quietly closed the door after making sure that she was already inside.

"Good afternoon po-," she was cut off.

"Please sit down," the other person inside the room instructed her which she politely obliged. "Coffee," the person continued.

She shook her head before smiling, "Ay, huwag na po. Kagagaling ko lang po sa isang gathering bago rito. Pinag-tsaa na po kami roon."

The other person walked towards the receiving area of the suite and sat on the opposite of her seat - scrutinizing Leni as if she was a tiny creature to be dissected.

"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy pa... Alam mo naman siguro kung bakit ako nakipagkita sa'yo ngayon," the person started.

She got confused on the tone of the person's voice, but still managed to give a half smile. "Nasabihan po ako ng staff ko na balak niyo raw po makipag-coordinate sa Angat Buhay Program po ng opisina namin," she paused to get air as the atmosphere inside the room started to feel strange. "Naipadala na raw po nila sa inyo 'yong-," she was cut off again.

"Layuan mo si Digong..."

She was shocked and her eyes grew big, but she maintained her composure. She didn't expect the person to be that straightforward. "Sorry, pero ang sinabi po sa akin kaya kayo makikipagkita ay dahil sa-..."

The woman, who's no other than Honeylet Avanceña, laughed at her. She got even more confused and it was visible on her face.

Honeylet stopped laughing. "Siyempre hindi ko sasabihin sa mga staff mo na tungkol dito ang pag-uusapan natin... Not unless, gusto mong malaman nila na kerida ka ng Pangulo?"

Her blood rushed to her head and she felt that her temples were pulsating that time. She clenched her fist because of anger, but still maintained to be calm in front of the President's partner.

She chuckled nervously. "Hindi ko po alam ang sinasabi ninyo..."

Honeylet stared at her with fiery eyes. "Hindi ko alam kung estupida ka talaga kagaya ng sinasabi ng mga haters mo o talaga lang makapal ang mukha mong makiapid sa mga lalaking pamilyado na!"

She remained silent as she gathered all the remaining calmness in her body. "Ma'am, hindi ako kailanman nakiapid sa lalaking pamilyado na and most especially, I was never the President's mistress," she said loudly as the anger she felt would not subside.