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Admit or Deny?

Office of the Vice President

VP Leni arrived early in her office, only to be shocked to see swarm of media people outside the vicinity of her office. There is no way where she can avoid them so she just decided to face them. Yet, she won't still grant interview.

As soon as she went out of her car, media people surrounded her. Her security were doing their best to secure her.

"VP, ano po ang masasabi ninyo na ngayon po ay kayo na mismo ang pinaghihinalaan nilang karelasyon ng pangulo?", one reporter asked her immediately.

"Totoo po ba na kayo ang kasintahan ng pangulo na tinutukoy niya sa kanyang pahayag?", one boldly asked.

VP Leni smiled to both of them.

"Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Ipagpaumanhin po ninyo ngunit may maaga po akong appointment ngayon at medyo busy tayo sa opisina sa ngayon kaya hindi ko kayo mapagbibigyan ng isang panayam. Salamat po sa pang unawa", VP Leni addressed the reporters respectfully and then proceeded to her office.

"Kahit limang minuto lamang po, VP".

"Kaunting statement lang po VP lalo na't nasama na kayo sa issue".

"VP, mabilis lamang po na pahayag ninyo ukol sa issue na ito".

The reporters were persistent but  VP Leni just ignored them and went inside her office.

Upon entering her office, she instructed her Chief of Staff, Georgina.

"Pakisabi sa mga reporter na nasa labas na I won't grant any interview and that I am busy the whole day", she said, hoping that they would disperse.

She is already inside her private office when her phone notified her that someone had sent her a message. It was from Aika, her eldest daughter.

Ma, have you opened your social media accounts already? Have you seen the trend on twitter? Ma!! They are slandering you again!  This was Aika's message to her.

She opened her twitter account and true enough, she is trending but for the wrong reason.

#LeniHomeWrecker, #LeniMakati,#LeniKabit were the hot topics in the twitter world. She opened some tweets to which she regretted immediately. The bashers are vicious! They are ripping her dignity and virtue.

"May tinatago palang kati si ateng #LeniMakati! Akala ko napakahinhin".

"Oh, ano ngayon? Eh di lumabas din ang katotohanan #LeniKabit".

"Yan ba ang role model sa kanyang mga anak? Ang maging #LeniHomeWrecker? May doktora ka pa man ding anak at abogada ka pa".

Leni facepalmed. These trolls and bashers are throwing her mud without knowing first the truth. She dialled her phone and talked to Aika.

"Ma! Are you okay? Have you read the tweets?

"Yes. Just ignore them and do not engage".

"But Ma, they had crossed the line already. Tinatawag ka nang makati at homewrecker. Pinaparatangan ka nang kabit".

"Hayaan na ninyo, anak. Hindi nila alam ang katotohan. This, too will pass".

"Anong sabi ni Tito Digong?".

"Hindi pa kami nakapag usap. Pero the last time we talked, siya na raw ang bahala na ayusin ito".

"Ma, pakisabi, do it fast. They are already ruining your reputation with their slanderous words".

"Yes. I will talk to him".

But before Leni could dial Digong's number, he is already calling her.

"Love?", Digong said tentatively.

"Uhmmm", was Leni's only reply.

"I'm sorry man dahil sobrang nadadawit ka na sa gulong hatid ng pahayag ko man ba. Okay ka man, Love? ", Digong asked.

"Love, I'll be hypocrite kapag sinabi kong I'm fine. Their slanderous remarks are getting too annoying already. Pati mga bata naaapektuhan na", Leni admitted.

"Hayaan mo Love, mag bigay man ako ng pahayag tungkol sa mga sinasabi nila laban sa'yo", Digong assured Leni.

"I hope tumigil na sila, Love. Kasi ayokong dumating sa point na pati mga anak ko ay idamay na nila", Leni said.

"Gagawin ko man lahat ma'am para matigil na ito", Digong assured her.

And true to his words, Digong released a statement regarding the issue where Leni is involved. He relayed it to Sec. Harry who relayed it also to the public.

"Itigil na po sana natin ang walang katuturang issue na nagmula sa pagkakamali ng pagbigkas ng Pangulo. Nakakalungkot lang din po dahil pati si VP Leni ay nadadamay na. Ito po ang nais ipahayag ng Pangulo upang matuldukan na ang nagcicirculate na assumptions sa social media and I quote it " Hindi ko naging o kailanman magiging kabit si VP Leni. Tigilan na ninyo siya". 'Yan po ang pahayag ng ating Pangulo. Maliwanag naman po na hindi naging kabit ni Pangulong Duterte si VP Leni at kailanman ay hindi niya ito magiging kabit. Ituon po natin ang ating atensyon sa mas importanteng mga bagay. Maraming salamat po", mahabang pahayag ni Sec. Harry.

Ngunit sa kabila ng pahayag na ito ng Palasyo, hindi pa rin natigil ang pagpukol ng mga netizens nang masasamang salita kay VP Leni.

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Office of the President, Malacañang Palace

President Duterte is staring blankly at the wall. Hindi niya inakalang lalala nang ganito ang bunga ng pagkakadulas ng dila niya.

He was still in deep thought when someone knocked on the door. It's Sec. Delfin Lorenzana.

"May problema ba bai? 'Anlalim yata ng iniisip mo", Sec. Delfin asked Digong.

"Tungkol man ito sa nasabi ko noong Martes bai. Hindi ko inaakalang lalaki ng ganito. Nasasaktan na rin si Leni sa mga sinasabi at itinatawag man ba nila sa kanya", Digong replied.

"Oo nga eh. Kung dati OVP ang pinagpipiyestahan nila ngayon si VP Leni na mismo. Anong plano mo ngayon?", Sec. Del asked.

"Umamin na lang kaya kami? Sabihin na namin ang relasyon man namin para matigil na sila sa kakatira kay Leni ba. Mga pesteng yawa! Ayaw magsitigil eh!", Digong was getting annoyed already with the never ending tirades of netizens to him and VP Leni.

"Ano ba ang sabi ni ma'am? Napag usapan na ba ninyo kung ano ang gagawin ninyo?", the Secretary of the Defense department asked Digong.

"Kausapin ko man siya. Kung ito ang tanging paraan para matigil na sila, then so be it", Digong said.

Evening came and Digong called Leni. Hindi muna sila pwedeng magkita para makaiwas na rin sa mas malalang issue pa.

"Love, may naisip man ako na solusyon para matigil na itong usaping kinasasangkutan natin pareho", Digong told his lady.

"Ano yun, Love", Leni was curious.

"Aminin ko na ang relasyon natin, Love", Digong revealed his solution.

"What? Pero Love, mas magdudulot lang ito ng chaos sa ating bansa. And besides, alam nating pareho na hindi pa ito ang right time", Leni contradicted Digong's suggestion.

"Ano man ang gawin ko, Love? Should I admit or deny 'pag natanong man ako tungkol sa iyo", Digong asked for Leni's decision.

"Deny it, Love. Para sa mas ikabubuti natin at ng bansa. Hayaan na lang natin silang mag speculate. Mapapagod din silang ibash ako", was Leni's decision.

To be continued...