Exactly two months later after Bongbong was re-elected as Ilocos Norte's Governor, their lives were finally back on their usual routine. Leni and Pen were back in Quezon City for their respective work and school while Bongbong stayed in Ilocos.

Bongbong barely see his daughter and ex-wife ever since he took oath. He was so busy with his work that he hasn't been in QC for two months already. He also never got the chance to converse with Leni just like they used to do when they're not together.

"Lolo Bonget!" Mia, the daughter of Micheal squealed as she ran towards her lolo.

"Oh hi!" Bongbong immediately crouched to carry Mia. "Why are here?" He kissed her cheek.

"She wanted to visit you daw kasi." A voice suddenly came, Bongbong turned his back and he he saw Imee. They exchanged pleasantries.

"I missed you. You're always working." Mia said.

"Aww I'm sorry, Mia. Lolo Bonget has a lot of work here in the office eh." Bongbong apologized. "But since you're here, we can play na."

Mia's eyes lit up, "Really? Yay!"

Bongbong and Imee chuckled. "Let's eat first." Imee said. They went to his office.

They ate happily at his office. Imee told him that she took Mia for a while as she stays in the province for a program her office initiated. Mia then asks her if they can visit Bongbong at his office too because she hasn't seen for a week.

"Kumusta naman dito?" Imee asked as they chew their food.

He nodded, "Okay naman. Medyo busy lang kasi syempre bagong term na naman. This past weeks I have been visiting a lot of municipalities para mas makita ko yung situation sa ground plus magandang opportunity na rin to thank them for they support they gave me during the election."

Imee nodded, "Mabuti naman."

"Is this Lola Leni?" Mia interrupted the adults. Bongbong and Imee traced where Mia is looking, they saw that Mia is pointing at a certain frame atop his table. Apparently, it was a family picture taken when they just had Pen.

He nodded, "Yes, Mia. That's Lola Leni." He then pointed at the baby in the picture, "And this is Tita Ninang." Pen is the godmother of Mia.

Mia giggled, "Tita Ninang is so small here. I'm going to tell her about this. When can I see her?"

"We can call her now. Do you want to FaceTime her?" He asked, Mia nodded.

AaaPenny
ringing...

"Hi! Pa— ohh hi, Mia!" Pen waved at the camera the moment she saw Mia.

"Hi, Tita Ninang! I missed you! When will I see you? I wanna play with you." Mia said cheerfully.

"Aww I missed you too, Mia! Don't worry we'll see each other again very soon. Sama ka Dad mo when he visits here. We can play all day here with Lola Leni." Mia told the kid.

"Okay okay, I'm gonna tell Dad. Where's Lola Leni? Is she there with you too?" Mia asked.

"Oh Lola Leni isn't here, Mia. She's with a friend. They're having coffee." Pen shared. She's the only one in their unit.

Bongbong frowned upon hearing it, "Sinong kasama ng Mama mo?"

"Yung friend nya po ata from college pa." Pen said.

"Friend from college? Ano daw pangalan? Babae ba yan or lalaki?" Bongbong asked.

"Um I don't know the name pa, basta isa sa mga kasama nya sa kalay before. Hindi ko sure kung sya ba yung congressman from 5th district. Not sure." Pen shared transparently.

Bongbong nodded, "Baka manliligaw yan ng Mama mo."

Pen chuckled, "Papa naman! Alam mo naman na hindi nagpapaligaw si mama. Takot lang nun sa'yo." Pen knew how her Dad hates the idea of her mom dating other men ever since they got separated.

Bongbong clicked his tongue, "Remind mo pa rin mama mo."

Pen chuckled, "Yes boss!"

---

Leni entered their unit and saw her daughter slouching in the couch while using her phone. "Hi, anak! Kumain ka na?"

Pen stood up and kissed her mom's cheek, "Huwag ka daw magpaligaw, ma."

Leni frowned, "Ha?"

Pen chuckled at her mom's reaction, "I was talking to Papa earlier because Mia is with him kanina sa office, sabi ko kasi you're with a friend kaya wala ka dito sa unit."

"And?" Leni frowned, putting her bag on the couch.

"Papa was asking kung sino daw bang friend ang kasama mo, kung babae daw ba or lalaki?" Pen laugh. "Baka daw kasi nagpapaligaw ka na."

Leni rolled her eyes, "Hayaan mo nga yang papa mo."

"Weird nyo." Pen commented and went back to the couch. Leni went to the kitchen to prepare for dinner. "Nga pala ma, Mia is staying here for 3 days next week."

Leni exited the kitchen to talk clearly with Pen, "Bakit daw? Aalis sina Michael?"

Pen nodded, "Yes. Kuya Mike mentioned me sa gc na kung pwede daw ba dito muna si Mia because they will go to Singapore next week for work. Sabi ko I'll ask you muna." The Marcos cousins have their chat group which doesn't include their parents.

"Of course pwede." Leni agreed. "I'll adjust my schedule or I'll just bring Mia sa RTC."

"Sabi ni Ate Cara, if you have trials daw pwede naman kay Tita Imee muna." Pen said.

"No, no. It's okay. Wala naman ako masyadong work next week eh. I'll just bring Mia or pwede ko sya ipasyal kay Manang Imee sa Senate." Leni plotted.

Pen nodded, "Okay sige sige. I'll message Kuya Mike."

---

Leni was in the office when her phone rang, it was Bongbong. She stared at her phone screen for a while, it's been a while since he called her. It sent shivers. "Hello?" She answered.

"Nasa RTC ka now?" He asked, not even starting with hello.

She frowned, his tone says something she doesn't like. "Um yes. Bakit?"

"Akala ko kasama mo na naman yung Congressman." He hinted.

She frowned, "Sino?"

"Yung friend mo from UP, si Cong. Kit. Magkasama kayo kahapon diba? I saw his stories." He elaborated.

She scoffed, "At talagang may time ka pa mag stalk ng soc med nya ha."

"I'm just checking who you are with. Hindi ka man lang nagsabi saakin." He said making her more irritated.

"Are you picking fights with me right now?" She asked with conviction.

"No, I'm not. Eh mukhang ikaw pa 'tong gustong makipag-away eh." He defended.

"Ikaw ang tumawag telling me things. Ewan ko sa'yo." She rolled her eyes and ended the call. She sighed and calmed herself down. She waited for him to call her again but the call doesn't came. It annoys her even more.

---

Imee visited her brother in the office once again before she goes back to Manila. She just wanted to share to him the assessment of her and her team on how to help the agriculture sector in the province.

"Bonget—" Imee's cheerful voice halted the moment she saw how her brother's face seemed to be too serious. "Busy ka?"

"Hi!" Bongbong took his phone down to accommodate his sister. "No, no. May mga tinatapos lang. Bakit? Ngayon balik mo sa Manila diba?"

Imee nodded, "Yes, mamaya after lunch. Dumaan lang ako dito sayo to give these data." She handed him a folder containing some data with regards to the agriculture.

He scanned it, "Thanks for this, Manang. I will meet with the Agriculture team tomorrow sakto, I will bring this up."

Imee nodded. "Anyway, si Mia pala ay kina Leni muna mag-sstay next week for 3 days."

"Bakit? Aalis sina Michael?" He asked. Everytime Michael and Cara is set to leave for work, they always let Mia stay at Leni's.

Imee nodded, "Singapore sila next week eh. May bago yatang project."

Bongbong nodded, "Oh. That's nice."

"Leni didn't tell you about it?" Imee asked, she knew how constant Bongbong and Leni's communication is even if they've been separated.

Bongbong just shook his head.

Imee frowned, she smell something fishy. "Bakit naman, eh parati kayong magkausap? Or hindi kayo nag-uusap?"

"Ewan ko sa kanya." Bongbong tried to avoid the topic, he doesn't know how to explain things to his older sibling.

"Ay naku!" Imee exclaimed. "LQ kayong dalawa ni Leni noh?"

Bongbong didn't answer.

Imee laughed, "Cong. Kit Belmonte from Quezon City."

Bongbong frowned at her.

"I knew it." Imee laughed continuously. "Nagalit ka kay Leni kasi kasama nya si Cong. Kit nung isang araw, tama ba?"

"Hindi, wala!" Bongbong doesn't want to talk about it.

"Naku! Alam na alam ko na yan, Bonget!" Imee continued anyway. "Nag-away kayo sa telepono?"

Bongbong sighed, "Yes."

"Sabi na nga ba eh!" Imee said. "Ikaw naman kasi, tatawag ka para mang-away."

"Hindi ako nang-aaway, Manang. I'm just asking her." He defended.

"Sus! Pareho lang yun noh!" Imee rebutted. "Tignan mo ha, Bonget, kailan mo pa huling nakita si Leni?"

"Um two months ago?" He said.

"Yun! Two months ago pa!" She exclaimed. "And tingin ko din hindi na kayo nagkakausap ng madalas, tama ba?"

He nodded, "We are both busy —"

"Tapos bigla kang tatawag para mang-away." She cut him off.

He sighed, "Imee, hindi nga ako nang-away."

"Well, hindi kayo mag-aaway kung walang nagsimula ng away." She proved her point.

He sighed, "Ewan ko sa kanya. Bahala sya."

"Kausapin mo kasi. Para kayong mga bata." Imee encouraged. "Mabuti sana kung nag-aaway kayo ng ganyan eh nagkabalikan na kayo. Ang labo nyo rin eh."

Bongbong thought about it for a while even after Imee exited his office. He sighed and tried to call Leni to talk calmly but she wasn't answering anymore. He just sighed and went back to work.

To be continued...

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