Feel alive and living.

Break free of the repetitive cycle of life, move away from the mundanity of things, wake your soul and find your reason to live.

That was the goal of that 2016 Hong Kong trip. It was why Leni agreed to go with her friends to the Ace of Clubs and why it was so easy to kiss Risa and ask her to get married.

Being near her, touching her, dancing with her, doing something so reckless — the adrenaline of it all, the risk. The freedom from thinking about the consequences and just living in the present.

It made her feel alive that it made her want to live.

—

"Magandang gabi, Pilipinas! Ngayong gabing ito, dalawang araw bago tayo bumoto ng magiging pinuno ng bansa natin, tumatayo ako sa harap ninyong muli. Anim na taon matapos ang naumpisahan nating makasaysayang kampanya."

—

Loving someone and be willing to die for them is noble. It is, perhaps, the greatest sacrifice anyone could ever do. To face death without fear, all for the sake of your love. To save them from the pain and the anguish by sacrificing yourself for them.

But to Risa, to love someone and be willing to live for them—that's a whole different thing.

Face the hardships of life. The trials and tribulations. Live through it all, happy moments or sad ones.

Experience the cruelty of living in a hopeless world, all because of a love so beautiful that it makes you want to live.

Their love was like that to her. From the very beginning — when they were dancing in the Ace of Clubs, desire running through their veins, minds clouded with liquor and lust. To the day after Risa said things she shouldn't have said — when they were so close to touching each other when they shouldn't be. Until now — when they're living their best lives, without the need to sacrifice anything, without the need to pretend or fear.

Leni's love gave her a reason to live.

—

"Pagpasensiyahan niyo na at medyo paos dahil galing pa sa sunod-sunod na house-to-house. Bago ang lahat, magpapakilala muna ako. Ako po si Leni Robredo, dating bise-presidente ng Pilipinas, isang abogado, asawa, at ina."

—

Their love was their reason to live.

It was Risa's reason to walk with her head high before they boarded the plane, heading to the destination of the kickoff rally to be held that evening.

"Darling! Come here, dali" Leni beckoned and pulled Risa towards her while they were walking at the airport, heading to the location of the kickoff rally. She held her phone up and showed that she was taking a video. Risa waved to the camera, hugging Leni from the side, her other hand carrying her duffle bag.

"Ayan. Everyone, this is my wife and the next Vice President of the Philippines, Risa Hontiveros!" Leni said cheerfully. She turned to her wife and asked, "Ready ka na?"

"Oo naman!" Risa moved her hand closer to the camera, showing her and Leni's wedding ring on her finger. "I'm carrying Leni's love with me eh."

"Tignan niyo naman. Dala pa ni Risa 'yung yoga mat niya," Leni laughed, making the video shake as she showed the yoga mat that was slung on Risa's shoulder. "Kung hindi niyo po nalalaman, hindi umaalis 'yung asawa ko hangga't hindi niya dala 'yan."

"Wow, sige, i-share mo na sa lahat," Risa said sarcastically, pinching Leni's side.

"Mamaya na pala ako ulit magvivideo, sasakay na kami ng misis ko sa eroplano." Leni grinned and turned her phone off. She placed her arm on Risa's waist, her bag on the other as they walked to the plane that awaited them.

"Ito honest question dapat honest answer din ha," Leni said as the plane flew steadily towards the province.

"Ano 'yun? Is there something wrong?" Risa asked.

"Wala naman. Pero ikaw...kinakabahan ka?"

Risa smiled then intertwined their fingers together. She caressed Leni's cheek with her other hand and spoke, "Syempre kinakabahan. But my wife's going to be with me. Nangako naman siya sa'kin na kasama ko siya at hindi niya ako iiwang mag-isa sa laban na 'to. I have enough strength to last me a lifetime because of you."

Leni couldn't help but blush and smile at her wife's words. She grasped Risa's face with both hands and tilted her wife's head down so she could kiss her forehead. "I love you, misis ko."

"I love you too, wifey."

Their love was their reason to live — that which grounds them to reality but remains to be their peace.

—

"Hindi naman na sorpresa sa inyo na hindi na ako tumakbo para sa halalang ito. Ibinuhos ko na ang aking lakas sa nakaraang kampanya, at nangako na ako sa mga anak kong masosolo na nila ang oras at atensyon ko matapos ng kampanyang iyon."

—

Their love was their reason to live.

It was Leni's reason for staying backstage and watching her wife live her dream. Together with their children, she watched Risa charm the crowd with her soothing voice and her strong advocacies.

It was defeaning. The way they chanted Risa's name over and over again. Applause and shouts of agreement as she reiterated the need for a government that would uplift lives instead of drown the future further in debt.

"Mama, ilang picture pa ba ni Mama Ris gusto mo?" Jillian laughed, watching her mother snap a few more pictures of Risa onstage while they were backstage.

"Bakit ba? Huwag mo nga akong pinopolice," Leni glared, turning her back on her children to take a few more pictures.

"Proud na proud ang misis," Ianna joked. "Ulitin mo 'yun, Ma. Blurred for sure."

"Ay, oo nga. Saglit."

The rest of their children laughed as they watched Leni delete the blurred pictures and take a video of Risa. They even coached her which angles were better and which ones to avoid.

That night, after they drank a few beers at the post-rally dinner, Leni stumbled to their hotel room, aided by Risa, who could not stop laughing.

"Ano bang nakakatawa, misis ko?"

"Ulitin mo nga 'yung kinakanta mo."

"Ginagaya lang naman kita ha."

"Oo nga, kanta ka na ulit."

"You give me hope. The strength the will to keep on..."

Risa howled in laughter as she watched Leni stand by the edge of the bed, copying Risa's actions from when she sang at Leni's birthday rally years ago. She even held a brush to pretend it was a microphone.

"No one else can make me feel this way. And only you...Senator Risa!"

The two of them laughed, collapsing on the bed. "Wait, hindi pa nga ako tapos," Leni said. Risa took her phone out and started recording her wife who continued to sing.

"I believe you turn the tide and make me feel real good inside." Leni winked at the camera, wiggling her eyebrows, making Risa clutch her stomach and laugh hysterically.

"It's your smile, your face, your lips that I miss..."

Leni stopped singing and looked straight to the camera.

"Alam niyo si Risa, matagal na akong mahal nyan. Pero nahihiya siyang sabihin sa akin. Kaya kinanta na lang niya sa harap ng...ilang tao nga ulit 'yung nando'n? Four hundred thousand plus? Ayun, oo. Iisa lang naman ako pero sa akin pa nahiya. Kapag sa four hundred thousand na tao sasabihin, may lakas ng loob? Hay nako, Senator Risa. Mahal na mahal."

Their love was their reason to live — that which would wait, however long that wait may be, and would never perish.

—

"Kung sa pagkakataong ito, pinili kong magpahinga, mayroong isang babae na kahit kailan, kahit ano'ng mangyari, gagawin ang lahat upang maituwid ang mga mali, tumulong sa nakararami, ipaglaban ang mga dapat ipaglaban, at ihaing muli ang sarili sa isa na namang eleksyon."

—

Their love was their reason to live.

It was their reason for spending their Sunday to do laundry and other household chores for their rest day after a week in the campaign trail.

After cooking and eating breakfast together, Leni focused on doing the laundry while Risa swept around the house, dusting off the surfaces.

"Wifey!" Risa called from the kitchen.

"Bakit?" Leni responded from the laundry room.

"Are you done yet?"

"Hindi pa..."

'Okay, I'll cook lunch na ha."

Leni returned to the kitchen half an hour later, seeing Risa cook their food. She decided to set the table up while waiting and observe her plants from the window. She then felt slender arms wrap around her waist. "Your herbs are fully grown na. Ayun oh," Risa pointed to the other side while hugging her wife tightly.

"Help me get them off later?"

"Sure. After we eat."

They ate their lunch then spent the rest of the day continuing their chores around the house. By nightfall, Leni was seated on the couch, iPad on her lap with a research journal open, while Risa sat beside her, surrounded with the briefers for another week of campaigning ahead of them.

"You want coffee or tea, darling?" Leni asked, massaging Risa's legs that were now on her lap.

"Tea, please. You need my help?"

Leni shook her head and told her to stay where she was and continue what she was doing. She prepared tea for both of them and returned to the living room, handing Risa her cup before sitting back down. "Thank you, wifey. You're the best."

Risa leaned in and kissed her lips, giggling when Leni held her nape to deepen the kiss. Just before she could climb on her wife's lap, Leni halted her movements and smirked. "Briefers muna. Me later."

"What?" Risa asked, frustrated. "Why? Bawal bang briefers later, you first?"

"Bawal. Paano ka matatapos nyan?"

"Fine." Risa huffed and returned to her readings. Leni chuckled and pulled her wife closer to her. She continued reading the journal, hand caressing Risa's hair. She whispered in Risa's ear. "Kapag natapos ka sa lahat ng 'yan before 10, may reward ka."

Risa finished at 9:59, only milliseconds to spare, grinning in triumph. Leni shook her head and laughed.

"Where's my reward, wifey?" Risa said sweetly as if teasing her wife.

"Nasa kwarto natin. Halika na, akyat na tayo."

Their love was their reason to live — that which runs so deeply, they could feel it flowing through their veins, making their hearts race, as if no time has passed at all.

—

"Bago mag-umpisa ang pagpaplano ng lahat ng 'to, nag-usap kami na kung pwede, lumayo na sa pulitika. Na ilaan ang mga susunod na taon sa paglibot sa mundo, sa pamumuhay nang simple at tahimik kasama ng mga anak namin.. Pero alam ko naman na hindi ayun ang mangyayari. Kung kayang tumulong, tutulong. Kung kayang tumindig, titindig. Kung may pagkakataong itama ang mga mali ng nakaraan, itatama."

—

Their love was their reason to live.

It was Risa's reason to not be scared of any challenge coming her way. Because at the end of everything else, she knew, she'd come home to her wife, who would accept and support her without fail.

"Good evening everyone and thank you for watching the Vice-Presidential Debate 2028."

Risa smiled at the cameras then respectfully greeted her fellow candidates, shaking their hand and congratulating them for a good debate. She stepped down the stage, immediately enveloped in a hug by her kids and her wife.

"Ma, ang galing mo!"

"Sobrang nag-stand out ka, Ma. Grabe nakakaproud."

"Your answers were so good! Straight to the point talaga. That's our Mama!"

She felt her cheeks heat up at the praises, blushing harder when Leni winked at her from behind their kids. They decided to go out for dinner as a family, with their respective staff accompanying them. When the door of Risa's van opened, her jaw dropped and her eyes widened. A huge bouquet of white daisies were waiting for her. She turned to look at Leni who had this bright smile on her face.

"I'm so proud of you, misis ko," Leni said, kissing Risa's cheek tenderly.

A chorus of 'yieee's were heard throughout the parking lot. The blush on Risa's cheeks reddened more and more because of the unexpected gift.

"Kung ganyan ba naman sasalubong sa'kin after debates tapos may kiss pa, ay talagang gagalingan ko," one of Risa's staff said.

"May debate pa next month diba? Oh, Sen. Risa, galingan din po natin do'n ha," another one replied.

"Huy, grabe. After rally, may pa-regalo na. After debates, may pa-flowers pa? Ganito po pala magmahal ang isang Atty. Leni Robredo."

"You should've seen them no'ng hindi pa nila sinasabi sa amin na sila na," Issa laughed. The rest of her siblings agreed with her. "Flowers from Boston halos weekly, padala from Boston every two weeks."

"Akala mo naman ang mura lang magpadala from Boston papunta dito," Aika chuckled. "Pero gano'n din naman si Mama Ris. Flowers from Pinas weekly, padala halos every two weeks din. Hindi mawawala 'yung Chocnut sa mga padala niya."

"Ay oo, naalala ko 'yun. Sa amin pa nga po inuutos ni Sen. Risa minsan ipadala 'yun."

The two older women stood by the side, faces flushed in embarrassment as they listened to the conversation. "Thank you, wifey," Risa whispered to Leni, lacing their fingers together.

"You deserve it. Sobrang proud ako sa'yo."

Their love was their reason to live — that which continues to be the light amid the darkness, the hope in times of need, the safest place to land after every challenge faced.

—

"Ang nagmamahal, kailangan ipaglaban ang minamahal. Katulad ng paglaban natin, anim na taon na ang nakalipas, patuloy ang paglaban natin ngayon para sa pagmamahal sa bayan. Layunin naming gisinging muli ang tinatagong lakas. Buhaying muli ang pag-asang nagliliyab noong nakaraang eleksyon. Isang karangalan ang lumabang muli kasama kayo."

—

Their love was their reason to live.

It was also Leni's reason for doing the most spontaneous things with her wife, however corny or cheesy they were for her. She did promise she'd do anything for Risa, didn't she?

"Hindi ba dapat nagpapahinga ka?" Leni asked while she watched Risa measure sugar with her measuring cup then dump it into a bowl.

"Kagigising ko lang naman. Nag-crave rin ako. Ayaw mo?"

"Syempre gusto ko," Leni grinned and grabbed the apron from the top cabinet. The same matching aprons she and Risa wore when they were baking those cookies. "So, what are we baking today, misis ko?"

"Cookies," Risa said excitedly, handing Leni other ingredients for her to measure.

The two of them worked in sync, Leni mostly obeying Risa's instructions since she was the one who knew how to bake. It was all quiet and peaceful Leni, a cup full of sugar in hand, accidentally bumped into Risa who was holding a measuring cup filled with water. The water spilled to the ground, the sugar spilling over the cup. Risa slowly looked up, feeling her apron get wet and the sugar granules by her feet.

"D-darling..." Leni gasped, the corners of her lips moving upwards. She covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud.

Risa didn't say anything but she sauntered over to her wife, dipping her finger in the chocolate batter.

"Huwag..." Leni warned, moving away. "Malagkit 'yan, Risa."

"Oh, ano ngayon?"

"Risa, darling, misis ko, asawa ko, mahal, baby. Ano pa ba? Huwag na, please. Nakakatamad maglinis."

"Ako ba nag-umpisa?"

"H-hindi ko naman sinasadya—Risa!"

Leni whined, feeling the chocolate batter smeared on her cheek. Risa giggled and ducked down before Leni could grab her and get revenge. "Tatawanan mo pa ako ha."

"Hindi ko naman kasi sinasadya. Halika nga dito!"

"W-wifey!"

The older woman grabbed Risa from behind and started tickling her from the sides. "Leni, stop. Please, stop na. Nakikiliti ako!"

"Ang lagkit ng mukha ko tuloy, nakakainis ka."

"My love, stop na," Risa squealed, pushing Leni's hands away from her sides. But her wife wouldn't relent and instead, tickled her harder. "Ah, Leni! Nakakainis ka."

"Ano, ako pa nakakainis?"

"O-oo na, ako na. Please, awat na, ang sakit na ng tyan ko."

Leni stopped and turned Risa around so they're facing each other. She wiped the chocolate batter stain on her cheek and smeared her wife's cheek with it. "Ayan, fair na."

"Ikaw naman nakatapon, nabangga mo ako." Risa pouted, her palms resting on her wife's shoulders.

"Sus, nagpa-cute pa."

Leni held the younger woman's waist tighter, laughing at the fake annoyed expression on the latter's face. When their laughter died down, everything seemed to move slower. Time appeared to be frozen and they were locked in a trance. Leni couldn't tear her gaze away from Risa's lips. She could feel her wife's breath on her face, merely centimeters away.

In the heat of the moment, she tiptoed to bring her lips halfway to meet Risa's, whose eyes were closed in anticipation. Leni grasped her face with one hand, the other steadily holding her by the waist, then claimed her lips in a chaste kiss.

Risa tangled her fingers in Leni's hair, switching their positions and pressing Leni's back against the countertop. "Darling..." Leni warned quietly.

"Hmm?" Risa responded, not breaking their kiss.

Before Leni could answer, the timer dinged, announcing that the cookies were ready. Risa groaned and parted from her wife. As if she was on a race with time, she hurriedly took the mittens from the table, put them on then took the cookies out of the oven, placed them on then table to cool, shut the oven close and off, threw the mittens somewhere in the kitchen, then clutched her wife's wrist.

"Where were we?"

Their love was their reason to live — that which reminds them that life is beautiful. Life is worth living. Life is this — a storm at one point, tranquil the next. A series of impulsive decisions and endless mistakes. But also endless chances to make things right and hope for the better.

—

"Narito ako sa tabi niya, sa pagkakataong ito hindi para ipakilala siya sa inyo bilang senador na tumatakbo sa ilalim ng kandidatura ko, pero bilang isa sa mga magiging lider ng bansa natin. Na kasama nating titindig, kasama nating mag-aangat ng buhay ng lahat, at kasama nating lalaban para sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa.

—

Their love was their reason to live.

Whether or not they met again in Boston for their second chance, whether or not they chose to start over again, or to settle for friendship instead of a relationship. It was enough reason to live. Knowing that someone loved you that much, treasured you that much, to be willing to spare you from a life of threats and the worst consequences you knew you didn't deserve.

"My love," Risa whispered, staring at the cityscape before her. She was at the hotel room balcony after a long day. Their campaign ends tomorrow. Two days before the elections, another Meeting de Avance she hoped would make history. It was a rare opportunity to stop and think about what has been going on for the past three months. Most especially because all the free time she had, she'd much rather spend not thinking and instead have fun with her family, or prepare herself for the days to