Work Text:
29 June 2028 — Philippine Senate
It’s a little after six in the evening. Risa looks around her office. It feels like even the tiniest sound would echo through the room, and for the first time in twelve years, the space feels unfamiliar.
The shelves that once held years’ worth of documents are nearly empty. The framed photos, the awards, and the small reminders of the battles she fought have been carefully packed away by her team. They have just finished boxing up the last of her belongings.
As a thank-you for staying late to help her, she orders dinner for everyone. They eat together one final time in the office that has witnessed countless meetings, debates, victories, and defeats. Afterward, she insists that her staff go home and get some rest.
By quarter to nine, Risa is alone. She has just finished writing the valedictory speech she started a few days ago. Tomorrow, at exactly twelve noon, her twelve years of service in the Senate will come to an end, along with Sherwin’s, her former seat-mate, and those of four other senators.
Twelve years—that is a long time.
She feels bittersweet about it. Part of her feels that she has not done enough yet, but another part knows that for twelve years, she has continued showing up, even during the most challenging times, and fought for what she believed was right.
That is something she should be proud of.
—
Sherwin sits alone in his office, tapping the temple tip of his eyeglasses against the desk while taking in the room’s emptiness. Twelve years went by so quickly—a mixture of selfish decisions, misguided alliances, finding his way back to the right side of history, and feelings he never allowed himself to acknowledge.
He stands up and reaches for the bottle of Macallan 12-Year-Old Sherry Oak Matured he brought to commemorate his twelve years of service. He pours himself a drink, letting it breathe for a few minutes before slightly raising the glass in a toast to himself. He takes a sip and savors the taste of it. For once, he allows himself to savor the end of his Senate journey—the mistakes, the triumphs and everything in between.
After he finishes his glass of whiskey, he gathers his belongings and prepares to leave his office. As he walks through the hallway, he notices that a light is still coming from Risa’s office. He walks toward her office and knocks.
“Come in.”
The door is unlocked, so he lets himself in. She finds Risa sitting on the sofa, leaning back with her legs stretched out.
Risa immediately recognizes Sherwin. She quickly stands, raises her right arm, and gives him a small wave. “Uy,” she says. They walk toward each other and exchange a beso.
“Nandito ka pa rin? It’s late na ah. Akala ko umuwi na lahat, we’re early pa tomorrow.”
“Ikaw din naman ah. You’re still here.” She looks at him teasingly.
He chuckles, shaking his head. “Last SP duties before we graduate tomorrow.”
“Ang sipag naman talaga!” She softly taps his torso.
“Kailangan eh.” He laughs and then, “Hindi ka pa ba uuwi? May susundo ba sa’yo?”
“I’ll stay for a little while muna, then magpapasundo na lang ako.”
“Then I’ll stay with you for a little while. Pwede ba kitang samahan?”
Risa feels a little shy at his offer, but she says, “Okay, sure.”
They sit on the sofa, a few feet apart. For a moment, they settle into stillness as silence blankets the room.
They both feel as though a heavy wall has finally been lifted. For once, neither of them feels the need to pretend.
Sherwin, feeling a little bit warm from the whiskey he drank, loosens a few buttons of his polo barong.
Risa suddenly feels heat rising to her cheeks. She quickly crosses her arms, trying to collect herself.
They glance at each other and catch each other’s eyes.
“So…”
“You know…”
They speak at the same time.
“You first,” Risa says.
“No, I insist. Ladies first.”
“I’m going straight to the point before I lose the sudden courage our last day has afforded me.”
She pauses and takes a breath before meeting his eyes.
“Would you have pursued me?”
She holds his gaze for a moment and looks away for fear of his answer.
“No,” Sherwin quietly says.
Risa nods, biting her lower lip.
“Yeah. I thought so.”
The silence is back but soon enough he says, “‘Di mo tatanungin kung bakit?”
She looks at him and forces a smile, trying to hide the hurt that flashes across her face.
Sherwin avoids looking at her, knowing full well how his answer affected her. It’s always been obvious to both of them how the other feels, but they always chose to sweep it under the rug.
“Mm… sige, bakit?”
“I would have just hurt you… and I never stood a chance naman. Besides, if I pursued you, hindi naman ako ang pag-uusapan eh.” He pauses. “Ikaw.” Another pause. “I didn’t want to put you in that position. Idagdag mo pa ‘yung fact na pareho tayong Senador. It felt like everything was against us. One way or another, one of us would have had to sacrifice something, and eventually, we might have resented each other for it.”
He catches her eyes and holds her gaze.
For a moment, neither of them says anything. Risa lets his words sink in. She realizes that his “no” was never because he didn’t want her, but because the circumstances surrounding them would have been disastrous.
“Hate to agree with you, pero totoo.” A small laugh escapes her. “Noon? Wala ka talagang chance and yes, people would have hated me if you pursued me because it’s always easier to hate a woman.” She pauses. “Another yes, because we really had different priorities back then.” She leans back and rests her hands on her legs. “Pero maging honest din tayo… you have a type talaga.”
Sherwin is taken aback by that, but he lets out a laugh. “Ha. Well, that didn’t work well for me, kaya tignan mo ako ngayon. I’m 54, and yet wala paring pamilya.” He adjusts his position, slightly angling himself toward Risa.
“And whose fault is that?” She teases.
“Ako…” He contemplates whether he should say what’s on his mind, but then he allows himself to be honest. “I tried, you know? Sinubukan kong wag kang isipin. God knows I tried so hard not to feel anything for you.”
The room falls silent.
“I even thought of marrying my ex.”
He pauses.
“Naka-plano na lahat… but I couldn’t bring myself to ask her.”
Sherwin looks at her intently, never removing his gaze from her.
Risa is left speechless by his confession. She had always known how he felt, but hearing him say it aloud is different.
She can only muster a quiet, “Sherwin…”
“Wala kang kailangang sabihin ngayon.” He lets his gaze drift around the empty room. “For twelve years, we always put our duties first.”
He stands, steps in front of her, lowers his gaze, and leans forward to kiss her on the cheek.
He lingers for a heartbeat before straightening and adjusting his barong.
Risa doesn’t move. She simply looks at him, still feeling the warmth of his kiss lingering on her cheek.
But this time, she doesn’t look away.
“Tomorrow, at exactly noon, I can finally pursue you.”