Chapter 10
Mia sat in front of her blank canvas, staring at it like it was supposed to magically give her an idea. Lately, she just couldn’t figure out what to paint, her brain was way too crowded with campaign stuff to focus. She sighed, running a hand through her hair, annoyed at both the empty canvas and her equally empty thoughts.
Her phone suddenly went off with a bunch of notifications, snapping her out of it. She grabbed it and squinted at the screen—Saf had just made a new group chat, adding Yana, Mia, Maco, and Shana and Gene.
Before Mia could process it, a flood of memes and screenshots filled the chat—mostly about their recent COMELEC press conference.
Saf: [sent an image] "Nag-away sa parking lot, nagbati sa COMELEC. Sana all."
Saf: [sent an image] Maco & Mia photoshopped into a teleserye poster: "Mahal mo ba ako o ginagamit mo lang ako?"
Saf: Netizens are eating this up. 💀
Mia exhaled sharply, already regretting opening the app.
Mia: This is so embarrassing. 🙃
Before she could even compose herself, Maco responded.
Maco: Buti nalang hindi ako panget sa mga pics.
Mia rolled her eyes so hard she almost saw her past decisions flash before her. Yana and Shana’s typing bubble popped up, and Mia already knew this was going to get worse.
Yana: We’re literally a meme now 😭
And as if on cue, Shana stirred the pot.
Shana: [sent a link] Basahin niyo comments sa post na to HAHAHA.
Saf: Yeah, I saw that one. Looks like Maco’s fangirls are upset.
Mia sighed, resisting the temptation to look at the post. But right on cue, Gene—unintentionally adding fuel to the fire—sent it anyway.
Gene: [sent an image] A screenshot of the comment section from the post Shana sent:
@wifeynimaxxvf: hindi to totoo hindi to tooo hindi to totoo
@user10928743: Mia itabi mo, kaya ko na to.
@Jammmy03: Cute. Tumatawa si Maco dito sa tabi ko 🥰
@yeen_yang: Hindi naman bagay tss. *Umiyak.
@chienita: Walang sayo Mia, akin lang ang asawa ko!
Mia’s brows furrowed, her nose scrunching ever so slightly as she read through the comments. A quiet huff left her lips, the kind that barely made a sound but carried all the weight of her irritation. Her fingers tightened around her phone, and for a moment, she looked like an angry kitten, frustrated yet unintentionally endearing in her annoyance.
Mia: Yuck 🤢 Oo sayong sayo na Chienita. Isaksak mo sa baga mo.
Shana: Woah woah woah 😯🤚
Yana: (2)
Maco, of course, couldn’t just let that pass.
Maco: Akala mo naman talaga. AS IF.
Mia’s eyes narrowed as she stared at her phone screen, her brows drawing together in irritation.
Mia: Sino ba tong isang member? Box box lang kasi nakikita ko. 🙂
Then, as if a light bulb had flickered on in her mind, a hint of mischief flashed across Maco’s face.
Maco: Ah blocked pala ah 😏
Maco: [sent an image] A cropped image of Mia’s angry expression from that night in the parking lot.
Maco: Si Madam Bugs at ang dalawang kilay niyang laging may meet-up. 🤣
Seconds later...
Mia removed Maco from the conversation.
A brief silence, then—
Shana: HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHA
Yana: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
But before Mia could relish her victory—
Saf added Maco to the conversation.
Maco: ABA GAGO
Gene: Maxx, you do know she can see your messages, right?
Maco: Eh sabi niya box box lang nakikita niya eh.
Gene: 🤦♀️
And just like that—
Maco removed Mia from the conversation.
Saf added Mia to the conversation.
Mia: TARANTADO.
Saf: Guys, that’s enough! No more changes in this GC unless I say so!
Yana, clearly enjoying this, chimed in.
Yana: You guys 🤣 If only I could share a screenshot of this GC to the netizens.
Shana: Cute talaga ng #corriene.
Gene: I thought it was #MiCo?
Yana: I like #RivaFranca better.
Saf: Me too. We could use that for the campaign.
And then, the final betrayal—
Shana changed the conversation name to “RivaFranca 2025 Yiee.”
Mia and Maco reacted in perfect sync.
Mia: SHANA.
Maco: SHANA.
But Shana, giggling as if she just won the lottery, had already played her trump card.
Shana: Oh sige, subukan niyong i-change yan. Magle-leave ako dito 😠
She knows the two adore her so much that she can get away with almost anything.
A new headquarters had just opened for the Valencia Bagong Siglo Coalition—better known as VBS. The place used to be an old house owned by the Aragon family, but now it had been turned into a busy campaign center.
The whole place was full of movement. Volunteers and staff rushed around, hanging banners, stacking campaign materials, and setting up workstations. Posters with the coalition’s name and colors covered the walls, and the energy of the election was everywhere.
Inside the main meeting room, the team had just finished a long strategy session. Papers were scattered across the table, half-empty coffee cups were left behind, and the whiteboard was packed with notes and plans.
Most of the team had already left, but six people stayed behind—Mia, Maco, Saf, Yana, Shana, and Gene. Saf had insisted they stay to discuss the retreat.
The room was quiet except for the sound of Saf flipping through her clipboard, getting ready to drop whatever plan she had cooked up. Around the long wooden table sat Mia, Maco, Yana, Shana, and Gene—waiting for whatever scheme Saf had in mind now.
"Alright, listen up," Saf said, leaning forward. "Let’s talk about the retreat."
"Wait, matutuloy talaga yun?" Maco asked, raising a brow.
"You thought I was joking?" Saf shot back.
Maco shrugged. "Kinda hoped you were."
Saf rolled her eyes. "Well, it’s happening. And it’s a good thing—two birds, one stone. First, we fix your relationship problems because, honestly, hindi pwede na para kayong aso’t pusa all throughout the campaign. Second, we spin this as a leadership and team-building retreat. We’ll frame it as a break before the campaign intensifies… good for PR, good for unity, and good for engagement."
Yana perked up. "Well then, I guess Alex will be joining the retreat?" she asked innocently.
Saf stiffened. She had deliberately left that part out, not exactly thrilled at the idea of having her ex around. Before she could deflect, Maco smirked and backed Yana up.
"Oo nga," Maco said, clearly enjoying Saf’s discomfort. "After all, influencer si Alex. Great optics, right? A neutral, outside perspective. Like you said."
Saf sighed, already feeling cornered. She knew they had a point. Before she could even argue, Mia added, "If that’s the case, then dapat kasama rin si Jules."
Saf snapped her gaze to Mia, annoyance flashing across her face. "Seriously?"
Mia nodded, unfazed. "Jules will document everything as a journalist. She’ll keep things honest."
Saf exhaled sharply through her nose. Great. Not only would she be stuck on an island with Alex, but now Jules too—the one person who never failed to challenge her every move.
"Fantastic," Saf muttered through gritted teeth, forcing a tight-lipped smile. "Two of my absolute favorite people at the moment. Why not?"
The group definitely caught the sarcasm. Yana chuckled, while Maco just grinned.
"Come on, Saf, it’ll be fun for sure," Yana teased. "Diba, Shan?"
Shana, ever the optimist, beamed. "Siyempre naman! The more the merrier! Plus I’m one of the facilitators, so it has to be fun!"
Saf sighed again, accepting her fate. This retreat was turning out to be way more eventful than she had bargained for.
The Burgundy Beanery was comfortably warm despite the late afternoon drizzle outside. The low hum of chatter, clinking cups, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine filled the air. Yana and Saf had taken a corner booth, their drinks barely touched as they waited.
Saf drummed her fingers lightly against the table. Yana gave her a knowing look. “Saf, let me do the talking okay?”
“Yeah yeah whatever,” Saf shot back, exhaling sharply.
Before Yana could respond, the café door swung open, and there she was—Alex Lee. Effortlessly cool, a walking magnet for attention, from the way she ran a hand through her hair to the lazy confidence in her stride. She scanned the café, spotted them, and smirked.
“Hi girls.” She slid into the seat across from them, setting down her iced Americano. “You two plotting world domination or just my afternoon?”
Yana grinned. “Why not both?”
The red-haired girl chuckled but flicked her gaze to Saf, whose expression was unreadable. “So. What’s the deal?”
Yana leaned in slightly, her voice calm but deliberate. “We need your help with the campaign.”
Alex raised a brow. "Of course, I’d support my friends. You don’t even have to ask."
Yana leaned in slightly, her voice calm but deliberate. “I know. But we want you to be more involved Lex, you have a platform that most of us could only dream of. You don’t just have millions of followers—you have reach , influence . When you speak, people listen, at hindi lang yun dahil popular ka, it’s because you stand for something. You represent people who don’t always get a voice in spaces like this.”
Alex’s fingers traced the rim of her cup, but she didn’t look away.
Yana continued, “The movement you’re a part of, the community, the younger generation, the people who are tired of politics as usual—they see themselves in you. You’ve built something real, something that actually matters . And right now, we have a chance to turn that influence into something bigger than just a campaign. This isn’t about pushing an agenda—it’s about making sure people like us have a seat at the table.”
She let the words settle before adding, “You’ve never been the type to sit on the sidelines. And you know that if we don’t take part in shaping what happens next, someone else will do it for us.”
Alex took a slow sip of her drink. “I don’t know. Politics is messy. People love to twist things, and I don’t do… spin.”
Saf snorted. “As if naman you haven’t played the media game before.”
Alex met her gaze, unamused. “Curating a brand is one thing. Pushing a political campaign is another.”
Yana cut in before they could start clashing. “That’s exactly why we want you involved. We don’t want this to be about spin. We need someone who can cut through all the bullshit. Someone people actually believe when they say something matters.” She let her words settle before adding, “And let’s be real, Alex. You’ve never been the type to just sit back and watch.”
Alex’s jaw tightened slightly, but she didn’t look away.
Yana pressed on, voice softer now. “Look, I know you’re careful about what you attach your name to Lex. And you should be. But you also know us. You know what we stand for. If you believe in it—even just a little—help us make it mean something to the people who need to hear it.”
Silence stretched between them. Saf, for once, stayed quiet, letting Yana’s words sink in.
Alex sighed, running a hand through her hair. “You really know how to pitch, huh?”
Yana smiled. “You always did have a soft spot for good causes.”
Alex exhaled through her nose, shaking her head. “Fine. I’ll do what I can.”
Yana grinned. “Actually… there’s one more thing.”
Alex narrowed her eyes. “I knew there was a catch.”
Yana laughed, but her voice was casual. “We also want you to join the retreat.”
Alex’s amusement faltered. “What retreat?”
“Hmmm… think of it as a chance to see things from the inside,” Yana said smoothly. “Meet the team, get a feel for the dynamics. It’s not just about strategy—it’s about understanding the people behind it.”
She flashed a bright smile. “Plus, it’ll be fun! Consider it a mini-vacation. You’ll be with me, Mia, Maco—the whole team.”
Alex studied her for a moment before her gaze flicked to Saf, who had been suspiciously quiet.
“…the whole team?” she echoed, her tone laced with curiosity.
Saf, who had been watching the exchange with an unreadable expression, finally leaned back in her chair. “A selected few,” she corrected. Then, after a beat, she added, “And yes, I’ll be there too.”
Alex smirked, reading between the lines. “Right.” She let the tension stretch a little longer than necessary before leaning forward again. “Alright. I’ll come. I could use a vacation.”
Saf let out a slow breath through her nose. Yana beamed.
Alex shook her head, smirking. “This is gonna be interesting.”
Saf muttered, “You have no idea.”
And somehow, they all knew she was right.
The late afternoon sun stretched long shadows over the school grounds as Mia and Jules walked down familiar paths, each enjoying a cone of sorbetes. The air carried a mix of fresh grass and old memories, and the distant chatter of students made them think back to the years they spent here.
Jules licked her ice cream, eyeing Mia skeptically. "Sure ka na ba diyan?"
Mia took a slow bite of her own, letting the sweetness melt on her tongue before answering. "Yeah." She exhaled, then glanced at Jules. "Mas gagaan ang loob ko kung makakasama ka. I mean, sure, I need you for strategic reasons—"
"Wow… so political asset na pala ako ngayon?" Jules quipped, smirking.
Mia rolled her eyes. "Alam mo anong ibig kong sabihin. This whole thing… it’s gonna be tough. And I need my friend." She nudged Jules lightly with her elbow. "Okay lang ba sayo or kailangan ko pa magsulat ng official request?"
Jules pretended to think about it, then shrugged. "Well, sasabihin ko sana hindi, but now that I know Saf doesn’t want me there..." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Paano ko mapapalampas ang chance na asarin siya?"
Mia giggled. "Ayaw na ayaw nga niya. Wala siyang magawa eh. Tsaka mabuti kung andun ka hindi lang kami nung kupal ng Villafranca ang mag babardagulan."
Jules grinned, clearly pleased. "Naiisip ko palang, napaka chaotic na. Fine, I’m in. But you owe me—big time."
Mia clinked her cone against Jules’ in a mock toast. "Deal."
The convoy rolled up to the Aragon estate, stopping near the tennis court, right next to a massive helipad. The late afternoon sun painted everything in gold, but the real showstoppers were the two sleek private helicopters waiting for them—each marked with the Aragon family emblem.
Dressed in laid-back, vacation-ready outfits, the group stepped out, looking chill despite the weight of what was ahead. As they neared the helipads, the steady hum of the rotor blades filled the air, getting louder with every step.
As the group walked toward the waiting helicopters, Jules let out a low whistle, eyeing the sleek choppers with a smirk. "So ganto pala feeling maging mayaman," she said, crossing her arms. "Private helicopters tas exclusive island retreats. Must be nice."
Mia, already expecting the comment, shrugged and nudged her chin toward Yana. "Not my idea."
Yana, ever the picture of grace, smiled softly. "It’s the fastest way to get to the island," she explained, her voice kind and patient. "Unless, of course, you’d prefer to take the 9-hour drive and then a 2-hour boat ride?"
Jules blinked, momentarily caught off guard by how gentle Yana made it sound—like a sincere offer rather than a clapback. She opened her mouth, then closed it, feeling a little guilty for the jab.
Mia stifled a laugh at the rare sight of Jules at a loss for words. "Come on, Jules. Just take the rich people transport."
Jules sighed, shaking her head with a smirk on her face. "Naku! Pag talaga ako umarteng parang burgis na spoiled brat di ko na kasalanan yun."
Saf turned to the group, a grin playing on her lips as she threw up a quick salute. "See you at the island!" she yelled over the noise before hopping onto her assigned chopper.
They split into two groups: Mia, Yana, Jules, and Alex climbed into one helicopter, while Maco, Gene, Shana, and Saf boarded the other.
Their destination? A private island resort at the northernmost part of Valencia—an exclusive paradise newly acquired by the Aragon family just last year.
As the helicopters lifted off, the familiar estate below grew smaller and smaller, until it was nothing but a speck in the distance. The steady hum of the rotors filled the air, mixing with the nervous excitement buzzing in their chests.
What lay ahead? Crystal-clear waters, golden beaches, and days filled with possibilities. But beyond the postcard-perfect scenery, something else lingered in the air—anticipation, uncertainty, and the feeling that this trip might just change everything.