Back in Naga City

                                    

                                          
Early in the morning, Leni woke up to the sound of her alarm going off. Tonight will be another trip back to Naga after her week in Manila to attend to her duties as one of the Congressmans of Camarines Sur. She was greeted by her eldest daughter, Aika with a big smile and already prepared breakfast for their family.
"Good morning, Ma! Mana kaon na kita." (Kain na tayo) Aika told her mom while setting up the plates. 
"Asaan si Jill at si Trisha?" Leni asked looking for her other daughters, Trisha and Jillian with a look that seemed worried for them to be late.
"Hi Mama! Good morning po! Andito ako, ready na!" Jillian greeted surprisingly as she came to table for breakfast. 
"Ang Ate Trisha mo?" she asked.
"Anjan na po yun, baka nagdamag nanaman po nag-aral since midterms week na." Jillian answered her mom with assurance.
"Okay, sana lang di malate. Alam mo naman yun, palaging may naiiwan kaya laging COD." Leni said jokingly.
"Good morning, Mama. Kung pag-usapan niyo naman ako, garo wara ako igdi." (as if its I'm nit here) Trisha said while taking her seat at the table.
"O siya, sige na't kumain na kayo jan. Pati si Mama malelate sainyo eh." Aika told her two younger sisters while also taking a seat across Leni.
"Girls, let's pray muna. Jill ikaw na mag lead" 
"Sige po, Ma. In the name of the Father, and of the son, and of the holy spirit. Amen. Bless us our Lord, and these thy gifts which we are about to receive through thy bounty, through Christ our Lord." 
"Amen." everyone said altogether.
Leni and girls were used to this set up even when they were in Naga when their father, DILG Secretary Jesse Robredo was still alive. She cherished the thought that despite having a busy schedule, they always made sure that they had meals together as a family. 
She was about to take her last bite of breakfast when she suddenly received a text message from her assistant that she may need to get the day trip to Naga in order to keep up with her schedule for the weekend. 
"Girls, I'm sorry but I think kailangan kong mauna pabalik ng Naga. Okay lang ba yun sainyo?" she asked her daughters while finishing up their Milo drinks and coffee. 
"Sure, Mama. But pwede ba namin matanong why?" Trisha asked.
"Marami-rami kasi ang aasikasuhin ko for the weekend, especially now that the election are coming in a few months, and matapos na ang term ko as Congresswoman." she replied to her daughter informatively.
"Maybe it's better if we'd stay here nalang tuloy, Ma. Tutal, wala rin naman kaming gagawin doon and plus, baka may kailangan pang gawin si Jill and Trisha for school, hindi rin naman nila magagawa yun sa bus ride pauwi." Aika suggested.
"Sure kayo? I mean ako rin eh, kukuha pa ako ng ticket para sa bus pauwi ng Naga. Kaya di ko na rin maaasikaso yung sainyo. Pero nag-aalala ako na wala kayong kasama dito sa condo for the weekend." Leni told her daughters with a worried look.
"Don't worry, Ma. Ate Aiks is here naman, di niya naman kami papabayaan eh." Jillian joined in the conversation with an ecstatic look on her face, excited for the fact that she will be left with her two older sisters, although she was used to being alone.
"Hmmm. Okay, basta remember our house rules ha?" she reminded her daughters.
"Yes, Ma." the three replied. 
"Okay then. Mag-aayos pa ako ng mga gamit kong dadalhin." Leni said while looking for her trusty maleta. 
"Okay na Ma yung toiletries, emergency kit, and snacks mo." Aika said while assuring her mom that the basic traveling necessities were already prepared.