"DSP, we know you can help us with this bill; if you accent it, the council members respect you and would listen to you, sir." Senator Kola, one of my Senate council members, pleaded with me. Of course, he knew that one easy way to reach the Senate President to consider his request was to go through me.
"Brief me the details during recess." I responded to him in a whisper. I had more friends than enemies, and even my opponent during the election was partly on a similar page with me, for I did my best to unite the council as a family while the Senate President handled the legislative matters. I could not satisfy everyone, but for those requests that seemed tenable, I was sure to push them to the council floor, and for those that were dead ends, I gave my support even though I knew they would hit a roadblock.
The executive members and president related with the council and her members as though they were cats and dogs, always seeking the downfall of another, especially as a result of future ambitions. Fortunately for me, I was firm as much as I was friendly, making me approachable, and it was on one of the occasions when my leader, the Senate President, was away on official assignment and I had to fill in the gap as the acting Senate President that I had the choice of usurping my leader from instigations from within and without.
"I want to put it to you that the Senate President in abstention is equally guilty of embezzlement of funds." The executive president stated that during the two-week period, I acted on behalf of my boss and leader. Hearing such an allegation from the president shocked me as much as it disappointed me. I had heard rumors of some misappropriations, but I chose to turn a deaf ear to them. Some council members had openly displayed their displeasures against the Senate President and, on a few occasions, called for his resignation. However, I knew I had to handle this allegation carefully, as I could keep the house united or be the instrument of disintegration. It was a call for salvation or damnation.
"Order!" I thundered, hitting the gavel on the wooden table. "Mr. President, sir, do you realize you are making a grave allegation against the Senate President? Do you have evidence to prove your allegation, or would you consider withdrawing such with a tender of an apology?" I stated this after careful consideration, bringing the council to a dead silence. The executive president was quiet for a moment, while deep within me, I made a silent prayer that he would withdraw his allegation. Perhaps the Senate President did not expect me to provide evidence for his allegation, and considering that I was much loved by the council members and a dogged loyalist to the Senate President, he withdrew his allegation with an apology. The parliamentary session continued after the allegation was waived aside, and much later, my friends and loyalists expressed how I lost the opportunity to become the Senate President. I had always admired the Senate President's handling of the council, and betraying him for the sake of fame for a position that was a few months away from the termination of its tenure was not one I desired.
When my leader eventually returned and was informed of what transpired in his absence, he hugged me and thanked me for not betraying him. Of course, he explained what the allegation was about to me and apologized for not putting me in the picture, which I quickly dismissed.
A few years after we concluded our tenure as council members, he informed me of his intent to travel out of the country. Much later, when he came into the country for visits, he would put a call through to me for us to catch up for old-time sake. The bond of trust and friendship between myself and my leader, the Senate President, has stood since 2016.