Yellow

12 - Letters (Part 1.2)

I put the Tupperware and the envelope in a paper bag and told the driver na we should go to Risa's office.

When we arrived, I called up her office again. "Good evening ulit, nasa labas na ako. Pwedeng makisuyo, paki-kuha 'tong paper bag ng food tapos pakibigay kay Sen. Risa."

"Hello po, President. Sure po, magpadala po ako ng tao dyan."

One of Risa's staff arrived and took the paper bag. I instructed him not to tell Risa na galing 'yun sa akin. Hindi muna ako bumaba kasi biglang tumawag si Aika sa'kin asking about work- related things. A few minutes later, nagpaalam ako sa driver na papasok muna ako sa loob.

Risa's staff welcomed me. Inutusan no'ng receptionist na staff si Kate na i-escort ako inside Risa's main office. Ah, Kate pala ang pangalan nitong batang kabulungan ni Risa when we were in the convention.

"She'll be happy to see you po, President Robredo."

"Paano mo naman nasabi?"

"Super busy po niya tonight eh. Parang ayaw pa po magpahinga. Buti nga po dumating kayo baka sakaling tigilan niya na muna 'yung work ngayong gabi."

"Hay nako, ang stubborn talaga ni Risa."

She agreed and knocked on the door leading to where Risa is. Pwede na 'to tawaging doorway to heaven.

"Ma'am Risa! Mukhang Jollibee ang gabi mo dahil may bisita ka po." Anong mukhang Jollibee pinagsasabi nito?

I overheard Risa's voice answer her and I couldn't help but smile. I missed her voice.

Kate stepped aside and I see Risa, sitting behind her desk, at nabulunan pa pagkakita sa'kin. It's a good thing rin pala na I took a bottle of water sa palace bago kami umalis at hindi ko pa iniinuman.

"Kalma, Senator. Ako lang 'to." I went inside and handed her the bottle, and leaned in to kiss her cheek. Hindi lang beso, kiss talaga. Kilig hihi.

We were standing there and just staring at each other when Kate said, "Ma'am Leni, mawalang galang na po pero kasama niyo po ba si Bryce?"

I asked kung si Bryce na staff ko ang tinutukoy niya. Wala naman akong ibang Bryce na kilala pero malay ko ba kung sino. When she nodded, I told her na pinauwi ko na si Bryce since late na.

"Ay sayang naman po...sana all kasama ang crush tonight."

Oh ilag ka muna, Leni, baka matamaan ka. Out of the corner of my eye, nakita ko na kinakain na pala ni Risa 'yung niluto ko. I can't help but smile pero subtle lang baka mahalata eh.

I heard the door close. Pinalabas na pala ni Risa si Kate so we're alone now. Umupo na si Risa sa upuan niya  kaya I carried the chair on the front of her desk and placed it beside her. "Anong meron kay Bryce?" I asked.

Hindi niya pinansin 'yung tanong ko and instead, tinanong niya kung bakit nilipat ko 'yung upuan.

"Gusto lang kitang katabi." Wala nang preno-preno. Banat na agad.

Tinignan ko siya and nakita kong namumula na 'yung pisngi niya. Umupo na ako, still not tearing my eyes away from her. Ang ganda talaga niya. Kaso biglang umiwas ng tingin kaya I changed the topic, asking about Bryce again.

She explained na may crush daw si Kate kay Bryce and we laughed. How cute is that coincidence? May gusto ako kay Risa tapos 'yung staff naman niya, may gusto sa staff ko. Ang galing lang.

In the middle of our conversation, Risa suddenly asked, "Hala sorry, this is so rude of me. Have you eaten na?"

Tinawanan ko siya kasi she was still chewing while talking kaya mukha siyang chubby bunny.

She stood up and was about to leave the room when I caught her wrist and pulled her close to me. Too close. Nakakapaso kasi sobrang lapit niya sa'kin, our noses almost touching and our bodies mere centimeters away from crashing into each other.

My eyes zeroed in on her plump lips. "Kumain na ako," I whispered. Her tongue darted out her mouth to lick her lips instinctively and my grip on her wrist tightened in an instant. This is too close. Hindi ko kaya 'to.

"B-buti naman kumain ka na," she replied.

I had to scream at myself in my head repeatedly to drift away from the thought of kissing her right then and there. Forcing myself to look away, I released her wrist, cleared my throat and sat back down. "Parehas pa nga tayo ng ulam eh."

Umupo na siya ulit and drank water, then she explained na may nagpadala nga no'ng food sa kanya. Syempre as to not give myself away, I had to pretend to be shocked and curious. I eyed the food on her desk and asked, "May manliligaw ka?"

"Secret admirer lang siguro."

"Hmm, okay. Wala talagang nakalagay kung sino siya?"

"Wala talaga eh, whoever it was left a note pero ayun lang. No names or signatures or anything."

I almost sighed in relief out loud. Hindi pa pala niya nakikita 'yung kiss mark sa likod. My plan is going well for now.

Nag-usap lang kami ni Risa while I was there, reminding me of the time we were in the campaign trail both in 2016 and in 2022. Things really don't change much between us. She'd bring up the topic of her 'secret admirer' and I felt like anytime mabubuking ako kaya I often shot the topic down.

Lesson learned from the other party's campaign strategy back then: Less talk, less mistake. Kaya hindi sila umaattend ng debate eh.

On the ride back to Malacanang, I remembered the heat that radiated off Risa's body when we stood that close to each other. Hindi siya mainit literally. Rather, to me, Risa's like the sun.

Like the sun, she's beautiful as always but also something I'm so scared to go near to in fear that I'm not strong enough to absorb its light. Nakakatakot, hindi dahil baka mapaso ako, pero dahil baka may magawa akong mali that would ruin the masterpiece that she is.

And then there's her lips that looked so, so inviting.

I'm at Risa's mercy now. And it's driving me so much crazier than it's ever done before.