Behind the Curtains - LenRisa

Stoical

She decided to go to Leni's unit to cook dinner without telling her.

At Leni's unit, she was very nervous while cooking. Tricia was assisting her but because she was very anxious, it looked like Tricia did most of the cooking.

"Mama Ris, okay lang po kayo? Parang kanina pa po kayo balisa."

"Nakita mo na ba magalit ang mama mo?"

"Po? Nung bata pa po kami parang lagi naman po syang galit. Yung mga mata nya po, laging parang mangangain. Hindi po sya masalita e. Tahimik lang sya. Pero titigan ka palang po nya, manginginig kana."

"I know that. But I think I saw worse nung sinaktan ako dati ni Toni.."

"Bakit nyo po natanong?"

"Natatakot kasi ako."

"Ha? Po? Bakit po? Galit po sainyo si mama?"

"I think so.. Pano ba pakalmahin ang mama mo, Tricia?"

"Hala mama Ris. Hindi ko din po alam. Basta yung ginagawa po namin, sinusunod nalang po namin yung gusto nya. May problema po ba kayo?"

"May nagawa akong kasalanan, e."

"Relax lang po kayo. Feeling ko pagdating naman po sainyo, hindi naman po kayo matitiis ni mama."

"Tama ba ang desisyon kong pumunta dito na hindi nagsabi sakanya? Baka mamaya palayasin nya ako." Risa while walking back and fort.

"Mama Ris, ako yung kinakabahan sainyo, e. Upo po muna kayo. Relax po. Hingang malalim. Sabayan mo po ako. One... Two..."

Then they heard the door opened.
Tricia was startled.

"Ay tatlong palakang tumalon. Andyan na ang leon!!" then she covered her mouth because she said those words loudly because of shock.

"Pinagsasasabi mo dyan, Tricia?" Leni asked.

Leni entered the kitchen then she saw Risa.

"H-hi?" Risa said.

Leni's facial expression turned into a poker one.

Tricia slowly escaped from the scenario and went out.

"Pupunta ka pala. Di ka man lang nagsabi." Leni said in her cold voice.

"Gusto kita ipagluto, e. Para pagdating mo kakain ka nalang."

"Salamat. Palit lang ako ng damit." then she turned her back from Risa.

Risa was left with teary-eye. Any moment from now, she knows she would burst into crying.

She waited for Leni while preparing the table. Leni went out from the bedroom with pile of papers.

"Dika muna kakain?" Risa asked.

"Busog pa ako. Mamaya na siguro."

"E nahanda ko na yung mesa, 'ga."

"Asan ba si Tricia? Sabay na kayo."

"Lumabas ata e. Sabayan mo na ako."

"Busog pa ako, Risa. Kumain kana."

Risa was silenced because of the way Leni called her "Risa." She calls her in her name even when they are okay but now, it sounds different, it sounds cold, no, dead.

Risa sat on the dining area but didn't eat. Her tears were already flowing until sobs were heard from her.

"Hindi ka lang sinabayan kumain, umiiyak kana?" Leni said when she noticed Risa was crying.