Photographs, Notes, and the Playlist (One-Shot Compilations) [feat. LNRS]

Truth Serum (Whiskey Mix)

"Yes! Of course! Ano ka ba!"

"Ayan ang sinasabi ko! Lakas ko talaga sa iyo e noh?"

"Oo na lang, Leonor," Risa responded as she jokingly shook her head.

Leonor... what a joy to hear my name coming from you, my favorite person, Leni thought to herself.

Leni gathered some of her personnel who has always teased her about 'shot puno', "O, halina kayo. Totoo na 'to. Shot puno, may guest pa tayo! Sali raw sa atin si Senator Risa. Sandali ha? Ris, sandali lang."

The staff cheered and Risa nodded her head before she paid attention towards Leni's camp, "ano bang atin for today's video? Ano ba 'yang isha-shot natin? Medyo wine at San Mig lang kasi kadalasan kong inumin."

"Madam Senator, si attorney daw po ang bumili ng alak for this. Kaya kahit po kami hindi namin alam."

Saan kaya pumunta si Lens? Hmmm. Baka sa loob ng headquarters para kuhanin 'yung alak. Susundan ko ba? Or h'wag na. Malaki na siya. Kaya na niya 'yon. — Risa, in deep thoughts.

When Leni came back she had a bottle of Jack in hand. Following her were two assistants, one carrying a tray with a bucket of ice and some glasses, and the other, carrying a case of coke.

"Grabe ma'am, kaya ba natin 'yan?" — Katherine.

"Hindi naman sinabing kailangan nating ubusin di ba?" Leni chuckled, "or pwede rin naman? Kumuha na lang kayo ng tig-isang bote ng coke. At tig-iisang baso. Ikaw, Ris?"

"Hindi pa ako nakapagtry magmix ng whiskey. Ang kadalasan kasi pag binibigay sa akin, pre-mixed na. At alam mo naman, SML lang din ako madalas," Risa half-whispered.

"Gusto mo ba? May Lights ata sa ref, papakuhanan ba kita?"

"H'wag na. I'll drink whatever you have."

"Late na. May pasok ka pa bukas. Kaya mo?"

"Parang kayo walang opisina bukas ah? Wawalwal din naman kayo. So, kaya 'yan."

Leni let out a hearthy laugh, "sabagay. Hayaan mo. Ako bahala sa'yo."

~~~

A few glasses in, Risa was already complaining about work and how difficult it has been. Having won as the only member of the opposition, she really had no one to turn to in Senate except for a few friends. But even then, she does not know if she can fully trust them. In fact, she has put her guard up so high for work that it became impenetrable even for friends like Pia and Loren, or even Grace.

Leni just listened intently, Risa needed this. After all, they were each other's confidantes. A few more drinks in, and Leni's staff were already bidding their good-byes, leaving Risa and Leni by themselves. Risa was not as drunk as she expected to be but drunk enough to let her inhibitions take over her sanity. Leni, on the other hand, can still carry herself poised and well. She was a bit tipsy, yes, but still half-sober.

"Lens, alam mo bang mahal kita? Like romantic love, not just as friends. I missed you and your presence in my life."

"Ris, uwi na tayo? You're drunk," Leni responded.

"No, I am not. Hindi ako la-sing," Risa said as she tried to stand up. Although two seconds into it, her world spun. Good thing Leni was quick on her feet and caught Risa before she even tumbled over completely.

"Hindi pala lasing," Leni said as held Risa by the waist, on the other hand, Risa had her arms wrapped around Leni's neck. Their faces so close to one another's.

"Magagalit ka ba sa akin kung magnanakaw ako?" Risa asked batting her lashes at Leni.

"Ris, alam mong katiwali—"

Leni was stopped mid-sentence as Risa kissed her lips.

Intoxicating, Leni thought as she kissed Risa back. What's supposedly just a kiss became a torrid make out session on the table where the bottle of Jack stood. When they parted, they were both gasping for air.

"Come home with me?" Leni said in a raspy voice, the younger woman just nodded.

Leni called her driver, she would not risk hers or Risa's safety by driving with alcohol in her system. It didn't take long for their ride to arrive, taking them home to Leni's condo.

It was a good thing the tres marias weren't home because soon as the unit door slammed shut, Leni and Risa went all in. Friskier than ever until whatever happened happen.

As they cuddled up in bed afterwards, both sobering up too, they looked at each other.

"That was—"

"Exhilirating? Amazing? Undeniably mind-blowing? All of the above, Ris."

"Something I have never done before but so satisfying, Lens."

"First time ko rin," Leni admitted.

"I-I'm sorry. I really am. Dear Lord. W-whatever it is I said, I did... last night forget it ever happened. Hindi ko sinasadya, Lens. My goodness. What was I thinking?" Risa fumbled with words when Leni's word struck her. It was both your first times, Ris. Calm down. The woman might think you are letting her down. Are you though? Do you really regret what had just happened? There's obviously sparks there. It was electrfying to say the least. Why would you even deny yourself this? Ugh!

"I'm not sorry at all, Senator Risa. If anything, I am glad. Hindi pala ako mag-isa sa laban kong iyon." There's no point of hiding anything anymore. Nauna pang may nangyari sa amin before I can even confess what I feel for her. At this point, what's there to lose? Mahal niya rin naman pala ako. Hayyy nako, Leonor. Bakit ba naman kasi napakatorpe mo?

"W-what do you mean, Lens?" Please let it mean what I think it meant. Leni, mahal mo rin ba talaga ako?

"Let me mirror what you've told me, mahal kita as in romantic love, not just as friends. I missed you and your presence in my life. And to add, alam kong napaka-busy mo kaya hindi na rin kita ginulo."

"Lens—" oh my God, ang tagal kong hiniling na sana mangyari ito. Na sana bigyan tayo ng pagkakataon this lifetime.

"It's okay if you'll tell me na hindi mo talaga meant yung sinabi mo at nadala ka lang nung moment kagabi since you were intoxicated... but we both know that alcohol can most definitely act as a truth serum -- something that allows people to say what is truly on their mind."

Risa only gave Leni a soft kiss on the lips as a response.

"I am in love with you," Leni said, "with or without alcohol in my system. I am now admitting to you, Ana Theresia Navarro Hontiveros na mahal kita."

"Sober na ako dahil sa'yo Maria Leonor at sa ginawa natin. Gusto ko ring malaman mo at marinig mo from me na mahal na mahal din kita."