SOMEONE

Chapter 20

Leni smiled thinking of the parks she explored in New York.

"You know when I was in New York andami dami mga parks, bigger than this. Green grass and flowers, lots of them" she said

Risa smiled she did see the post where Leni expressed her wish that there could be something like that in the Philippines too.

"I know. Nakita ko yung mga picture na pinost mo nung isang araw"

Leni thought of those pictures. She sighed and tilted her head slightly.

"Pinagbibiro ako ng mga bata non, andami ko daw pinipicturan na trees. Pero it was something that I did unconsciously. Everyday na nasa New York kame pag may nakaen kaming masarap iniisip ko magugustuhan ni Risa to. Or when we went to the parks iniisip ko na you'd love it there, na gusto kita isama don one day"

Risa smiled and looked at her lap.

"Maybe one day"she said

Leni sighed

"When we came back I couldn't sleep" Leni chuckled "Para akong tanga dahil excited ako na finally we were breathing the same air. Na You were just a few miles away"

"Why didn't you call me" Risa asked

"Dahil kung tatawagan kita at magkakausap tayo lang dalawa baka hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko. Baka masabi ko ang mga bagay na matagal ko na gusto sabihin" she said

"I watched interviews, new and old ones, just to see your face. I listened to podcasts kahit late na dahil after a long day your voice is what calms me"

"But?"

"But I was stuck. Stuck between you and the girls. I don't want you to hurt but it will also kill me to see them hurting because of me. Pero nakakatuwa nga dahil sa huli nasaktan ka at nasaktan din sila" she laughed bitterly

"I told you I just wanted to be there for you, I wasn't expecting anything" Risa said

"Ikaw hindi, pero ako oo. I hate to admit it but I wanted it. I wanted the happiness. I wanted us" Leni said looking at Risa who was already looking at her

"I was a coward. I still am a coward Ris. I tried to push you away and hurt you so that you'd leave me but at every chance I got I would just go back to you. Hindi ko kaya eh. Believe me nahihirapan din ako"

Risa took Leni's hand into her own.

"I'm still here."

Leni intertwined their hands

Risa smiled and squeezed her hand.

"I shouldn't say this but it makes me happy that you can't help but need me with you" Risa smiled

Leni looked down at their hands.

"Pero hindi ko kayang saktan mga anak ko. Kung gusto nilang iwan kita, kahit masasaktan tayo, gagawin ko parin" she said

"Why are you telling me this then kung wala naman pala magbabago" Risa asked while crying

"Dahil tama ka. Lagi mo pinaparamdam sakin na mahal mo ako. Pero ako, lagi lang kitang sinasaktan and I never told you how important you are to me. So tonight I am telling you. Dahil hindi ko mapapangako sayo na may chance pa ako sabihin sayo lahat na to" Leni wiped Risa's tears with her free hand

"You are my someone Ana Theresia" she said hoping Risa would understand "Hindi ko alam kung anong mangyayare in the future.
But you are really important to me" Leni said "And I'm sorry na nasasaktan ka dahil sakin"

"I told you kahit ilan beses pa ako masaktan ikaw parin ang nasa puso ko"

"I don't want that, masakit din sakin na makita ka nahihirapan dahil sakin. And I don't want this but I really hope you can move on from me kahit hindi ako ang kasama mo. I don't deserve you Ris"

Risa was speechless. Leni was really annoying her right now. Here she goes again giving up already.

She let go of Leni's hand and stood up.

"Alam mo lagi mo sinasabi yan. You're telling me na importante ako sayo pero binabawi mo rin. Gusto mo akong makita na kasama ang iba? What the hell Leni. Please lang ha. For once isipin mo nga sarili mo" Risa raised her voice

"Pagod na akong marinig every time na you're ready to give up on us, on me. Sabi mo lang kanina hindi mo ako kayang makita na kasama ang iba. Pero now you want me to date other people?"

Leni stood up too

"Risa kung kailangan mo mag move on at yun lang ang paraan then do it. Dahil hindi ko na talaga kaya. And mas gusto kong maging masaya ka kahit hindi ako kasama mo kesa nasa tabi kita pero nakikita kong ako ang dahilan kung bakit ka nasasaktan"

"So is that it? Is that your decision? Hindi mo man lang ako ipaglalaban ?"

Leni didn't answer. Silently confirming her stance.
Leni did it again. She decided again for both of them.

And no, Risa was done taking shit from Leni.

She went closer to Leni and held her face slowly but firmly.

"Then screw you. You don't get to decide for me. I will fight for this, even for one last time. I don't care anymore kung ayaw mo o gusto mo because I've been respecting your wishes this whole time but guess what dalawa tayo dito. I will fight for what can be or can't be now. Kung kaya mong hindi maging masaya then ako kaya ko rin making you happy. The girls alam na nila or they'll talk to you about it tomorrow so I will fight for us and if I need to I will fight you too" Risa said looking directly into Leni's eyes showing her she decided already

"Kung kaya mong piliin ang ibang tao kesa sa sarili mo then kaya ko rin piliin ka before me"

Leni was left speechless at Risa's determination

"So be stubborn all you want but I can be stubborn too" Risa said.

Risa then hugged Leni impossibly close.

"I can't date other people because my heart is already taken. And from now on kahit sasabihin mong you want to give up I'll just keep telling you how much I love you. At tulad ng sabi mo ang minamahal ay pinaglalaban so wag ka na makulit dyan, hindi mo bagay" she said and chuckled

She broke the hug and took Leni'd hand leading her back to the car.

Risa then drove her back to her condo. Leni was silent throughout the drive thinking about Risa's words

When Risa parked in front of her condo Leni was about to open the door but paused.

She sighed and turned to Risa.

In Risa's eyes there was no sign of doubt. Only love.

"Risa"

Risa was expecting another pleading from Leni.

"If you're going to say that thi-"

"I will try, for you. You're right, dalawa tayo dito so ako na muna, let me be the one fighting for us this time. I can't guarantee that this will end the way we want but I will try. There's a chance against parin sila and you know that they still are my priority pero I will fight" Leni said

Risa was right

Ang minamahal ay pinaglalaban.

Risa had her mouth wide open. She's been wanting to hear those words from Leni for a long time and now finally a new wave of hope invaded her heart.

Leni smiled softly at her and then exited the car.

Leni sighed and walked to her condo.

*There's no turning back now*

——-

Na guilty ako eh 🥲🤣🤣

Sanaol may Risa na ipaglalaban ka lagi 😂😂

Exciting part na ba?