no strings attached

Dare Flashbacks 3/3

"Bawal ma-fall."

"Hay nako Reese. Joke time ata 'to."

"Basta! Last na. Bawal din mag i love you."

Silence enveloped them after Reese said her last terms and conditions.

"Ano? Leon? Diyan ka pa?"

"Ah oo. Final na ba yan?"

"Yes! Tatlo lang para madali maalala."

"Okay. Sleep na ako, Reese. Good night!"

"Good night Leon!"

"Baba mo na."

"Ikaw na, ako na tumawag eh."

"Dali na, baba mo na. Ako na nga tumawag."

"Eh ayoko ibaba."

"Sabi mo inaantok kana?"

"Oo nga pero ikaw kasi magbaba."

"Para bata Leon. Sige na nga ako na."

"Bye! I lo" Leon almost slipped.

"I'll sleep na." She immediately said.

Reese dropped the call. She put her phone to her table and laid down in bed. She thought of Leon's last line. Did she almost say I love you? Was it intentional? She fell asleep thinking of everything that happened.

—

The next morning, Leon's mind is still occupied by her and the senator's thing. She went to her office for work and she was surprised that Francis was there. She nervously approached Francis who is at the lounge are.

"VP! Good morning!"

"Hi Sen. Nandito ka pala. Tara sa office?"

They went upstairs and proceeded to the vice president's office.

"Sorry VP, I came unannounced."

"It's okay. Wala namang bisita today."

"Dumaan lang ako, may binigay kay Usec Philip."

Leon was about to speak when Francis asked about what happened yesterday night.

"Ay VP, sorry pala nakatulog daw ako sabi ni Megan kagabi. Hindi ko kayo nahatid ni Sen. Reese."

"A-ah it's fine. Pauwi na rin naman. Ako na naghatid kay Reese." Leon said nervously, preventing an eye contact with Francis.

"Ah buti naman. Medyo tipsy na rin si Reese."

Leon just nodded and pretended that she's reading the papers on her desk.

"Nakakahiya Leon. Nagdare pala ako sa'yo kagabi."

Francis knows. He wasn't drunk when he dared Leon to kiss Reese.

"Ha?"

"Diba nagdare ako na halikan mo si Reese? Sensya na nadala lang ng katuwaan." Seconds late, Francis noticed a guilty face.

"Leon? Don't tell me?!"

"Sasabihin ko rin sana sa'yo agad kaso hindi ko alam paano tapos nandito ka pala bigla."

Francis was shocked. He covered his mouth with his hand and just looked at Leon.

"What?? Say something."

"Bading ka." Francis blurted out.

"Huy!"

"Ano? Hindi ba? Bading ka. Bakit mo hinalikan? Saan? Sa bahay ko?!"

"Sa bahay niya."

"Ha?!"

Francis couldn't believe what he is hearing from Leon. He tapped the table hard and stood up.

"Nagkiss lang kayo diba? Sabihin mo yun lang."

Leon bit her lip and and raised her eyebrows, showing a guilty face. Francis got the message quickly.

"Anak ng tipaklong. Dare ko kiss lang tapos?!"

"Nadala kami okay? Hindi ko akalaing aabot doon."

"So? Ano kayo niyan? Jowa?"

"Huh? No. Wala, friends pa rin."

"Leon naman."

"Ano?! Eh yun yung napag-usapan namin eh."

Francis seated again. She looked at him and saw that he was stressed out.

"Magtubig ka nga, oh."

"Thanks. Jusko kayo. Alam ko na tawag diyan."

"Ano?"

"Tropa premium."

"Gago. Pero pwede? Kasi may terms and conditions kami."

"Tangina? Joke lang ko yon pero kayo???"

"Ewan ko kay Reese. Umoo na lang ako."

"Ano ano naman yon?"

"Bawal magselos. Bawal ma-fall. Bawal mag-i love you."

Francis spilled the water he is drinking.

"Lalabag ka sa terms na 'yan. Sinasabi ko sa'yo."

Leon just rolled her eyes at him. After a while, Francis left the OVP. Leon just spent her day working and attending online meetings. Reese on the other hand, was busy with senate related work.

Leon is deciding whether to text Reese or not. She just wants to know how her day went. If she ate her lunch and dinner on time. That's what best friends do right? To look out for each other?

"Hi Reese! Kumusta?"

Reese didn't reply. Leon didn't mind it and just did household chores. She was reminded of what they did while washing the dishes. She let herself remember it– how she kissed Reese for the first time and how she kissed her back. For her, it wasn't just sex. There was love. That exact moment, Leon knew that it wasn't because of the dare, it was purely because of herself.

She was already falling inlove with Reese.