Entr'acte

game on

He positioned himself directly behind her, his hands guiding hers as she held the racket.

His other hand settled on her waist, gently adjusting her stance. Theresia felt a jolt of electricity at his proximity, his breath warm against her neck.

"Here, let me show you" he murmured, his voice low and focused.

Theresia fought to concentrate, aware of the way his body felt pressed against hers. "You mean like this?" she asked, trying to maintain her composure as she mirrored his movements, feeling the heat radiating from him.

"Opo, and remember, sa bola ang tingin, hindi sakin" he teased with a chuckle.

"Oh, shut up" she blushed, hitting his shoulder lightly.

As they continued, the tension grew palpable, charged with every lingering touch and fleeting glance. Theresia felt a deep longing to bridge the gap that had always existed between them.

Finally, after what felt like hours of spirited play, they took a break, collapsing onto the benches beside the court, both breathless and laughing.

"Okay, I think l've earned my title as your best trainer," Sonny declared, wiping the sweat from his brow from the towel that Theresia handed him.

"Admit it, mas magaling na ako sayo," Theresia challenged, leaning back with her arms crossed, a mischievous grin on her lips.

"Maybe a little. But you know what? I admire you. You're not just a brilliant senator; you're fiercely competitive. It's impressive," he confessed, his tone shifting to something more sincere. Theresia felt her heart race at his words.

"You're not so bad yourself, mister. I mean, I always knew you had the muscles for it," she replied, winking at him, trying to compose herself by taking a sip from her flask.

"Yeah? Well, I'm glad I can impress you" he said, leaning back with a casual confidence that only made her want him more.

After taking a break on the benches, Theresia and Sonny walked together toward the parking lot, their steps in sync. As they approached Sonny's car, he glanced over at her.

"You drove here?" he asked casually.

Theresia shook her head. "Nah, I took a taxi. Nagpa-drive si Pia kay manong today eh"

Sonny raised an eyebrow. "No way you're taking a taxi back. I'll give you a ride."

She smiled gratefully, and they both slid into the car. As Sonny pulled out of the parking lot, the atmosphere between them felt comfortable, like it always did.

They hadn't gone far when Theresia's stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.

Sonny chuckled. "Was that... you?"

Theresia laughed, her face flushing slightly. "Okay, fine, nagugutom ako. Guess I worked up an appetite."

"Jollibee?" Sonny suggested, his brows wiggled.

"Yes please" Theresia agreed with a grin.

They pulled into the nearest Jollibee drive-thru, ordering burgers, fries, and drinks. As they drove down the road, the smell of food filled the car, and Sonny tried, unsuccessfully, to eat while driving.

He sighed frustratingly, fumbling with his burger.

Theresia chuckled. "Here, let me."

She picked up his burger and held it out for him, and Sonny leaned over to take a bite. As he chewed, she noticed a bit of sauce on his lips and, without thinking, reached over to wipe it off with her thumb. Their eyes met briefly, a flicker of something passing between them before they both laughed at the irony of it all.

"All that sweating on the court, and now we're stuffing our faces with fast food," Theresia said, shaking her head.

"Well, we did earn it," Sonny replied with a grin. "Besides, we've worked off enough calories for the week."

"Sure we did" she laughed, feeding him another bite of the burger as they cruised through the city streets, the easy camaraderie making the moment feel natural—yet something about the simple act of her feeding him made it feel intimate, almost... domestic.

They finally pulled up in front of Theresia's house, the streetlights casting a warm glow over the quiet neighborhood. Neither of them seemed eager to leave the safety of the car. Theresia unbuckled her seatbelt but lingered, her hand resting on the door handle as she turned to face him.

"Thanks for today, Sonny. I had a really great time" she said softly, her eyes locking with his.

But instead of opening the door to leave, Theresia stayed still, the air between them thickening again with the same tension that had followed them from the court.

Sonny's hand, almost unconsciously, reached out and took hers. His fingers grazed her knuckles, and before either of them could process it, he lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her skin.

Sonny smiled. "Anytime, Ris."

Theresia's breath hitched. Their gazes met, the familiar friendship replaced by something much deeper, much more intense. She didn't hesitate. In one swift movement, she reached out, her hand slipping around the back of Sonny's neck, pulling him toward her.

Their lips met in a heated kiss, it wasn't slow or tentative this time—it was urgent, filled with a passion that neither of them could deny any longer. Theresia's fingers tangled in his hair, while Sonny's hands found her waist, pulling her closer as they gave in.

They pulled back for air, both of them breathless, their foreheads resting against each other's as they tried to process what had just happened. There was no awkwardness, no guilt, just the undeniable truth of what they had both been feeling for so long.

"Sonny..." Theresia whispered, her voice trembling slightly as the realization of what they had just crossed sank in.

"Ris" Sonny murmured back, his thumb stroking the back of her hand gently. His gaze was steady, filled with an unspoken understanding.

"Did.. that just happen?"Theresia breathed, her heart racing.

Sonny chuckled, a mix of surprise and exhilaration lighting up his features. "Yeah, I think it did. Maybe we should play more often," he replied, a teasing glint returning to his eyes. Theresia chuckled softly.

"Definitely," she said, a radiant smile breaking across her face. "But next time, I'm definitely going to win."

"Game on." he replied, a playful challenge in his tone as he leaned in closer again, capturing her lips once more.