The first thing Risa noticed was that Leni looked tired.
Not the usual tired.
Not the "galing sa meeting" tired. Not the "kulang sa tulog" tired.
It was the quiet kind.
The kind Leni hides behind smiles and gentle nods and "okay lang ako."
And after years of knowing her, Risa learned that "okay lang" was sometimes the biggest lie.
"Ma'am," tawag niya habang papasok sa office. "Kumain ka na ba?"
Nakataas pa rin mata ni Leni sa papers niya. "Mm-hm."
"Real answer."
"...Hindi pa."
"Thought so."
Nilapag ni Risa yung paper bag sa table. Agad napangiti si Leni nang maamoy pagkain.
"You bought lugaw?"
"Favorite mo."
"That's very biased treatment, Senator."
"Deserve mo."
Simple lang yung sagot pero parang may kung anong humila sa hangin.
Tahimik si Leni for a moment before smiling softly.
"Aalagaan mo talaga ako hanggang pagtanda?"
Risa paused.
Kasi normal lang naman dapat yung tanong.
Friends asked things like that all the time.
But somehow, coming from Leni, it felt dangerously intimate.
"Kung papayag ka," she answered quietly.
Leni stared at her.
Then laughed softly. "Bakit parang proposal pakinggan?"
"Kasalanan mo 'yan."
"Hindi, kasalanan mo. Ang seryoso mo sumagot."
"Eh paano ba dapat?"
Tumikhim si Leni kunwari. "Oo naman, beh. Ikaw pa ba?"
Natawa si Risa despite herself.
God.
She was doomed.
—
Umulan nang malakas bandang gabi.
Most of the staff had already gone home, leaving the building unusually quiet. Tanging tunog lang ng ulan at mahihinang keyboard clicks ang naririnig.
"Leni."
"Hm?"
"Past ten na."
"Alam ko."
"Uuwi ka pa ba?"
Finally, tumingin si Leni sa kaniya.
Then she sighed dramatically. "Ayoko na maging adult."
"Too late for that."
"Pwede bang mag-resign muna ako tapos magtayo nalang tayo ng coffee shop?"
"Tayo agad?"
"Syempre kasama ka."
"Ah," mahinang sabi ni Risa. "Akala ko hypothetical lang."
"Hindi," sagot ni Leni, casual na casual habang nagsusulat ulit. "Ikaw favorite kong kasama."
And there it was again.
That terrifying softness.
Yung pakiramdam na parang every word from Leni meant more than it should.
Napabuntong-hininga nalang si Risa habang nakatingin sa kaniya.
"You do realize," she said carefully, "na hindi magandang ginagawa mo sakin."
"Ha?"
"You say things too easily."
Nagtaas ng kilay si Leni. "Like what?"
"Like that."
"Which one?"
"You know exactly what."
"Hindi nga."
Sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Risa habang natatawa naman si Leni.
Then, slowly, the laughter faded.
And suddenly, Leni looked at her differently.
Softer.
Quieter.
Almost nervous.
"What if I do mean it?" she asked.
Natahimik si Risa.
Sa dami ng speeches na narinig niya mula kay Leni Robredo, ngayon lang siya nawalan ng maisasagot.
The rain outside grew heavier.
But inside the room, everything felt still.
"What if," Leni continued softly, "ikaw talaga favorite kong tao?"
"Leni..."
"And what if matagal ko nang gusto sabihin 'yon?"
Hindi agad nakasagot si Risa.
Because the truth was—
matagal na rin.
Matagal na niyang mahal si Leni in the quietest way possible.In stolen glances.In extra cups of coffee.In waiting after long meetings.In remembering the smallest things.
She just never thought someone like Leni could love her back the same way.
"Say something," mahina pero natatawang sabi ni Leni. "Kinakabahan ako."
And that made Risa laugh.
"Vice President ka dati pero takot ka sa confession?"
"Very brave po sa public service, very weak po sa crush."
"Crush lang?"
"Advanced mag-isip ah."
"Answering your question."
Napailing si Leni habang nakangiti.
Then, for the first time that night, lumapit si Risa.
Close enough to see the warmth in her eyes.Close enough to notice how Leni stopped breathing for a second.
"You're unfair," bulong niya.
"Bakit?"
"Because you made me fall in love with you nang hindi mo man lang sinasabi."
For a moment, Leni simply stared at her.
Then she smiled.
Soft.Certain.Home.
"Good thing," she whispered, intertwining their fingers gently, "nahulog din ako."
