Beautiful Trauma [feat. LeGine]

Eight.

"I didn't nga. I'm sorry, ate. And you, Lei, h-how about you? How did you even know that it was you who I kissed or it was me who kissed you?"

"Sa news. Kahapon ng umaga," Lea responded, "I saw my outfit. And kilala ko naman ang sarili ko, Congresswoman Vargas."

"I've released a statement naman na about it. It's all good now. Hindi ka na nga nadamay since di ko naman alam na ikaw pala 'yun. Ayaw mo ba no'n?"

"Exactly the point. Hindi ko alam if I'd be happy na hindi nadawit ang pangalan ko sa issue mo or kung magagalit ba ako at maooffend dahil ni hindi mo man lang pala na-recognize kung sino ako and worst, tinakbuhan mo pa ako," Lea ranted.

"You both, sort yourselves out. I'm giving you the rest of the day off from the office, Attorney Sy. Do some field work and stick with Congresswoman Vargas here. Are we clear?" Leni ordered.

"Yes, ma'am," Lea politely responded.

Ravine mouthed a thank you to her ate Leni which Leni responded to with a nod.

~~~

"I'm just gonna get my suitcase, Congresswoman Vargas. I won't be long," Lea said as she walked in front of Ravine to get her stuff from her cubicle.

Ravine just followed her, "Lei, I'm really sorry. I'll take you to the movies and treat you dinner. Makakabawi ba ko that way?"

"Depende kung anong movie and kung saan kakain," Lea said with a smile.

"Gotcha! Sige, ikaw na mamili," Ravine said excitingly as if she won the lottery.

"I wanna watch Paano Kita Iibigin, Rave, it's my favorite movie of all time, yung kina Ms Reg at Piolo Pascual. Well, for dinner, I just want Jollibee for dinner. 'Yung super meal. I have Paano on my flashdrive, do you think we can just go to my condo and watch there?"

"Oo naman. Why not?" Ravine responded with a wide smile.

Ravine's phone rang, she answered it and looked quite upset. Lea was just looking at her.

"Lei, I'm really really sorry about this. Gusto mo bang sumama na lang muna sa akin sa company? That was ate Loren, I mean Senator Legarda, on the phone. Urgent matter lang. I'm needed there ASAP."

"Rave, are you sure that it's okay if I come with you?" Lea asked.

"Oo naman. I am the owner and CEO, for heaven's sake. Of course, you are allowed in my company's premises," Rave reassured Lea.

"Okay then," Lea said, "wait mo ako. I'll just get something from my car then alis na tayo."

"Okay, sige," Ravine said.

"Pero pala di ba sabi mo urgent yun? Gusto mo bang sumunod na lang ako? Just give me the address."

"No. Hintayin kita. I'll wait for you no matter what happens," Ravine said sincerely staring at Lea.

Lea just smiled and was oblivious of Ravine's stare as she was too busy fiddling with her things.

"Ay eto na pala," Lea said which made Ravine go back to her senses, "I thought it was in my car, nandito lang pala itong flashdrive sa suitcase ko."

"So, that means, tara na?" Ravine queried.

"Yep," Lea said then they walked towards the OVP exit and into the parking.

"In fairness, sakit nung sampal mo kanina ah," Ravine said breaking the silence as they walked.

"Sorry, Rave, uhmmm, I've been told by Izzie the same night the kissed happened, that, you know, iba ang preferences mo in love and in life," Lea apologetically stated, "I'm sorry if I slapped you. Hindi ko rin alam why I did that."

"Alam mo na pala. Maybe you got scared and thought in your head na baka sinadya ko 'yun at nagdeny lang ako sa press about not knowing about it. Lei, I promise, I really didn't know," Ravine explained as she touched Lea's hand and stroked it with her thumb.

"I didn't get scared naman. More on, it made me feel concious about myself more. Pero 'di mo naman siguro ako ihohostage or kikidnapin di ba, Congresswoman Vargas?"

Ravine lets go of Lea's hand and quickly said, "Hindi 'no! Malabo mangyari 'yun. May taste kaya ako sa ihohostage o kikidnapin."

"Oh my! Did you just insult me, Ravine Vargas?" Lea said with a chuckle as she lightly slapped Ravine's shoulder, "Ano? Hindi mo ako type? Aray ha!"

"Ikaw pa talaga ang umaray samantalang ako ang hinampas mo, naku, Maria Lea Carmen, hindi. Hindi talaga," Ravine said in a rather serious manner as they stopped in front of her car.

"Walang hiya ka... Grabeee.." Lea said as she pinched Ravine on the side which made the latter flinch.

"Uyy! 'Wag! Mabangga tayo ng nagdaraang sasakyan," Ravine said while giggling.

"So, di mo nga talaga ako type? Grabe! In my entire life, ngayon lang talaga ako nainsulto ng ganito, ha!"

"Bakit, Lei? Gusto mo ba maging type kita?" Ravine asked as she stared and look at Lea's reaction.

Lea's expression immediately shifted to an expression of disbelief with a hint of amusement. While Ravine, on the other hand, was smiling like an idiot as she trying to hide her kilig.

"Kung gusto mong maging type kita, sabihin mo lang, Lei. Pagbibigyan kita," Ravine added which made Lea make a gigil face.

"Sira ka talaga!" Lea said, "halika na nga! Baka nakakalimutan mong hinihintay ka ni Senator Legarda."

They both rode the car with Ravine on the driver seat. She took a deep breath then heaved a satisfied sigh before they drove off. Fleeting moments like this, it's worth the time and effort.