"Paki-tandaan na 'yung bagong donations from our partners ay dadating later today kaya abangan na lang dito sa opisina. 'Yung mga kailangang pirmahan, iwan na lang dyan sa desk ko. Sa ibabaw sana 'yung pinaka-importante. 'Wag buksan ang mga confidential files, okay? Alam niyo naman na 'yun."
Bilin ko sa staff na maiiwan sa office before getting inside the van. I was invited as the guest speaker sa isang women's convention and to my delight, Risa's the other guest speaker na ininvite nila. Akala ko against all odds 'tong feelings ko pero iba na rin talaga kapag universe na mismo gumagawa ng paraan.
Charot, assuming ko naman banda do'n.
It's been a month since I last saw Risa and a week since I last heard from her. Alam ko naman na a part of it was my fault kaya siya busy kasi nga siya 'yung inassign ko but there's really no one else I trust to deliver but her. She knows my standards pagdating sa work and that I won't accept anything less than clean and perfect outputs. What else should I expect from a perfect girl like her? Edi perfect outputs rin.
We arrived sa venue and were led to one of the rooms while waiting for the event to begin.
"Bryce, nandito na ba sila Sen. Risa?"
"Wala pa po, Ma'am."
"Ah okay, inform me when they're here."
"Okay po."
20 minutes later, I was about to ask Bryce if nandito na sila pero naunahan niya ako. "Ma'am nandito na po sila."
"Salamat." I stepped out and went to Risa's waiting room with my staff trailing behind me. I knocked on the door and opened it slightly.
I think I almost forgot how to breathe when I laid my eyes on her. She wore a dress, her hair cascading freely past her shoulders, and she carried that smile that had always reached her eyes.
"Good morning, Senator Hontiveros," I greeted coolly. 'Yan ganyan, calm and composed as you always are, Leni.
Lumapit siya agad sa'kin at bumeso. I rested my hand on her back. Ang bilis naman, wala bang yakap dyan? 'Di naman malulukot 'yung damit ko. She greeted me back with more energy than I expected. Excited makita ako?
Para hindi halatang kinilig ako, I joked, "Ang taas ng energy mo, Sen."
"Nag-milo ako eh." Ayun. Milo champion rin pala 'tong babaeng 'to.
We laughed at her answer and I asked everyone kung kumusta na sila. Marami-rami din pala siyang staff na kasama pero ang pinaka-tumatak sa'kin itong babaeng bumubulong sa kanya ngayon. No, it's not that I'm jealous. Curious lang talaga ako anong pinag-uusapan nila kasi biglang namula si Risa tapos hinampas siya. She even hid her face in her hands.
Kanina, I could've gone mad sa kilig but right now, I'm dying to know what made her react like that. Sue me for being head over heels in love.
Tinawag na kami ng isa sa mga organizers kaya lumabas na kami sa waiting room. Risa and I walked side by side and her scent invaded my nostrils. I pressed my lips into a thin line to hold in my smile. Wala na, pumalya na talaga nang tuluyan.
I was the first to give my speech and was met with cheers and applause from the crowd. But to me, the only one that mattered were those I can hear from the woman seated behind me. I've said it before but it just seems timely to repeat it. Risa's my constant. My cheerleader, number one fan, companion, confidant, and my best friend. I just wish and try my hardest to reciprocate the energy and support she gives me.
Risa's consistently my constant. Since 2016.
"Galing mo talaga, kaya idol kita eh." Hmm, pa-fall.
