There's No Way

Six

It's been weeks since they last talked.

Risa tried everything to reach out to Leni; called, sent texts, brought food, paid visits to her office (but Leni was always away for meetings and courtesy visits in provinces for some reason), tried to bribed Rona to catch Leni off guard so that she could catch up with her (yet it failed), asked Aika if she could come by their condo but the older child responded with 'ay, bawal po eh, mama's orders', sent flowers every week, everything.

But no response from Leni.

Weeks turned months, still no Leni to respond to her texts and calls. And as the days passed by, the worries turned into fear.

"Tangina naman." Risa grumbled as she read some of the bills that needs to be improved. "Tangina naman talaga."

Anothy nudged her. "Huy, wag mo naman murahin yung papel. Kawawa naman."

Risa gave him an unimpressed look. "Pero seriyosong tanong, Ris. What's been bothering you lately? You've been spacing a lot on hearings."

"Oo nga, Ris." Teddy slides into the conversation. "Muntikan ka na mapagalitan ni Ate Lei nung nakaraan."

Risa looks away, fiddling with the pink leatherband. "Isa lang sagot dyan," Chel says. "Starts with letter 'L', ends with 'I'."

"Teka ano ba nangyari?" Teddy asks, confused.

"Nag-away kami." Risa answers. "Hindi naman literal na away, but more like I stormed out of the café that we were supposed to meet at kasi I saw her talking to a woman. Tas hinabol nya yung van ko to try and explain the situation."

"Pero hulaan ko," Chel stops her. "Di mo pinatigil yung van?"

Risa nods.

Anthony slaps Risa in the head using the folder he was holding. "Aray ko naman, Trillianes!"

"Sinadya ko talaga 'yon, ng magising ka."

"Tangina mo ba?"

"Tangina mo din ba? Risa, walang kayo ni Leni baka nakakalimutan mo. At bakit ka nagalit ha? Nagseselos ka ba?"

Risa looked away, fiddling with the pink leatherband. Her friends looked at her, anticipating her answer. "Oo, nagseselos ako kasi gusto ko sya."

"Finally, narealize din! After what? Six years?" Leila interjected, wiping invisible tears to add to the dramatics.

"Kaso mukhang late ka na." Teddy says. Anthony and Chel, who was behind Risa, started to give out hand signs to make Teddy stop but the senator was not paying attention.

Risa frowned, looking at Teddy. "What do you mean?"

"Di ka ba nakikinig ng balita? Leni is now in a relationship! Kaka-amin lang nya in a presscon last night." Teddy answers. Chel and Anthony could only face-palm as a reaction.

Risa felt her whole world crumble before her. "Gago ka Baguilat." Chel mouths to the senator. Teddy, realizing his mistake, tried to take it back but Risa's mind seemed to shut down.

Leila patted the senator, and recently appointed Senate Majority Leader and newly elected Senate President, on the back.

"Risa, I'm sorry. We didn't want to tell you kasi we know how you'll react. But Teddy is right. Leni just announced last night that she is in a relationship with Atty. Michelle Santos, a friend and colleague of hers back in Naga."

"Kelan pa?" Was the only response Risa could give to Leila. The group exchanged looks, trying to keeping mum about it. "Tangina, kelan pa?" Risa's voice now went up slightly higher than usual.