Photographs, Notes, and the Playlist (One-Shot Compilations) [feat. LNRS]

Confessions (To The Best Mare)

Listen to This Guy's In Love With You, Pare
by Parokya Ni Edgar
from the Edgar Edgar Musikahan album.
•••

"Ana Theresia Hontiveros, a name that keeps resounding in my head. Anak ng tokwa! Not that I am doomed but I think I've fallen and I think I've fallen damn hard. Kalma, Gerona. Presidente ka, SP-Pro Tempore si Honti. Ikalma mo. How do I calm down though? She's so gorgeous. Not only that but... hot. Ay jusko! Gerona! Behave your thoughts! Sino ka naman d'yan? May boyfriend si Risa. At pwede ba, Leonor! Best mare of the world si Risa. Keep it that way. She's worth keeping." Leni's thoughts were wild.

She was indeed distracted. 'Why?', one may ask. Here's why: Senator Risa Hontiveros just graced the President's office wearing the same above-the-knee length Filipiniana dress she wore when she took her Oath of Office when the President was still VP.

"H-hi, Senator Hontiveros, k-kamusta? What can I do for you?" Leni stuttered, a bit flustered.

"Senator Hontiveros ka d'yan. Hello, Leni. I'm good, ikaw? Sorry bigla-bigla na lang akong sumusulpot out of nowhere," she giggled as walked closer to her desk.

"It's fine, Risa. Walang problema. You can barge into my office anytime you want. It's a gesture I am willing to get used to," Leni stood up and gave her favorite kumare a hug and beso.

Since Risa was too close and was about to do the same thing, the side of their lips collided, sending electric bolts through both their systems. They both chuckled and turned slighty red. Though, Leni somehow caught a whiff of Risa's scent before they parted — it was a mixture of roses and red wine.

"Take a seat," Leni said as she shook her head, her smile still lingering, "anong atin? What's with the outfit? Ganda mo ah."

As Risa sat down she chuckled, "bolera but salamat. Well, ang outfit na ito ay dahil nag-ninang ako sa kasal noong isang supporter ng LenRisa. Pia was with me, though ikaw, pumunta ka raw bago ang kasal pero sobrang saglit mo lang?"

"Busy," Leni scratched her nape as she came up with that excuse.

"Sa akin ka pa magsisinungaling? E pag pasok ko rito sa opisina mo you were staring intently at your door," Risa bluntly spilled, she may actually be a bit intoxicated.

Kasi alam kong darating ka. Alam kong susunod ka dahil panay kitang iniiwasan which you hate. And obviously here you are, slightly drunk(?), Leni said in her head.

"Para nagpahinga lang saglit eh," Leni jested, "sorry na po, boss. Sinasabi ko na tauhan lang talaga ako rito sa opisina ng Presidente eh. Ang tunay na boss nasa Senado. SP Pro-tempore pa."

"Sira ka talaga!" Risa let out a hearthy laugh then sighed, a tear rolling out her cheek, "pero seryoso nga, Lens? Hindi ko alam if ako lang ba or iniiwasan mo ako. Every time there's an event na supposedly magkasama tayo, hindi kita naaabutan. Either umaalis ka raw agad or you cancelled or apparently, here's the best one — pumupunta ka kapag nakaalis na ako. Lagi kang busy? Sabi naman nina Aika, madalas pag wala ka rito nasa bahay ka lang nakikipaglaro kay Rocco. Yes, tumatawag ako sa inyo. Just this time, si Tricia ang sumagot at sinabing nandito ka raw sa Malacañang. Kaya pagkatapos ng reception, hinatid ko lang si Pia then dito na ko dumiretso. So, except sa busy ka... what other honest excuse have you really got?"

Whoa! Teka naman. Dahan-dahan, Senator. Medyo may tama talaga ata ito. How much wine did she have before coming here? How did she pass off as sober when in fact she barely is? And why is she concerned about my absence in her presence? Ayokong mag-assume. Might as well ask? Guh! Lakas ng loob, nasaan ka? Come on! I need some right now, Leni thought.

"Busy lang talaga, Ris. Pasensya na," Leni apologized. Ay gago! Napakatorpe talaga, kahit kailan.

"Busy," Risa mimicked Leni then half-laugh, half-sobbed, "busy enough to know my schedule, President Gerona? Busy enough para malaman mo kung kailan mo ako dapat iwasan?"

Leni scribbled on paper and folded it in quarters then gave it to Risa, "ipapahatid na kita sa driver, Ris. Basahin mo 'yang nasa papel kapag nakauwi ka na. Okay? I have things to do pa kasi."

Risa just frowned, disappointed by the mere fact that Leni's actually asking her to leave. If not for her borderline drunkenness, she would have protested but she kinda felt tired too, all of a sudden. So she just gave in to the orders given by the most powerful person in the land.

When she got home, Risa slept on it. When she woke up the next day, she was good as new. But then she thought about what happened the night prior and couldn't help but slap her forehead, jusko Hontiveros! Nakakahiya ka! Her eyes widened then she started scanning the room for something. On her side table, she found a folded pink note. Ah! So, it was true! She gave me a note before escorting me out of her office to the white van. Risa opened the note and her mouth fell open.

When she recovered from the shock, Risa immediately got her phone and texted Leni.