Mysterious Racer X

Chapter 1 - Deep down in my heart, I still love you.

Are you at the office? Can we talk?

Leni stared at her phone for a couple of seconds. She didn't know if she would reply or just ignore it. It was not known on the surface that both Leni and Risa were on a cold shoulder treatment for a few months now. It got worse when Leni devoted her time to her NGO, almost forgetting the stressful weeks and months that passed by. She honestly wanted to move on—and she was thankful that she did. However, Leni finds it hard to fully ignore numerous attempts of Risa reaching out to her.

It is hard to ignore a fine woman like her.

In all honesty, Leni forced herself to ignore Risa. The reason? She is not sure herself.

For years, Risa has always been supportive of her. No matter what she does, she cheers for her like there's no tomorrow. Leni lost count of how many times they went out just talking about life and forgetting about all the issues that they had to deal with at home or work. Just them and no one else. She enjoyed the company. But that was in the past—all seems different now.

"Can she just leave me alone for a while? I don't need to think about her right now." Leni's thoughts ran. Her heart beat faster and faster and she stared at her phone until the screen's light faded away. "Why now Ris? Hindi pwede ngayon. Pwede bukas nalang? Pwede...huwag nalang? Can we just forget that—"

"Atty." Grace knocked and opened the door slightly, "I'm sorry if I'm disturbing you. But someone is waiting for you at the lobby."

"Huh?" Leni was puzzled. She doubled check on her to-do list on her phone and she had no scheduled meetings with anyone except for her team a little later in the afternoon. "I don't think I have scheduled meetings today. Sino ba yan?"

"...Si Senator Risa po. She wanted to talk to you."

"Wait?! She's here?! Bakit ngayon?"

"I—I don't know po." Grace stuttered, "Sabi lang daw urgent daw. She took a day off from work just to see you..."

"She what?!" Leni exclaimed,

Leni...

Then came a familiar voice from behind the slightly opened door. Just behind Grace was the woman that Leni was trying to avoid for so long.

"Oh, Senator Risa. Good afternoon po." Grace turned around to greet her.

"I'm so sorry that I have to go here from the lobby." Risa apologized, "But can I have a moment to talk to Atty. Leni in private?"

"Uh, yes po!" Grace answered and she opened the door. The two women finally meet face to face after so long. "Atty., you don't have any important agendas naman today. We can move our meeting to tomorrow if you like."

"Thanks, Grace." Leni sighed, "Now, please leave us both to talk in private."

"Sige po, Atty. Senator Risa, please excuse me." She then went to the door and softly closed it on the way out.

Risa immediately reached out to the doorknob and locked it. No one else was in the room but only her and Leni.

I am seriously not ready for this. Leni thought. She felt that this "talk" is not going to end well. She wasn't mentally and emotionally prepared to face this woman at all.

"Good afternoon, Risa." Leni began, "Have a seat."

"There's nothing good in this afternoon, Leni." Risa irritably replied to the soft gesture. "I'm so sorry that I have to be here at such short notice."

"I have told you!" Leni raised a bit of her voice, a bit annoyed. "I am busy. Alam ko busy ka rin. I don't want to bother you—"

"But ignoring my calls, my messages?! I'm not stupid!" Risa then raised her voice, "I came here because hindi ko na kaya."

"Then move on, Risa. Move on na!"

She slapped both her hands on Leni's office desk. Their voice grew louder and louder in each exchange.

"You thought it was easy for me?! Lord above! Leni, I've waited years." Risa's voice started crackling, "I need an answer from you—now."

"Goddamit, I need more time!" Leni couldn't hold it anymore.

"Then kailan mo ako bigyan ng sagot?!" Risa tried to hold back her tears avoiding eye contact with the woman in front of her.

"NOT. NOW." Leni assertively answered, "Ris, I just recently launched this place. The congress recently opened. There are more important things than—"

"My emotions? My feelings for you?! To hell with the 19th Congress! I am willing to skip a session just to have a date with you if I can." She paused trying to catch her breath. "I lost count of how many times I have said this to you out loud, but I love you." The volume of her voice when she said this was low as tears were slowly flowing down her face. She couldn't dare look at Leni's face that long. She never really wanted to do this. But her heart felt like bursting and her mind was filled with so many questions and what if's that she couldn't take them anymore.

"Risa, please." She reached out her hand to touch the hair of the crying girl. "I appreciate you for taking the time and effort to be here. But I cannot really give you an answer yet. I'm confused too. I'm torn."

As much as Leni didn't want to cry inside that room, she couldn't help it. Both women sobbed their hearts out. It's been too much. Their only wish is to be happy. But with all the uncertainty, especially in Leni's case, she is unsure if she should follow her heart or follow what society thinks is "okay."

Finally, their eyes meet. Leni rested her forehead on Risa's. Their eyes were an inch away from each other. Risa's sobs grew louder and she was close to shouting in the four corners of the office. Leni sensed this. She grabbed both her arms, trying her best to comfort her. She was also trying her best to keep this incident lowkey and hopefully, the conflict would not start a buzz inside the AB office. She took a deep breath, trying her best to gather the right words to tell her. In her mind, she had a hundred sentences that she wanted to say. But in the end, only two words went out of Leni's mouth.

"I'm sorry."

Risa stood up. Lifeless. Like someone turned off the light and was unsure where to go at this point. It looked like Risa had enough crying, enough begging during that hour for an answer from a woman that she adored so much almost more than her life. After those two words, she composed herself. Wiping off the last few teardrops on her face. She was completely disappointed. She wanted to shut down and just wreak havoc inside that office. Regardless if the reply wasn't something that she expected, she remained calm. It almost felt like it was the point of no return.

"Risa..." Leni just didn't know what to say.

Risa turned around and walked a few steps to unlock the doorknob. Confident that her eyes were dry enough to step out of the office, she looked that the woman behind her one more time and gave a faint smile.

"Well, thank you for the time Atty. I am sorry if I seem to be a waste."

"Wait, Ris, hang on—"

"Then yes, tama ka. I have to go back to the office now. Mas importante yun as you said. Till next time then, Atty." She then slightly opened the door. Then the last sentence from Risa just made Leni freeze on her office desk as she realized the conclusion of the talk: "I just hope not too soon. Goodbye."

Leni dropped to her desk she as placed both of her hands on her face, sinking into self-disappointment and frustration.

***

Camp C HQ. 8 pm.

After writing a few letters intended to be sent to the press, Atty. Leila took out her phone and went through her contacts to give one of them a call. A couple of rings later, someone picked up. But it wasn't the voice of someone who she intended to speak with.

"Oh? It's you." She started the conversation. "I'm sorry. Did I call at the wrong time?"

END OF CHAPTER 1

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long! Nag-layag kasi sila recently so may grace period. 😉 Thank you as always, Titas of HongKong!