There's No Way

Eight

Leni was sure she was just dreaming right now.

Risa, on the other hand, wished this moment would never end.

After grabbing lunch, the two (with their bodyguards and Rona on their trail) headed to the bowling alley. It was kind of weird to see the President and one of the Senators of the Philippines going out for bowling together with "commoners" as most would like to call it, yet Leni and Risa doesn't seem to mind.

In fact, Risa was even seen cheering and teaching a trick or two to the players near their station while Leni entertained those who wanted to take a picture with her and autographs.

As soon as the people left them be, Leni and Risa started the game.

"Ready ka na matalo, Lens— I mean Madame Pres?" Risa prayed to whoever god was out there that no one heard her slip.

Leni took a bowling ball and gave the senator a smirk. "Walang iiyak ah?" She teases.

"Aba, ang kapal neto." Risa muttered, mirroring the same smirk. "Game on."

The game went on with Leni winning against Risa just by a mere point. Risa, being the competitive one out of the two of them, groaned in despair. She even thew her arm in the air to emphasize her feelings.

"Hey, cheer up." Leni says, patting the senator on the shoulder. "May next time pa naman." The older woman then laughed when Risa groaned once again. "Tara na, let's get some desserts."

Risa looked at the president's extended hand and to Leni who was waiting for her to take it. As much as Risa wanted to sulk and let Leni do all the pleasing for defeating her in bowling, she just couldn't resist Leni.

Not when she's looking at her like she was the only person in the room.

"Fine." Risa grumbled and accepted Leni's hand. The president gave her a dimpled smile before pulling her out of the bowling hall.

Risa and Leni found themselves in the nearby dessert shop, eating choc-nut flavored ice cream while Rona, the PSG, and Risa's very own security on the nearby tables, eating some other delicacies that the shop offers.

"Ang sarap!" Leni exclaims after finishing her own serving.

"Mas masarap ka." Risa muttered but since Leni was too preoccupied with praising the ice cream, she wasn't able to hear it.

But Rona, who was sitting behind Risa, did. The secretary almost choked.

"Po?" Rona asks, bewildered. But Risa was quick to send her elbow towards her, subtly telling her to shut up.

"Thanks for accompanying me, Ris. I know there's a lot going on the Senate floor right now—"

"Anytime, Lens." Risa cutted her off. "Anyways I—"

"Leni?" Risa halted at the voice and looked up, only to see Michelle smiling at them. Risa tried so hard not to frown. "Oh, hello din po, Senator Risa! Did I disturb anything?"

"Chelle! Kamusta?" Leni greeted back, giving her a beso. "Ah, no. Senator Risa and I were just on a break. What are you doing here pala?"

"I brought some groceries lang. I decided to drop by here kasi I heard na they are selling chocnut flavored ice cream."

"You like chocnuts din pala. I remember na you are a huge sucker for it than I am. " Leni laughs, reminiscing on the memory. Michelle laughs as well.

Rona lets out a fake cough when she felt Risa fuming behind her, snapping the senator out of her anger.

"Bawal magselos pag walang kayo." Rona says, loud enough for Risa to hear. Risa whipped her head and gave her light slap on the shoulder. "Hala, sen. Bakit po kayo nagrereact?"

"Shut it, Rona."

"Hala po sen! Si kuya Emmer po yung kausap ko!" Rona defends, the said PSG shook his head. Nadamay pa nga ako.

But Rona was right though, Risa had no rights to be jealous with what Leni and Michelle have. Those two go way back, their bond is stronger than what they have.

"Ano pala ginagawa nyo ni Senator Risa dito?" Michelle asks, eyeing the two politicians before her.

"We are on a date—"

"Ah, lumabas lang kami—"

Rona made a face behind them, a teasing one in fact, as Leni and Risa answered Michelle at the same time.  The woman was slightly taken by surprise while Leni and Risa realized what they just did.

"Um—" Risa tried to salvage whatever they said to make out a believable excuse.

But Leni beated her to it. "Ah, what we mean is, we went out on a friendly date... Yeah, friendly date." The president muttered the last part as if she's trying to convince herself with the excuse.

Michelle doesn't seem to catch on with the tension happening around her and so she bought the (lame) excuse.

"Ay ganon ba? Nako Leni, Senator Risa, pasensya na kayo! Mukhang naabala ko pa ata kayo."

"Ay hindi sa ganon." They once again said in unison, making Rona chuckle as she ate her ice cream. The PSGs could only watch in amazement.

Leni cleared her throat. "You could join us if you want?" Risa gripped the edge of her seat, waiting for Michelle's answer.

"Ay, I would like to accept your offer kaso I have some errands to do din eh." Michelle says, smiling apologetically. "But please do enjoy your date!"

Rona and the PSGs snorted behind them as Leni and Risa were taken aback. Nagets nya pala yon?! Guess Michelle wasn't that dense after all.

Michelle bid the two politicians goodbye as she left the store. Rona turned to Risa and gave her a nudge using her elbow.

"Yiee date daw, Sen. Kinikilig na yan." Rona says to the senator in hush whisper. Rona's grin grew by the minute as she watch Risa's cheek became crimson red.

Risa lightly slapped Rona's arm to cover her growing embarrassment and blush. "Manahimik, Rona." She mutters.

After the whole fiasco in the dessert shop, Leni and Risa headed to the department store to browse some clothes.

"Ris," Leni calls out, her eyes not leaving the rack before her. "Do you think bagay sakin to?"

Risa turns around and saw Leni showing her a light pink suit that from the rack. She looked at Leni and to the blazer in her hand.

"It does. Lahat naman ata bagay sayo, pogi and maganda ka kasi at the same time."

Leni smiles at that. "Thanks, Ris."

"Pero I think mas bagay ka sakin." Risa mutters in which Leni fails to catch.

"Ha?"

"Ha?"

Rona, who overheard the whole conversation as she stood by the side, shook her head slightly. They are so hopeless.