Ace of Hearts

When The Sun Goes Down

"When the sun goes down

You're gonna need a flashlight

You're gonna need a candle..."

Risa sang the words as she read the paperwork her staff sent her. It had been 2 days since she last saw Leni. 2 days since she had a picnic with her at the Esplanade, had lunch together, watched a play entitled "In the Heights", and went to get ice cream afterwards before going their separate ways.

She had already watched that play way back 2011 when the show was in Manila because of a tour. In a sense, it gave her a sense of nostalgia. She had known Leni at that time then but had not been truly close to her until a year later. It seemed so long ago so when Leni asked her if she wanted to watch that, she said yes.

Maybe watching it this time around, it'd mean other things for her.

And it did.

"When you leave town

I'm gonna buy you a calling card

'Cause I'm falling hard for you..."

She sang again, getting up to make a hot cup of coffee. Smiling to herself, she remembered how, in the middle of Act 1, Leni reached out for her hand and laced their fingers together. How, while their eyes were set on the stage before them, they would look at each other briefly and smile, then turn their attention back to the front because they wouldn't want to miss too much of the show. How Leni's hand was on her lower back as they exited the theater and how they held hands on the way to the ice cream shop that was still open down the street.

Every day spent with Leni was a magical one. Perhaps that was because she had spent too much time loving her from afar that to have her so near is utter bliss.

"When you're on your own

And suddenly without me

Will you forget about me?

I couldn't if I tried..."

She was pulled out of her musings when a notification made her phone ding. "Good morning, Ris!"

Like a little girl, Risa squealed, covering her face with her palms and feeling the heat spread through her cheeks. Not wanting to prolong her reply, she sent: "Good morning to you too, Leni! Any plans for today?"

"Wala naman maliban sa work. Break time ngayon. Pwede ba kita tawagan?"

"Sure!"

She picked the phone up on the first ring.

------------

The first half of the week went on without them seeing each other. They still both had duties to uphold, appearances to keep, and Risa really didn't want to bother Leni too much. She knew space would be something they'd both need even when this was the first time they were seeing each other in years. They were older now. Wiser, more understanding, and like always, ever-patient.

To both of them, they had all the time in the world. But the rest of the aspects of their lives must go on.

Today, however, Leni knew she had to see her again. It was a Wednesday, after all.

And like always, Wednesdays were for her. And for Risa.

"Hi, busy ka today?" She texted Risa as her final and only class for the day came to an end.

"Hi, not right now but I have to finish a couple of things mga 4 PM and a meeting I think around 7 PM dito kasi 7 AM doon."

She thought about how difficult it must have been for Risa to be so far from work. But with her concern, also came this selfishness. For 9 years, they have both chosen work and duty above themselves. She was glad Risa chose to be selfish for them this time, so she could choose to be too.