Author's Note: I missed writing! Huhu. Nagdecide ako ico-continue q nalang shaaa mwehehe. Enjoy mga mamsir! <3
"I don't think you should be talking to me at this point, Mr. Belmonte," she smirks, displaying an expression that tries to taunt him.
Despite the table between them, Kit leans toward her direction and stares at her expressive eyes, which now holds a hint of suprise and panic.
"Bakit? Kinakabahan ka na ba?", he smirks, recognizing that he is getting the upperhand in the situation. He always loves it when she gets surprised by his actions. It makes him happy --- thrilled, even.
"Let's order first." When Leni did not utter any reply, he raised his hand to call the waiter's attention.
"I'll have a coffee, this one." he points at something on the menu. Leni, seeing this unfold before her, rolls her eyes
Napaghahalataan na ang edad ng isang 'to....
"You?" Kit, then turns to her and she stares back at him nervously while thinking hard about her reply.
"Uhm, same sa inorder mo." tango naman ang ibinalik ni Kit sa waiter bago ito umalis.
"So, how are things in your firm?" he attempts to address the elephant in the room. Natawa naman si Leni sa pambungad ng kanyang kasama ngayon.
"Really? 'Yan talaga una mong itatanong?"
"I'm a busy lawyer, Leni."
"I, too, am the same." she retorts.
"Kaya nga. You emphasized in your message that you want this to be done with as soon as possible, because you have a date with...some guy." he argues, with a much more emphasis on the last two words.
"Baka ako pa ang dahilan para hindi matuloy 'yang date mo, sa akin mo pa isisi kung bakit wala ka pa ring lovelife," Kit just cannot stop with the teasing, just to evoke a reaction from her.
Ano bang problema ng hinayupak na 'to... Bakit asar na asar siyang may ka-date ako ngayon?
In her mind, she had punched him. But being a civilized person, kinuyom niya na lang ang kanyang mga kamay sa pagpipigil. Ayaw niyang matanggal sa paghandle ng kaso, na kung saan si Kit ang makakalaban niya. She knows better.
Silence envelops the two and, while staring at the woman in front of her, Kit smiles.
"You look good." Hindi mapigilan ni Leni ang kanyang pagngiwi. Ang lakas mang-asar, tapos biglang compliment ang sasabihin?
"I really don't like whatever this game you are playing, Belmonte. If you just invited me to get information about my client, then I'm sorry to say but I am not your intel." She speaks slowly, making sure he understands every word from her mouth. To her dismay, ngiting ngiti ang abogadong nakatitig sa kanya pagkatapos niyang magsalita.
"I know you'd say that." He does not break their eye contact. "But this isn't, in any way, related to the case." maliit na ang kanyang ngiti ngayon.
"Huh?", was all she could say. Litong-lito naman si Leni ngayon sa tunay niyang pakay.
"Anong hindi ito related sa kaso eh magsisimula na ang trial two months from now, ah? Huwag kang sinungaling, Kit." Napasimangot naman ito sa bintang niya.
"Sinungaling, huh? Of all people, ikaw dapat ang may alam kung sinungaling nga ba ako o hindi. You tell me." He leans on the chair while staring at her face. His gaze went from her eyes, to her nose, then to her lips, then back to her eyes again.
She blushes as she catches him openly staring at her face.
"Here are your orders, Ma'am and Sir." she sees his gaze diverting from her to acknowledge the waiter placing their coffees on the table.
"Enjoy po!", the young man cheerfully bows his head and retreats to the counter after Leni's quiet "thank-you".
"Fifteen years ago," Leni turns her attention to him as she sees him sipping on his coffee "I said I wanted to be your rival, just like in college. Pero this time, gusto kong sa korte na tayo maglaban. It was not the competition I was after, nor the goal of outdoing you or winning against you." Kumalabog ang puso ni Leni sa pag-amin ng kanyang dating kaklase.
"I wanted your eyes on me, Leni. I was naive back then to think you would know my intentions." maliit na ang ngiti ng lalaking abogado ngayon.
"Kahit galit ka sa akin... kahit kalaban ang tingin mo sa akin, I wanted to be near to you... That was why I joined every single org you entered in college."
She remembers the despise she felt everytime she heard Kit joining the very same clubs and orgs she got accepted. She was the associate editor in their college publication, and Kit was their photojournalist. She was also part of the debate club, and Kit eventually "infiltrated" it. It annoyed her so much that she thought Kit was doing it to piss her off. She had to tell her girl friends about Kit's obsession to annoy her, and to prove it to them, she ran for governor in their college. Kit, three days after she announced her candidacy, ran for the same position, also. She lost to him, and that was her last straw.
Nakailing na si Leni pagkatapos marinig ang pag-amin ng kanyang kaharap. "No... You went against me for college governor... Para ipamukha sa aking matatalo mo ako lagi. You went looking for me after you won, right? Kasi natalo mo na naman ako?" she bitterly recalls the memory of her running away from the school's premises after seeing the results and realizing she was not successful in grabbing the position she had long wanted.
"I looked for you because I was checking up on you... Your friends told me you were on the verge of crying when you ran away. Nag-alala ako. But I guess..." pailing-iling na rin si Kit habang pinagmamasdan si Leni na unti-unti na namang nagagalit sa kanya. "I guess you will never see me as someone who genuinely cares for you. I understand. I barged into you as a competition. I thought it would lead me close to you. Pero kabaligtaran ang nangyari." he chuckles.
"I don't mind giving up the case, Leni. I can help but I am open to let others in the firm handle it."
"W-what do you want me to do? T-thank you?" Nanginginig pa ang kanyang bibig sa lahat ng narinig niya mula sa lalaking tingin niya ay kalaban.
"No," he shakes his head, "I just want to prove to you that my intentions are pure. And to prove them further, I want to ask you on a date after the last trial of this case." nanlaki ang mata ni Leni sa kanyang narinig. She cannot believe that her rival actually has feelings for her! Agad-agad siyang tumayo at umatras.
"U-uh... I'm sorry. I have t-to go..." dali-dali siyang tumalikod at naglakad palabas ng restaurant. Hindi magkamayaw ang tambol ng kanyang puso habang habol-habol niya ang kanyang hininga. She presses her car alarm and, before she could take a single step, her phone rings. Mas lalo siyang nahirapang huminga nang makita ang caller ID na nakaflash sa screen. Without thinking much, she answers the call.
"Sabay na tayong umuwi. I know you brought your car. Gusto ko lang makitang safe ka pauwi sa firm mo." Kit breathlessly utters.
She wants to reject his offer so bad, but she feels guilty after walking away from him at the restaurant. But before she could say anything, she hears footsteps nearing her. She turns around and finds Kit walking towards her.
"I know everything feels new to you, but I hope you know my feelings are genuine. Please give me a chance."
"I like you, Attorney." Her breath hitches from his confession.
