no strings attached

It Was Good

It was good. Until it wasn't.

"Do you want me to stay?" Leon asked Reese. They were naked under the warm comforter. Reese looked at Leon with confusion.

"Stay where? Nasa condo mo tayo. What do you mean?" Reese faced Leon who was staring blankly at the ceiling. "Hey Leon.. what are you thinking?" Leon can't make herself face Reese.

With no movement at all, Leon asked her again. But this time she was more serious. "Ang sabi ko, do you want me to stay?"

Reese understood what she meant. A long silence enveloped them. The senator moved aside and looked at the ceiling as well. She didn't know what to say. Knowing Leon, she's very straightforward. Given the fact that she randomly asked that question, after spending time together making love, there's something that really bothers her.

"Reese? Answer me. Please." Still not looking at the senator.

"Tignan mo naman ako." Reese softly said.

"I can't." Leon's voice broke.

"Why? Tell me."

"Because when I look at you, nothing else matters."

"Anong problema doon, Leon?"

"That's the problem, Reese. It goes that way for me, sa'yo ba ganun din?"

Reese didn't respond. Tension with the both of them now arises.

"See. You can't answer me. Again."

It was good. Until it wasn't.

Still lying in bed, Reese slowly reached for Leon's hand trying to intertwine it with hers. Leon let her.

"You can't answer me but you are holding my hand?"

"Leon please. Ano bang problema?''

"I want more of us. Of this. Ayoko na makipaglaro. I love you and you already know that."

Reese was stunned how Leon said what she said. She knows that Leon is ready more than anyone and anything else.

"Reese say something. Tanong ka nang tanong kung anong problema pero hindi mo naman sinasagot yung tanong ko."

"Leon-"

"Do you want me to stay, Reese?"

"No."

It was good. Until it wasn't.

Leon's heart was shattered into pieces. She immediately removed Reese's hand and stood up. Leon went straight inside the bathroom and shut the door.

"Leon please, let me explain why." Reese said desperately outside the door.

"Just go, Reese." Leon cannot control her emotions anymore. She let herself be vulnerable at that moment and cried.

For almost an hour, Reese waited for Leon to come out of the shower. She was seated at the corner of the room. The sound of the door opening made Reese quickly look at the bathroom's direction. There was Leon. Her eyes were obviously swollen because of crying. Reese hesitantly approached her and attempted to hug her.

"Bakit nandito ka pa?" Leon stepped back.

"Let's talk, Leon. Please?"

"Sumagot kana kanina. You don't want me to stay. Ano pang pag-uusapan?"

"Leon naman. Ayaw mo bang malaman kung bakit?"

"No need Reese. Maliwanag pa sa sparks yung sagot mo. At baka kapag nalaman ko yung dahilan, mas hindi ko kayanin."

Reese grabbed Leon's face and kissed her. She kissed her deep.

"Reese what the?!"

"Ano? Yan naman gusto mo diba?"

She kissed her again. This time, Reese quickly placed hungry kisses on Leon's jaw down to her neck. She squeezed Leon's mounds while licking her in between kisses.

"Tangina Reese! Stop!" Leon held Reese's shoulders that made the senator cease.

It was good. Until it wasn't.

While looking at the window, Reese enveloped her arms around Leon's body giving her a back hug.The two of them are bewildered by the situation they have.

"I tried, Leon." Reese softly whispered in Leon's ear as she rested her chin on the older woman's shoulder, closing her eyes.

"I know, and that was your mistake."

Leon angled her face to where Reese's face was resting.

"Reese, what's the point of trying if it just proves that I'll never be good enough?"

"I'm sorry." Tears fell from Reese's eyes. It broke Leon's heart again. Hearing and seeing that the woman she loves, most specially her best friend, is crying.

She cannot resist Reese. Leon turned around and hugged her tight.

"Hey shhh... stop crying. I'm here."

"Tell me you don't want to leave. Say I'm enough to make you stay. I know it's not true, but please just say it Leon." Reese said sobbing.

"Mahal please, pinahihirapan lang natin sarili natin. We are a mess."

Leon broke the hug and stared directly into Reese's eyes. She cupped her face and said, "I love you. But you don't have to love me."

It was good. Until it wasn't.

Tears never stop falling. Leon leaned forward and kissed Reese's forehead deeply. Leon's about to step back and leave the room when Reese grabbed her hand.

"Can I kiss you?" Reese hopefully asked. "You were the one who kissed me for the first time sa bahay remember? So this time around, it would be me and this would be for the last time," Reese looked at Leon as if it's her last wish. "Can I?"

"Of course." Leon answered in a heartbeat.

How can she say no to the person whom she least expected to fall in love with? The particular woman who made her feel that loving for the second time around is surprisingly beautiful. That you still have a different kind of love to give more than you ever know.

It was good. Until it wasn't.

Sharing a passionate kiss, they savored the moment. Wishing that this moment could last longer and never end.

"I wish, just once you would love me like this — no strings attached."