Black Out

Chapter 5

"Fuck." It was a rare occasion to hear Risa swear but it was scary when she did. Strangely enough, I felt more composed than ever, a nice contrast to my behavior from earlier, when I saw three shocked faces in the doorway leading to the rooftop. Kit, Barry, and Leila stood frozen.

I did, too, as soon as I turned around, and I felt Risa stiffen up by me as well.

It never really hit me before that if they ever found out about us doing this, whatever it was, they might misunderstand. Their expression right now, though, was enough to make me realize that they thought they had just discovered a huge secret that we've been hiding from them, like a relationship, let's say.

But that wasn't the case.

"Uhh.. ano.." I started after what seemed like several long minutes even though they were probably a mere awkward seconds. "Gasgas na 'tong line na 'to pero.. It's really not what you think."

"Len, sure ka? It looks like we just caught the former vice president and Akbayan senator kissing on the rooftop," Kit folded his arms and tilted his head to the left as if he was some father scolding a kid.

"Eh, well, edi it's kind of what you think," I grinned a bit awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck and looking at the floor, for a lack of better things to look at, just so that I wouldn't have to meet their questioning gazes. "But it's–"

"Since when pa 'to?" Leila's eyes were still wide as I looked back at her.

"Uhm.. Ano.. Hindi ko alam," I honestly replied, "A few months ago?" I turned to look at Risa for help.

"Yeah.. Uhh..." She seemed a bit disoriented. "Five months ago was the first time.. After the elections."

"Wow," Leila replied.

I heard Barry murmur to himself. It seemed like he had something to say but was trying to gather his thoughts, and his words together before doing so.

Kit started tapping his feet meanwhile.

"Pero it's not like we're to–"

"Guys, ang suggestion ni Dean mag–" Teddy appeared in the doorway and he didn't notice the blatantly tense situation right in front of him until Leila raised a hand to stop him talking.

"We've got something serious to discuss here," she said.

"No, it's–" Risa interrupted, but Teddy was too worried to wait for the situation to explain itself.

"Ano 'yun?" he asked in a low and scared tone.

Masyadong pinapalaki, they're really making an unnecessarily big deal out of this. I thought, even though in a similar situation, I probably would've reacted the same way too.

"Tumakas silang dalawa dito para maghalikan instead of–"

Teddy's eyes widened, his jaw dropped as if on command.

"Ano??"

"Okay, guys, sandali, will you just let me explain muna?" Risa finally said.

"Sen, did you.. and Ma'am Leni really..? You know..?"

"Kiss just now? Oo. But you guys are all taking this the wrong way. I mean, we're not together or anything," she explained. "It's not like that."

I was relieved that they finally let her speak and we got that out of the way, at least.

"Okay," Kit replied.

"So.." I continue, "It's nothing serious, really, and hindi naman sa lagi rin naming ginagawa, right, Ris?"