Twelfthtide

2

Today was a special day.

Leni opened the small peach box on her desk pad in her office at the Angat Buhay headquarters. She had asked for help from one of her supporters in the last campaign to have this made specially for her, and now it was finally here. She smiled to herself when she saw what was inside. It looked better than the pictures that were sent to her in the few days leading up to this. Leni spent a few seconds admiring it, and she let her mind wander, then she replaced the lid with a satisfied sigh.

She glanced at her wristwatch. It was a little past seven in the evening. The committee hearing Risa attended five hours ago would be ending soon. Leni was only waiting for Risa's text so she could leave her office and fetch Risa from the senate building.

It was a routine they did as long as circumstances allowed them. Leni liked to hatid-sundo Risa to and from work or any events Risa attended. Well, not always hatid — sometimes Leni clocked in to work first. Their friends even joked that Leni was basically Risa's driver. Leni liked it. She liked that Risa depended on her, even though she didn't have to. And she liked to think Risa liked depending on her, too.

Leni glanced at her wristwatch again. She was beginning to feel impatient. She decided not to wait for Risa's text. She had to leave now if she wanted to beat the rush-hour traffic. It was the perk of being a private citizen: she could move around freely now.

Risa's text arrived just as Leni arrived at the GSIS parking lot. Leni pocketed her phone, choosing not to reply. She wanted to surprise Risa right in her office.

It was a curious thing: she didn't mind being seen. When they first started doing this, there were surprised looks from the senate staff and some of the government employees that worked there, curious stares and the ever-present selfie requests, but after the third or fourth time, they started getting used to it. So Leni's journey to Risa's floor was relatively undisturbed, except for polite greetings and enthusiastic waves.

When Leni reached the hallway to Risa's office, the first thing she noticed was the booming, resonant voice of long-time senator, Loren Legarda. Loren and Risa were having a conversation outside the door to Risa's office. From the looks of it, Leni guessed they must have just come from the conference room where the committee hearing was held.

"Oh! Leni!"

Leni was awed by how instantly Risa's face changed from a neutral expression to a bright, cheerful smile upon spotting her.

"Nandito na pala ang girlfriend mo," Loren said, a little too loudly in Leni's opinion. There were other people in the hallway. Obviously they heard it, too.

Girlfriend? Sinong girlfriend?

"Hindi girlfriend, Sen. Driver lang," Leni joked as a greeting. "Good evening."

"Good evening, attorney." Leni and Loren exchanged besos. After they pulled away, Loren immediately said, as if Leni's arrival was barely an interruption, "I suggest La Cachette. It's private, romantic," — she paused to smile suggestively at both Leni and Risa — "and their lobster bisque is to die for."

Huh? Leni looked questioningly at Risa. Risa and Loren must have been talking about something else when Leni came in.

"Kaka-open lang nila near CCP," Loren continued. "Don't worry about the reservation. I'll call them for you now."

"Oh, ate, thank you, but no. Leni and I have plans," Risa said. She turned to Leni with a knowing smile.

Leni easily smiled back at Risa, going along with her. The only thing running through her mind: they still hadn't properly greeted each other.