Twelfthtide

4

Before Risa, Leni never brought anyone home.

To Leni, her home is a sanctuary, a refuge just for her and her family, where she can be free from being Congresswoman or Vice President or Attorney Leni, a place where she is just a mother and a wife.

So when she brought Risa home for the first time ever, it wasn't a decision made on the spur of the moment. It was something she decided on after thinking it through, after mulling it over, after chewing on the idea for days since it first popped into her mind, until there came the realization that, yes, Risa is family. A loved one.

The other reason why she never invited anyone is that the condo unit is too cramped for visitors. But Risa didn't mind it. She'd even said with a fond smile that it reminded her of the apartment she and Frank used to live in after they got married. They had spent that evening talking about Frank, and Jesse, and their happy memories of them, over a homemade dinner Leni prepared just for Risa. That was before the kiss. And Leni drove Risa home.

Nowadays, Leni never drove Risa home anymore. Because every time Risa visited, she always stayed the night.

Leni's bed was Risa's bed now.

Most times, it even felt like it was actually Risa's bed — not Leni's at all — with how much Risa hogged the blanket, but Leni learned to live with it.

Kung maka-'learned to live with it.' Akala mo hindi ko rin naman gusto, diba?

"Ris?" Leni called as she climbed up the stairs to her bedroom. It was already nine in the morning, and Risa still hadn't left her bedroom yet. When Leni left her on the bed a while ago to prepare breakfast, Risa was still sleeping soundly. As much as Leni would love for Risa to sleep in and get her well-deserved rest for the weekend, she didn't want her skipping breakfast. Afterwards, Risa could sleep in as much as she wanted to.

She opened the door to her bedroom, finding the bed Risa-less. The pillows and blanket were already arranged and folded, and it almost seemed like it was exclusively Leni's room all over again, if it weren't for the sound of the shower running in the bathroom.

"Risa?" Leni called again as she approached.

Risa's voice was muffled from behind the door to the bathroom. "Yes?"

Leni leaned near the door so Risa could hear her better. "May breakfast na..." But then Risa opened the bathroom door. "...sa baba."

Leni stopped as she was greeted by a very wet and very naked Risa. Risa's hair was lathered with shampoo, and even from where Leni was standing, Risa smelled unbelievably good. The room was quiet now; Risa had turned the shower off before opening the door. Leni stared openly, taking in the milky stomach and the beads of water that clung to Risa's skin and hair, and the one thing that glittered against Risa's chest — Leni's diamond necklace was the only thing Risa wore.

And a smile. Leni smiled back, too, when she reached Risa's eyes.

Leni leaned against the door frame of the bathroom and said in a tone unapologetically flirtatious, "Good morning sa'kin."

Risa laughed and leaned in for a good-morning kiss, their first for the day. "Good morning."

"Ang bango mo," Leni whispered to her when they parted.

Risa grabbed Leni's hands to pull her into the shower. "Sabay na tayo?"

"Mamaya na ako. Baka hanapin ako ng mga bata." Leni tried to step away from Risa, but Risa wouldn't let her.

"Sige na, Leni..." Risa tugged Leni closer. "Shower with me."

"Later na talaga. Sabayan mo na lang ako ulit mamaya." Leni smiled appeasingly and kissed the tip of Risa's nose.