Sincerely, Lenrisa

23: Beneath the Stars

The school’s music room was a sanctuary for Risa. She strummed her guitar, lost in a melody, when the door creaked open.

"Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt," said Leni, stepping inside with a curious look.

Risa quickly put down her guitar. "No, it’s fine. I was just... practicing."

"You’re really good," Leni said, closing the door behind her. "I’m Leni, by the way. New here."

"Risa," she replied, offering a shy smile.

"Nice to meet you, Risa. Mind if I listen for a bit?" Leni asked, settling onto a chair.

Risa hesitated but then nodded. She picked up her guitar again, and as her fingers danced on the strings, Leni’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

After Risa finished, Leni clapped enthusiastically. "Wow, that was amazing! You should totally perform at the school concert."

Risa shook her head. "I don’t think I’m ready for that."

"Why not? You’ve got talent, Risa. Don’t hide it."

Risa blushed. "I’ve just always been... in the background."

"Well, maybe it’s time to step into the spotlight," Leni said with a grin. "How about this—we perform together? I play the piano."

Risa’s eyes widened. "You play piano?"

"Yeah, been playing since I was a kid," Leni said. "What do you say? Let’s make some magic together."

Risa’s heart raced. "Okay, let’s do it."

Over the next few weeks, Risa and Leni spent countless hours in the music room, practicing. Between chords and melodies, they shared stories and their dreams.

"Why did you move here?" Risa asked one day.

Leni shrugged. "Dad got a new job. It’s been tough moving around so much, but it’s nice to finally meet someone like you."

Risa smiled. "I’m glad you’re here."

As the school concert approached, the pressure mounted. Risa struggled with nerves, while Leni remained her steady anchor.

"You’ve got this," Leni whispered backstage before their performance.

Risa nodded, taking a deep breath. They walked on stage together, the lights bright and the audience silent. As they started playing, the music flowed effortlessly.

When they finished, the applause was deafening. Risa looked at Leni, who was beaming. "We did it," she said, her voice full of pride.

"Yeah, we did," Risa replied, feeling a surge of confidence she’d never known before.

Risa and Leni sat side by side on the steps outside the school auditorium, the echo of applause still ringing in their ears.

"That was incredible," Leni said, breaking the silence. "I couldn’t have asked for a better partner."

Risa smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. "You were amazing too, Leni. I couldn’t have done it without you."

Leni leaned back, looking up at the stars. "It’s crazy to think about what comes next, though. Exams, college applications..."

Risa nodded, feeling a knot form in her stomach. "Yeah, it’s all so overwhelming."

"But at least we have each other," Leni said, turning to Risa with a reassuring smile. "No matter what happens, we’ll get through it together."

Risa took Leni’s hand, squeezing it tightly. "I’m grateful for you, Leni. You make everything seem a little less scary."

Leni’s smile softened. "And you make everything feel a little more possible, Risa."

One evening, under a starlit sky, they sat on a hill overlooking the town.

"What happens after graduation?" Risa asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leni took her hand. "I don’t know. But I do know that we’ll figure it out. Together."

Risa squeezed Leni’s hand. "I’m scared."

"Me too," Leni admitted. "But no matter what happens, we’ll always have this. Our music, our memories. And each other."

Risa leaned in, resting her head on Leni’s shoulder. "I’m glad I met you, Leni."

"Me too, Risa. Beneath these stars, I promise, we’ll always find our way back to each other."

°.✩┈┈┈┈∘*┈┈୨♡୧┈┈*∘┈┈┈┈✩.°

happy pride month, mga lalabs ko!