Your Honor

About You

The twinkling of the stars and the bright moon shone above them. Na sa gitna sila ng bukirin, parehas na pagod sa pagga-gala buong araw. Ngunit, sa kabila ng mga nangawit na binti, sulit ang lahat. They have been in there for almost an hour now. Luckily there were no passersby, there were no people at all. Solo nila ang daan.

“Ang ganda ng stars.” Sambit ni Risa habang nakatingala sa himpapawid. 

“Mas maganda ka po titigan.” 

Napatawa si Risa sa biro ni Alice. Napatawa din naman ito sa kanyang sinabi; kinikilig. Kay sarap pagmasdan makita silang dalawa kung tutuusin. Hindi nagkakagulo sa senado, nagtatawanan, naguusap ng masinsinan. 

“You know, Ms. Risa, I think I like you.”

“Well, I like you too, Ms. Guo.”

“Hindi po ganon. I like you.”

Risa furrowed her brows. And it hit her.

“Matagal na po kitang gusto. Ever since po sa guesting mo sa GGV, I’ve followed you po; liked you. Kahit kailan hindi po nagustuhan ng family ko po ang makihalubilo sa mga pulitiko, or makisangkot, pero ako po, I’ve always admired you po” beat. “I like you Senator Risa. This is so ridiculous. I’m in love with you po, kahit na gusto niyo po akong ipakulong.”

Nahilo si Risa sa amount ng “po” ni Alice sa kanyang confession, and instead of becoming an ick, she found it endearing. It was cute, adorable.

“Perhaps, I also find myself liking you more than what I should. I couldn’t stop thinking about you even when I didn't want to.” Risa replied. 

It was at that moment, the sun and the moon danced together. The stars finally heard the morning birds sing. The pandas finally had their bamboos.

A rare scene, yet never impossible. Two sworn enemies fell in love with one another. 

And then, they kissed. Passionately, sucking each other’s lips like they had never done it before. Their hands were traveling to one another’s body; but Risa pulled away, out of breath. They rested their foreheads on each other, laughing. Pakiramdam nila bumalik sila sa pagkabata, mga high-school lovers na sabik umibig. 

Hindi na nakaramdam si Risa ng ganitong silakbo ng emosyon, buhat nang mamatay si Frank— ang kaniyang late husband. Kung sa tingin niya noon, hindi na niya ito mararanasan: nagkamali siya. Pagkat, ang babaeng na sa harapan niya ay muling nag-igting ng kanyang puso. 

Alice however, never liked a man before. She has always been in love with the senator. Even before they could meet each other, the Bamban mayor had always thought about her. 

It was too bad they were born to be opposites. Pero ano naman? Kaya yang i-laban. 

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞 𓆝 𓆟 

“Welcome home.” Pag-gunita ni Sinta, ang bunsong anak ni Risa. Nakasimangot ito at nakahalukipkip ang mga braso. 

“Sinta, bakit gising ka pa?” Sabi naman ni Risa habang sinara ang pinto. 

“Waiting for you, what else could it be.” 

Ang minsa’y nagaalala na ina, ay napa-ngiti sa salita ng kaniyang anak. “You’re so sweet talaga, anak.” Lumapit siya sa kaniyang bunso at sinubukan itong hagkan, ngunit—

“Don’t try to hug me, not after mong yakapin yung babaeng ‘yon.” 

“Sinta, what are you talking about?” 

Mangiyak ngiyak ang dalaga habang kaharap ang kaniyang ina. “Alice!” Bigkas nito ng may galit “Alice Guo!” 

“What about her?”