Your Honor: Love in the shadows

Chapter 30

Alice's POV

I woke up feeling the gentle brush of lips on my forehead and nose. Groggily opening my eyes, I was surprised to see Ms. Risa is sitting beside me, her expression is soft and worried.

"How's your sleep?" She asked gently, her voice soothing.

I managed a small smile. "Okay naman po, Ms. Risa."

She reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "I was worried about you. You seemed so upset earlier."

I looked down, feeling a pang of guilt. "I'm sorry po. Magulo lang po talaga ang isip ko kanina."

Ms. Risa took my hand, her thumb gently stroking the back of it. "I understand. I want to explain everything that happened kanina. I'm sure narinig mo ang usapan namin ni Leni."

"Hindi po ako chismosa ah." I said.

She chuckled softly and pinched my nose. "Nakalimutan mo ata yung tinanong mo sa akin kanina?"

I slightly rolled my eyes. "Wala po akong matandaan."

"Alam mo, you're cute when you're mad."

"Cuter than Ms. Leni po?"

"I must say, the cutest."

"Then I'll always be mad po."

"Ay? Baka gawin mong hobby ‘yan kasi sinabihan kita ng cute?"

"Na-cha-change na po ang topic ah, akala ko po ba magpapaliwang kayo?"

"Oh, sorry, right. First of all, Ms. Alice Leal Guo, walang namamagitan sa amin ni Leni. Second, hindi ko siya hinalikan. Third, I already explained to you kung bakit niya ako sinabihan ng good kisser. Fourth, I already told her na may special someone na ako. Fifth, I already cut her off; I blocked her on everything so she can't contact me. Honestly, ayaw kong masira ang pagkakaibigan namin ni Leni but I had no choice, masyado na siyang mapilit. And lastly, may selosa kasing alkalde eh? Kilala mo ba kung sino?"

"Sino po yung special someone niyo?"

"Sa dami ng sinabi ko diyan ka talaga nag focus no?"

"Eh sino nga po kasi?"

"Yung alkalde na selosa, yung Mayor ng Bamban? Kilala mo?" She asked.

"Ahh. Yung pina-suspend niyo po?" I replied and chuckled.

Ms. Risa was about to say something when my phone beeped. I grabbed my phone to check, and it was a message.

Stop enjoying too much, Guo Hua Ping. Don't forget about our deal kung ayaw mong mawala ang senadora mo.

"Are you okay, Alice?" Ms. Risa asked.

"A-ah? O-opo."

"Bakit parang natatakot ka? Is there something you want to tell me?"

"N-no po, wala po." I replied.

She sighed. "You can tell me. May nakita akong message sa cellphone mo kanina. Something about a threat if you go to the Senate. May nag-text na naman ba?"

My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. "Ms. Risa..."

"Bakit hindi mo na naman ‘to sinabi sa akin?" Her voice was filled with concern, not anger.

"A-ayoko na pong dagdagan ang iniisip niyo, a-at natatakot rin po ako," I admitted, tears welling up in my eyes. "H-hindi ko po alam kung sino yung nag-te-text and I thought maybe it was just a one-time thing po. Hinahayaan ko lang po yung mga text kasi wala pa naman pong susunod na hearing at nakatago lang naman po ako dito."