To Win a Loser's Heart

Step 9: Steal

"Louise?"

Bongbong was standing on the doorway of Imee's house when he saw a familiar face making her way to the place as well. He was invited by his sister to her house. Since he had broken his promise to make her the DSWD secretary, here he was following her orders. What he did not expect was that his ex-girlfriend would be there. 

"Bongets!"  Louise Araneta called him with a smile and offered a hug which he refused.

He extended his arm for a handshake instead. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

She raised her hands defensively. "I have no idea. Imee asked me to be here pero hindi ko alam na nandito ka din." She explained and walked past him. 

Imee was already waiting for her guest at the living room. She welcomed his ex-girlfriend with a hug. "Louiseee! Buti nalang nakarating ka. Thank you ha." 

Looking at the ladies - Bongbong sighed. "Manang, what is she doing here?" 

"I told you na I will help you with Leni 'di ba?" Imee said after their hug. She gestured them to sit on her couch. 

His brows furrowed. "And what does it have to do with Louise?" 

"Mom was invited to her birthday. I need the two of you to go there with her and make her jealous." His sister explained. 

He shook his head firmly. "No. I'm not going to do anything that would hurt her."

"Wow assuming." Imee immediately replied upon hearing him. "You don't even know if gusto ka n'ya." 

He frowned - surrendering. "So, what are we going to do?"

"As I've said, you will attend her birthday celebration with Louise." She explained - gesturing her hand to Louise who was smiling from ear to ear.

"Come on, Bongets. I just want to help you." His ex-girlfriend added and tried to hold his arm. 

He gently removed it and glared at her. "Louise, please?" 

"Why? Hindi ka pa ba nakakamove on from me?" She asked with a grin — making him grimace.

---

Bongbong did everything he could to fight the urge to remove Louise's arm around his while they were at the party. He hated the fact that everyone could see them. There were few people but most of them were from politics since the celebration itself was initiated by the Liberal Party.

"Let us welcome the Chairperson of Angat Buhay and our birthday celebrant, Maria Leonor 'Leni' Robredo!" The host announced before the former vice president made her way to the dais.

She was wearing a simple white dress. Bongbong would have stared at her for a long time if she was not accompanied by Kit Belmonte who was clearly intoxicated with her.

Who wouldn't?

"Uwi na tayo." Bongbong said and was planning to walk away but Louise pulled him back — hugging him intentionally.

Louise giggled. "Did you forget why we're here?"

He looked back at Leni who was watching the people around them. Kit was holding her waist and whispering to her ear.

"Let's dance." He told his ex who smiled at his idea.

They began dancing like no one was around. They were enjoying the music. Thankfully, Leni had a taste for music. They enjoyed slow classical music. He tried to focus his eyes on Louise even while feeling the stares at them.

"Bong, Louise." They both stopped when they heard Imelda speak. "What are you doing?"

Suddenly, Bongbong realized that they were the only ones dancing. His eyes automatically went back to Leni. The former vice president was smiling as she watched a group of young children dance in front of her. She did not even bathe an eye on them.

There was a sharp pain that stabbed his chest. His eyes began to warm up.

"You should continue flirting sa house. Let's respect Leni. She made an exemption just for me to be here." Imelda scolded them and strode away with the rest of the representatives.

When he saw that Leni excused herself to go to the restroom, he removed Louise's hands on him. "Wait...Sorry."

He ran towards the comfort room of the venue — slightly pushing against some of the guests. Leni was standing in front of the mirror when he arrived. She saw him first through the mirror. Before she could even turn around, he was already inside — the door was already locked.

"You're here." She said while tapping a tissue on her face.

"I'm with Louise." He declared.

She paused and smiled excitedly. "Really? Are you guys back together?"

He did not answer. He watched as she put on her lipstick. It looked like the color of a strawberry.

"Does it taste like strawberry?" He blurted out accidentally. His eyes widened.

Leni was too stunned to speak. She offered the lipstick she was holding to him. "Would you like to try?" When he did not answer, she continued. "It's okay. I-I did not know you're..." She shook her head in shock. "I will not tell Imelda."

When she held his arm, the string he had been carefully holding went loose. He suddenly pulled her closer to him. "Yes. I want to try it." He placed his lips on hers.

She did not move.

Bongbong pulled away because of this. He saw how wide her eyes could get. "I-I'm..."

Before he could continue, Leni spoke. "You need to taste more." She said and pulled him by his collar for another kiss.

This time, she responded. Her arms were around his neck — still holding the lipstick. She allowed him to insert his tongue inside her mouth. "Mhhhmm."

They were both panting when they pulled away from each other. He was looking at her eyes. At first, there was something shining there but when she finally moved away from him, the light disappeared.

She faced the mirror again and wiped the lipstick on the edges of her lips. "What do you need?" She asked as if nothing happened.

"I'll give you the DSWD secretary post." He answered mindlessly — still dumbfounded by what just happened.

"Okay." She answered and turned to face him again.

She walked closer — closing the distance of their faces. He could feel her warm breathing. He gulped while looking at her eyes — they were as narrow as a predator's. He suddenly felt a tissue being wiped on the lipstick smudged on his face. It lasted for a few seconds before Leni was already behind him opening the door out.