Running Out of Songs (LenRisa One-Shot Stories)

Oras

To feel the intensity of this shot, please listen to Oras by Calein...

"Ma, hindi mo na pala mahal si Tito Levi. So, why are you still staying?" Ianna asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Love isn't guaranteed, anak. Our feelings can change over time," her mother began, her voice soft but steady. "But it's not love that's keeping me here, despite everything."

"Then what is it, Ma?"

"To make a relationship last, it's not just about love. It's about choosing to stay with that person, even when things get difficult. You choose them, day in and day out, no matter how tough the situation is."

"Pero, Ma, pwede mo naman sigurong piliin yung taong talagang mahal mo. Someone who can truly make you happy."

Her mother gave a small, bittersweet smile. "And what if you're the one who isn't chosen?"

Ianna blinked, the weight of the words sinking in. "How would you even know, if you don't give it a try?"

Her mother's eyes turned distant, as if she was looking back at memories long buried. "Are you really so sure I didn't try?"

"So... you did?"

"Of course, I did." Her mother let out a tired sigh. "Levi and I hit rock bottom in the middle of our relationship. I was already falling out of love by then."

Ianna's voice softened. "Then what happened, Ma?"

"I—" her mother hesitated, her fingers curling around the edge of the table. "I fell in love with someone else. Deeply. With Leni."

Ianna's eyes widened in surprise. "Si Tita Leni? Ano nangyari?"

"I tried to tell her," her mother said quietly, almost as if she was speaking more to herself.

"I did tell her," she corrected, her voice firmer this time.

"And then?"

"She said it was platonic," her mother answered, her face tightening with the memory. "Just friends, nothing more. But I knew I loved her more than that. I knew it wasn't just friendship for me."

"Matagal ka nang umamin, di ba? Pero what if things are different now? Bakit hindi mo subukang muli?"
Her voice was gentle but probing, as if she were trying to unearth long-buried feelings. There was hope in her eyes, a flicker of possibility that maybe, just maybe, time had shifted the tides.

"Matatanda na kami. At saka, napakaimposible ng suggestion mo. Gusto mo bang masaktan ako ulit? Ayokong maranasan 'yon sa pangalawang pagkakataon."
She sighed heavily, her gaze distant. The weight of past heartaches seemed to press down on her shoulders, making the idea of revisiting old wounds almost unbearable.

"Malay mo, slow-burn lang pala."
He offered a soft chuckle, trying to inject lightness into the heaviness of her words.

"Slow-burn? Ano 'yon?"
Her brow furrowed, confusion mixing with curiosity. It was a term foreign to her, and yet, the way he said it piqued her interest.

"Parang Gen Z or Alpha term 'yan, I don't know which generation exactly, but it's more likely a gradual build up of romance. Baka kasi nung umamin ka, masyadong biglaan. Hindi mo siya binigyan ng pagkakataong i-process ang mga bagay-bagay. Tsaka, ang isang malaking red flag pa, umamin ka habang may relasyon ka pa sa iba. Kahit ako, 'Ma, ire-reject kita. Parang ang dating, hihiwalayan mo lang 'yong isa kapag sinagot ka na niya."
She spoke more slowly now, each word carefully chosen, as if she were unwrapping a delicate truth. She genuinely wanted her to understand how things might have been from the other side. The truth was harsh, but she knew it needed to be said.