"Is there anyone special in your life, Risa?"
Risa's lips parted in surprise, her mind whirling with thoughts. The question hit her like a unexpected wave.
"Special?" she repeated, her voice a whisper. "You mean.. romantically?"
“Yes. Romantically.”
Risa's heart raced. This was an unexpected turn of conversation, one she hadn't prepared for. "Uh. .no," she replied finally. "There isn't anyone special in my life.. sa ngayon."
Silence.
"Bakit mo naman natanong, Leni?" she inquired quietly.
“I-” The older woman bit her lip, a nervous habit she still had. “I- no, gusto ko lang malaman if.. if you've moved on."
Risa's confusion deepened. Moved on from what, exactly? Their past relationship? The truth was complicated. Even after the separation, She couldn't help but still feel a deep connection to Leni, a connection that hadn't faded with time. Senator's voice trailed off. "Sinusubukan ko.."
Leni's expression softened, a mix of understanding and bittersweet sadness in her eyes. "Trying?"
"Yes," she managed to say, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's not easy."
Leni took a step closer, their eyes meeting in the mirror's reflection once again. "Alam kong mahirap.." she murmured, her voice gentle. "But it's good to hear that you're trying."
They stood there in silence, the weight of their past heavy between them. Risa broke the silence first. "Ikaw ba, Leni?" she asked, her voice soft. "Have you... moved on?"
The mayor looked away, avoiding the senator's gaze. “Hindi naman kita tatanungin kung oo..”
"You haven't?"
Leni shook her head, her expression filled with a mix of sadness and resignation. "No, hindi pa.."
“Why?” The senator found herself asking, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leni sighed, her shoulders sagging as if the weight of her own feelings was a heavy burden. “Hindi.. hindi ko kaya.." she admitted. “Every time I tried to move on, thoughts of you would always come back. It's like.. you're still everywhere.”
Risa closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "I feel the same way," she confessed quietly.
Their eyes met in the mirror's reflection again, their gazes holding a deep connection that couldn't be denied.
"You do?" Leni's voice was barely above a whisper, filled with hope and uncertainty.
The younger woman nodded, her eyes still locked with Leni's through the mirror. "Yes.. I can't seem to forget."
Words weren't needed. Their connection, despite everything that had happened, was still strong. The older woman took a step closer, closing the distance between them. Her hand reached out, fingers gently tracing Risa's arm. "Risa.." she murmured, her voice filled with a mix of longing and caution.
Risa's breath hitched at the touch, her body reacting to the Mayor's closeness. She couldn't help but feel tears welling up in her eyes. The air was thick with tension, filled with unsaid emotions and lingering heartache.
Leni's fingertips traced Risa's skin, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake. "Risa," she repeated, her voice just above a whisper.
The room was filled with raw emotion, their unspoken emotions hanging heavily in the air. It felt like a raw, open wound, their shared pain and heartbreak still fresh.
Leni's fingers stilled on Risa's arm, her touch lingering. She took a shaky breath, her voice shaky as she finally spoke. "Risa.. we can't keep doing this."
Risa's heart ached at Leni's words, the truth in them all too real. She knew Leni was right, but the pain of letting go hurt just as much. The younger woman closed her eyes, trying to steady herself. "You're right," her voice cracking. "We can't keep doing this."
The older woman's fingers finally pulled away from Risa's arm, leaving a cold, empty feeling in their absence. She took a step back, creating a small distance between them.
"It's for the best, 'di ba?" Leni's voice was soft yet still held a hint of pain.
The senator opened her eyes, looking at Leni through the mirror once again. She sighed, a mix of resignation and sadness in her expression. "Yes.."
"But.. it doesn't feel right."
Risa's lip trembled, the pain of their past mistakes still fresh in their minds. “Alam ko..” she murmured, her voice thick with emotion. "But it's better this way."
Leni visibly swallowed, trying to hold back her tears. "Is it?"
The senator didn't reply, her silence speaking volumes. They stood there, heartache and unspoken words hanging in the air between them.
Leni took a step back, creating further distance between them. "I should go."
Risa's heart ached at the distance, but she nodded, not trusting her voice to speak. She watched as Leni reached for the doorknob, her heart clenching with each step she took. "Leni," she managed to call out, stopping the older woman in her tracks. Risa took a step forward. "I just.. I'm not ready yet."
Leni's expression softened, understanding the weight of th senator's words. She let go of the doorknob and turned to face Risa fully. "You know we can't do this, Ris.."
The senator's heart ached at the truth in Leni's words. She closed her eyes, trying to find the strength to agree. "Alam ko.."
The older woman's voice was soft, hinting at vulnerability. "But I can't shake the feeling.."
Risa opened her eyes, looking at Leni with a mixture of pain and hope. "What feeling?"
Leni took a hesitant step forward, closing the distance between them. She reached out, her fingers gently tracing the line of the younger woman's jaw.
"I still want you, Risa."
