secret chapter

                                    

                                          
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"Para sa'yo, ano ang 'forever'?"
A warm sunny day, a Saturday. Currently, a weekend and so, work is not on the list of to-dos for today. The temperature is enough for a day of relaxation. Just two women, in their own little world, in a small living space.
Leni was just thinking about that question, bugging her mind out for God knows how long. And she decided, why not ask Risa?
"Hm. For me, forever is about the memories. Yung kung ano ang mga mangyayari sa buhay mo, either alone or with a company, it will stay with you forever— no matter what happens." Risa's answer. 
They were just enjoying both each other's company, in a complete serenity embracing their time together in Leni's condo unit. Hell, this is how they usually spend time together when they don't have any work to do.
Leni gives a nod at that, acknowleding Risa's thoughts. "Gets. Siguro nga, ang forever ay para lamang sa mg memorya o naging pangyayari sa buhay, mapa sama man o napaka saya. Did I get the point right?" 
Risa chuckled softly at that, also giving a little nod. "Yeah, you got it right," A soft exhale escapes from her lips. "But at the end of the day, nasa pananaw pa rin ng isang tao ano ang forever. That's just how I perceive 'forever' to be." 
"It does makes sense." Leni agreed to that. 
A moment of silence engulfs the living space. The two were just looking towards the floors for now, their minds elsewhere. The occasional hum of the ceiling fan circling were the only noise that breaks the silence.
Soon enough, Risa's voice would follow through, the silence definitely breaking at the sound of her voice.
"Sooo.." Risa started, trailing off. 
"Sooo?" Leni repeated, wanting Risa to continue. 
"How's Ateneo been treating you? Are the students good?" Risa continued to where she trailed off, her fingers fidgeting on top of her lap as they both settled on the couch that felt comfy enough.
"Well, it's been good. Wala naman gaanong problema. Tropa tropa ko mga estudyante kapag wala sa school hours and all. Pretty chill," Leni replied to that, noticing the way Risa's fidgeting. "Hilig mo talaga mag ganyan. Kinakabahan ka ba o ano?" She pointed it out soon enough.
Immediately, Risa realized her behavior and went to stop fidgeting, placing her hands down normally on top of her lap instead. "Ah, sorry. I just like to do that a lot without me realizing. Did that bother you?" 
"No, not really." 
"Ah. Thought it bothered you." Risa scratched her nape soon after.
Leni chuckled softly at that, a soft little grin forming at the stretches of her lips. "Lagi kang mukhang kinakabahan, siguro dahil malapit ako sa'yo?" 
A bark of laughter emits out of Risa mouth at that, "Kapal ng mukha, Leonie."
"Makapal na mukha ko oo, pero hindi mo rin dineny. So totoo?" Leni went to cross her arms together instead, the cheekiness evident in the tone of her voice— wanting to tease Risa and rile her up just to get a reaction out of her, which works most of the time.
Eyes that rolled and a huff of breath from Risa after, "Shut up. Ganyan ka palagi, ano? Mapang asar. Naeenjoy mo rin siguro?" Risa had to bite back, teasing Leni the way she does. A smirk forming on her lips in a lopside state, just looking directly at Leni with the same cheekiness as Leni's.
"Pikunin ka kasi."
"Kasalanan ko ngayon kasi mapang asar ka?"
"Oo." 
The two eventually just laughed at that in a lighthearted way. Their usual banters go on like this, their days don't end without one happening. And maybe, that's how they show their affection and admiration in a different way, knowing they're practically oblivious to each other's feelings.
"Hay nako, Leonie. Magbago ka na nga, baka sa susunod na mainis ako sa mga paganyan mo, iba magawa ko." Of course Risa doesn't mean that.
Leni just smirked at that, the usual playfulness in her behavior being played out. "Ay gusto mo magbago ako? Tapos ano, mamimiss mo 'to kapag nangyari 'yun?" 
"Ay ang kapal talaga-"
"Makapal talaga mukha ko, wala kang magagawa." 
Risa does another eye roll at that, a little 'hmp' noise escaping from her thin formed lips. "Pasalamat ka-"
She gets cut off by Leni, "Mahal mo ako?"
Risa eventually pinched Leni's arm for that, making Leni yelp and rub her arm after, "Aray! Ang sakit mo talaga mangurot!" She complained after, continuing to rub her own arm. 
A lighthearted chuckle once again escaped from Risa's lips and throat, "Deserve mo 'yan, sa kapal ng mukha mo." But clearly, she enjoys Leni's cheekiness and teasing, but of course, she will not be saying that out loud. And she won't be denying that 'Mahal mo ako?' part too.
"Grabe ka talaga sa'kin. Sungit ka na nga, pikunin ka pa." Leni scoffed after, but not sounding like she meant to scoff. 
"Eh sino ba naman kasi ang mapang asar? Hindi naman ako, diba?" Risa retorted, rolling her eyes again. "At tsaka, kahit anong kakapalan ng mukha mo, hindi mo ako makakamandagan." Which is a lie, she already got poisoned by Leni's existence. 
Leni would just laugh at that, and in an unexpected move, she went to reach out for Risa's chin— holding onto the base of it with just two fingers, forcing Risa to look directly at her.
"Are you sure about that?" Leni purred in a low tone, the teasing smirk on her face still plastered as she did. 
Risa did one big gulp at that, giving everything and every control she has not to get flustered in front of her, not on her watch. "Hindi mo 'ko madadaan sa paganyan mo." Risa swatted Leni's hand after.
Leni just chuckled at that, letting Risa swat her hand away from her chin, "Kunwari ka pa talaga. As if naman hindi mo rin nae-enjoy. Subukan mong magsinungaling." She teased. 
Instead of responding to further feed on Leni's satisfaction, Risa instead rolled her eyes for the uncounted time, flicking her tongue on the roof of her mouth. 
"Bahala ka d'yan."
But everything is lighthearted, like that's how they show their affection towards each other. Indirect, yet, the indicators are there— up to them to comprehend.
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been a while, PMP.