"Mag-uumpisa na, nasa'n ba si Risa?" Chel asked Teddy who was sitting beside him.

"Hindi ko alam. Si Leni nga rin wala pa dito eh."

"Diba sila nagsabi sa group chat na agahan natin tapos sila 'yung wala pa dito."

They looked around trying to find the two women. Alam nilang ayaw na ayaw ni Leni ng late. One hour before siya halos dumadating sa mga ganito, but today, she's 10 minutes away from the event that's about to start.

Chel signaled to Kiko na nasa harap, implying na wala pa 'yung mga hinahanap nila.

"Nandito na ba sila?" Leila sat down beside Chel, halatang nagmadali rin kasi nga malapit na magsimula.

"Kanina pa ako nagtetext at tumatawag kay Risa pero walang sumasagot sa'kin." Trillanes appeared behind them unexpectedly.

"Gago ka! Akala ko sa kulungan ako mamatay. Sa gulat lang pala." Leila joked.

Nag-peace sign si Trillanes. Teddy smacked his hand, "Tigil mo 'yan. Sa kabilang partido 'yan." Tumawa sila and Trillanes sat beside them.

"Si Leni rin tinatawagan ko pero alam naman nating hindi siya kaagad nakakapagreply." Chel said.

"Eh nasa'n si Kiko? Baka magkakasama sila."

"Ayun na si Kiks sa harap oh. Si Leni saka si Risa na nga lang ata wala dito. Nandyan na si Chizzy boy, si Loren...ay check mo nga kung naka-sneakers siya." Leila laughed.

"Bantayan niyo mga bag niyo baka mawala, andito na rin kapatid ni antman."

The media clamored over to the entrance of the plenary hall. "Ayan na pala sila eh." Everyone stood up to pay respect. With all the grace and poise of the president of a country, Leni walked towards the front, waving and greeting the media and the senators who were present.

She flashed a toothy smile kanila Chel and waved.

"Si Leni lang 'yan eh. Where's Risa?"

Teddy checked his watch. 5 minutes na lang mag-uumpisa na at etong si Ana Theresia was nowhere to be found. Tinanong niya si Leila kung nakita ba niya si Risa sa may restroom and she said wala naman daw do'n. "Baka nag-away sila."

"Oo, baka nga. Diba nagselos 'yun si Risa doon sa foreigner na politician na bumisita last week tapos gandang-ganda kay Leni."

"Totoo. Ayaw na tuloy ni Risa humiwalay sa jowa niya habang nasa meeting tapos pabulong-bulong sa tenga para lumayo 'yung babae."

"Hinahawakan pa nga niya 'yung bewang ni Leni sa harap ng lahat kaloka, walang hiya hiya."

"Lantaran ang kalandian niya no'n eh. Natatawa na lang 'yung isa sa kanya."

"Diba meron pa isa. 'Yung artista na biglang yumakap kay Leni."

"Oo 'te! Akala ko nga kakalbuhin na ni Risa 'yun eh."

"Habulin ng chicks talaga 'to si Madame."

Nagtawanan silang apat then Dick chimed in, "Ang ingay niyo huy."

"Dicky, may harang. Ito oh," Leila motioned to the air, pertaining to an imaginary barrier between the four of them and Dick. "Hindi ka kasali."

The four of them, Dick Gordon aside, knew about Leni and Risa's relationship. Their chikahan was cut short when the president arrived at their seats.

"Good morning, Madame Presi," greeted Chel.

She bumped their fists then bumeso kay Leila.

"Inaaway niyo na naman si Dick." natatawang sabi ni Leni.

"Deserve naman niya, epal amp." Trillanes rolled his eyes, making everyone in their circle laugh.

"Bakit ka late? Where's your girlfriend?" Leila asked her.

"Hindi naman ako late ha. I arrived exactly 8 minutes bago magstart. Parating na raw si Risa, nandyan na siya sa may entrance."

"Late na kaya 'yung 5 minutes before the event sa'yo. Laging 1 hour before ka dumadating. Bakit hindi kayo sabay pumunta?"

"Sabay kami pumunta. May aayusin lang daw siya kaya nauna na ako dito. Wait, I have to go na pala. Usap tayo lahat ulit mamaya!" Leni bid good bye and made her way to the front of the hall where she's supposed to sit.

Just when the clock hit one minute before the event starts, Risa walked inside the plenary hall and sat down beside Chel obviously breathless and in a hurry.

"Clutch time ka, bakla. Bakit ngayon ka lang?"

"Maya mo na ako chikahin, teka lang."

They looked at Risa carefully. Her hair wasn't in its usual prim and proper state, her eyes were glossy, and her cheeks were bright red. Namumula at namamaga rin 'yung mga labi niya.

Risa removed her blazer and breathed a sigh of relief. "Ano 'yang nasa leeg mo?!" Leila half-whispered half-screamed.

Napatingin silang lahat sa leeg ni Risa. Their eyes widened and their jaws dropped. "Ha? Ano meron?" Risa panicked.

"May lipstick stains 'yung leeg mo!"

Their eyes drifted to Leni who was standing in front, looking at them with a smirk on her dark colored lips. The same color that was on Risa's neck.

Risa stared at her girlfriend in disbelief and shook her head.

Gaga ka talaga, Maria Leonor.