It was some time during the middle of a random day when Risa realized she was in love with her colleague turned best friend.
Leni had that kind of sweetness that made Risa smile like her face will tear into two because Leni would drop a breakfast at her office because her friend knew she couldn't cook.
There was a time, she even brought her favorite snack— honey butter to Risa at her office because she also knew that Risa often forgets to eat whenever she was busy working.
Like who does that, she thought.
Who would wait for you in a meeting where she didn't have anything to do with until the evening because she was really really worried that you'll get into an accident on your way home or turn at a wrong road because your sense of direction was like your cooking—terrible and life threatening?
"No, I'll wait for you nalang Ris. Baka maligaw ka pa dito. Ligawin ka pa naman— literally," Leni uttered.
What kind of person would take you to a pet shelter every week because there was a puppy that you really liked but you couldn't get it because you're allergic to dogs?
Who does that?
Leni does, Risa answered herself immediately.
Maybe, just maybe, falling inlove again wasn't a bad thing— and because love could never be a bad thing, because Leni has been nothing but good to her.
Ano naman if she's in love with her bestfriend, who's also a woman like her? Hearts didn't have sexes the last time she checked. Leni's heart was precious and she'd love to take care of it if given the chance, because the woman had been taking care of heart ever since too.
She was there when she cried over her stupid and ugly ex, helped in mending her broken heart with pints and pints of her favorite ice cream that Leni continuously bought for her until she couldn't eat anymore.
She never left even if Risa says she can leave her because she can manage herself but Leni stayed with Risa who kept crying on her every night until she fell asleep with puffy eyes and red nose, even held her in her sleep so she'd feel warm and safe.
"Iiyak mo lang, magiging okay ka rin. Isipin mo nalang, pangit sya. Ay hindi mo pala kailangan gawin 'yun, pangit talaga sya," Leni whispered as she holds Risa who's still crying.
So really, being with Leni would probably be the best thing that could ever happen in her life.
Now, the only thing she has to do was to tell her.
***
It was when Leni had discovered that Risa couldn't cook that she realized that she was in love with her bestfriend. Risa was everything that she wasn't— loud and outgoing.
But she was so kind, you know? She had the kind of selflessness that made Leni feel warm. Her bestfriend couldn't cook anything but she still tried her best to make her crab & corn soup (the ones you can buy in groceries) when she was too sick to leave her bed, and though it tasted literally nothing because Risa apparently forgot to add in the seasoning, the warm broth still helped in easing Leni's pain.
One time, she even skipped her work just so she could monitor her condition the whole day.
Like who does that, she thought.
Who would stay in your room the whole day with the risk of catching whatever virus you have just to check your temperature every three hours and replace the ice pack you had on your head as soon as the ice melted, just because you're too much of a baby to take care of yourself?
"Lens, how are you feeling?" Risa mumbled as she puts the back of her hand on Leni's neck, "Medyo mainit ka pa rin, nahihilo ka pa ba?"
Leni replied, "Medyo nalang, thank you Ris,"
"I cooked! Lugaw to make you a little bit better at saka para makainom ka na ng gamor ulit,"
"Legit ba na lugaw 'yan, baka lalo akong magkasakit sa luto mo ah," Leni joked.
What kind of person would drag you out every week because you've been in your house for too long, and take you to the pet shop instead of the park or the mall because she knew you preferred seeing adorable animals than other human beings?
Really, who does that?
Risa does, Leni answered herself almost immediately.
Maybe, just maybe, falling inlove again wasn't a bad thing— and because love could never be a bad thing, because Risa deserved all the good in the world and there was nothing Leni would ever want than for her bestfriend to be happy.
Ano naman if she's in love with her bestfriend, who's also a woman like her? Hearts didn't have sexes the last time she checked. Risa was such a lovely human being and she'd love to take care of her, the same way Risa had been taking care of her ever since.
When she cried over her stupid and ugly ex, Leni made sure that their freezer was full with pints of her favorite ice cream because she knew Risa always felt better after a few scoops of ice cream. And she never left her side even she kept on saying she can manage herself— even though obviously she can't— when she kept on crying every night until she fell asleep with puffy eyes and red nose, holding her in her sleep so she'd feel warm and safe.
So really, being with Risa would probably be the best thing that could ever happen in her life.
Now, the only thing she has to do was to tell her.
***
Leni heard a familiar voice outside her office asking one of her staffs if she's inside, and thought okay this is it, it's really happening. She had been keeping her feelings in for far too long and it's not supposed to be like that—love shouldn't be kept in, especially for someone like Risa.
The knob turned and the door opened, revealing a shocked Risa.
Their eyes met, and if Leni wasn't sure before, she was now.
She opened her mouth to speak but Risa's lips already took the words away.
***
Risa asked Leni's staffs if she's inside her office, and they said yes, and shit, this was it, she thought, it's happening. She had just realized about her feelings but they were all very intense, and a love like that shouldn't be kept in, especially for someone like Leni.
The knob turned and the door opened, revealing Leni— wearing a pink dress with a floral print on it.
Their eyes met, and if Risa wasn't sure before, she was now.
Leni opened her mouth to speak but Risa's lips already took the words away.
***
And their lips fit, too perfectly against each other (because Leni was shorter and Risa was taller) like puzzle pieces that were meant to be together. They kissed and breathed whatever unspoken words they wanted to say, and it was all so wonderful—because they were bestfriends but now they were also more.
And as they kissed and held each other by the threshold of their shared home, they thought, both of them, that nothing would ever be the same again.
Because love grew and it was everything they could ever want with each other and more.
