Fine Line

September 1, 2023

Franklin Drilon peered through the rim of his glass as he gulped down the water in a sip. From where he sat, he watched as two women on the other table laugh and exchange stories as if they've known each other for quite a while now.

He's sure they don't. Leni had been working for him since she got into law school six years ago, and he's never seen in pictures, heard from in random work stories, or simply knew that she shared at least a friendship with the woman beside her. He assumes he knows Leni that much; they share a lot of common things and he sort of sees Leni as an adopted daughter.

Risa, on the other hand, was someone the company abroad that they were working with sent to take care of the collaborative project. Franklin commended her record and not once did he doubt the strengths of the Filipina who managed to consolidate an executive spot. In a foreign company, no less. Not to mention that her name is quite famous too.

When he assigned Leni this project, he already knew it would be a success. But what Leni presented to them was so much more than a success. He deemed it as "utter perfection" and "flawlessly executed". He was a bit wary now, seeing Leni interact with the woman as if she knew her personally, because of work ethics. Franklin never liked mixing business with pleasure and he imposes that on his staff. He shot the two women a glance once more and thought, "But, damn, they make a great team."

His musings were interrupted when Teddy Baguilat interrupted the light chatter on their table with a laugh and a question to Kiko. "Hoy, Kiks. Ikaw ba may gawa no'n?"

Kiko furrowed his brows and asked, "Alin?" Teddy, with his hand that didn't hold a glass of wine, gestured to the two women talking on the other table — the same women Franklin was looking at earlier. Now, his curiosity was piqued. "Ah, ayun ba," Kiko laughed.

Everyone on the table now focused on Kiko's next words. He turned to Franklin and chuckled at the look of anticipation on his face. "Leni didn't tell you, Sir?" Franklin shook his head. "To be fair, they didn't see each other outside of work naman. Purely business lang sila since the project began, so no work ethic rules violated."

Franklin's face contorted into deeper confusion. "What?"

"They're exes. Risa was Leni's first girlfriend."

Jaw dropping wide, Franklin stared at the two women again and what he saw pretty much made more sense after that confirmation from Kiko. Leni was leaning towards Risa, both with their hands on the table, fidgeting with their wine glasses, still deep in conversation.

Body language wise, that pretty much says a lot. Leni was never too touchy with people. Never standing too close to allow even the slightest graze. So her, leaning towards Risa, says a lot more than words could at that moment.

"Hindi ba kayo makapaniwala?" Kiko mused. "Len! Halika dito."

The entire table filled with Franklin's staff watched Leni excuse herself from her conversation with Risa, the taller woman gently clasping her wrist as she pressed a quick kiss on her cheek. Leni walked to their table, a curious look on her face. "Ano 'yun?"

"Ayaw nila maniwalang ex mo si Risa."

"Huh?" Leni laughed. "Bakit naman na-bring up na bigla na ex ko siya?"

"Eh kasi, they thought I set you up with her. Alam mo naman ang wingman tendencies ko. But I told them na you had a relationship in the past."

Leni never liked her personal life, especially her relationships, blabbered like that to people who she wasn't personally close with. So, Franklin wondered what it was that made Leni laugh instead of getting upset that her best friend just told them about something a little too personal. "Yes, she is. Pero gaya ng sabi ni Kiko, relationship in the past. Tapos na 'yun, matagal na."

"I doubt," Teddy said teasingly. "Sa tinginan niyong 'yun, mukha bang tapos na?"

"Alam niyo, kayo," Leni shook her head and chuckled. "Mas nagwoworry pa kayo sa amin kaysa sa mga trabaho niyo."

That's Leni to you. Franklin thought. Sharing but never too much. Like an open book but with incomplete words. There are instances in the six years Leni's worked for him, and the one year she was their intern, that he'd assume he has predicted her completely, or knows how she'll react. But each and every time, Franklin was corrected — she is a mystery who can take you by surprise all the time.

Leni waved the teasing off and excused herself from their table. Franklin turned his head to answer the question from a staff member beside him, and when he turned his gaze back to Leni, she was back at the table, leaning closer to Risa.

—

"So, work? Kumusta?" Leni asked. Risa laughed at the absurdity of the question, never taking Leni to be someone who would ask things like that out of the blue. "You hate small talk and now, you do it?"

"The corporate world teaches you a lot," Leni replied. "Pero seryoso, kumusta?"

"Okay lang. Nasanay naman na. It's been six years since I lived there. Grabe ang tagal na, ano?"

Leni nodded and sipped her wine, a teasing smile on her lips as she replied, "Ang tagal na rin simula no'ng pinakawalan kita." Risa stared at her, taken aback and flabbergasted. "Excuse me? Ako ang pinakawalan mo? Baka ako ang naging selfless enough to let you go."

"Technically, ikaw ang nag-'go.' Nasa Pilipinas pa rin ako." The lawyer quipped.

"Ang dami mong alam," Risa huffed but not in offense. She had this glint in her eyes and a slight nostalgia in her tone. "I missed talking to you, you know."

Leni smiled back at her. "Me too, Sa. It's like no time has passed at all."

The two women sat in silence, watching the afterparty unfold before them. Leni knew eyes were on them both — the question posed by her boss earlier enough to keep her cautious — but she couldn't care less.

A stray, warm hand found its way to Leni's hand atop the table and gripped gently. Leni almost flinched at the sudden contact and yet she didn't. Because somehow, Risa's skin still felt so familiar to her senses. As if her youth never faded in their six years apart. As if she's the last person who ever touched her still. She took Risa's hand in hers and smiled.

"I know I'm only here for ninety more days," Risa said, loud enough for only the two of them to hear. "But I would hate myself if I don't spend the ninety days with you."

"Niyayaya mo ba akong mag-date?" Leni smirked, her eyes never leaving the people dancing in front of them. "If oo, will you say yes?" Risa laughed.

"What if I say no?"

"Then no, I'm not asking you on a date."

"What are you asking me, then?"

"Be mine again. For the next ninety days."