She hears Narda approach before seeing her. Quiet footsteps over the buzzing of the old air conditioner in her cell.
Narda greets her with a smile, as she always does. “Kamusta ka?” She sits next to Regina, facing her.
Regina looks down at hands, swallows the lump in her throat, still struggling to find the words. Because what do you say to the best friend you tried to kill? Multiple times?
She breathes before saying instead, “Nakagawa na ng serum para sa’kin, si Dr. Villalobos.” She offers a smile, a first since their fallout. Since everything between them turned ugly and full of spite. It feels nice.
“Mas malakas daw kaysa sa serum na binibigay niya sa iba,” she continues, flicking her hair and giving a playful smirk, “After all, I am the first Extra.”
They share laughs like they used to. And Narda smiles back. Like no time has passed, like the end of the world wasn’t just last week, like they were still Narda and Regina.
“Mawawala na si Valentina,” she pauses, as if just realizing, “she will be gone. Forever.” It feels too hopeful and Regina doesn’t know what to do.
Then.
Narda beams.
Small hands grips hers and says, “Kailanman, hindi ako nawalan ng pag asa na babalik ka.”
And oh.
Oh.
Well.
Was it ever surprising?
She walks away from Narda, facing the glass pane, “Narda,” she says, full of conviction, “hindi ko alam kung anong buhay pa ang babalikan ko, pagkatapos ng lahat nang ‘to.”
A beat passes and suddenly, Narda’s there. Holding her hands. “Hindi pa huli ang lahat,” voice full of hope it’s hard to believe anything else.
Tears are clouding her vision but still, she looks into Narda’s. “Okay, okay.” she mouths, taking deep shaking breaths.
“Pwede ka maging kahit anong gusto mo, basta mananatili parin akong kaibigan mo.”
Kaibigan.
It feels wrong every time she hears that word. Like it’s something final. Something she can’t change. Like it’s all that they’ll ever be.
“Wala na si Borgo, mula ngayon, lahat ng gagawin mo ay nasasaiyo na.” She hears Narda say.
So Regina takes the leap.
Before Narda can continue, Regina interrupts, “Narda, Narda, wait.” Heart pounding and all hope, Regina prays to God, anyone who might hear, let this be it. She would ask nothing more. Just give her this, please.
“Regina? Okay ka lang?” And god. She doesn’t want to lose this Narda. The one who cares for her, the one she shares her meals with, the one that she loves.
“I…” Regina sucks air through gritted teeth, “I need to say something.”
A soft smile, “Ano ‘yon?” eager eyes searching hers and Regina is frozen on the spot.
“A-ano kasi,” She stutters, fuck. Get yourself together, jesus. A lawyer, head of foundation, a criminal, and yet she can’t find the words for one Narda Custodio. Well not just one, the Narda Custodio.
Somehow, that only rattles Regina more.
Narda gives a reassuring squeeze, it’s okay, it says, it’s okay.
Okay.
“I love you.” Regina blurts, “more than you could ever know.”
“Regina, I love you, too,” Narda coos, and she does that thing where she smiles so wide her eyes disappear and Regina aches.
“No, Narda,” she says, “Here’s the thing, I love you. More than a friend.”
Narda’s eyes look like they’re going to bulge out.
“And I know, I know, you just lost Brian,” because of me, she doesn’t say, “at wala akong hinihingi kapalit. You’re my best friend. I can’t afford to lose you,” And though it hurts to admit, that is enough. It’s enough. It has to be.
Narda still hasn’t said anything so Regina does.
“I think part of me has always known,” She looks down on their clasped hands, thumbs moving in a soothing motion, “I…I think that’s why I was so attached to Brian, too. Kasi I knew he’ll be closer to you than I’ll ever be. He’ll have you in the way I never will.”
“Mali ka.” Narda finally utters.
Regina shakes her head, and opens her mouth to argue when Narda says, voice resolute, “Mali ka, Regina.”
“Sa lahat ng oras, sa bawat sandaling kasama ko siya, ikaw lang ang nasa isip ko.”
Now it’s Regina’s turn to be surprised.
“Alam mo bang noong nagtatago ka, ikaw ang parating pinagaawayan namin? Dahil mas pinipili kitang hanapin kaysa makasama si Brian.” Narda swallows, “Akala ko hindi…I thought you didn’t feel the same way, so I chose Brian.”
Narda steps ever closer, “Mahal kita, Regina. Wala nang iba.”
Tears are falling freely from both women now, sounds of sniffling fills the room.
“Ang tanga naman natin,” Regina chuckles wetly, wiping away her tears.
“Agreed.”
They’re closer now, just mere inches apart. Regina still hasn’t let go of Narda’s hands and oh, she’s so close. Regina’s eyes flick down to Narda’s supple lips, licking her own absentmindedly.
“Narda?”
“Hm?”
“Can I…” Regina pauses, thinks, and then, “can I kiss you?”
“Yes.”
Regina all but pulls Narda’s body flush against hers. She leans in, nervous.
When their lips meet, Regina melts. She sighs in relief and solace and everything in between.
The kiss is tentative and hesitant. Her hand flexes over the soft cotton dress (jesus, why did Narda decide to wear this today?). Leaves them there, holding tight like Regina’s afraid Narda might disappear any moment..
Narda kisses back gently but no less hungry. Her hands snake up to Regina’s broad shoulders and wrap her arms around her neck. Her chest is warm and oh, Regina makes a sound behind her throat that Narda needs to hear again.
Regina pulls away first, eyes closed and forehead resting against Narda’s.
Breathing heavily she whispers a small, “wow.”
“Yeah,” Narda is a giggling mess, chest heaving.
“I love you,” Regina repeats, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”
Narda is tearful when she replies, “I love you, too. So much.”
They savor the moment just a while longer until someone knocks on the door, telling them that the serum is ready. They steal a few more kisses before reluctantly pulling away.
“So.” Regina giggles, as if she wasn’t just some rampaging snake lady last week.
“So.” Narda giggles back, as if she didn’t just defeat one of the powerful beings on the planet last week.
“Let’s talk nalang later.” Regina offers a small smile.
“Sige. Pagkatapos ng lahat.” Narda beams. She gives a peck before completely pulling away. She steps out of the room and waves goodbye.
Regina watches her go, feeling lighter in ages.
Once she makes sure that Narda is far, far away, she attacks.