Badge of Courage

The Calm Before The Storm

December 7, 1972 6AM

The following morning while Imelda was finishing her preparation, she noticed a small hickey forming on her collarbone. She called for Ferdinand and had pointed it to him

'Ferdie look! Kaya nga pinipigilan kita kagabe!'.

He only laughs and did not apologize; he was even proud!

'Why? Ang ganda nga ng pagkakagawa ko'

Teases Ferdinand while he was buttoning up his barong

That irritates Imelda

'Of course not! Argh! Ikaw talaga kahit kailangan na lang'

She then started to put a concealer to cover it. Ferdinand is still laughing and continues to annoy her.

'E ano naman kung makita? It will tell them who owns you'

Imelda turns her head to look at him and roll her eyes to him. 'Unbelievable'. She told herself, then she goes back to finishing the concealer.

Ferdinand burst out laughing. She really is the cutest when he's teasing her. Especially when she does that eye roll.

'Pasalamat ka hindi yan kagaya ng ginawa ko diyan sa hita mo'

Imelda took a deep breath and was reminded again of the big purple mark she saw when she was taking her shower. She really needs to get away from him or God forbid she will commit something she will regret.

'Can't you just go? Don't you have a meeting that you need to attend to?'

He has, and he knows it, but he still got two hours. He likes being on time, always an hour earlier than everyone else. But he can't just make himself walk out of the room and leave her. Maybe because he is still enchanted by her beauty and on what she's currently doing but also something else. He can't understand it but something's not right. His mind tells him to go but his feet won't let him do it.

'Pwede bang wag na tayo pumunta sa mga trabaho naten at mag-stay na lang dito?'

Imelda was surprised with his sudden change. Ferdinand slowly walks to her and got to her level. He grabs her hand and put it to his face. He leaned on it then kissed her palm. Imelda smiles

'I wish we can, but we have responsibilities to the Filipinos'

Said Imelda while caressing his cheek

Ferdinand kissed her hand then kissed her on the lips longer.

'I love you' he said

'I love you more' she replied

'I love you most' he countered