Always And Forever

What are you to me?

"Ex wife", Ferdinand immediately corrected and glared at her like a predator looking to a prey , "We got divorced three years ago, so...ex wife is the proper term"

Jessica took her hand back, her confident stand was replaced by embarrassment. The smirk on her face faded with her ego.

"What is she to you?", she asked, changing the topic.

"And what made you think I'll answer that?"

"Well", she shrugged her shoulders, "I deserve to know",

"You deserve to know?", he scoffed putting his utensil down,"What are you to me?"

The people who heard covered their mouths and faked a cough.

"You are nothing but some random elite that was forced to me for that damn power!", His voice slightly raised and his jaw tightened in annoyance.

"Really?", Rivera faked a laugh trying to look unaffected by his words.

"Yes, we agreed not to bother each other's pitiful souls anymore, and yet you are standing here bothering me and my woman"

Leonor's eyes were widened by his statement, she looked at him and frowned, asking for clarifications, clearly clueless of what he just said.

"So please, as hard as I tried to be polite.....We would appreciate your effort if you step out of our sight"

The tension was growing and the chatters of the people were replaced by constant whispers, everybody was looking in their direction. Ferdinand's eyes were darted to Jessica, they were inevitably filled with rage and hate.

"Ferdie...", Leonor softly spoke and held his hand, breaking his deathly glare

"Kalma hmm?", she continued while gently caressing his arm.

The hate that was imprinted on his face vanished, he nodded and took a deep sigh as his gaze slowly shifted to her.

Jessica's eyebrows furrowed upon seeing her ex husband being tamed that easily, he never acted like that when they were still in their loveless marriage, she was speechless and was drowning in jealousy. Her nails dug into her palm's skin as her fist tightened.

"Alis na tayo dito mahal",Leonor said with the softest voice that she got. 

Ferdinand's ear turned red, he froze,his expression was shocked, what she said gave him butterflies.

Leonor noticed his sudden lagging, 

"What?" , she muttered to him

Both of them stood up, but to his surprise, she held his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Pasensya na po kayo", she addressed to the people that was giving them their attention while slightly bowing and nodding her head.

He kept his eyes locked to her, admiring every move that she made.

"Why do I feel like this?", he thought.

They got out of the shop and ignored the sensation of  Jessica's glare through the window walls, still walking hand in hand and fingers intertwined, Ferdinand absently followed Leonor while enjoying the feeling as her skin touched his.

"Pwede ganito nalang palagi  lord?"

"Masyado ka atang kinilig", she teased her the moment they reached her car.

"Ha? uhm-, actually, uhm- ano kase-"

"Okay lang umamin Ferdie", she lightly tapped his cheek.

"Ferdie?", he chucked upon repeating,

"Yes, Ferdie, masyadong mahaba yung Ferdinand"

"You're calling me Ferdie?"

"Yes, why? cute kaya"

"Can I call you mahal then?"

"Sira!", she slapped his shoulder upon hearing his request, "Mahal mahal ka dyan"

He rubbed his shoulder and chuckled,"Oh why?, tinawag mo akong mahal kanina"

"Kanina yon!"

"Baket ngayon ayaw mo na?"

She slapped his shoulder again and reached for her car door. Remnants of the earlier feelings were gone. 

"Ewan ko sayo! Maka uwi na nga"

"Wait", he grabbed her wrist and made her face him.

"Thank you........for saving me back there"

She removed his hand from her wrist and gently held the tip of his fingers.

"You're always welcome"