Always And Forever

You, Your Safety, Everything Leonor

"U free?"

A text message lit Leonor's phone screen while she and Riza were having a chat inside her office.

"And then? What happened after?" Riza enthusiastically asked,

Leonor placed her phone on the table before answering, "Wala, after naming lumabas, umuwi na ako kaagad",

"Just want to talk", another text message came.

"Umuwi ka kaagad?" Riza crossed her arms, "Wala bang kiss? Hug? Boring naman"

"Sira! Ba't may ganon?"

"Nasa garden ako", Leonor's phone chimed for the third time. Catching both of their attentions.

"Sino ba yan? Replyan mo nga!"

"Si George", Romero stood up and did few stretches before wearing  her white coat, "Gusto daw makipag usap"

"Tungkol saan?" Riza sat up after hearing George's name. The traces of guilt were imprinted on her  face.

"Ewan, seryoso ata" were the words that Romero uttered before hurriedly exiting the office.
-
George was sitting on a bench, legs crossed,casually sipping his coffee, while enjoying the garden's calming ambiance. The warm wind brushed against his skin the same as the anxiety that crept within his body.

"She will come", he muttered to his self after  lifting his wrist to check the time. He's been sitting there for an hour already.

Another batch of minutes has passed and the person he was waiting for was nowhere within his sight.
He took a deep sigh before picking up the coffees clearly preparing to leave.

"Sorry, may emergency kasi"

A person gripped his wrist as he was about to walk.

"Kanina ka pa?", Leonor asked while desperately catching her breath.

George worriedly looked at her. Her image reflected in his eyes as his focus was all into her.

"I was worried about you" Ferrero uttered and pulled her for a hug. Due to their height differences, her face was buried on his broad chest. His sexy masculine fragrance travelled through her nasals.

"Worried? Baket?", Leonor cluelessly queued, her head still on his chest making her voice muffled.

George pulled from their hug and held her shoulders. He looked at her intently, as if all the worries in the world was his.

"Bakit di mo sinabi sa'kin?"

"Ang alin?"

"What Michael did to you"

Romero distanced from him and face palmed herself.

"I thought it won't matter", she said after taking a deep sigh.

"Of course it will, when it comes to you everything will matter for me"

Frustration was present in George's voice, but he spoke as soft as he can.

"You, your safety, everything Leonor" He added as tears slowly formed in his eyes.

"George", Leonor softly held his cheek while wiping the tears that were racing down with her thumb,
"Tignan mo'ko", she held his other cheek, "I'm fine, and that matters".

Ferrero silently stared at her, while enjoying the warmth of her hands that were touching his cheeks.

"Wag nang mag overthink, hmm?" she added,

George scoffed, "Para kang nanay"

Leonor chuckled and playfully shoved his face, "Sira!"

"Nanay ng magiging anak natin", George paused and smirked,

"Tumigil ka nga, ang hirap nang manganak sa edad ko", Leonor countered and slapped his arm,

"38 ka pa, considered pa yun"

Both of them chortled, George's worried heart was replaced with glee. On the other side of the garden, a person was watching them, without their notice.

"Kasama nya si Attorney Ferrero, masyadong delikado", she spoke and held her earpiece.

"Okay pull out", A static voice of a man replied. And in an instant, the unknown lady immediately sat on a wheel chair and made her way out.