George found himself standing in front of a glass display, his eyes fixed on a single ring. "Can I see this one, please?"
The sales associate smiled and carefully lifted the ring from the case before placing it on the velvet tray. He picked it up with surprising gentleness.
A smile found its way onto hi face.
He has imagined this moment countless times. After the long wait, Leni finally gave her yes. Now, all that remained was one more question.
=
"So", Martin, Ferdinand's cousin nudged him with his elbow as they walked through the crowded mall. "Anong sumapi sayo? Ba't bigla kNg nag aya?"
Bongbong shrugged, "Ewan". He scanned through the passing store fronts. "Parang ang tagal na nating di nagkita."
"True", Martin replied. "Puro ka trabaho, himala talaga ngayon". He glanced around before suddenly pointing ahead. "Ah, sakto"
Bongbong followed Martin's gaze. Cartier. For some reason, the familiar store front immediately reminded him of Leni. She always wore that Cartier D'Amour necklace.
"Bakit?", he asked. "May bibilhin ka?"
Martin scoffed, "Peace offering", he scratched the back of his neck. "Nag away kami nang asawa ko".
It did not took them long to locate the store. Martin immediately asked for assistance from one of the staffs and proceeded to view the options. His cousin, on the other hand, simply wandered. He wasn't planning to buy anything. His eyes remained inside his pockets as his eyes casually drifted across the displays.
A few steps away, another associate was speaking to a man who held a ring between his fingers. His expression caught Bongbong's attention.
"Yes", the stranger smiled. "I'm going to propose".
Bongbong couldn't explain why, but his feet carried him closer. Not close enough to intrude. Just enough to admire the rings on display beside him.
"I'll take this" George said after handing the ring back to the associate.
"Ballerina Solitaire", Bongbong mindlessly uttered, "Excellent choice"
"Anything great for my lady" George proudly replied. There was something genuine in the way he said it. A thing that made Ferdinand smile.
"Congratulations", he extended his hand. Little did he know.
George accepted it without hesitation. "Thank you".
At that moment, they were simply two men. One celebrating love, the other quietly learning what it is again. Neither knew who the other truly was.
The association looked back at George. "Sir?", he looked back. "May I ask for your partner's ring size?"
He thought for a moment, then looked apologetically to the staff. "Excuse me".
Pulling out his phone, he stepped a few meters away and dialed a number.
"Hello?", the person on the other line answered.
"Riz, si George to"
Riza laughed, "Alam ko, nagbabasa pa naman ako nang caller ID"
Ferdinand did not pay attention at first. Until, he thought he heard a familiar name.
George chuckled, then, his voice turned serious. "Kasama mo si Leni ngayon?"
Leni?. His ears perked up. George walked farther away, his voice was carried away by the noise of the mall.
"Hindi, nasa OR ata s'ya ngayon. Why?"
"May itatanong lang ako.", George took a breath. "But, don't tell her"
"Okay?"
He smiled to himself, "What's her ring size?"
Riza became silent, she lowered her phone trying to process. Then, she hastily stood up, lifting her phone to her ear again.
"George Ferrero". The shock in her voice was evident.
George smiled widely. "Yep, you guessed it".
"OH MY GOD!". Riza squealed loudly George had to pull away his phone from his ear. "Totoo na ba 'to?"
He laughed, "Oo. Di ko na papatagalin".
Riza's grin grew wider. "Sawakas!". She told him the size after. George thanked her before returning to the counter.
Bongbong remained near the ring displays when Martin appeared beside him holding a familiar red shopping bag.
"Plano mo nang magpakasal?", he joked.
Bongbong glanced sideways, "Tapos kana?"
His cousin proudly lifted the bag, "Peace offering secured."
Before he could answer, he heard one of the associate's cheerful voice behind him. "Congrats again, sir"
George simply smiled. "Salamat".
Ferdinand looked back for only a second, before following Martin out of the store.
YOU ARE READING
Always And Forever
Fanfiction"I will love you, always and forever", he said to her while he hugged the woman that he dearly loved, despite the pain that he needed to endure, by letting her go. A story of Doctors who fell in great intoxication at the most unexpected time and mom...
