Jump Then Fall

long story short (2)

August 2012

Heart broken.

It's not enough to describe what Leni's feeling right now. The love of her life just died and she can't even get to grieve properly because of all the media and all the people she needs to face. Most of all, she has three daughters who are looking at her, drawing for strength as they face this devastating loss.

She remained calm all throughout the week. She smiles, answers all the questions, make a conversation, and receive all the people that's been visiting them. They decided to cremate Jesse's body and held a funeral in Eternal Gardens, Naga City. On his last night, hundreds of people came.

Leni, who came from the bathroom, saw an unfamiliar man standing in front of her husband's jar of ashes. He's wearing a white long sleeves tucked in a black slacks, paired with a black oxford shoes. She doesn't know this man.

"Good evening po!" Leni greeted. She wants to accommodate him.

The man turned around and removed his sunglasses. "Hi, I'm Bongbong Marcos."

Leni was star struck, if that's the term; she knew him by the name, of course, but never in her life she would imagine meeting him that close.

He cleared his throat after seeing Leni's reaction.

"Uh yes, uh, magandang gabi po, Sir!" Leni shook his hand. She was a bit tense so she gripped his hand a bit tight. "Leni po. Leni Robredo. Asawa ni Jesse. Salamat po sa pagpunta."

She was gripping his hand and shaking it a bit longer than usual, so he had to retract his hand before it runs out of blood.

She realized what she's done and it made her uncomfortable. She gulped. She's embarrassed. "Uh gusto nyo po ba ng kape or snacks, uh an—"

He cut her off. "No, I'm okay. Thank you."

She just nodded.

He looked back at Jesse's picture. "He's a good person and a great public servant."

She looked at Jesse's picture as well. She misses him.

Bongbong looked at Leni again, "He's a good friend too."

She smiled at him. Her little dimple showed.

He just nodded, looking at her face intently.

Until Happy nudged him a bit.

"Oh uh, how's the kids?" Bongbong stammered.

"Hindi po okay, Sen." Leni said and looked around to find them. She signaled her two daughters to come. "Sen. ito nga po pala yung dalawa kong anak. Panganay ko po si Aika, tapos ito naman po yung bunso ko si Jillian."

Aika and Jillian shook Bongbong's hand. "Thank you po sa pagpunta, Sir." Aika said.

Bongbong just smiled.

"Yung pangalawa ko po, si Tricia, di ko alam kung nasaan. Pasensya na po." Leni said.

"No, it's okay. Baka may mga kaibigan or mga bisita na inaasikaso. It's okay." Bongbong said.

Leni just nodded. She guided Bongbong to the seat in front where he sat comfortably with Happy. She told him that she will serve him coffee and snacks which he declined.

After a while, a presentation played. It showed Jesse's life as a father, husband, and a public servant. Then, Jesse's sisters, Jo and Penny went in front to give a speech. Bongbong looked at Leni who's sitting on the other side of the room, she's just listening to the speeches and stories, smiling and laughing softly, but when he looked at her eyes, he knew that she's dying inside.