Always And Forever

The Visit

In what felt like a miracle, Leni actually found time for herself. She was seating in the hospital garden, white coat hanged on the bench's arm rest, while a cup coffee warmed her palms. No phone, no book, she was just silently looking at some of the patients who are hanging out in the garden with their companions. Suddenly all the stress, and burnouts vanished. Watching the patients being able to hang out again is the very reason she keeps going with her job.

"May katabi ka ba?", Ferdinand asked.
She looked up to him, smiled and slightly moved over, giving him enough space to sit.

Five minutes. No conversation. Just comfortable silence.

Then Ferdinand glanced at her, he saw her smiling. Looking at the children playing. His heart softened.

"It's nice", he muttered
"Hmm?", It was just enough for Leni to hear.
"It's nice to see you smile. But even nicer when I saw the reason."
He shifted on his seat, facing her entirely.She met his eyes, he never broke contact. Then... Fake cough, she broke first. This made him shift instantly back to his position.

"I heard Senator Gatchalian survived" he stated while adjusting his coat.
Leonor let out a genuine chuckle. "Barely"
"The ankle?"
"The attending physician"
"It was Doc Riza, right?" he queued
"The one and only"

Both of them chuckled, then silence followed. He was panicking internally wanting to continue the conversation. Board meetings, conferences, he never wavered. But with her, it was as if words are puzzles. The smooth talker Ferdinand, always falters with Leonor.

"May lakad ka ba?", His mind scrambled with topics to fire.
"Oo"
Oh.
"May pupuntahan lang"
Oh!

Suddenly, he thought an idea, "Can I come?"
She turned to face him, slightly amused of his question.

"You sure? I mean it's not fun"
"I wasn't planning on having fun"

That earned him a smile.
"I'm visiting my parents"
His smile slowly disappeared from his face. For a moment, he considered backing out, the reason? forgotten agenda. But no, his courage made him. "Can I still come?"Ang tapang naman Bongbong.

A chuckle escaped immediately from Leonor after hearing his reply. He, victorious.
"Was that a yes?", eyes brightened as he asked.
"It was maybe".

=

Not long after, they both found themselves standing in front of two graves. It was simple, a tombstone surrounded by Bermuda grass.
As if the people buried there wasn't products of a conglomerate. Bongbong was quite taken aback, he was expecting to meet her warm-bodied parents. Not the ones who are below a chiseled stone.

"Hi ma, hi pa."

Leonor knelt down, she spoke as if she had done it a thousand times. Ferdinand clenched on the flowers he was holding, something in her statement broke him internally, despite the fact that he never met her parents. He gently placed the flowers, no grand gesture, just respect.

"Right, my kasama nga pala ako ngayon" she continued speaking, "Ka trabaho ko ho".

She looked at him and smiled. He had no idea what to do, certainly he wasn't used to talk to a tombstone.

"Uhh.."

Leonor immediately laughed. Cluelessness was written all over his face,"See? I told you it's not fun"

"I wasn't expecting an introduction", his voice in a hush manner, tensed and a chuckle tone was in mix.
He then looked at the two names engraved on the tombstone before awkwardly clearing his throat.

"Good afternoon po"

Leni bit her lip, trying not to laugh again.

"I am Ferdinand Rodriguez", he was about to held out his hand for a handshake and was immediately reminded that no one would counter it.
Ano ba naman bong.

He took a pause, then glanced at her, "Do I keep going?"

Her cheeks were already turning pink, trying to contain her laugh.
"Ikaw bahala"

"I'm a cardiac surgeon" He stated looking back at the tombstones.

Leonor covered her face, "Ba't mo nilalapag resume mo?"
"I don't know!"
"Then stop"
"I can't stop now. Nakapag start na ako"

It made her laugh harder, he was tensed, but for a moment he found himself smiling too. His eyes drifted back to the engraved names, Antonio and Isabel. Then, his eyes continued to drift down, died: 1986. He felt a pang on his chest, now that year will have another meaning for him.

"I just..." He swallowed, "It would be great if I met you". His words left before he could even stop them.
He looked at the flowers rested on the top of the grave. "I don't know about you, pero I think we would've get along"

"You have a wonderful daughter." he added, "I know you guys are proud of how she turned out as a person".

From the moment they arrived, that was the first time that Ferdinand uttered something serious. A gentle breeze passed the cemetery, carrying the scent of fresh grass and incense. Beside him, Leonor lowered her gaze, her chest tightened. Somehow his statement meant something she can't figure out.