Always And Forever

His promise

The restaurant wasn't exactly fancy. Just a small place run by locals tucked beneath her condominium. Warm lights, quiet music, and a handful of customers.

She was already there. Sitting, patiently waiting for the man who said he'd be there in fifteen.

"Hey", George greeted her with a soft peck on her lips, "sineryoso mo naman yung fifteen minutes"

" Ikaw yata ang hindi", she jested

George slid into the seat across from her and immediately loosed his tie. Finally, a breather, away from the cases.

"Im my defense" he started and leaned his elbows on the table "traffic was worse, mali yung estimate ko na 15 minutes"

Leonor also leaned her elbows on the table.
"Ang hina naman nang defense mo, attorney"
"Objection"
"Overruled" she rebutted playfully.

George lowered his head and sighed dramatically, "Wala talaga akong laban sa'yo".
She chuckled, "Dapat lang"

Not long after, their orders arrived. George stared at the food. His appetite was no where to found. Somewhere between hic coffee number who-knows-what and stacks of case files. He simply forgotten what hunger felt like.

"George", Leonor called, he looked at him then she gestured on the food, "Kain na"

He smiled and obediently grabbed his utensils,
"Yes ma'am"

For a moment neither spoke. The silence was comfortable, only two people who finds peace in each other's company. No need to fill the silence, just dinner, just them. She took a sip of her drink and looked at him. Finnaly, the man is eating real food. Not just crackers that seemed to be just compliance just to say that he has eaten. A small victory for her.

"Masarap?"

"Hmm", he nodded mid bite. "I forgot food could taste this good"

She stared at him. Dead stared.
Minsan nobyo, minsan anak.

He noticed and immediately raised both hands as if he was held at gun point.

"Okay, bad choice of words"
"George"
"Sorry" he uttered immediately.

"Hindi pwedeng coffee lang palagi" she crossed her arms. "Pag ikaw naisugod sa ER dahil sa pinaggagawa mo malilintikan ka talaga sakin"

He laughed. His second genuine laugh for that night. god he loved everything that moment. The woman in front of him, the simplicity, the normalcy. Far from the moments in the courtroom and operating room.

George stared at her. Her hair tied up, no make up, still looking exhausted. Yet, still the prettiest woman in the room for him.

"You know" he started again, "If I disappear one day-"
"George Fererro", she narrowed her eyes. "If you're going to say something cheesy aalis talaga ako"
He laughed, "Okay okay, I won't", but then he blurted:

"Thank you"

"For?"
"For always checking on me"

He reached for her hand and put a gentle squeeze . She didn't utter a reply. Instead, she looked at him appreciatively, hinting that it wasn't a big deal and it was the least that she could do.

"Your work load is probably extra because of the investigation"

George looked down, still holding her hand. Though not verbal, his reply was understandable making her guilty.

"I shouldn't have asked you to do it" she added.
He held her hand tighter, "I would still do it even if you didn't asked".
She lowered her gaze, "But because of me-"

"No"

The firmness of his voice was evident. He rarely interrupted people. Especially her.
"No, Leni", his thumb gently brushed against the back of her hand. "You asked me to look into what actually happened"

He paused for a moment.

"But somewhere along the way, I stopped doing it because you asked me"
She remained quiet, eyes fixed on his circling thumb.
"I kept going because someone got away with it"

His teasing face was replaced by his Lawyer demeanor. It was attorney George Fererro who was talking. Not the lovable idiot surviving on coffee. It was the lawyer.

"Twenty-three witnesses" he continued, "Only seven statements". He shook his head as his jaw tightened, "That doesn't sit right with me".

Leonor watched him, and there it was. The reason he buried himself in old newspapers. The reason he forgot to eat. The reason he kept requesting records from places who barely remember the case existed.

"I don't know what happened yet", he admitted. "I just know something is wrong"
She just remained quiet, hinting him to continue.

"Thirty years, Leni" frustration was evident in his voice. "Thirty years of sitting in the dark." With a snap, the idiot who forgets to eat came back. His gaze drifted towards the restaurant window. The city lights outside. The traffic, the people. Then to her.

"I want you to have a peace of mind. I want you to know what happened. I want to pull you out from that dark room that keeps holding you back. Gagawin ko ang lahat."

His words weren't just a promise, they were obligation he placed upon himself.