Always And Forever

name

Leonor clearly told Riza that she was going to sleep that morning. However, what she did was the complete opposite. She found herself in the senate parking area. Mostly quiet as the people were already inside. Staff members walked back and forth carrying folders while security personnel stood near the entrances.

Senator Gatchalian happened to step out of his vehicle when he noticed a familiar face leaning on the hood of a car.

"Doc Romero?"

Leonor looked up from her phone. It was evident that both of them were mildly surprised.

"Senator"
"What are you doing here?", Win approached and tucked his folders beneath his arm.

"Oh, my grandfather has a meeting", she stood up straight, "Pinatawag s'ya for some consultation things. Sabi thirty minutes"

A pause, then she asked back, "You?"

"Work, unfortunately"
"My condolences" she jested.

That earned the senator a laugh and noticed that she was slightly irritated.

"And how many minutes has it been?" he asked smiling.

She glanced on her watch, "An hour and fifteen"

They stood there for a moment, exchanging small casual small talk.

"Kamusta si Doc Javier?"

And here we go. Leonor immediately smirked.
"Okay naman", she looked away. Narrowing her eyes while attempting to hide her expression, "Palaging busy"

"Hmm, expected" Win just nodded.

"Tulog ata yon ngayon"
"Tulog?"
"Nasa OR s'ya magdamag"

That made Win pause, his expression softened. Suddenly his decision to send sandwiches to her station became justified. A decision that left him staring at his phone for far too long, contemplating whether to make the order or not.

"Alam mo"
"Hmm?" , that made him snapped back from his thoughts.
"You call her Doc Javier all the time"
Win looked confused, "Because that's her name"
Leonor crossed her arms, "Well, technically"
"Technically?" He also crossed his arms.
"You know what her real name is?"
"Hindi"

"Ana Theresia"

Her name felt different for win. It was softer, more personal. Less like the surgeon who would hug him in the neck if he ever goes beyond his recovery plan.

"Ana Theresia..." he repeated.
"That's her"
"Huh", Win scoffed snd shook his head.
Leornor noticed his expression and fought a smile. "What?"
"Nothing", then he glanced toward the senate building, "Ana Theresia"

Her name rolled out naturally from him. As if he had been saying it for a long time.

"Didn't know that", he uttered looking back at Leonor.
"Most people don't"

A brief silence settled between them, until Leni noticed a man walking towards them. He was immediately recognizable, straight posture despite his age. Walking with a confidence of someone who has spent years of being listened to.

"Finally" , Leonor stood straight and looked at the direction of the man.

Win followed her gaze and straightened lightly.
"So your grandfather is Senator Francisco Romero?". Win asked and wondered heavily how he missed that. Her surname gave it all.

"Yep" Leonor replied, unimpressed. "Tsaka, its former senator already"

"Still counts?" Win's gaze landed back and forth to the old and young Romeros. He had always highly regarded the former.

"Senator Gatchalian"
"Senator Romero", a handshake followed.

"Sorry", Francisco glanced at his granddaughter, then to Win. "Apparently thirty minutes still means differently in this building"

Gatchalian chuckled, "Unfortunately, that's true"

"Yeah and apparently I don't appreciate you making me wait that long", Leonor raised an eyebrow and walked towards the car, "Kung di lang dumating si Senator Win, iniwan na kita eh"

Francisco just shook his head smiling. He's already used with his granddaughter's temper. He finds it amusing, in fact. Win just watched the exchange between the two, amused of how it was unfolding in front of him. The great Senator Romero was being shown an attitude by his granddaughter, and he's completely cool with it.

"Ready to go?" Francisco asked, as if Leonor approaching the car door wasn't obvious enough that she was.

"Since forty five minutes ago" Leni replied hopping unto the driver's seat.

"Good to see you Senator Gatchalian" he turned to Win. Then out of the blue, he continued "Remember, lagi't laging pillin ang taong bayan"

Win nodded, composure straight, and with all seriousness in his demeanor. "Will always do, senator. I won't disappoint"

"Good"

Francisco smiled once and entered the passenger seat. Leonor rolled down the windor before staring the engine.

"Don't tell Riza I told you that"

Win didn't replied, instead he gave her a nod and a reassuring smile.

The car finally pulled away. Win stood there and watched it disappear from the parking area.

Lagi't laging piliin ang taong bayan.

The former senator's words lingered in his head.
Might be a few words, but completely the opposite of what most of the politicians has become today. It seemed that it's no longer the people that matters. It's already the personal interests, protection of one's family and the other, concepts that completely repel the essence of what a public office and service should be.

For Win, hearing it was a simple reminder. But hearing it from the person that he looks up to was heavier.

A moment later his phone vibrated. It was a message from his chief of staff.

"Resource persons are already inside, sir", it read.