Always And Forever

Day 1 Done

The ambulance raced down the mountain roads with its sirens now in silence. The urgency earlier was long gone after they stabilized the patient and successfully endorsed him to the hospital.

Leni and Bongbong sat quietly inside the back of the ambulance. She was leaning on the metal wall, eyes closed, not to sleep but to rest. She felt her hands trembling, only then did she realized how much adrenaline and caffeine had been carrying her. 72 hour shift, series of surgeries, then heading straight to the medical mission. Who wouldn't tremble?

Bongbong, who was seating beside her tapping his knee noticed her hands. Without second thoughts, he reached for a bottled water, unscrewed the cap and reached for her trembling hands. The sudden warmth made her eyes open.

"Drink", he said handing her the bottle while his other hand holding hers.

"You always do that"
"Ang alin?"
"Binubuksan muna"

He looked at the bottle on his hand as though he had only just realized it by now"

"Para inumin mo kaagad"

She was about to accept it but noticed his hand softly gripping hers.

Leni let out a chortle, "How would I drink that eh hawak mo kamay ko?"

Bongbong looked at their joined hands and realized.

"Right", he immediately let go and scratched his nape, "Sorry"

She chuckled once again and drank from the bottle. Neither spoke after that, just the hum of the engine and the sound of tires sliding through the roads filled their silence.

He was absently staring at the oxygen tank when he felt her head softly landed on his shoulder.

"Uy" he reacted softly, "Nakatulog rin sawakas"

He didn't dare to move after that, only when he occasionally balances her head back when it attempts to fall. At some point, even blinking felt too loud.

The driver caught a glimpse of them on the rearview mirror and a knowing smile appeared on his face.

"Doc", he lowered his voice, "Pwede ka naman pong gumalaw"

Bongbong shook his head and replied in a hushed manner, "Baka magising"

The rest of the drive continued in comfortable silence. Every pot hole made Ferdinand shift his body just enough to absorb the impact before she could feel it. He wasn't sure if it worked, but it seemed like it as she continued sleeping.

Back at the military detachment, they received a message from the soldier who was in the ambulance. Informing them that they're on their way back. As soon as the captain relayed the message to Rafa, he immediately bolted to the trail.

For the past twenty minutes he had done nothing but to pace back and forth in front of the detachment. Once the distant rumble of the ambulance engine reached his ears, his face lit up.

"Finally!"

The vehicle rolled to a stop and before the engines got turned off, he opened the rear doors only to be greeted with such sight.

Leni, sleeping on Bongbong's shoulder.

He looked at Ferdinand who was sitting completely still, hands on knees, staring back at him.

"Estatwa ka ba?"
"Ayokong magising"
"Ayaw mo?"
"Baka mapagod lalo"

Rafa looked away and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Tanga".

Just then, Leonor shifted slightly and opened her eyes. For a few seconds, she simply stared ahead trying to wake herself up. Then she realized, she wasn't leaning on the ambulance wall. She was leaning against Bongbong's shoulder.