After their little game, they decided to call it a night. Leni and Riza shared a bed, Rafa returned to their little camp with the rest of the volunteers.
Bongbong and Win occupied the living room that Mang Lino graciously offered.
The second day began before sunrise. By the time patients came, folding tables were already set, registration forms were ready, and the consultation area was already waiting to accommodate.
Nobody waited for instructions. The volunteers went to their assigned posts as if it was a routine. The second day moved faster than before. Patients flowed from registration to consultation, to medicine distribution, and eventually back to their homes.
By noon, a foundation truck rolled near the covered court. Unlike yesterday, the trail was already cleared enough for vehicles to pass.
The driver immediately went to Rafa and handed him a small note. Upon reading, a smile tugged his lips.
"Promise fulfilled"
Two words, yet Rafa knew exactly who it came from. Without wasting another second he opened the truck's rear door by himself.
"Oy!", he called to the nearby volunteers, "Patulong naman!"
Within minutes, the food packs were being passed around. Not only to the volunteers but also to the remaining patients.
For a little while, consultations paused. Doctors shared meals with the patients. Soldiers sat beside children. Volunteer laughing while recalling whatever stupidity they did last night.
"Is this the same George you were talking about?" Win asked Leni in between bites.
"Oo" she nodded in response.
"Grabe", Win scanned through the people happily sharing a meal, "Ang bait".
Hundreds of kilometers away, back in his office in Manila. George sat quietly, deep down stacks of documents. One promise had been fulfilled, another was only beginning.
The medical mission officially came to an end that afternoon. Last prescription was filed, final patient waved goodbye. The smiles and gratitude of every patient made the two-day grind worth it. The ride back to the city was understandably quiet. Everyone's energy was drained, yet each heart was full.
As the familiar patterns of the buildings greeted them, everything slowly shifted back to normal. Everyone came back to where they have left off. Ferdinand went back to his administrative duties in the hospital. Rafa, to his unfinished businesses. Win to his legislative responsibilities. Riza... slept.
It was already 11pm when Leni entered her apartment. Mud still on shoes, laundry neatly tucked in her backpack, and an exhaustion worth a week's work. The familiar scent of her own space greeted her almost instantly.
She walked to the dimly lit kitchen, reached for the fridge and poured herself a glass of water. Just as the glass landed the counter, her attention was caught by the pot that sat on the kitchen island with a note written in perfect cursive.
"Dont skip dinner"
She smiled to herself and lifted the cover. Chicken adobo, still warm. Exactly what she craves after grueling days of work. She pulled out her phone, took a picture and sent a message.
"Thank you, alam na alam mo talaga"
Not a moment later a reply from George popped up.
"Kumain ka bago matulog ha"
Then another came.
"I'll drop by tomorrow. Love you"
She smiled again. For a brief moment, the exhaustion that disturbed every muscle seemed to feel lighter.
YOU ARE READING
Always And Forever
Fanfiction"I will love you, always and forever", he said to her while he hugged the woman that he dearly loved, despite the pain that he needed to endure, by letting her go. A story of Doctors who fell in great intoxication at the most unexpected time and mom...
