One Night to Forever

The Great War

"Plus, she's a lawyer." Carmen said. Mac was a bar passer when she entered the Miss Universe pageant.

"She's actually a great help in the foundation. Kasama ko sya sa mga free legal consultation. She's actually the head of some of our programs. Na-immerse talaga sya sa foundation." Leni said. Mac, being the youngest, always tag along with her during foundation visits ever since she was young.

"Minsan kapag nagbibiruan sila magkakapatid, palaging sinasabi ng mga ate at kuya nya na bakit daw si Mac pinayagan maging lawyer tapos sila walang choice kundi mag handle ng business." Bongbong shared.

"Bakit nga po?" Carmen was curious too.

Bongbong shrugged. "I don't even know. Siguro dahil bunso na sya? I mean, hindi na kami masyadong strict sa kanya eh."

"Saka favorite mo sya." Leni jested. It's always a joke to them that Mac is Bongbong's favorite child. They're the closest.

They laugh.

"Gusto mo din naman kasi nag law si Mac. You always wanted to have a child na lawyer din." Bongbong said.

"Well." Leni smiled proudly. They laugh.

"Speaking of lawyering, hindi po ba kayo nag reregret na ginive up nyo po Atty. yung career nyo aa ibang bansa?" Carmen asked.

"Hindi." Leni fastly replied. "Kasi it was all worth it eh. Nung una ayaw sana ni Bong, kasi daw sayang naman plus it's my dream. Sabi ko naman, dream ko din na magkaroon ng malaking pamilya with him. Besides, even after I move back here, pabalik-balik pa din naman ako sa US for work. Kahit naman ngayon eh kasi naiinvite ako na maging resource speaker ganyan." She explained. "Plus, the work that I do here is also meaningful. Masaya akong kahit saan ako napunta, nakakatulong pa rin ako."

"Ngayon po na kayo nalang dalawa, kumusta po sa pakiramdam?" Carmen asked. The children moved out since they are all grown ups.

"Nung una, nakakapanibago kasi wala ng masyadong ingay sa buong bahay." Bongbong said. "Pero masaya din kasi wala ng masyadong ingay."

They laugh.

"Mabuti nalang malapit lang yung mga bahay nila lalo na si Pao and Cheese." Leni said. "So we get to visit our grand kids halos every day. "Sina Pizza and Mac kasi sa condo pa rin until now eh. Meron silang sariling condo. Yung building na tinirhan namin before, nandun din sila. Si Pizza is living with his girlfriend while Mac is living alone. Although si Mac is palagi pa din na saamin."

"Pag wala si Pao and his wife, Jessica, kinukuha namin yung mga anak nila. Tapos si Pizza and Mac they visit us sa bahay." Bongbong said.

"You really lived privately. I mean yung bahay nyo po pala is medyo malayo sa city?" Carmen was amused.

The couple nodded. "Yes yes. We never had a big party there. Yung mga closest friends lang namin ang iniinvite namin for tea or pag may birthday ganon. But we never had a big gatherings there kahit malawak yung place." Bongbong said.

"Because we agreed na maging peaceful and safe space naming lahat yung bahay namin." Leni continued. "Kasi diba sobrang stressful ng mga work namin, so we need to have a place na stress free. Na wala masyadong tao kundi kami kami lang. It was really our dream house."

"Sana all po." Carmen remarked. "Anyway, thank you so much for your time po. You really are an inspiration to especially to the young couple who dream to be successful just like you."

"Thanks also for giving us the platform to share our story." Leni smiled.

---

"Daddy, uuwi pala si Kring." Leni shared the moment Bongbong went out of the bathroom.