Chapter Eleven: Part Three

She woke up the next morning with a heavy head. Her feet led her to the parish church near their village and attended the Sunday mass.

The priest was approaching her.

“I know this person.” She told herself

It was Sam, the seminarian on which her late grandmother funded his study. She suddenly recalled when they attended his ordination the previous year.

Father Sam was about to approached her.

Upon seeing a familiar face, she knelt down, closed her eyes, clasped her hands and pretended to
pray. She hoped that the priest won’t notice that her face is red or that she has a hangover.
A few minutes later, it turned out that Sam would be the presiding priest for the mass that she would be attending.

Leni can’t think straight for the whole period, until she got hit by the priest’s homily. Sam, with much conviction tackled on the issues about the youth.

“Peer pressure, drug addiction, premarital sex, are some of the issues that the youth are facing today. Sana kayong mga kabataan, hindi lang puro gimik, billards, clubbing, at inom ang inaatupad niyo. Sana, mag-serve din kayo. Put your time and talents into good use.”

While the priest was facing the audience, Leni shot him with dagger looks and said to herself.

“Ayos sa sermon si Father ah, tinamaan ako Gayahin daw ba si Jose Rizal magsalita?

After the mass, she went home and slept again.

Chapter Eleven: Part Two

Ode’s birthday was held in her house. While everyone was having fun, Leni on the other hand amused herself by trying all the food in the buffet table. She was not enjoying the party because everything that transpired for the past few weeks kept lingering in her mind.

After most of the guests left, Adam, Faith, Leni, and some of their former classmates decided to stay there overnight. Ode opened a bottle of vodka and passed it around. While others were telling about their job, Leni being quiet for the whole time got drunk after her eighth glass.

Everyone knows that Leni broke up with Red for good, most of them assumed that she drank because of him. Little did they know that it was more than that.

Faith almost panicked upon noticing that Leni’s face is turning red.

“Namumula ka na ah. Naku, tama na yan, hindi ka naman sanay uminom eh.”

She said as she grabbed the glass from her, but Leni grabbed it back and yelled.

“Pabayaan mo nga ako, hindi ako lasing!”

“Hoy! Hindi ka na nakaka-tuwa ha!” Faith yelled back.

A few minutes later, Adam came and took Leni outside. At this moment, he knew that Leni is not her normal self and that something happened.

They sat down on a bench, then Faith joined them. The three of them were silent until Faith started the conversation.

“Leni, I’m so sorry that I yelled at you. I did not intent to start a fight, I’m just worried because I sensed that there’s something wrong.”

She said as she hugged her friend.

“I really wanted to tell you everything that took place these past few weeks, but you were very busy with your work. So, I faced these on my own. Pakiramdam ko wala nang tamang nangyayari sa buhay ko, parang pinagtakluban ako ng langit at lupa. Ang panget ng feeling. Alam ko ma-drama, pero ganito talaga. Kahit lasing ako ngayon, hindi ako sinungaling. ”

Adam lent his handkerchief and said,

“We’re sorry for that Leni, but we would really like to be there for you. It’s just that our schedules don’t jive. If you work at a Call Center like us, you would understand. Eh, ano ba ang nangyari?.”



Leni told them everything from the moment she broke up with Red, her conversation with Aldo before he left., until she got fired from her job.

“You don’t want Aldo to leave, don’t you?” Faith asked.

“Yeah, you’re right. I really wanted him to stay; it’s just that I don’t want to complicate things between us.”

Adam handed her a cup of tea and said,

“Well, I can’t comment so much on that. But, I understand how you feel. It’s a good thing that you didn’t took advantage of the situation. If another girl would be on your place, they would grab the guy. Besides, you’re not like that.”

“Leni, if I were you, don’t think about him too much. I know that Aldo is a good guy, but, if he’s sincere, he’ll prove it. “

“Faith is right, let him make the first move. Even if you knew each other since childhood, even if you have feelings for him, hayaan mo lang siya.”

“Teka, how did you know that I have feelings for him?”

Faith was the first to answer,

“I saw that during his grandfather’s wake. You’re smile was different when you saw him again. Then, when we were inside the bus, you were beside Red, but your mind was somewhere else. That time, we didn’t want to assume.”

“Actually, napansin ko na rin yan nung nagbakasyon ka, palagi mo kasi siyang kinukwento sa akin eh. Sa mga blog entries mo pa nga lang dati, obvious na eh.”

“Don’t put your life on hold waiting for him. Move on with your life with or without a guy. In your case, both guys.”

“Teka, ang sakit na talaga ng ulo ko, pero na-absorb ko naman lahat ng sinabi niyo.”

“Leni, itulog mo na lang yan. Pag-usapan na lang natin yung mga nangyari ulit pag hindi ka na lasing.” Adam added as he comforted her.

Chapter Eleven: Part One

After a long day of work, Leni’s boss told her that he would discuss an important matter to her.

“Have a seat”. Her boss said. Leni, on the other hand nervously sat on the chair and gripped her handkerchief.

Her superior was currently typing in his computer.

“Leni, what can you say about your performance?”

“Well, these past few months, I’m confident that I’m doing well with my job. Most of the Australian trainers that I’ve worked with told me that the training won’t be successful without me.”
“That’s good. But from where I’m standing I don’t think that you’re not going to make it.”

“Sir, wait, what do you mean?”

Her bossed paused for a moment, closed his laptop, and faced Leni

“I’ve seen your progress; it’s just that you can’t go with the pacing. You met the eleventh hour, hindi ka na umabot. I wish I could give more time for you to improve, but I can’t. That’s why I’m asking you to resign… This will be your last week in the office. What you can do for now is to renew your contacts.”
“ How do you feel right now?”

While suppressing her tears, Leni replied

“Sir, I’m fine, I understand. Thanks for the opportunity.”
“Thanks for taking this classy.”

She picked up her bag and left the office.

Leni decided to take a long walk to the MRT station. She passed along boutiques and entered on one of the stores. To her surprise, she saw Carol, fitting one of the wedding gowns. She (Carol) and her friends beamed with excitement. When they noticed that someone is looking at them, they gave Leni a condescending look. Then, they started pointing at her and asking who she was.


In her mind, she wanted to strangle Carol, but instead, she shot them with dagger looks and left the store.


Getting fired, seeing Carol in a wedding dress, believing that Aldo fooled her made her felt devastated.

She went home, removed her shoes and locked herself in her room.

Chapter Ten:Part Five

While waiting for his flight. Aldo decided to call Leni at home. The phone was ringing and he’s hoping that she would pick that up. Unfortunately, it was her brother.

“Gino, can I talk to your sister?” Aldo said.
“Okay, I’ll just call her.”

Gino knocked at her sister’s door and insisted her to talk to Aldo.

“Please tell him that I’m sleeping already and I don’t want to get disturbed.”

After putting down the phone, Gino entered her sister’s room.

“Ate, bakit ayaw mo siyang kausapin? Nag-away ba kayo?”

“Hindi, pagod lang talaga ako sa trabaho, kaya ayoko lang makipag-usap.”

“Talaga lang ah. Sana totoo yang sinasabi mo.”

Getting pestered with her brother’s remark, she replied,

“Mukha bang hindi?”

“O, teka lang masyado ka namang ‘hot’ eh. Nagtatanong lang naman ako. Si Ode pala tumawag, kasi birthday bash niya daw next week.”

“O sige, tatawagan ko na lang siya. May binilin ba si Aldo kanina?”

“Wala naman, gusto ka lang niya talaga kausapin, nasa airport pala siya nung tumawag siya dito. Nakaka-miss na rin siya noh? Pagkatapos kasing mamatay si Ate Agatha, hindi na siya pumupunta dito. Naalala ko tuloy nung tinuruan niya akong gumawa ng elesi. Mabuti nga ikaw, naka-bonding mo siya nung summer. Ikaw, hindi mo ba siya mami-miss?”
“Siyempre mami-miss ko. Kahit papaano, naging part siya ng buhay natin. Ay, ang drama ko, sorry.”
“Ate, may email ka ba niya? Mas maganda pa rin kasing may communication tayo sa kanya kahit malayo siya sa atin.”

“Yeah, I do have it. Don’t worry Gino, he’ll be back after six months.”

Leni never told her brother what happened between them.
She searched her phone for his email and wrote it in a piece of paper. After handing it to his brother, she erased all of Aldo’s contact details from her phone.

Chapter Ten:Part Four

Leni decided to meet with Aldo at La Prinsesa, a week before he leaves for Austria. She gave him, the grocery items that she and Red bought. After handing them to him, she looked away.

“Leni, you’re in deep thoughts. Is there something wrong?”
“No, I’m just stressed out from work, panay over time na kasi ako. Don’t worry about me. Anyway, sana okay na lahat yang mga binili ko.”
“Oo naman, nag-abala ka pa. Leni, you can’t deny it, I know that something’s bothering you.”
“You’re right. I broke up with Red.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. What happened?”

She narrated the whole story to him as he patiently listens. He handed her a handkerchief so that she could wipe her tears.

“I’m sorry for being dramatic, but that’s how it happened.”
“No, that’s okay.”
“I just realized that I can’t trust someone who can’t respect me.”

He paused before he began to speak.

“Leni, you did the right thing and it just shows that you’re matured. Most men are stupid, they go for the obvious. I really wanted to tell you this, but when I met Red during the funeral, I know that he will not take you seriously.”
“How did you know?”
“He flirted with my cousins after Lolo Celso’s burial. I should know, he was one of ‘those’ guys.”

“Hindi naman siya matured eh, malaking bulas lang talaga. I knew it, guys are all the same. I was so stupid to fall in love with a jerk. I thought he was a knight in shining armor, but he turned out to be a loser in a tin foil. Aldo, ang tanga ko talaga.”

“Leni, don’t be harsh on yourself, it’s not your fault. Besides, you’re not in the losing end, because, this time, it was you who made the right decision. You know what I figured out when I saw you again last summer?”
“What is it?”“You deserved to be taken seriously. You’re a special person. Ikaw yung tipo na pipilahan na ligawan kapag nakilala…I wish I was in Red’s place. ”

This was the best thing that a guy would ever say to her. She also realized that she was happiest when she was with him. But, she has this side that she wanted to doubt him.

Instead of admitting what she feels, she sarcastically replied.

“Hay naku Aldo, you’re just saying that because you’re taking advantage of the situation because you knew how vulnerable I am.”
“No, Leni. I’m serious. Wag mo namang masamain yung mga sinabi ko. Hindi ako nagbibiro.”
“What about Carol?”
“I admit that when we got close during summer, I realized that I was in a wrong relationship. That was when I asked you to dance with me on Louie’s wedding.”

“Yeah, whatever. I don’t want to ruin a relationship. I guess, naaalala mo lang si Ate Agatha sa akin kahit alam nating lahat na magkaiba talaga kami. Histura at height pa lang eh.”

“No Leni, you’re not. Please don’t take this the wrong way; you’re more than the girl I knew before. ”

For a moment, she couldn’t say a word.

“I have to go Aldo, I still have work tomorrow.”
“Leni, linggo bukas, walang pasok.”
“Ay, oo nga. Basta, busy ako ngayon, marami pa akong gagawin.”

As she rushed towards the door, Aldo followed him.

“Leni, how can you get home without your wallet?”

She gave a faint smile and said,

“Thanks. Oh no! I haven’t paid for the coffee yet.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll take care of it.”

Leni got confused so she stepped out of the café afterwards. Aldo keeps on texting her but she never replied to his messages.

Chapter Ten:Part Three

The next day, she placed all the stuff that Red gave her and placed all of them inside the box. Then, she asked to meet with her on the place where they first met, on the grand stand of the university. She sat on one of the benches while waiting for him. Leni reminisced, the time when they accidentally bumped into each other. What was magical before, lost its spark now. That moment doesn’t make sense anymore.


“What are you doing Leni?”
“Here are the stuffs that you gave me in the past, I don’t need them anymore.”
“I’m sorry with everything that I said last night; my cousins were just daring me.
Would you give me another chance?”
“No, I’ve had enough. If you’ll keep on caving in to pressure, that’s your problem. I can’t be with guy who can’t make his own decisions. I heard everything last night.”
“So, is this really over?”
“Yes.”
“I’m really sorry Leni for being a jerk last night. But, I hope that you’ll find someone who’ll make you happy.”

She left without a word, tears rolled down her face. This time, she knew what she did what was right even if it hurts to let him go.

Chapter Ten:Part Two

Agatha once told Leni that a guy is serious in a relationship if he introduces the girl to his parents. Leni couldn’t grasp what her cousin said because she was very young when she heard this. This time, what Agatha told her made sense. Sometimes, she wished that her cousin was alive so that she could witness all that has been happening to her.

Leni was slipping on the dress that she bought from her cousin’s favorite boutique. The style was chosen by Adam so she was assured that it would be perfect for the occasion. She was never been happier upon realizing that Red was becoming serious in their relationship. The idea of introducing her to his parents was surreal for Leni. Red was becoming the ‘prince’ that she ought him to be.

After applying her make-up, her brother knocked on the door.

“Ate, Red is waiting for you downstairs.”
“Yeah, I’ll be there in a minute.”

Aside from Red’s relatives the guests comprised seventy percent of the city’s elites. Most of them graced the society pages.

Leni had mixed emotions. She was excited and nervous at the same time. She’s excited to get introduced to his family and nervous because she’s afraid that she might screw things up that night.

Red held her hand and said,

“Your palm is sweating.”
“I know. I’m just nervous.”
“Don’t worry, everything will be fine.”

As the two of them approached his parents, Red’s mom gave Leni a faint smile and a condescending look. Right then and there, she instantly sensed an air of stiffness and hypocrisy.

“Mom, Dad, this is Leni, my girlfriend.”

Leni got intimidated, so she extended her hand and introduced herself to them.

While Red joined to his cousins, Leni on the other hand, remained at her seat, texting Adam and Faith. She kept on telling them that she was bored to death. She tried to begin a conversation with the group of girls seated on their table but she just got out of place. They were talking about their jet set lifestyle. This is something a girl from a middle class upbringing can’t relate. Leni stared at their clothes and shoes, and realized that they were tantamount to her annual salary.
It was clear to her that Red grew up with this kind of world and this was something devious to her.

She stepped outside and looked for a bench. Before opening her bag, she heard a group of guys talking. She turned around and saw Red with his cousins at a gazebo which was just a few meters away from where she was sitting. Leni overheard their conversation while replying to the messages from her phone.

At first they were talking about basketball, afterwards they began discussing about relationships.

“Pinsan, how’s your relationship with Leni?”
“We’re good.”
“How good? I mean, sinong mas magaling? Marami nga pala sila.”

Red wasn’t able to answer their question and his cousins continued to ask him.

“Ang hina mo naman, tatlong taon na kayo ni Leni.Parang hindi ka naman lalaki niyan.”

Red was pressured to answer.

“Uhm..Humahanap lang ako ng magandang tiempo.”

“Ganito na lang, ito ang susi sa motel. Pumunta na lang kayo dun pagkatapos dito.”

He got the key and placed it in his pocket. A few minutes later Leni came and pretended that she didn’t heard everything that they’re talking about.

“Red, I need to go home.”

While stepping out of the gazebo, one of his cousins winked at Red.

Red asked her about the party and she pretended that she had fun. He began to tell her how serious he was in their relationship and that he wants to take things on the next level. Leni freaked out and said,

“I can’t, I’m not yet ready.”
“If you really love me, you will….”
“You’re using that line one me? That’s stupid.”
“Why? Are you still a baby?”
“No, I’m not. What’s with you? You’re acting really strange.”
“We’ve been going out for three years and I’m really serious in our relationship.”
“I know, I understand. But, I’m saving myself for marriage.”
“Yeah right, you just read that from some Christian books, like the one that Aldo gave you.”
“No, I really mean it. Leave him out of it. If you really love me, you won’t go against what I believe is right.”
“Why don’t you grow up? Everybody else is doing it, why can’t we?”
“I don’t want to. If you can’t wait, I’m sorry but I have to break up with you.”
“Don’t do this Leni.”
“No, I’m really serious; I’m breaking up with you so that you can do whatever you want. I can’t be with someone who can’t respect my convictions.”

Leni removed her bracelet and gave it back to him.