Chapter Nine: Part Four

After the five hour trip from Manila, the four of them headed first to Aunt Juana’s house. Leni introduced them to her. While Leni was sleeping, her aunt took the chance to talk with Adam, Faith, and Red in the living room. While Red was browsing through the old photo albums, her aunt conversed with the two of them.

“How long did you know my niece?”

“We were classmates in college po.” Faith replied.

“By the way Tita, Leni and Red got back together. That’s why he’s with us.” Adam added.

“I see, bakit pala kayo nakasama?”

“Si Leni po kasi ayaw lumakad mag-isa.Tapos po,simula nung nag-trabaho kami, minsan na lang po kami mag-bonding kaya simantala na namin.Nandun po ba kayo nung libing ni Nanay?”

“Naku, wala ako nun, nasa Dubai pa ako. Hindi pa kasi ako pinayagan umuwi nung may-ari nung kumpanya namin.”

“Ahh, talaga po? Ano po ba ang naging trabaho niyo doon?”

“Manager ako sa isang hotel.

“Ahh kaya pala si Agatha, tumira kina Leni nung college siya.”

“Oo, alam ko kasi na mahal magpa-aral eh. Umuwi lang ako sandali nung namatay yung anak ko.”

“Ganun po ba? Eh, kailan po ba kayo umuwi dito ‘for good’?”

“Last year lang, Faith. Nag-retiro na kasi ako.Alam niyo,kahit mag-isa na lang ako ngayon sa buhay, hindi na ako nalulungkot”

“Bakit naman po?”

“Nandiyan naman si Leni, para ko na rin siyang anak.”

“Talaga po? Alam niyo po ba, binilin po siya sa amin ni Nanay bago siya mamatay. Nandun po kasi kami nung nangyari yun. Ang dami talagang, nagmamahal kay Leni, hindi lang niya alam.”

“Adam,Faith, hindi niyo siya masi-sisi, kasi hindi biro yung mga napag-daanan niya nung maliit pa siya. Kaya madalas, sumpungin, o kaya naman mabilis magtampo. Pero, mabait naman si Leni kahit ganun. Onting pang-unawa lang ang kailangan niya.

“Oo nga po medyo sumpungin nga si Leni. Kahit ganun po siya, totoo naman siyang tao.”

“Tita, kailan po ba tayo pupunta sa burol?”

“Pwedeng mamaya para sa huling lamay o bukas para sa libing. Pero, hintayin niyo na lang gumising si Leni para maka-decide kayo.”

“O sige po. Saan po ba namin ilalagay yung mga bag namin?”

“Faith, dun kayo ni Leni sa kwarto ni Agatha. Tapos, si Red at Adam, sa guest room. Magpahinga muna kayo, kung pupunta kayo mamaya sa lamay.”

When Faith placed her bag at the corner of the room, Leni woke up and yawned.

“Faith, what time is it?”

“It’s seven-thirty. Pupunta na ba tayo sa lamay?”

“Wag muna, magpahinga muna kayo. Hindi pa kaya ng loob ko.Nasaan sina Adam at Red?”

“Ahh ganun ba? O sige, ikaw ang bahala. Silang dalawa, nasa guest room. Leni, ang ganda pala dito noh?”

“Oo nga eh, si Tita Juana kasi mahilig sa halaman. Ang daming magagandang bahay dito. Actually, pinaka-magandang nakita ko dito yung bahay nila Aldo.Ang ganda ng garden nila. Doon tumatambay yung barkada nila Ate Agatha, tapos palagi akong kasama. Pero, saling-pusa lang. Wala kasi akong maka-laro dun eh.”

“Kaya ba naging-close ka kay Lolo Celso?”

“Oo, palagi niya akong nakikita na mag-isa, kaya kinakausap niya ako.Naalala ko tuloy nung tinuruan niya akong gumawa ng elesi. Sabi ni Aldo, palagi niya ako hinahanap nung hindi na ako pumupunta dito.”

“Talaga? Nakaka-tuwa naman. Alam mo, matagal na ka na naming kaibigan ni Adam. Pero, ngayon na nandito tayo, parang ang dami pa naming hindi alam tungkol sa pagkabata mo. Siyempre, college ka lang namin nakilala. Hmmm, siguro, yang si Aldo, maraming maiku-kwento.”

“Nyek! Baka ilaglag lang ako nun.”

“Goodluck Leni. Hahaha!”

Chapter Nine: Part Two

They were in the living room, laughing at the flick that they’re watching, when Leni’s phone rang. At first, she doesn’t want to answer it because she got carried away with the hilarious scenes, but Red insisted.

“Hi Leni, Mong here.”
“Oh, hi there. Kumusta na kayo diyan?”
“Mabuti naman. What’s with the noise?”
“We’re watching a movie. Wait, I’ll step outside so I could hear you.”
“Ok.”

Leni went to the veranda.

“Ok, the reception is better here. Napatawag ka ata.”
“Leni, there’s something that I would like to tell you, wag kang mabibigla ha.”
“What is it? Bakit parang kinabahan ka.”
“Lolo Celso passed away this morning?”
“What?! This can’t happen; I promised him that I’ll be back in December!”
“I’m sorry Leni.”
“Kailan ang libing?”
“Sunday next week, hihintayin pa kasi umuwi yung mga kamag-anak nila Aldo sa ibang bansa.”
“Basta, pupunta ako diyan.”


A few minutes after sobbing, she went back to the living room. She tried to pretend that everything was okay, but her eyes can’t hide it.

“Umiyak ka noh?” Adam said
“Hindi, marami lang akong nakain na wasabi.” Leni replied as she wiped her tears.

Faith patted her back and said.
“Sus, hindi ka na makakapag-tago sa amin. Alam namin kung umiyak ka o hindi. Ano ba yung sinabi nung kausap mo kanina?”
“Wala na kasi si Lolo Celso, yung lolo ni Aldo. Naging malapit kasi ako sa kanya nung nagbakasyon ako dun sa probinsya. Nung nandun ako, tinuring niya ako na parang tunay na apo.Doon ko lang naranasan kung ano ang pakiramdam ng may lolo. ”
“Naintindihan namin, Leni.So, ano na ang plano mo? Pupunta ka ba?”
“Oo, pupunta ako sa Sabado. Pwede niyo ba akong samahan? Para kasing hindi ko kakayanin kapag ako lang ang pumunta dun eh.”
“Naku Leni, problema yung shift namin ni Adam. Di bale, makiki-usap na lang ako sa supervisor namin. Pero, ikaw muna ang magbayad ng ticket sa bus kasi wala na kaming oras pumunta sa terminal.”
“Huh? Kulang ang pera ko, next week pa ang sweldo.”

Red broke in and said

“Sasama rin ako. Ako na ang magbabayad ng ticket niyo.”

“Sigurado ka? Baka kailangan ka dito,limang oras ang biyahe dun ha.” Leni said.

He held Leni’s hand and said.

“Hindi, magpapa-alam na ako ng maaga. Maiitndihan naman nila siguro yun eh.”

“Yan naman pala Leni, may pakinabang din ang boyfriend mo!” Faith exclaimed.

“Babes, wag mong pagsamantalahan yang si Red. Nagmama-gandang loob na nga yung tao, aasarin mo pa.” Adam said.

Leni imperceptibly asked.

“Bakit ‘babes’ ang tawagan niyo?Dahil ba mataba kayo dati?”

“Leni, isa ka pa ha. Alaskador kayo parehas ni Faith.” Adam said.

Chapter Nine: Part One

Red began to pick her up from the office and drive her home every week. Since then, those guys backed off. What has been weekly between Leni and Red become daily. Eventually, they got back together.

The two of them started from scratch. He did some things that he never did to a girl before. Red was used that a girl would take care of him, just what Leni did to him before. Every league that Red’s team joined, she and some Teatro members would make banners in order to support them. But this time, it was the other way around. Red was the one who adjusted first in their relationship. He used to be late whenever he would meet Leni, but now, he is always five minutes early.

Leni once shared to him how much she missed hanging out with her two best friends. Red wanted to win the two of them because he knew from the start that they were not in favor of him. So, he bought some VCD of tagalong teeny boppers, and invited Adam and Faith to watch it with them.

Faith and Leni were preparing their food in the kitchen, while Red and Adam were selecting the film to be watched.

Faith was placing the potato chips on a bowl, while Leni was pouring Sprite on the glasses. She accidentally dropped a glass on the floor and got motionless afterwards. Her face turned pale.

“What’s wrong?” Faith asked.

“I don’t know. After the glass fell on the floor, I sensed that something bad will happen.”

“Leni, don’t believe in superstitions.”

“Anyway, what’s with Red. He’s not like this before. Parang nagpapa-good shot sa amin eh.”

“Uy, hindi ko yan sinasabihan ah. Kusa siyang nag-imbita dito, sinabi ko kasi na nami-miss ko kayo. Kaya yun, nag-presenta siya.”

“Hay naku, sana totoo yung mga kinikilos niya. Kung hindi, lagot siya sa akin.”

“Hayaan, niyo na yung tao. Bigyan niyo na lang ng chance.”

Before, their ‘bonding moments’ seemed to bore Red because he used to go out in bar with his friends. But this time, he enjoyed hanging out with Adam and Faith.

While assembling the DVD player, Adam asked Red.

“Red, bakit mo naman naisipan na papuntahin kami dito?”

“Gusto ko kasi ma-experience kung paano kayo mag-bondig.”

“Ganun? Hindi kami katulad ng barkada mo ha. Hindi namin puntahan yung mga gimikan niyo.”

“Okay lang yun. Eh, ano pa ba ang ginagawa niyo, bukod sa manood ng mga movies?”

“Minsan, kumakain kami ng fishball o isaw sa labas, manood ng play sa ibang university, pumunta sa mall, o kaya naman, pumunta sa mga museum.”

“Talaga? Pare, minsan isama niyo naman ako sa iba pang lakad niyo. Sa totoo lang, may mga bagay din ako na gusto kong gawin pero hindi ko magawa kasi iniisip ko kung ano ang sasabihin ng barkada ko.”

“Oo naman, basta wag mo na lang sasaktan si Leni ulit. Tatapatin na kita, kami ang nag-encourage sa kanya pumunta sa probinsya kasi masyado siyang na-apektuhan dun sa paghi-hiwalay niyo dati.”

“Ah ganun ba? Hindi ko na talaga gagawin yun sa kanya. Kaya ko naman ito ginagawa kasi, gusto talaga makabawi sa kanya.Pare, wag kang mabibigla ah.Akala ko talaga nung una, bakla ka. Puro babae kasi kasama mo.”

“Sobra ka naman,Red. Hindi lang dahil mahilig ako sa damit eh, nanganga-hulugan na bakla ako. Pare, iba ang style ko manligaw, binabarkada ko muna, tsaka ako magtatappat. Mas makiki-lala ka ng babae pag ganun.”

“Kaya ba ganun ang ginawa mo kay Faith?”

“Oo, Pare. Marami na akong nakilala, pero hindi basta-basta yung mga tulad ni Faith. Red, okay na yung adaptor.”

Leni had a bad day at work.

During their lunch break, one of the guys in the office sat beside her. At first, he started a decent conversation with Leni. Then, this guy with his suave moves placed his hand on her knee. Leni without saying a word, poured the hot cup of coffee on the guy’s lap and stood up

The guy yelled.
“What the f*&%! What the hell is your problem?!”
“You’re hitting on me, that’s my problem.”

The incident was reported to the Human Resources Department. Leni explained that the guy was harassing her, but the guy turned the table against her and insisted she was flirting with him. After that meeting, she went back to her cubicle and resumed with her work.

It was raining. Her tears poured while walking home. Suddenly, a sleek red car stopped beside her. To her surprise, it was Red.

“What are you doing here?”
“I know you hate me, but I really know that there’s something wrong and that you need someone’s help.”
“You’re so conceited. It’s so you…Anyway,I’m fine, I’m just tired from work. I don’t need your help. So, please leave before I ruin in your car.”
“If you don’t need my help, fine! Just so you know, you’re on the wrong street. You’re house is on the other side.”

She looked around and realized that he was right.

“Please, get in the car. You might get sick.”
“Shucks, you’re right.”

For once, she put down her pride because she was really soaking wet. Leni stepped inside the car and Red noticed that she just cried.

“Had a bad day at work?” He asked as he handed a tissue
“Yeah, more than you could ever imagine.” Leni replied as she wiped her tears.

At this point, Leni couldn’t help but relay to him what happened because she had no one else to talk to. Adam and Faith were still at work, so she could just interrupt them like she used to do in college. After sharing the whole incident, she felt relieved.

“Leni, you got me worried. Maybe it’s about time that you quit your job.”
“No, I can’t do that. I’ve been only there for three months, baka mahirapan ako maghanap ng lilipatan. I’ll stay there for a year and then, I’ll move to another company.”
“You have a point there. I wish there’s something I could do.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
“No Leni, I don’t want you to have another traumatic experience. Wait, I’m going to pick you up in your office every week. Would that be okay with you?”
“Red, you don’t have to do that.”
“No, that’s fine with me. At, para alam nila na may magta-tanggol sa’yo.”
“Thanks.”
“Wala yun. Gusto ko lang talaga bumawi.”
“By the way,How’s your relationship with Val?”
“She and I broke up last summer.”
“I know, Adam and Faith told me everything. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m also sorry with what I did to you on your birthday. Ang laki kong ‘tanga’ kasi naniniwala ako sa lahat ng sinasabi ni Cocoy. Akala ko partner in crime ko siya. Yun pala, aahasin lang ako.”
“Sa totoo lang, wala kang mapapala sa mga katulad niya. User friendly yan eh. Sumasakay lang siya sa pagiging sikat mo. Pero ang totoo, nakikinabang lang siya sa’yo.Kung ako sa’yo, dun ka na lang sa mga taong tatanggapin ka, hindi dahil kilala ka sa campus. Parang kami nila Adam at Faith.”
“Kumusta na nga pala sila?”
“Yun, sila na. Anyway,since nabanggit mo na rin si Cocoy, totoo ba na pinag-tripan niyo lang ako nung second year tayo kaya mo ako inaya ng date?”
“Oo, aaminin ko, yun talaga ang plano namin. Pero nung nakilala kita, hindi na. Pasensya ka na rin at hindi kita naipag-tanggol kay Cocoy nung mga panahon na ini-insulto ka niya.”
“Hayaan mo na, tapos na yun eh. Ayoko na rin pag-aksayahan yung mga tulad ni Cocoy. Sorry din, nung binuhusan ko ng Coke yung bag ni Val. Kaya ok lang naman ginawa yun kasi masyado talaga akong nasaktan, lalo na nung nakita ko na sinama mo pa siya sa graduation.”
“Wag mo na isipin yun, Leni. Naintindihan ko naman eh. Sorry talaga sa mga nagawa ko, sana hindi ka na galit sa akin.”
“Alam mo Red, isang sincere na sorry lang ang hinihintay ko sa’yo eh.Since narinig ko na, mukha namang hindi ka nambo-bola ngayon eh.”
“Ibig-sabihin ba nun, ok na tayo?”
“Oo, pero bilang mag-kaibigan muna.”
“Ok, cge. Let’s start from scratch. So, ano na ang ginagawa mo ngayon?”
“Nagta-trabaho na ako sa isang Petroleum Company sa Makati bilang Admin Assistant, ikaw?”
“Ako naman sa isang Manufacturing Company,Advertising Executive ako dun.Malapit lang yung office namin dun sa pinapasukan mo.Kaya pala madalas kitang naglalakad papunta sa MRT station eh.”
“Ay stalker. Hindi, biro lang.”

Chapter Eight: Part Six

To temporarily breakaway from the stress caused by her work, Leni visited the university.

She toured the campus and visited the places that made her college life memorable. Her first stop was the pavilion in front of their building; it was the place where she first met Adam and Faith. Then, she went to the fifth floor of the library; it was her favorite hideout until the librarian once caught her munching snacks while reviewing. Afterwards, she walked further and reaches the grandstand. That was where she accidentally bumped to Red during a concert. Then, the rest was history.

After an hour of walking, she decided to grab a mocha frappe at La Prinsesa, the café that became her favorite place that she shared with Adam and Faith.

As she was ordering, the crew recognized her.

“Ma’am, ang tagal nyong nawala ah.”

“Bakit? Namumukaan mo ba ako?”

“Oo naman, noon kasi palagi namin kayo nakikita ditong tumatambay ng mga kasama mo, kung hindi ako nagkaka-mali, yung dalawang mataba. Kayo ata yung gustong makilala yung isa sa may-ari nito di ba?”

“Oo, kami yun. Kami yung lagi nag-aavail nung promo niyo. Gusto kasi namin nun, maka-hingi ng discount. Kuya, pwede pa ba?”

“Sayang, wala yung isang boss namin dito.Pero, pagbibigyan ka namin, libre na to. Kaka-alis lang niya, babalik siya sa probinsya.”

“Ahh, ganun ba? Sana nag-abot man lang kami.Ngayon lang ulit ako napasyal dito, kinuha ko lang kasi yung yearbook ko.”

Leni got her coffee, sat on one corner and listened to some songs in her Ipod. While leafing through the pages of the year book, someone patted her at the back. When she turned around, it was Red. Right then and there,her resentment towards him went back.

She stood up, picked up her coffee and walked towards the door. Then, Red followed and grabbed her hand.

“Leni, please don’t do this. Wag ka naman mag walk-out. Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?”

She rolled her eyes and said,

“Sure, but I needed my hand first.”

Then, they sat on one corner, as Leni’s temper flared.

“Hanggang ngayon pa ba, ‘bitter ‘ka pa rin sa akin?”

“Obvious ba? Paano bang hindi ako magagalit sa’yo eh, hiniwalayan mo ako nung birthday ko. Tapos, ang pinakilala mo sa parents mo, si Val, imbis na ako. Red,parang balewala yung two years na pinagsamahan natin”

“Hindi naman sa ganun. Pero may mga bagay ka na hindi naiitindihan.”

“Ano pa bang dapat kong malaman? Alam mo, nung nasa probinsya ako, halos okay na ang lahat. Dumating na ako sa punto na nakaka-limutan na kita. Pero, nung nagkita tayo ngayon, bumalik yung inis ko sa ginawa mo! Red, ang hirap nung pakiramdam na iwanan ka ng taong mahal mo. Sana maintindihan mo na binago ko ang sarili ko para lang maging deserving ako sa’yo. Pero ngayon, hindi ko na yun gagawin kasi nandiyan naman yung mga kaibigan ko. Hindi ko na kailangan baguhin ang sarili ko para sa kanila. Sana lang, hindi mo maranasan yung nangyari sa akin kasi. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin mong masaktan.”

Red said nothing because this was his first time to hear these from Leni. Whenever they have their occasional fights, Leni would just give him a cold treatment.

“You know what, I don’t want to hate you but, I really hate you right now.”

“Leni, I’m so sorry, nagsi-sisi na talaga ako.”

“Yeah right, maghanap ka nang ibang bobolahin mo. Alis na ako.”

He shook his head as he realized that the crews witnessed what happened.

Chapter Eight: Part Five

While Adam and Faith landed a job in a Call Center, Leni got hired as an admin. assistant in a petroleum company. Due to the differences on their working schedule, their bonding moments lessened. Instead of watching flicks on Friday nights with them, she just stayed at home and slept.

Everyone was glad that she made it in one of the biggest company in the country. Leni began to see herself climbing the corporate ladder.

Unfortunately, Leni was having a hard time adjusting to the new environment that she’s in because it was something that she was not used to. For her, it was quite stiff and unfriendly. Since she was the youngest in their department, she somehow felt out of place. There’s the pressure of proving to her colleagues and superiors that she can deliver despite being a “neophyte” in the corporate world.

One of her tasks is to provide materials such as manuals and other logistics needed for the training in their company. Since she was underpaid, Leni chose to work after office hours. There was a time when her boss required her to reproduce sixty manuals with two hundred pages each on the next day. The file was sent to her at four in the afternoon, an hour before she goes home. She made a master copy, reproduced the rest. She was compiling until ten in the evening. Leni was able to finish half of them, but she was worried that she may not be catching the last trip on the MRT station. So, she left the office and decided to go there early on the next day. Unfortunately, she woke up late due to exhaustion. Then, she saw fifteen missed calls on her phone from her boss. She hurriedly took a bath, dressed up, skipped breakfast, and rushed to the nearest train station. Upon entering inside, her phone rang and hurriedly answered it.

“Leni, where are the manuals?” Her boss asked
“Uhm… I placed them in my workstation. Sir, I only finished half of it.” She replied stuttering.
“Half ?! I promised those guys that the manuals would be ready this morning. Where are you? How fast could you get here?”
She glanced at her watch and answered her boss.
“I have thirty minutes to make it there.”
“Go here right away!”

When she reached the office, Leni was berated by her boss.

“What happened?”
“Sir, I can explain. I was able to make the master copy, but I had a hard time compiling all of them. Besides, no one was there to help me. Since it was already ten, I decided to go home and finish half of them today. Unfortunately, I woke up late and I’m really sorry.”
“Why didn’t you inform me yesterday? Do you know the repercussions of what you did? Naipit ako sa kanila. If you can’t deliver, I’ll find someone else to do your job.”
“Sir,I’m going to fix this today. Just give me another chance.”
“Just go.”

After finishing the other thirty, she was required to reproduce another set. Fearing that she might lose her job, Leni tried impressed her superiors by doing everything that was required within the week in one day. Despite her efforts on getting her tasks done, her superiors and other colleagues became indifferent on her. They knew how desperate she is in order to keep her job. Leni oftentimes got bullied by some of them. But, she only sees this as an opportunity to mature. She kept telling herself that she needs to survive that corporate jungle. She do her best to remain tough, despite of their ill-treatment on her.

Because of what she’s going through, she began to miss the company of her friends. She missed the sense of belongingness that she got from them.

Chapter Eight: Part Four

Gino took the seminarian inside the dining room were the four of them were having merienda.

“Where’s Tita Emma?” Sam asked

“She’s still at the office” Gino replied

“Oh, I see. Is Leni here?”

“Yes, she just arrived yesterday.”

Afterwards, he introduced Sam to Adam and Faith and smiled at them. Faith accidentally burped and covered her mouth out of embarrassment.

“Faith,may bukas pa, wag mong pahalata yung katakawan mo kay Brother Sam.Nakaka-hiya” Leni said

“Yan ang epekto ng sobrang kabusugan.” Gino said sarcastically.

All of them laughed until Faith got a chance to speak.

“Sorry naman, tao lang’. Subukan niyo kayang mag-diet, tignan natin kung hindi niyo mami-miss kumain ng pandesal. Palibhasa payat kayong magkapatid eh, kaya hindi niyo kailnangan mag-ganito.” Faith replied.

“Teka, alukin natin siya. Sam, kain tayo.” Adam said.

“Naku,maraming salamat, kakatapos ko lang kumain sa seminaryo.” He replied

Leni kept staring at the guy, not because she was attracted to him. But, he looks exactly like Aldo, only shorter. To break the ice, she began to talk to him.

“Brother Sam, you look like someone I know…Never mind. By the way, why are you here?” Leni asked.

“I wanted to give you this.” Sam replied as he handed the invitation to her.

“I’m going to be ordained next week. I hope that you could all come. Sayang, Nanay is gone and he won’t be able to witness my ordination.”

“Why?”

“She’s one of my benefactors. I went here on her death anniversary, bakit wala ka nga pala?”

“I was in the province. For some reason, I don’t want to go home during that time.” Leni replied chuckling. Sam sensed that she was implying something but didn’t ask any further. Instead, he asked them,

“Guys, are you free next Saturday?”

“I’m not sure, I might do something. Baka si Mama at si Gino na lang.” Leni said.

Faith broke in.

“Oh come on Leni, you’re just going to bum around and watch another Tagalog flick.” .

“She’s right Ate, why don’t you take a break from watching movies here at home? Lumabas naman tayo.” Gino added.

“Okay Sam, we’re all coming” Adam said.

“Thanks, aasahan ko kayo ha.” Sam replied to them.

After the seminarian left, they began to talk about him.

“Na-intriga tuloy ako dun kay Brother Sam. Hindi ko alam na may pinag-aral pala si Nanay.” Faith said.

“Oo nga eh, mapag-lihim kasi si Nanay. Gino, pumunta ba siya nung burol ?”

“Ate, nandun siya. Hindi mo kasi napansin dahil hindi ka humaharap sa mga tao. Mabuti pa tong sila Adam at Faith, inentertain yung mga bisita. Napagkamalan tuloy nung iba na sila ang mga apo.”

“Gino naman, ayokong makita ng mga tao na umiiyak ako, at isa pa, bumawi ako sa eulogy ah. Bakit pala siya pinag-aral ni Nanay?”

“Naawa kasi si Nanay sa kanya, maagang na-ulila si Sam. Dahil kaibigan ni Nanay yung mga magulang niya, tinuring na siya na parang kamag- anak. Kaya yun, tumulong siya magpa-aral. Kaya naman si Brother Sam, pinagbuti ang pag-aaral niya.Balita nga namin, cum laude daw siya eh.”

“Wow, ang galing naman niya. Alam niyo, mukha siyang mabait. Kung ako sa inyong dalawa, ituturing ko siya na parang kapatid.”

“Oo, tama si Faith. Napansin ko nga kanina, gusto niya talaga tayo imbitahni. At parang naghahanap siya ng mga tao na matatawag niyang pamilya.Kaya pumunta na tayo.” Adam added.

“ Drama naman.,Eh ano bang makikita natin dun? Para kasing nakaka-tamad pumunta.” Leni asked

“Syempre mga pari.” Faith Added.

“Sus, mga pari lang naman pala eh.No offense ha, tingin ko kasi sa kanila mga boring na tao.”

“Ate, wag kang ganyan. Balita ko, maraming nagkaka-gusto diyan kya Brother Sam. Yihee, baka maging crush mo din ha.”

Leni lifted her eyebrow and said.

“Freaking No! Excuse me, hindi ako mahilig sa mga kutis ‘Milo’. Hawig nga pala sila ni Aldo, pero mas maliit si Brother Sam. Anyway, mas gusto ko pa rin yung mga tulad ni Red.”

“Si Ate talaga, ang lakas mang-lait. Wag mong maliitin si Brother Sam, malalim na tao yun.Nagkausap na nga kami nung burol ni Nanay eh.”

Faith, with pancit canton in her mouth replied.

“Alam mo, kahit na nag-enjoy ka sa probinsya, hindi mo pa rin nakakalimutan si Red. Ewan ko ba, sa’yo Leni. “

“Uy, don’t talk when your mouth is full. Parang hindi ka nag-GMRC ah.”

“Ano yun?”

“Good Manners and Right Conduct.”

“Basta, walang mawawala sa Sabado ha, Sabay-sabay tayong pupunta doon. Bawal ang ‘No Show’ ha”

Adam finally said.