Chapter Three: Part One

Leni ate her breakfast and rushed to the parish after. She entered the roamed around the church until she saw a group of people gathered at the back. But she was shy to approach them because she didn’t saw a familiar face. Then, she sat on one of the benches under the tree and read a novel. A moment later, Aldo and Mong saw her and asked:

“Kanina ka pa ba?”
“Hindi naman.”
“Sandali, ipapakilala ka namin sa kanila.
“Leni, do you still remember me?” Mong asked.
“Oo naman, ikaw yung magaling mag-drawing.”

Leni smiled after she was introduced to them. They were currently having a meeting on the timetable that they would be working on. Lunchtime came and she realized that she wasn’t able to bring her own baon. Luckily, she was able to bring three packs of crackers and a bottle of water. She slyly grabbed one pack and ate a few pieces.

“Yan lang ba ang kakainin mo?” The girl beside her asked.
“Oo, Nakalimutan ko kasi magdala eh.” Leni said.

Afterwards, the girl gave Leni a portion of her packed lunch and lent her the fork.

“By the way, I’m Dana, Kuya Aldo’s cousin. What’s your name?”
“I’m Leni, Ate Agatha’s cousin. She was your cousin’s girlfriend, when she was still alive. Do you know her?”
“Yes. In fact, I’ve heard a lot of things about your cousin. She died on a car crash, right?”

Leni nodded, then she recalled the accident five years ago.

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Agatha partied all night that she almost forgot that she has to be early for the photo shoot the next day.
When she looked at her watch it was already one and she only have four hours to make it.

She hailed a taxi and stepped inside it.

“Manong, yung pinakamabilis na po ha.” Agatha said anxiously to the driver. The cab reached its maximum speed until it bumped to a fourteen-wheeler truck in front, leaving the two of them dead.
When Leni heard the news from her mom, she went inside her room and cried.
“Ate, paano ba yan, wala ka nang roommate.” Her brother Gino said.
Days before the funeral, she gathered all her cousin’s stuffs: clothes, shoes, make-up, portfolio, and other things that she used for a photo shoot. As she piled each one inside the box, a medium sized envelope fell from dress’ pocket. She opened it and was surprised to see the handmade card that she gave her on her eighteenth birthday. Leni never thought that her cousin would keep it because they clash most of the time. Despite of the harsh treatment that Leni gave her, Agatha never resented that.