Chapter Five: Part Three

She removed her make-up, changed to her pajamas and called Adam.
“Sorry, I wasn’t able to return your call earlier. You’re probably called while I was dancing.”
“I see, how’s the wedding? Something unusual happened? Faith and I were just worried.”
“Contrary to what I’ve expected, it wasn’t boring after all. It was fun. Someone asked me to dance without the kilig factor. What’s weird about it is that I felt like a princess without a prince, but that’s okay.”
“I didn’t get it. No one ever asked you to dance?”
“Yes. I told you about my prom and how it sucked, remember?”
“Naalala ko na. It was the time when that guy Migo, whom you liked in high school didn’t ask you to dance and you were a wall flower the whole night.”
“That’s right. Kaya nga masaya ako ngayon eh. Pero sana si Red yung nag-aya sa akin sumayaw.”
“Well, sometimes things don’t turn out the way we planned. By the way, who was the person that asked you to dance?”
“Aldo, Ate Agatha’s boyfriend. Siya yung sinisigawan nung narinig mo kanina. Ako nga rin, na-sigawan nung nakita ko sila. Nasa likod ko lang kasi sila eh. I can’t believe that girl took my cousin’s place. Though, I haven’t met that girl, I have a bad feeling about her. She seems like a ‘B’, you know what I mean.”
“Ok. Eh, baka naman may problema lang yung tao. Sa bagay, hindi natin alam kung ano yung nangyari. It’s not right to judge her.”
“Aldo is a good person. Sayang naman kung sa hindi maayos siya mapupunta.”
“How did you know?”
“I remembered the time when he helped me with my Science project in grade school. Though, I didn’t get his jokes most of the time, because most of them were corny. There were times when I share my bad experiences in school to him, like having fights with my classmates or whenever my teachers caught me cheating. Sometimes, I would be rude to him when my temper flared. Despite of all these things, he was patient with me.Ewan ko ba, Siguro,naaawa lang sa akin yun.”
“Leni, ingat,baka nade-develop ka na sa kanya ha.”
“Yuck! Uy! Hindi ah. Baka multuhin pa ako ng pinsan ko. Besides, he’s not my type because he’s seven years older. Anyway, punta kayo sa fiesta ha.”
“We can’t. Faith and I are going to Boracay because her parents invited us. Sayang, kulang tayo. Pero, mukhang enjoy ka naman diyan eh.”
“I am. But, I still wish that the two of you were here. I hope that the three of us would make it next time. Wait, I’m getting sleepy, goodnight.”

---
Mong finally gave the list of the casts. Leni was surprised that she was given the role of Zipporah, the wife of Moses.

“Mong, are you kidding? I don’t even know how to act. I’m a scriptwriter ever since and I work mostly backstage. Ayoko talaga.”
“What’s wrong with that? Marunong ka naman umarte.”
“Sus, tsamba lang yun. By the way, who’s going to play Moses?”
“The person right beside me.”
Leni glanced at Aldo as he gave her a playful stare.
“Si Aldo?! Nang-aasar ba kayo? No way, I can’t do this. I would rather paint backdrops than act on stage. I’m pretty sure that I would chicken out. The play might turn out to be a complete fiasco because of me. Can you select someone else?”
“No Leni, we picked you for the role because it suits you, besides, you’re the eldest among the girls here. It would be awkward if we would pair Aldo with someone who’s young as Dana. They might be mistaken as father and daughter.”
“Mong is right Leni. Besides, why don’t you try something that you don’t normally do?”
“Fine, I’ll do it.Ayoko lang ng sermon.”
“Leni, don’t worry we’ll help you with your lines. I used to make your Science projects when you were in grade five, remember?” Aldo added.
“Aldo, I am just worried about your girlfriend. After what happened in the wedding, I’m afraid that this time, baka pag-isipan na niya ako ng masama.”
“She’s not like that. Bad trip lang siya nun. Trust me.”

---

After the rehearsal, Mong gave the casts a thirty minute break.

“How’s the wedding, Leni?”
“It was fun, though someone yelled at me. It was Carol, your cousin’s girlfriend.”
“It happens most of the time. Carol is very temperamental, especially when it comes to her work. Teka, ano ba ang nangyari?”
“Kausap ko yung friend ko sa phone nang may narinig akong sumisigaw. Lumingon ako sa likuran ko, tsaka niya ako sinigawan din.Akala siguro, usisera ako.”
“Feeling ko, mahirap maki-deal sa mga tulad niya.”
“Three days ago, Kuya Aldo & I treated her at a restaurant in Calle Crisologo. The waiter accidentally spilled a glass of water in front of her, and she yelled at him.”
“Shucks, ang sama naman nung ginawa niya. Bakit naman ganun siya mang-trato ng iba?”
“Ewan ko ba. Actually, mas sumama ang ugali niya nung nakapasa na siya ng Bar Exams.Feeling niya siguro siya lang ang anak ng diyos at kaya na niya mang-api ng iba. Hindi ko na nga siya naka-kausap basta-basta. Hindi na siya maabot.”
“Grabe talaga. Hindi ibig sabihin na aboogado siya, eh may dahilan na siya mang-apak ng iba.”
“Ang swerte niya kay Kuya Aldo. Sobrang pasensyoso yun.”
“Oo nga eh. Nung sila pa ni Ate Agatha, nag-aaway din sila minsan, pero hindi sa punto na may sigawan.”
“Wait, Kuya Aldo’s here. Baka mahalata tayo Leni.”
The two girls grinned at him. Leni grabbed a magazine while and pretended to read.
“Did I miss something?”
“Nothing, Kuya Aldo.”
“Actually, we were just talking about Billy Crawford. Dana is an avid fan pala.”
“I see, I thought, you were talking about me.”
“Hay naku Aldo, we would rather talk about celebrities than you.” Leni said jokingly
“Ikaw talaga, ang hilig mo sa showbiz. Yan na lang ata ang laman ng isip mo eh. O baka frustrated actress ka siguro. That’s probably the reason why your ex broke up with you.” Aldo said chuckling.
Aldo and Dana laughed.
Leni heard the same line from Red before and she got really offended. She didn’t say a word. But this time, her repressed anger slipped.”
“Wala ka namang alam sa mga nangyari sa amin nung ex ko. If you’re going piss me off, bahala kayo sa play.”
“Bini-biro lang kita. Pag umalis ka,wala nang pwedeng pumalit sa role mo. ”
“Eh, hindi naman maganda yung biro mo. Well, hindi ko na problema kung sino ang ipapalit nyo sa akin. Nandiyan naman si Mong, long hair din siya. Konting make-up lang pwede na siya maging wife ni Moses.”

After saying these words, walked out.

“Si Leni tino-toyo na naman.” Mong added.
“Oo nga. Actually,napikon yun. Sige, kakausapin ko.”

Moments like this, a coffee shop is her only refuge. It’s a place where she could be herself and feel like royalty.

Leni went to a nearby café and ordered their signature coffee. Leni grabbed her cell phone and texted Adam and Faith with what happened.


To be continued....