Chapter Six: Part Two

The next afternoon, Leni decided to walk around Calle Crisologo all by herself. After browsing the stores for pasalubong, she had a merienda at the famous café in the place. She sat on the table beside the window, when Aldo saw her. He approach Leni and introduced his girlfriend to her.

“Leni, may kasama ka ba?”
“Wala.”
“Can we join you?”
“Sure”
“By the way, this is Carol, my girlfriend. I think you saw her at Louie’s wedding, but you were not introduced formally. She was the one you yelled at, remember?”
Aldo excused himself and ordered merienda for them. While waiting, Leni and Carol had a chance to talk.

“I’m sorry Leni, it was purely unintentional.Nabigla lang talaga ako.”
“That’s okay.”

She replied as she gave Carol a fake smile, showing that she was not comfortable with the person because she sensed an air or arrogance and hypocrisy. On the other hand, Carol gave her, once again, a condescending look. She cringed and felt embarrassed. But this time, she used her sarcasm to get even with Carol. Aside from being not in favor with their relationship, she hasn’t forgotten what the girl did to her on the wedding.

“Carol, I heard a lot of things about you. Is it true that you are working as a corporate lawyer for a multinational company in Makati?.”
“Yes. How about you, are you still studying?”
“No, I graduated last March. I took up Communication Arts.”
“I see, aren’t you planning to take further studies or go to law school. The competition is stiff nowadays.You really have to make yourself marketable.”
“Law School? I think, it’s not for me. I would rather work for media. But, I have a cousin who wanted to pursue law, but she passed away.”
“Oh, I see. Kawawa naman yung pinsan mo.”
“No, she’s not, I think, she’s in a better place now. She’s actually, Aldo’s girlfriend before you met him. They were planning to get married, but she tragically died. If she is alive today, I’m sure she would be a great lawyer, just a she was a great person. Idol ko nga siya eh. Sana na-meet mo siya. I’m sure, the two of you would get along well.”
“Leni, they say that the present is much better that the future.”
“I agree, they also say that it’s much better to follow your own advice.”

At this point, Leni is getting on Carol’s last nerve. Leni tried to appear unaffected, but there’s a side of her that wanted to tear her eyes. A few seconds later, Aldo came.

“Did I miss something?”
“Nothing Aldo, we were just talking about the place. Right,Carol? Leni replied as she winked at her.

The two girls were silent while eating halo-halo. On the other hand, Aldo sensed that there’s something going on between the two of them. But, he did not dare to ask. Leni stared at her watch and came up with a perfect excuse to leave the place.

“Guys, I have to go. I’m going to ride a Calesa”
“Wait, Leni. Sino ang kasama mo?”
“Aldo, why do you need to ask her? She’s big enough to take care of herself. I’m sure, she would be fine. Right, Leni?”
“You’re right. But, I’m with someone. I’m with my grandmother.”

Aldo asked.
“With Nanay?...Yeah, I got it.”

She stepped inside the calesa when she told the driver,
“Libutin po natin ang buong lugar.”

As the horse galloped, Leni can’t help but cry because she remembered her grandmother. Nanay frequently took her and Gino to Luneta and Intramuros when they were still kids. The only thing that they didn’t experience is to ride a Calesa in that place . Memories began to flashback. She recalled the time when she helped her in the kitchen. When the calesa passed along the sampaguita vendors, Leni was reminded of her high school graduation, when Nanay put garlands on her. Lastly, she vividly pictured the time when she changed her socks a few hours before her death.

It’s been a year but it was seemed like yesterday for Leni. Yes, the pain is still there.

“Hija, gagarahe na ako.” The driver said .
Then, everything went back to reality. Leni wiped her tears and stepped down. She went back to the restaurant to buy something. When, she walked outside, she was surprised to see Aldo alone.
“Where’s Carol?” He shook his head before answering the question.
“She went back to the hotel. Carol needed to get back to work.”
“Oh I see. Can you do me a favor?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Can you walk me home?”
“Sus, yun lang pala. Oo naman. Besides, it’s getting late and it’s not safe to walk alone. You can never be sure with the people around you. Hindi ka naman taga-dito.”
“Thanks.”
The two were silent for a while, until Aldo asked her,
“Is there something wrong? Para kasing umiyak ka eh.”
She looked away and said,
“I’m sorry, I just miss Nanay. I can’t believe that it has been a year already. Parang kahapon lang kasi nangyari. Nandoon kasi ako.”
“That’s okay. Do you want to talk about it?”
“I want to, but not now. Hindi ko pa kaya eh. Anyway, thanks for the concern.”
“Sure. Don’t worry, I understand what you’re going through. I’ve experienced that when your cousin passed away. Hindi rin ako agad nakapag-sabi sa iba kasi alam ko na siguradong iiyak lang ako.”
“Me too. I felt the same when Gino told me that Ate Agatha got killed in that accident. Really ? I actually thought that you handled it well. Sa bagay, I haven’t seen you after Ate Agatha’s funeral.”
“I know. After that, I wondered what happened to you. Then, we saw each other after five years and so many things took place in our lives. We have a lot of catching up to do.”
“Yeah, it’s a good thing that we got the chance to work with each other. Nagiging close tayo ulit noh?”
“Oo nga eh. Ngayon nga natutuwa ako sa’yo na nagkakaroon ka na ng mga kaibigan.Tulad nung mga madalas mong kinuwento na college friends mo. Dati kasi halos wala eh, parati ka pang may kagalit.Hindi ka na bata. Hindi na ganun ang tingin ko sa’yo.”
“Mabuti naman kung ganon. ”
“Leni, sana kahit may bago na akong girlfriend, hindi mawawala yung pagsa-samahan natin.”
“Oo naman. So, paano, dito na ako. Salamat uli.”



While they were walking, Leni was about to cry. But, she prevented it before Aldo notices. The only people that she could shed her tears were with Adam and Faith. At this moment, she really wanted to express how she really feels, because she somehow felt comfortable with the person. But, her pride impedes her from doing so.

When she got home, she realized that it’s relieving to talk to someone, without any pretentions. The last time that she experiences this was with Adam and Faith. Indeed, she once again found a true friend in him. For Aldo, Leni is like a sister that he never had.



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After having dinner, Leni went back to her room when she received a call from her younger brother.
“Ate, Mom and I are going to visit Nanay at the memorial next week, hindi ka ba sasama?”
“Hindi muna. I’m not yet ready to go back to Manila. I hope you understand and I’m sure Nanay also would.”
“Okay, I understand. By the way Red, came here yesterday. He had a black eye. Ate, mukhang magpapa-awa yun sa’yo. Naku, mag-ingat ka.”
“Really? Basta, ayoko munang isipin siya ngayon. Enjoy na nga ako sa stay ko dito, tapos papasok na naman siya sa eksena. Wag na noh.”
“Talaga lang ah, eh baka naman may kapalit na siya diyan.”
“Wala pa naman. Hindi ko muna iniisip yun sa ngayon. Ang masasabi ko lang, masayang kasama yung mga tao dito. Ipapakilala ako sa’yo. Si Dana, yung pinsan ni Aldo. Mag-aaral na siya diyan sa Maynila sa pasukan. Kaya, magkaka-roon ka ng chance na makilala siya. Yihee.”
“Hay naku, si Ate Leni talaga wala na namang magawa.”
“Gino,hindi dapat puro computer ang kaharap mo. Tinutulungan na nga kita makipag-usap sa tao eh… O sige na, inaantok na ako. Pakisabi kay Mama, goodnight ha.”

At this point, Leni pretended that he doesn’t miss him. But, deep inside he wanted to see Red again.