“Hija,could you cut my fingernails?” Lolo Celso asked Leni as she got the nail cutter from the drawer. She spent every afternoon with Aldo’s grandfather during her last week of stay in the province.
Leni kept silent as she was cutting his fingernails. The old man can’t help but notice that something was bothering her.
“Leni, you’re in deep thoughts. Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing. I just wish that I could stay longer but I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because, I promised my mom that I’ll look for a job after summer. I need to help out because I don’t want to be a burden to them.”
“That’s right; it’s about time to be responsible because you’ve already finished your studies.”
“I already wanted to work because I wanted to prove to anyone, especially to my Dad that I could take care of myself.”
“That’s good. But it seems that you’re bitter at your father.”
Before she said a word, Leni broke into tears.
“Lolo, I guess I am. He left us when I was seven. I can still vividly recall what happened. He was packing his clothes and placing them inside a suitcase when I entered their room. Dad told me that he’s going to attend a business meeting. He promised that he would be back after a month but he never did. Months and years have passed and he never came back. I counted every school activities hoping that he would be there. But, he didn’t make it. My brother and I seldom receive a phone call from him.Though he’s distant to us, he remained to be a good provider. That’s how my relationship with my Dad goes.”
“Hija, listen. Things happen for a reason. God allowed that to happen because he wants you to become a stronger person. Leni, palagi ko itong sinasabi sa mga apo at anak ko, tibayan mo ang loob mo. Wag kang luluha. Kapag may luha, nagbabago ang isip ng tao.”
“Lolo, ano po ba ang ibig niyo sabihin?”
“Pag dating ng panahon, mauunawaan mo rin, hindi lang siguro ngayon.”
Leni wiped her tears and asked
“Lolo, maiba pala tayo, nasaan pala si Aldo?”
“Pumunta sa Maynila, may inasikaso lang. Bukas pa ang balik niya.”
“Ano po kaya yung inasikaso niya doon?”
“Hindi mo ba alam na may negosyo silang magpi-pinsan sa Maynila?”
“Hindi po. Ibig sabihin po, bukod sa pagtu-turo niya, may iba pa siyang pingakaka-kitaan?”
“Oo, masipag yang apo ko. Simpleng tao at magaling humawak ng pera. Kaya mapalad ang mapapang-asawa niya. Sayang lang at nawala na si Agatha.”
“Hindi po ba kayo boto kay Carol?”
“Hija, sa totoo lang, hindi.Nakikita ko kasi na hindi siya masaya.Kaya patuloy ko pa ring pinapanalangin na sana, maka-kilala siya ng karapat-dapat sa kanya.”
“Sana nga po, ako rin hindi ko po gusto si Carol dahil po nasigawan nya ako nung kasal nila Louie.”
“Teka, hindi ko ata alam yun ah. Ano ba ang nangyari?”
“Na-sigawan niya po ako kasi nung nakita ko na nag-aaway sila ni Aldo. Si Aldo nga po, walang kibo nun eh.”
“Eh ano naman ang ginawa mo?”
“Wala po, umalis na lang ako. Napahiya na ako.”
“Oo, tama yan. Mabuti na lang at umiwas ka sa gulo.Teka, kalian nga pala ang uwi mo?”
“Sa maka-lawa na po.”
“Leni, ibibilin ko na sa’yo ang apo ko. Ikaw na ang bahala sa kanya ha.”
“Bilang kababata at kaibigan, sige po…Ano po bang sinasabi ninyo? Lolo naman, parang hindi na tayo magki-kita. Babalik pa naman po ako dito sa Pasko.”
The old man smiled and didn’t say a word.
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