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.