Chapter Nine: Part Two

They were in the living room, laughing at the flick that they’re watching, when Leni’s phone rang. At first, she doesn’t want to answer it because she got carried away with the hilarious scenes, but Red insisted.

“Hi Leni, Mong here.”
“Oh, hi there. Kumusta na kayo diyan?”
“Mabuti naman. What’s with the noise?”
“We’re watching a movie. Wait, I’ll step outside so I could hear you.”
“Ok.”

Leni went to the veranda.

“Ok, the reception is better here. Napatawag ka ata.”
“Leni, there’s something that I would like to tell you, wag kang mabibigla ha.”
“What is it? Bakit parang kinabahan ka.”
“Lolo Celso passed away this morning?”
“What?! This can’t happen; I promised him that I’ll be back in December!”
“I’m sorry Leni.”
“Kailan ang libing?”
“Sunday next week, hihintayin pa kasi umuwi yung mga kamag-anak nila Aldo sa ibang bansa.”
“Basta, pupunta ako diyan.”


A few minutes after sobbing, she went back to the living room. She tried to pretend that everything was okay, but her eyes can’t hide it.

“Umiyak ka noh?” Adam said
“Hindi, marami lang akong nakain na wasabi.” Leni replied as she wiped her tears.

Faith patted her back and said.
“Sus, hindi ka na makakapag-tago sa amin. Alam namin kung umiyak ka o hindi. Ano ba yung sinabi nung kausap mo kanina?”
“Wala na kasi si Lolo Celso, yung lolo ni Aldo. Naging malapit kasi ako sa kanya nung nagbakasyon ako dun sa probinsya. Nung nandun ako, tinuring niya ako na parang tunay na apo.Doon ko lang naranasan kung ano ang pakiramdam ng may lolo. ”
“Naintindihan namin, Leni.So, ano na ang plano mo? Pupunta ka ba?”
“Oo, pupunta ako sa Sabado. Pwede niyo ba akong samahan? Para kasing hindi ko kakayanin kapag ako lang ang pumunta dun eh.”
“Naku Leni, problema yung shift namin ni Adam. Di bale, makiki-usap na lang ako sa supervisor namin. Pero, ikaw muna ang magbayad ng ticket sa bus kasi wala na kaming oras pumunta sa terminal.”
“Huh? Kulang ang pera ko, next week pa ang sweldo.”

Red broke in and said

“Sasama rin ako. Ako na ang magbabayad ng ticket niyo.”

“Sigurado ka? Baka kailangan ka dito,limang oras ang biyahe dun ha.” Leni said.

He held Leni’s hand and said.

“Hindi, magpapa-alam na ako ng maaga. Maiitndihan naman nila siguro yun eh.”

“Yan naman pala Leni, may pakinabang din ang boyfriend mo!” Faith exclaimed.

“Babes, wag mong pagsamantalahan yang si Red. Nagmama-gandang loob na nga yung tao, aasarin mo pa.” Adam said.

Leni imperceptibly asked.

“Bakit ‘babes’ ang tawagan niyo?Dahil ba mataba kayo dati?”

“Leni, isa ka pa ha. Alaskador kayo parehas ni Faith.” Adam said.

Chapter Nine: Part One

Red began to pick her up from the office and drive her home every week. Since then, those guys backed off. What has been weekly between Leni and Red become daily. Eventually, they got back together.

The two of them started from scratch. He did some things that he never did to a girl before. Red was used that a girl would take care of him, just what Leni did to him before. Every league that Red’s team joined, she and some Teatro members would make banners in order to support them. But this time, it was the other way around. Red was the one who adjusted first in their relationship. He used to be late whenever he would meet Leni, but now, he is always five minutes early.

Leni once shared to him how much she missed hanging out with her two best friends. Red wanted to win the two of them because he knew from the start that they were not in favor of him. So, he bought some VCD of tagalong teeny boppers, and invited Adam and Faith to watch it with them.

Faith and Leni were preparing their food in the kitchen, while Red and Adam were selecting the film to be watched.

Faith was placing the potato chips on a bowl, while Leni was pouring Sprite on the glasses. She accidentally dropped a glass on the floor and got motionless afterwards. Her face turned pale.

“What’s wrong?” Faith asked.

“I don’t know. After the glass fell on the floor, I sensed that something bad will happen.”

“Leni, don’t believe in superstitions.”

“Anyway, what’s with Red. He’s not like this before. Parang nagpapa-good shot sa amin eh.”

“Uy, hindi ko yan sinasabihan ah. Kusa siyang nag-imbita dito, sinabi ko kasi na nami-miss ko kayo. Kaya yun, nag-presenta siya.”

“Hay naku, sana totoo yung mga kinikilos niya. Kung hindi, lagot siya sa akin.”

“Hayaan, niyo na yung tao. Bigyan niyo na lang ng chance.”

Before, their ‘bonding moments’ seemed to bore Red because he used to go out in bar with his friends. But this time, he enjoyed hanging out with Adam and Faith.

While assembling the DVD player, Adam asked Red.

“Red, bakit mo naman naisipan na papuntahin kami dito?”

“Gusto ko kasi ma-experience kung paano kayo mag-bondig.”

“Ganun? Hindi kami katulad ng barkada mo ha. Hindi namin puntahan yung mga gimikan niyo.”

“Okay lang yun. Eh, ano pa ba ang ginagawa niyo, bukod sa manood ng mga movies?”

“Minsan, kumakain kami ng fishball o isaw sa labas, manood ng play sa ibang university, pumunta sa mall, o kaya naman, pumunta sa mga museum.”

“Talaga? Pare, minsan isama niyo naman ako sa iba pang lakad niyo. Sa totoo lang, may mga bagay din ako na gusto kong gawin pero hindi ko magawa kasi iniisip ko kung ano ang sasabihin ng barkada ko.”

“Oo naman, basta wag mo na lang sasaktan si Leni ulit. Tatapatin na kita, kami ang nag-encourage sa kanya pumunta sa probinsya kasi masyado siyang na-apektuhan dun sa paghi-hiwalay niyo dati.”

“Ah ganun ba? Hindi ko na talaga gagawin yun sa kanya. Kaya ko naman ito ginagawa kasi, gusto talaga makabawi sa kanya.Pare, wag kang mabibigla ah.Akala ko talaga nung una, bakla ka. Puro babae kasi kasama mo.”

“Sobra ka naman,Red. Hindi lang dahil mahilig ako sa damit eh, nanganga-hulugan na bakla ako. Pare, iba ang style ko manligaw, binabarkada ko muna, tsaka ako magtatappat. Mas makiki-lala ka ng babae pag ganun.”

“Kaya ba ganun ang ginawa mo kay Faith?”

“Oo, Pare. Marami na akong nakilala, pero hindi basta-basta yung mga tulad ni Faith. Red, okay na yung adaptor.”

Leni had a bad day at work.

During their lunch break, one of the guys in the office sat beside her. At first, he started a decent conversation with Leni. Then, this guy with his suave moves placed his hand on her knee. Leni without saying a word, poured the hot cup of coffee on the guy’s lap and stood up

The guy yelled.
“What the f*&%! What the hell is your problem?!”
“You’re hitting on me, that’s my problem.”

The incident was reported to the Human Resources Department. Leni explained that the guy was harassing her, but the guy turned the table against her and insisted she was flirting with him. After that meeting, she went back to her cubicle and resumed with her work.

It was raining. Her tears poured while walking home. Suddenly, a sleek red car stopped beside her. To her surprise, it was Red.

“What are you doing here?”
“I know you hate me, but I really know that there’s something wrong and that you need someone’s help.”
“You’re so conceited. It’s so you…Anyway,I’m fine, I’m just tired from work. I don’t need your help. So, please leave before I ruin in your car.”
“If you don’t need my help, fine! Just so you know, you’re on the wrong street. You’re house is on the other side.”

She looked around and realized that he was right.

“Please, get in the car. You might get sick.”
“Shucks, you’re right.”

For once, she put down her pride because she was really soaking wet. Leni stepped inside the car and Red noticed that she just cried.

“Had a bad day at work?” He asked as he handed a tissue
“Yeah, more than you could ever imagine.” Leni replied as she wiped her tears.

At this point, Leni couldn’t help but relay to him what happened because she had no one else to talk to. Adam and Faith were still at work, so she could just interrupt them like she used to do in college. After sharing the whole incident, she felt relieved.

“Leni, you got me worried. Maybe it’s about time that you quit your job.”
“No, I can’t do that. I’ve been only there for three months, baka mahirapan ako maghanap ng lilipatan. I’ll stay there for a year and then, I’ll move to another company.”
“You have a point there. I wish there’s something I could do.”
“You don’t have to worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
“No Leni, I don’t want you to have another traumatic experience. Wait, I’m going to pick you up in your office every week. Would that be okay with you?”
“Red, you don’t have to do that.”
“No, that’s fine with me. At, para alam nila na may magta-tanggol sa’yo.”
“Thanks.”
“Wala yun. Gusto ko lang talaga bumawi.”
“By the way,How’s your relationship with Val?”
“She and I broke up last summer.”
“I know, Adam and Faith told me everything. I’m sorry to hear that.”
“I’m also sorry with what I did to you on your birthday. Ang laki kong ‘tanga’ kasi naniniwala ako sa lahat ng sinasabi ni Cocoy. Akala ko partner in crime ko siya. Yun pala, aahasin lang ako.”
“Sa totoo lang, wala kang mapapala sa mga katulad niya. User friendly yan eh. Sumasakay lang siya sa pagiging sikat mo. Pero ang totoo, nakikinabang lang siya sa’yo.Kung ako sa’yo, dun ka na lang sa mga taong tatanggapin ka, hindi dahil kilala ka sa campus. Parang kami nila Adam at Faith.”
“Kumusta na nga pala sila?”
“Yun, sila na. Anyway,since nabanggit mo na rin si Cocoy, totoo ba na pinag-tripan niyo lang ako nung second year tayo kaya mo ako inaya ng date?”
“Oo, aaminin ko, yun talaga ang plano namin. Pero nung nakilala kita, hindi na. Pasensya ka na rin at hindi kita naipag-tanggol kay Cocoy nung mga panahon na ini-insulto ka niya.”
“Hayaan mo na, tapos na yun eh. Ayoko na rin pag-aksayahan yung mga tulad ni Cocoy. Sorry din, nung binuhusan ko ng Coke yung bag ni Val. Kaya ok lang naman ginawa yun kasi masyado talaga akong nasaktan, lalo na nung nakita ko na sinama mo pa siya sa graduation.”
“Wag mo na isipin yun, Leni. Naintindihan ko naman eh. Sorry talaga sa mga nagawa ko, sana hindi ka na galit sa akin.”
“Alam mo Red, isang sincere na sorry lang ang hinihintay ko sa’yo eh.Since narinig ko na, mukha namang hindi ka nambo-bola ngayon eh.”
“Ibig-sabihin ba nun, ok na tayo?”
“Oo, pero bilang mag-kaibigan muna.”
“Ok, cge. Let’s start from scratch. So, ano na ang ginagawa mo ngayon?”
“Nagta-trabaho na ako sa isang Petroleum Company sa Makati bilang Admin Assistant, ikaw?”
“Ako naman sa isang Manufacturing Company,Advertising Executive ako dun.Malapit lang yung office namin dun sa pinapasukan mo.Kaya pala madalas kitang naglalakad papunta sa MRT station eh.”
“Ay stalker. Hindi, biro lang.”

Chapter Eight: Part Six

To temporarily breakaway from the stress caused by her work, Leni visited the university.

She toured the campus and visited the places that made her college life memorable. Her first stop was the pavilion in front of their building; it was the place where she first met Adam and Faith. Then, she went to the fifth floor of the library; it was her favorite hideout until the librarian once caught her munching snacks while reviewing. Afterwards, she walked further and reaches the grandstand. That was where she accidentally bumped to Red during a concert. Then, the rest was history.

After an hour of walking, she decided to grab a mocha frappe at La Prinsesa, the café that became her favorite place that she shared with Adam and Faith.

As she was ordering, the crew recognized her.

“Ma’am, ang tagal nyong nawala ah.”

“Bakit? Namumukaan mo ba ako?”

“Oo naman, noon kasi palagi namin kayo nakikita ditong tumatambay ng mga kasama mo, kung hindi ako nagkaka-mali, yung dalawang mataba. Kayo ata yung gustong makilala yung isa sa may-ari nito di ba?”

“Oo, kami yun. Kami yung lagi nag-aavail nung promo niyo. Gusto kasi namin nun, maka-hingi ng discount. Kuya, pwede pa ba?”

“Sayang, wala yung isang boss namin dito.Pero, pagbibigyan ka namin, libre na to. Kaka-alis lang niya, babalik siya sa probinsya.”

“Ahh, ganun ba? Sana nag-abot man lang kami.Ngayon lang ulit ako napasyal dito, kinuha ko lang kasi yung yearbook ko.”

Leni got her coffee, sat on one corner and listened to some songs in her Ipod. While leafing through the pages of the year book, someone patted her at the back. When she turned around, it was Red. Right then and there,her resentment towards him went back.

She stood up, picked up her coffee and walked towards the door. Then, Red followed and grabbed her hand.

“Leni, please don’t do this. Wag ka naman mag walk-out. Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?”

She rolled her eyes and said,

“Sure, but I needed my hand first.”

Then, they sat on one corner, as Leni’s temper flared.

“Hanggang ngayon pa ba, ‘bitter ‘ka pa rin sa akin?”

“Obvious ba? Paano bang hindi ako magagalit sa’yo eh, hiniwalayan mo ako nung birthday ko. Tapos, ang pinakilala mo sa parents mo, si Val, imbis na ako. Red,parang balewala yung two years na pinagsamahan natin”

“Hindi naman sa ganun. Pero may mga bagay ka na hindi naiitindihan.”

“Ano pa bang dapat kong malaman? Alam mo, nung nasa probinsya ako, halos okay na ang lahat. Dumating na ako sa punto na nakaka-limutan na kita. Pero, nung nagkita tayo ngayon, bumalik yung inis ko sa ginawa mo! Red, ang hirap nung pakiramdam na iwanan ka ng taong mahal mo. Sana maintindihan mo na binago ko ang sarili ko para lang maging deserving ako sa’yo. Pero ngayon, hindi ko na yun gagawin kasi nandiyan naman yung mga kaibigan ko. Hindi ko na kailangan baguhin ang sarili ko para sa kanila. Sana lang, hindi mo maranasan yung nangyari sa akin kasi. Hindi ko alam kung kakayanin mong masaktan.”

Red said nothing because this was his first time to hear these from Leni. Whenever they have their occasional fights, Leni would just give him a cold treatment.

“You know what, I don’t want to hate you but, I really hate you right now.”

“Leni, I’m so sorry, nagsi-sisi na talaga ako.”

“Yeah right, maghanap ka nang ibang bobolahin mo. Alis na ako.”

He shook his head as he realized that the crews witnessed what happened.