After that conversation with Aldo’s mother, she excused herself and went back to the table.
When she got back, Aldo and Mong currently dishes their childhood experiences to them.
“Did I miss something?” Leni asked
“Leni, umaakyat ka pala ng gate para makapag-laro sa labas ha. Hindi namin alam na ‘amazona’ ka dati.” Red said while chuckling.
She just laughed about it and so did the rest of them. While they were exchanging their own stories of embarrassment, Leni left the table again and entered the house.
She went to the living room where all the pictures of Lolo Celso and his family hanging on the wall. A voice behind her said,
“Doesn’t he look handsome in that picture?”
Leni turned around and realized that it was Aldo.
“Oh, I didn’t know that you were here. You almost frightened me. Anyway, I was just staring at these photos.”
“I know how much you’ll miss him. My family planned to go home and spend Christmas with him this year. Unfortunately, he passed away because of heart attack. Needless to say, he left us sooner that we have expected.”
“Same here. I was actually looking forward to spend Christmas here in the province because I promised him that I’ll be back. So, what are you planning to do now?”
He paused before answering her.
“Well, I’ll be going with Mom in Austria. Probably, stay for six months and work.”
“You’re leaving? What about Carol and your work here?”
“Yes, things have been complicated between the two of us. I need to take some time off so that the two of us would figure out where our relationship will be going.”
“Okay, I understand. Who am I to stop you from leaving, right? I’m just Agatha’s cousin.”
“Leni, please don’t say that. Hindi ka na iba sa amin. I won’t stay there for good. Once I got back, I’ll resume teaching in the university and co-manage our business with my cousins.”
“Sorry for being melodramatic, I probably just said that because I hate goodbyes.”
“I’m not saying goodbye. Once, I got there I’ll let you know.”
“Yeah, you’re right. What’s the use of emails, right?”
“I’ll keep in touch, I promise”
“Aldo, size five ha?”
He chuckled and said.
“Sure, just keep me updated in your life. Ikaw naman kasi, hindi ka nagku-kwento, kayo na pala ulit ni Red, ilang buwan lang ang lumipas.”
“Sorry, medyo busy sa trabaho eh. I guess, Red told you about my job.”
“Yes, he did. It’s a good thing that someone is there for you. Well, I wish I was there too.”
“What?”
“Nothing, forget it. I just remembered those times whenever I defended you with those bullies in your neighborhood. You always come home crying. “
“Yeah, I was young then. You know how nasty those kids could be .But they backed off after you talked to them. Don’t worry about me; I could take care of myself now. Big Girl na ako.”
The two were silent for a while. Leni hate to admit it but she realized that she missed him, so was he.
She wanted to hold his hand but she can’t because she’s already with someone else. She wished to stay longer and catch up but she have to get back to Manila.
A few seconds later, Red, Adam, and Faith came.
“There you are. Leni, I’m sorry to interrupt the two of you, but we have to catch next trip.” Red said.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be there in a minute.” Leni replied.
Before she left, Leni asked Aldo a favor.
“Aldo, can I have something that would remind me of Lolo Celso?”
“Sure, I’ll just get something in his room.”
He handed her a pocket size image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“He always brings this when he travels. Tamang-tama, kakailanganin niyo to sa biyahe.”
“Thanks, Aldo.”
“I’m glad that I was able to meet your friends. They shared to us about your college days. They were fun to be with, especially Faith.”
“Yeah, ‘kalog’ talaga si Faith. Isn’t it funny that we’re both in the same university but we didn’t have the chance to meet?”
“I know. I guess, napaka-laki ng university para magkita tayo, tapos magka-layo pa tayo ng building. Anyway, Adam mentioned that you love to hang-out at La Prinsesa.”
“Yes. In fact, we were the loyal customers of that coffee shop. Do you go there?”
“Yes. How did you become loyal customers?”
“The place has been our favorite tambayan since first year because of the artsy ambience and inexpensive coffee. Plus, we heard that it is owned by a former student and was named after a girl. We were really intrigued about that.”
“You did your research huh?”
“A little, but what I really want is to meet the owner of that shop and write a blog entry about it. After all, that coffee shop has been a witness in my college days. Ano ba yan? Napa-kwento na ako ng wala sa lugar. Anyway, you should visit there more often.”
“That’s okay. Gusto mo ba, magkita tayo doon bago ako umalis?”
“Sige, ibibili kita ng mga pwede mong baunin, yung mga pagkain na wala doon sa Vienna. Paano, alis na ako, naghihintay na sila Red sa akin.”
“Ingat kayo ha. Mag-text ka pag-uwi mo sa bahay .”
“Sige.”
Before leaving the house, Aldo called her again.
“Leni”
“Yes?”
“I hope that Red would take care of you.”
“Of course, he does. Don’t worry about it. Ayusin niyo yung sa inyo ni Carol ha?”
Aldo didn’t say a word, he just smiled instead.
When she got back, Aldo and Mong currently dishes their childhood experiences to them.
“Did I miss something?” Leni asked
“Leni, umaakyat ka pala ng gate para makapag-laro sa labas ha. Hindi namin alam na ‘amazona’ ka dati.” Red said while chuckling.
She just laughed about it and so did the rest of them. While they were exchanging their own stories of embarrassment, Leni left the table again and entered the house.
She went to the living room where all the pictures of Lolo Celso and his family hanging on the wall. A voice behind her said,
“Doesn’t he look handsome in that picture?”
Leni turned around and realized that it was Aldo.
“Oh, I didn’t know that you were here. You almost frightened me. Anyway, I was just staring at these photos.”
“I know how much you’ll miss him. My family planned to go home and spend Christmas with him this year. Unfortunately, he passed away because of heart attack. Needless to say, he left us sooner that we have expected.”
“Same here. I was actually looking forward to spend Christmas here in the province because I promised him that I’ll be back. So, what are you planning to do now?”
He paused before answering her.
“Well, I’ll be going with Mom in Austria. Probably, stay for six months and work.”
“You’re leaving? What about Carol and your work here?”
“Yes, things have been complicated between the two of us. I need to take some time off so that the two of us would figure out where our relationship will be going.”
“Okay, I understand. Who am I to stop you from leaving, right? I’m just Agatha’s cousin.”
“Leni, please don’t say that. Hindi ka na iba sa amin. I won’t stay there for good. Once I got back, I’ll resume teaching in the university and co-manage our business with my cousins.”
“Sorry for being melodramatic, I probably just said that because I hate goodbyes.”
“I’m not saying goodbye. Once, I got there I’ll let you know.”
“Yeah, you’re right. What’s the use of emails, right?”
“I’ll keep in touch, I promise”
“Aldo, size five ha?”
He chuckled and said.
“Sure, just keep me updated in your life. Ikaw naman kasi, hindi ka nagku-kwento, kayo na pala ulit ni Red, ilang buwan lang ang lumipas.”
“Sorry, medyo busy sa trabaho eh. I guess, Red told you about my job.”
“Yes, he did. It’s a good thing that someone is there for you. Well, I wish I was there too.”
“What?”
“Nothing, forget it. I just remembered those times whenever I defended you with those bullies in your neighborhood. You always come home crying. “
“Yeah, I was young then. You know how nasty those kids could be .But they backed off after you talked to them. Don’t worry about me; I could take care of myself now. Big Girl na ako.”
The two were silent for a while. Leni hate to admit it but she realized that she missed him, so was he.
She wanted to hold his hand but she can’t because she’s already with someone else. She wished to stay longer and catch up but she have to get back to Manila.
A few seconds later, Red, Adam, and Faith came.
“There you are. Leni, I’m sorry to interrupt the two of you, but we have to catch next trip.” Red said.
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be there in a minute.” Leni replied.
Before she left, Leni asked Aldo a favor.
“Aldo, can I have something that would remind me of Lolo Celso?”
“Sure, I’ll just get something in his room.”
He handed her a pocket size image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
“He always brings this when he travels. Tamang-tama, kakailanganin niyo to sa biyahe.”
“Thanks, Aldo.”
“I’m glad that I was able to meet your friends. They shared to us about your college days. They were fun to be with, especially Faith.”
“Yeah, ‘kalog’ talaga si Faith. Isn’t it funny that we’re both in the same university but we didn’t have the chance to meet?”
“I know. I guess, napaka-laki ng university para magkita tayo, tapos magka-layo pa tayo ng building. Anyway, Adam mentioned that you love to hang-out at La Prinsesa.”
“Yes. In fact, we were the loyal customers of that coffee shop. Do you go there?”
“Yes. How did you become loyal customers?”
“The place has been our favorite tambayan since first year because of the artsy ambience and inexpensive coffee. Plus, we heard that it is owned by a former student and was named after a girl. We were really intrigued about that.”
“You did your research huh?”
“A little, but what I really want is to meet the owner of that shop and write a blog entry about it. After all, that coffee shop has been a witness in my college days. Ano ba yan? Napa-kwento na ako ng wala sa lugar. Anyway, you should visit there more often.”
“That’s okay. Gusto mo ba, magkita tayo doon bago ako umalis?”
“Sige, ibibili kita ng mga pwede mong baunin, yung mga pagkain na wala doon sa Vienna. Paano, alis na ako, naghihintay na sila Red sa akin.”
“Ingat kayo ha. Mag-text ka pag-uwi mo sa bahay .”
“Sige.”
Before leaving the house, Aldo called her again.
“Leni”
“Yes?”
“I hope that Red would take care of you.”
“Of course, he does. Don’t worry about it. Ayusin niyo yung sa inyo ni Carol ha?”
Aldo didn’t say a word, he just smiled instead.
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