Matulin na lumipas ang mga araw pagkatapos naming mag-break ni Aimee. Medyo kinabahan ako na maiilang sa'kin si Lena pero pagkatapos ng araw na 'yon ay bumalik din naman sa dati ang lahat. Salamat na rin siguro kay Goldie na laging nandiyan pamatay tensyon.

Lena and I both got busy with studying. Matalino siya kaya siya na rin ang tumulong sa'kin sa mga leksyon ko. Kung minsan ay kinukulit ko siya na tigilan muna namin ang pagre-review pero tinitingnan niya lang ako nang masama. This girl takes her studies seriously. Sa tulong niya ay nagkaroon ako ng iskedyul para mag-aral, paunti-unti pero araw-araw. I tell you; it was a real novelty for me.

I've never really done well at school and part of the reason why was I never tried. My mother never really encouraged me to do well. Basta hindi ako bagsak ay ayos na 'yon kay Mama.

Pareho kaming hindi pumunta ni Lena sa JS Prom. Inaya ko siya pero malungkot lamang siya na umiling. I was sad that Aimee's words had poisoned her excitement to join. Hopefully, she'd go next year but I'll be gone by then. I'm sure a lot of boys would be willing to take her to the prom because she's not only one of the nicest girls in their batch, she also has the loveliest face.

Likas na maamo ang mukha ni Lena. She never wears makeup but she doesn't need to. She has dark brown eyes, a nicely-shaped nose and a slightly-fuller lower lip that I can't stop thinking about at times.

Lena's charm isn't only skin-deep though. Her eyes sparkle when she smiles and there's a certain artlessness in them that lets you know what she's feeling and thinking simply by looking at her. She never tries to outdo other girls, and although shy, she's always ready to smile at others.

I shook my head and frowned. No, I don't think Lena's gonna have a problem in finding a partner for their prom next year.

🌿

One morning, I was stunned to find my mother sitting at the breakfast table, placidly eating while my grandfather ignored her presence. Araw ng pagtatapos ko kinabukasan at kahit sinabi ko 'yon kay Mama ay hindi na ako umasa na pupunta nga siya.

"Gising ka na pala, Renz. Halika hijo, join us for breakfast," she said brightly, as if nothing was wrong or awkward.

Tumingin sa'kin nang saglit si Lena pero hindi siya nagsalita o ngumiti man lang.

"Ma, kailan kayo dumating? Ano'ng ginagawa 'nyo rito?"

"Don't sound so surprised! I'm your mother after all. I would not miss your high school graduation especially when it's long overdue. Kaninang madaling araw lang ako dumating, anak."

Walang pasabing tinanggal ni Lolo ang table napkin niya at tumayo na siya.

"Lo, hintayin 'nyo 'ko. Sasama po ako."

"Kakausapin ka raw ng Mama mo," he replied casually and walked away.

Maya-maya pa ay umalis na rin si Lena pagkatapos magpaalam. Siguro ay maglalakad-lakad siya sa dalampasigan malapit dito.

"Ano? Seems like close ka na kay Don Isong. I have to say, hijo. I'm happily surprised. I had my doubts when I told you to go here but you've succeeded in winning him over."

Pagkaalis ni Lena ay 'yon agad ang bulong ni Mama.

"Lolo ko siya, Ma. Kaya hindi malayo na maging malapit kami sa isa't isa," suplado kong sagot sa kaniya.

"Well if you're that close, you should tell him to get rid of that girl. Nakakahiya siya," pabulong pa rin pero dinig ang inis sa tinig niya.

"Ma, walang ginagawang masama si Lena o si Lolo. Pinag-aaral siya ni Lolo kaya siya rito nakatira."

She rolled her eyes and looked at me like I was stupid.

"'Wag mong sabihin, Renz, pati ikaw nahalina na sa batang iyon!"

"Ma..."

"Tama nga ang plano ng Lolo mo na sa Maynila ka mag-aral para naman mapalayo ka sa batang 'yon."

Nabitawan ko ang tinidor na hawak ko sa sinabi niya.

Ang sabi ni Mama ay si Lolo mismo ang tumawag sa kaniya para sabihin na pag-aaralin niya ako sa isang malaking unibersidad sa kursong Agriculture. I'm glad because I guess it shows he wants me to join him someday in running the plantation. But it also means I'll have to leave the island... and Lena.

🌿

Gusto ko sanang magpaalam kay Lena nang huling araw ko na sa isla dahil alam ko na hindi siya sasama sa paghahatid sa'min ni Mama sa airport ng Iloilo. Ngunit nang hanapin ko siya sa mansyon ay hindi ko siya natagpuan.

Nagpahatid ako kay Nong Toto sa lumang sementeryo ng Aguadulce at nagbilin na kami na lang ni Lena ang uuwi. Ang sabi ni Nang Sol ay madalas nagsisindi ng kandila o naglalagay si Lena ng bulaklak sa puntod ng tatay niya.

Hindi naging madali o komportable para sa kaniya ang mga nakalipas na araw. Hindi mabait sa kaniya si Mama at kung hindi dahil kay Lolo ay malamang harap-harapan siya nitong uusigin at pagmamalupitan. I tried my best to keep my mother away from her, but it also meant we rarely talked to each other.

I spent a few minutes searching for her until I saw her lone figure standing before a grave that looked simple but tidy. She had planted some flowers around it and their fallen petals gave color to the somber surroundings.

I walked towards her quietly, not wanting to startle her. My father's grave was not very far from her father's, but I have not visited it in the year that I lived in his hometown.

I called out her name gently. She didn't turn but I knew she heard me as she startled a little.

May mga luha sa mga mata niya na nakita ko nang nakalapit na ako.

"Lena? Ano'ng nangyari? Ayos ka lang ba?" Hinawakan ko ang magkabilang braso niya at tiningnan siyang mabuti, nag-aalala.

Mahina siyang tumawa pero ayaw niya akong harapin.

"Wala, Renz. Ayos lang ako. Promise."

"Why are you crying then? Baby... tell me what's wrong. Please."

She cried even more when she heard me whisper that endearment.

"Aaalis ka na," sa huli ay sumagot din siya.

I was filled with a strange kind of happiness when I heard her say those words. I drew her close to me and embraced her tightly.

"Sorry... dapat 'di ko sinabi 'yon. Sabi ni Moira, malandi raw 'yon."

A worried crease marred her forehead and all I wanted to do was kiss her anxieties away. So it isn't only Aimee who had spoken harshly about it to her.  I didn't know Moira had spoken to her like that, and knowing that they had targeted her again angered me.

"You're the sweetest, purest girl I have ever known. Don't let what they say make you forget that."

I had not let her go yet although she had not embraced me back, her arms were only hanging limply by her sides.

"Walang nagturo sa'kin Renz..." she said softly.

"Hindi ako napagsabihan ni Nanay dahil sanggol pa lang ako nang mamatay siya. Si Tatay naman, abala sa pangingisda. Pinangaralan niya 'ko na maging mabait na bata pero... hindi ko alam na bawal mag-aya ang isang babae sa isang lalaki. Pero hindi ako masamang babae, Renz! Hindi totoo ang mga sinasabi nila tungkol sa amin ng Lolo mo..." She broke down after she finished speaking.

I ached for her. I longed to assure her I have never thought that about her, but I would be lying. I did believe what my mother said about her and only changed my mind when I came to know Lena. Nasasaktan ako dahil alam ko na alam niya na ganoon nga ang iniisip ng mga tao sa kaniya.

Binitawan ko siya para pahiran ang mga luha niya. Tentatively, I kissed her forehead, her eyes and then her cheeks. "Naniniwala ako sa'yo. Lagi akong maniniwala sa sasabihin mo. Please baby, don't cry anymore." I didn't mean to say it huskily, but I did.

This time, she managed to look me in the eyes albeit nervously. She was so beautiful even with her eyes red from crying.

"Susulatan kita at sasagot ka sa mga sulat ko. Pag may pagkakataon, tatawag din ako sa'yo. Kaya 'wag mo akong kalilimutan," I whispered, wanting to extract a promise from her but knowing I should not. My sweet, innocent girl nodded at me sincerely.

"Hihintayin kita," her voice turned very low then, still unsure whether what she was saying was okay. "Sa'yo... sa'yo lang ako, Renz. Ikaw lang ang mamahalin ko. Pangako."

I kissed her gently on the lips then. It was brief as I didn't want to scare or overwhelm her but it was an unspoken promise from me in response to the one she had uttered. I will come back for her.