Santiago Brothers 1: Leandro Lagdameo

Chapter 14

Wala sa mood na nagsimula si Tiffany ng kanyang araw. Gulung-gulo siya sa mabilis na pangyayari nang mga nagdaang araw. Para siyang nasa ipuipo simula nang magkita silang muli ni Leandro. Pero ang mas nagpapagulo ay ang nangyari isang gabing tumakas siya at tumambay sa ilog. Paanong nandoon si Leandro? Hahalikan ba siya nito? At bakit parang gusto niyang magpahalik? Hindi na ang kumbento ang pinoproblema niya kung hindi ang estado ng puso niya. Aminado siyang hindi siya immune dito pero gagawin niya ang lahat para huwag maulit ang nangyari dati.

“Sister Mary Anthony.” Paglingon niya ay nasa tabi na niya si Sister Mary Jerome.

“Bakit po Sister?”

“Reverend Mother wants to talk to you.” Iyon lang at umalis na ito.

Pagkarating niya sa opisina nito ay gulat na gulat siya nang makita na naman doon si Leandro. “Good morning, Reverend Mother, ahm M-Mayor Lagdameo.” Halos araw-araw itong pumunta sa kumbento at nakikipag-usap sa kanya. Hindi na dapat siya magulat pero ewan niya kung bakit ganoon ang epekto nito sa kanya. Halos araw-araw itong pumupunta sa kumbento at magbibigay ng kung anu-ano para sa mga bata at matatanda kaya tuwang-tuwa rin si Reverend Mother. Siya naman ay hindi alam kung ano ang dapat isipin dahil lagi rin siyang kinakausap nito. Kinakausap kunwari pero wala naman silang pinag-uusapan o kahit anong importang ginagawa kundi ang umupo sa bench at hintaying sumikat ang araw. Kung hindi pa nito alam na hindi naman siya totoong madre ay maiisip niyang nanliligaw ito sa kanya. Minsan ay hindi ito makatiis at aabutin ang kamay niya at pipisilin nang paulit-ulit. Nahihirapan siyang panindigan ang depensa niya kaya ilang beses na hinahayaan niya na lang ito. Pagkatapos ay tatayo ito at ihahatid siya sa hardin. Iyon na yata ang bago nilang routine at nasanay na lang din siya sa mga weird na gawi nito.

“Good morning, Sister Mary Anthony. Mayor Lagdameo has requested that you accompany him to his outreach program in Estrella.”

Doon siya lalong nagulat. Pwede ba iyon? Oo, pwede pero bakit siya? Eh may mga madre naman doon? Saka bakit parang payag si Reverend Mother na ilabas siya nito nang buong araw. “B-but Reverend Mother. That’s in the other city. Besides, he could ask for the help of other convents there. We are semi-cloistered nuns.” Nang makita niyang nakatitig sa kanya si Reverend Mother nang seryoso ay napakagat siya ng labi nang maalalang hindi na pala siya parte ng kumbento dahil nakapirma na siya ng mga dokumento na magrerelease sa kanya. Hindi niya magawang mag-alibi dahil sa guilt na naramdaman.

“Sister Mary Anthony,” singit ni Leandro. “I really want you to help me. I saw how your eyes sparkled during the children’s party yesterday. I thought you’ve always been fond of children. Remember you used to organize outreach programs for the children. You used to be a child psychologist.”

“But-”

“Reverend Mother, lalabas po muna ako,” singit ni Leandro.

Nang maiwan sila ay hindi na nagpatumpik-tumpik pa si Reverend Mother. “Sister, I know I should keep my nose out of your business since you already signed the release papers. But, you can tell me everything, so I can find a way to help you.”

"Wala naman po-"

"It is obvious, hija, that you have known each other before. When I saw the way you looked at each other, I knew there was more than that. B-but, fine. Maybe I should not interfere. But, if and only if you want to tell me, I will listen."

Maang lang siyang napatitig dito bago marahang tumango. Maybe it would be better to tell her everything. “We used to date before," she sighed.

“And what happened.”

“He broke my heart.” Doon na siya nagsimulang magbalik-tanaw at magkuwento rito.

Four years ago…

Isang child psychologist si Tiffany at madalas na volunteer sa mga outreach programs para sa mga bata. Kulang ang sabihing mahilig siya sa mga bata. She has always loved kids, and she didn’t know why. Her heart would always glow whenever she interacted with them. Kaya nga siguro child psychology ang kinuha niyang specialization at nagpakadalubhasa rito.

At first, her father did not approve of it. He wanted her to take part in their thriving business like her brothers or at least be someone who could help them like her sister who happened to be a corporate lawyer. But she chose to stay away from the business world. She thought her heart would always go out to help those in need, so she pursued it. Wala namang nagawa ang daaddy niya dahil suportado siya ng kanyang mommy.

Isang beses ay nagkaroon sila ng outreach program sa isang orphanage sa Santiago. Nagkataong naroon din ang team ni Leandro na noon ay isang congressman. Their gazes met and everything followed. Totoo nga yata ang love at first sight. Funny, but that was what she felt. At twenty-four, she has never been in a relationship. She was too busy to study and make the kids happy to be in love. But things changed when she met Congressman Lagdameo. He was larger than life, and she could not resist him. That was the start of everything. He got her number, called her up, and invited her on a date. He captured her heart in an instant. They went out many times before he told her he liked her. He told her how much he wanted her to be a part of his life, and she said she felt the same.

She was so in love with him that she gave everything she had just to make him happy. His smile was priceless, and she loved the noise he made whenever he slept. She loved the way he kissed her, caressed her, and the way he made love to her. He was a selfless and expert lover for he knew what exactly would please her. For months, he became hers, or so she thought. One day, her friend, Gwendolyn, called to tell her that Leandro was already set to marry a business tycoon’s daughter.

She went to Leandro, but he was a jerk. He just told her a bland sorry and asked her to move on. He let her go that easily. She couldn’t because he was the love of her life. She did not cry though, at least not in front of him to save her pride. She guessed he would never know how much she loved him. Still, she waited for his call, telling her he was sorry and that he wanted her back, but he didn’t. News about his relationship with a new girl was all over the town. To tell she was devastated was an understatement. But with her friend’s encouragement, she got back on her feet and promised a sweet revenge.

Dahil Food and Beverage manager ito sa hotel kung saan gaganapin ang engagement party, nakapagpanggap siyang staff ng hotel. Nakumpirma niya nga ang engagement ni Leandro, her Andoy, her sweet Andoy. For the umpteenth time, her heart shattered into pieces, but she had to be strong for her plan. Nang makita niya ito, parang ayaw niya nang ituloy ang gagawin. How could she hurt the love of her life? Plus, he did not seem to be happy. He looked like he was in an interrogation room. But when she saw him smile at her fiance while dancing, she knew she had to do it. And so before the dance ended, she came in front of him and delivered a flying kick and a right hook. Hindi pa siya nakuntento at binigyan pa ito ng kimura lock. Wala na itong nagawa kung hindi mapahiyaw at para lang siyang natauhan nang mapansing hindi na ito gumagalaw.

Para siyang tanga na biglang bumangon at chineck ito. Kinabahan siya dahil baka nasobrahan siya sa ginawa dito kaya hindi napigilang maiyak. Hysterical na siya habang inaawat ng mga bodyguard nito at dalhin sa presinto. Wala na siyang nagawa at hinintay na lang na palayain siya.

Dalawang araw na siyang nakakulong nang puntahan siya ni Leandro. Gusto niyang maiyak nang makita ang hitsura nito. May blackeye ang kaliwang mata nito, may pasa ang kanang panga, putok ang gilid ng mga labi, at may benda ang kanang kamay. Nang makalapit ito, gusto niyang yakapin ito. Gusto niyang mag-sorry at sabihing aalagaan niya ito at pagagalingin. Sasabihin niyang okay na sa kanya kahit may mahal na itong iba basta maging okay lang ito. She wanted to let him go because he wanted to be free. That was how much she loved him. Nang makalapit ito ay hindi niya naiwasang haplusin ang pisngi nito para lang muling mapahiya siya. Mukhang lalo pang naging mayabang ito na parang hari ng mga congressman kung makaasta at sinabihan siyang mag-sorry dito.

Alam niyang nasaktan lang ang ego nito pero mas nainis siya dahil nagawa pa nitong makipag-flirt sa kanya sa kabila ng sitwasyon. Hinalikan siya nito nang mariin at siya namang in love na in love dito ay yumakap pa sa batok nito at tumugon dito. Kung hindi pa tumikhim ang mga babaeng inmates niya na nakangisi na sa kanila ay hindi sila maghihiwalay. Para tuloy may isang shooting ng pelikula sa presinto. Ang mga pulis ay nakanganga at parang namangha pa. Parang kulang na lang ay magluto ang mga ito ng popcorn habang pinapanood sila. Ang hudyo ay nakakalokong ngumisi lang sa kanya na parang sinasabi na alam nitong nanalo ito sa kanya. But of course, her pride was bigger than her. She annoyed him more, and it was evident on his handsome face. Pagkatapos ay hinayaan pa siyang ma-detain doon hanggang hapon. Labis na kahihiyan ang inabot niya at muntik pa siyang itakwil ng daddy niya. Mabuti na lang at naintindihan ng mommy at mga kapatid ang side niya. Nawalan na rin siya ng balita kay Leandro.

Pagkalipas ng ilang linggo ay hindi pa rin siya maka-move on. Hirap na hirap siya sa pinagsama-samang hiya, galit, at pagka-miss dito. Nag-resign na siya at napadpad sa kung saan-saan hanggang sa makarating sa malayong bayan ng lalawigan, ang Santa Clara. Ilang buwan na rin siyang naroon nang mapukaw ang atensiyon niya ng isang madre habang namamalengke siya. Nilapitan niya ito at nagtanong tungkol sa kumbento. And the rest was history.

Pagkatapos niyang magkuwento ay inabutan siya ni Reverend Mother ng panyo dahil hindi niya namalayang umiiyak na siya. “I’m sorry, Reverend Mother, for being selfish.”

“You are not. You never were,” nakakaunawang sabi nito. “What’s important is that you know now where you’re headed for. You never lied to us, so no harm done, Sister Mary Anthony. Maybe, it was God’s way to let you heal and know yourself better. You still love him, don’t you?”

“Hindi ko po alam.”

“Well, if you think of it, God sent him to us for different purposes. First, to help the convent. Second, for you to acknowledge your pain and move on or love him again.”

“Reverend Mother-”

“I suggest you go with him. Help the kids in Estrella. They need you there. You have done your mission here. You did great and I can’t help but feel blessed to have met a person as wonderful as you are.”

“Thank you, Reverend Mother. Pero, one day lang naman po iyon. So it means babalik pa po ako dito. Okay lang po ba?

“It’s up to you.”

“Gusto ko po munang bumalik dito para magpaalam sa mga sisters.”

“Sige, Sister Mary Anthony.”

“Thank you po.” Pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ay pinuntahan na niya si Leandro.

“You, okay?” He seemed worried.

“Yes,” pilit ang ngiting sabi niya.

“Alright.” Nagpaalam muna ito kay Reverend Mother bago sila lumabas ng kumbento.