TST
Leo was at the bench near the school's main gate. His head was trying to stop thinking about how the atmosphere changed in the two weeks he was away.
Heliconia Pendula, he looked at the beautiful flower in the garden in front of him. He had been in the school for two months but he never realized that there was such a beautiful garden on the campus. He was just stomping from one trouble to another. He smiled. But was he out of trouble now? No, troubles are part of his life. He is always in trouble.
Don’t cry for a woman who has left you… the next one may fall for your smile, it was Benjamin’s advice to his friend years ago.
“Waiting for someone?” Baraka said, sitting
Leo raised his head, “Baraka!”
“Sitting alone, bowing like an abandoned puppy” Baraka mumbled, leaning on the bench
“Waiting for Rachel”
“Anha!” Baraka said looking at Leo, “how comes a man who doesn’t believe in God wear a rosary?”
Leo smiled, “there is nothing to lose”
“Looks like somebody gave it to you” Baraka scratched his head, “and that person must be exceptionally imperative to make you hang that rosary forever on your neck”
Leo looked at the sky and panted, "I wish I could see her again!"
“So it’s a girl…” Baraka slapped his cheeks, “why didn’t I think of that?”
“What are ─”
“Was she your first love?”
“None of your business”
“C’mon Leo… you’re confusing the world”
“What?”
“Who is real inside that heart of yours?” Baraka panted, “Isla? Rachel? Rosary girl..?”
“Who do you think is good?”
Baraka scratched his head, “I don’t know about the rosary girl but do you think the other two can make you a good wife?”
“Good wife..?”
“Don’t tell me you’re just planning to hit and run”
“What’s your definition of a good wife?”
Baraka smiled and cleared his throat, "She must be God sent, God-fearing, beautiful, hard worker, should have patience, well behaving─"
Leo busted into a laugh
“You don’t believe in God” Baraka mumbled, “I forgot that!”
“Last time seeing that kind of woman, was in a movie called Red valentine”
“Do you mean they don’t exist?”
Leo smiled, “Maybe they’re out there but I’ve never seen one”
"Hey, Leo… I try to think about this stuff hard but I can’t figure out the reason”
“What?”
“Did you know that Daniel is the son of the head of this school’s board directors?”
“It’s none of my business”
“And did you know Isla is the daughter of─”
“School’s dean”
“You knew that?” Baraka said, “So Isla told you”
Leo shrugged
“What bothers me is… why would they compel their children to propose to each other publicly?” Baraka lifted his hands to his cheeks, “no matter how hard I think about it, there must be something going on out there”
“What do you mean forced?”
“Seen Isla recently?”
Leo shrugged
“She has changed” Baraka sighed, “she looks sad, not as charming as before. If she wasn’t forced, why would she be like that?”
“Spying other people’s lives?”
“No… just trying to find out what is going on behind the scenes”
“Don’t try to dig things that have been well hidden”
“You are a don’t-care…” Baraka panted, “Why did I forget that?”
Why is she taking so long? Leo peeked at his watch
“Hey! Guess you have a visitor” Baraka snapped
Leo raised his head and his eyes met with Isla’s eyes
“I almost forgot it’s time for my medications” Baraka snapped as he stood and walked away leaving Leo and Isla
“Leo” Isla muttered as she sat
“If you want to say you’re sorry…there is no need”
“Leo… I want to explain─”
Leo held up his hand, “that too… there is no need”
“Leo it wasn’t─”
Leo raised both hands, “if you are waiting for someone, I can tolerate your presence but if you are here to explain your stories… then I’ll have to say goodbye”
“Leo please list─”
“LEO” shouted Rachel who ran towards the bench
Leo stood
“I’m sorry... I made you wait longer” she said, hugging Leo
“Isla, how are ─”
“We should go” Leo snapped pulling Rachel away