Nanay Part 4

One day upon arriving home, I found three young men talking with my mother. I soon learned that they wanted to board with us. My mother accepted them because they were all employed and had better chances of being good payers. She told them to come back three days later as we had to look for a new place so they could be accommodated. The place we saw was in Mayhalique, next door to where Manang Taliang and her family lived. It was a two-story affair and we occupied the downstairs past while the boarders occupied the upstairs. Manong Itong came to live with us and later also Autas, both cousins of mine. Elix, Siniong's brother also came to live with us and I was glad because he had such a jolly nature and his lightheartedness was contaminating.

November that year was a very busy one for us in school. We had to edit. We solicited contributions from the student body and their response was tremendous. But most of them were not good material and much as I hated to disappoint those budding writers, their manuscripts inevitably were-wastebasketed. Most submitted write-ups were poems and stories about love and very reminiscent of young lovers. I had a capable helper in the Associated-Editor, Mariano Familara, Jr. a senior. In the others I did not expect so much. I had two columns to takle alone, the editorial and a column we named "Junior Profile". The first instructor I interviewed for my Juniors Profile was Mrs. Dodson, I also had a short story in the Literary Section which I titled "Appearances are Deceiving." Our maiden issue was a hit. It was good reading material.

Aside from these undertakings we also had several dances scheduled. One was held on the 17th the date i well remembered because it turned out to be the turning point of my life. Everybody in the house knew about our social affair and Vestre had volunteered to be my escort. I thanked him but I just could not imagine myself going out with him. Siniong and I attended that dance and like the first time, we could not stay long because the place was so crowded. He suggested that we go again to the "Selecta". As usual, I ordered ice cream and chicken sandwich which is my favorite. We stayed about an hour and talked about a lot of things but especially my life in school and how i was liking it. He was very glad about my good showings.

When we finally left the "Selecta" Siniong hailed a cruising taxicab on Azcarrafa and told the cabman to dive to the Luneta. I was surprised and tried to protest but he assured me that we won't stay long. I trusted him so much and settled myself on the far corner of the cab.

Sitting side by side on the cement embarkment, I was feeling uneasy. Siniong was his casual conversational self but I sometimes found myself asking myself why i was out with this man at this hour of night, it was almost midnight, at the Luneta. It was there that he finally brought out the matter which I dreaded most. He took hold of my left hand and asked me why I hadn't given him a clear answer. I could not say anything, even if I had anything to say, I could not possibly say it. He must have understood because he kept silent. We got up and walked, passed the Manila Hotel and the Municipal Golf Links. He had my left hand in a grasp I could not extricate as he went on telling me how he loved me, how dear I've grown to be to him. All the while I was silent, what can a girl say in a moment like this?

We were able to flag down a taxicab only as we were nearing the Legislative Building. I was thankful because we would reach home quicker. I kept to my corner of the seat and stared out of the window. All of a sudden he had me in his arms and gave my left cheek a resounding kiss as he told me hoe he loved me. When he finally let me go, i was so confused and ashamed. It was strange that I was not angry, that I didn't rave and rant at his misbehavior. I just felt humiliated and cheap. I didn't say anything, nothing at all. I just wiped my tears away. He didn't ask me to forgive him either; he only reiterated that he had the best of intentions.

I didn't sleep that night. Just as I would fall off to dowsiness, the thought of that kiss would again jolt me to wakefulness. What was I to do? I kept asking myself why I didn't slap him and why I was not angry. I found only one answer - - that I was beginning to fall in love. The realization came as a surprise even to me. The next day I had to write him. In my own inexperienced way, I told him how I felt.

The following days I lived on clouds. The evening after Siniong got my letter, he came home. I was even more sure then that I had learned to love him. His arrival was enough to send my heart perform a somersault. It was not easy for me to hide my feelings from my mother and sister but if they noticed anything at all, they kept it to themselves. The following day I found his letter waiting for me in school. It was froth with endearments and farther assurances of his good intentions with his love.