Chapter 5
Was her question really that shocking?
Well, maybe it was a little out of the blue. Who suddenly throws out a question like that in the middle of a meal?
But her mind wouldn’t rest, not after what she saw yesterday. Rafael was drunk—actually drunk—inside the Barangay Hall and even shouting like that. Something must be weighing heavily on him to show up in such a state.
And honestly, anyone with problems could lose control sometimes. Still, she couldn’t stop replaying it in her head.
She grabbed her glass and took a sip, silently praying that Marlon wouldn’t read too much into her question. What if he thought she meant something else?
The kids had already gone home after class, so now it was just her and Marlon again. He winked at her with a grin. She quickly looked away.
“Wala lang po, curious lang,” she said, trying to brush it off.
Which was true. She was curious. What’s wrong with wanting to know more about a co-worker? It didn’t mean anything deeper than that… right?
Marlon raised his brows up and down playfully. “Hmm, I smell something. Maybe it’s not just curiosity. Don’t worry, just say the word and I’ll help. Rafael and I are kind of close. He’s easy to talk to.”
She forced a laugh, even though part of her wanted to smack him. Why was he twisting her words like that? That thought never even crossed her mind! “Hay naku, Kuya, kung ano-ano na lang naiisip niyo. It’s really just curiosity, okay? Nothing else. You’re jumping to conclusions too fast.”
“Asus,” he chuckled, taking another bite before continuing. “You know, I was like that too when I first saw your Ate Mia. She was so beautiful in this long white skirt, with a rose tucked by her ear. I couldn’t help myself—I kept asking questions about her. Sometimes I even asked her mom directly. Good thing her mother liked me, kahit ganito lang ako.”
He laughed at the memory before shifting back. “But anyway, about your question. What’s up with Rafael?” He rubbed his chin as if thinking hard. “Aside from being kind, there’s really nothing bad I can say. He’s a good teacher—at least that’s what I keep hearing. Students admire him. But… the people around him? Not so kind.”
She looked at Marlon closely. He stopped there, as if purposely holding something back. Strangely enough, he’d said more about his wife than about Rafael’s life.
By then he was already done eating, and he stood to wash his plate.
“What do you mean, Kuya?” she asked, not wanting to be left hanging. She hated unfinished stories.
Marlon chuckled. “Give me coins to unlock the next chapter.”
Her morning class ended earlier than expected. But when she peeked into the other classroom, Rafael was still teaching. Good, at least he showed up today. Yesterday was another story—storming in drunk and shouting like that because he wasn’t chosen.
She thought of how she herself reacted when someone left her. She hadn’t screamed. She hadn’t begged. She wasn’t chosen either, but at least she had held on to her dignity.
Even if she got abandoned again, she knew she wouldn’t make a scene. She’d rather not become tomorrow’s gossip.
But the truth? Some questions in life never get answered. Not even the smartest person could give those answers. Maybe they were meant to stay hidden, to protect us from pain. Maybe the truth was just another sharp blade that would cut us again and again.
She sighed deeply, about to head back to her desk, when she nearly stumbled. A woman had suddenly stepped in front of her, smiling knowingly.
“Peeking, huh? Why don’t you just talk to him?” the woman teased. She was one of the moms from her class. “It’s not healthy to just keep glancing.”
“Ay, hindi po,” Ella waved her hands quickly. “I was just checking if his class was done.”
The woman only grinned, clearly unconvinced. Ella shrugged and turned away, ready to grab her bag and head home. She still had work waiting—illustrations to finish for tomorrow’s class.
But then the woman spoke again, her tone suddenly serious.
“You know,” she said, still watching Rafael, “he’s an excellent elementary teacher. No bad record to his name. Kids love him because he’s so kind and fair. But…”
Ella leaned closer. She wanted to hear it all. “But what, po?”
“But fate wasn’t kind to him.” The woman sighed.
“What do you mean? Did something bad happen?”
The woman looked at her, forcing a smile that never reached her eyes. “Ella… has love been fair to you?”
Her lips parted, but no answer came. She couldn’t bring herself to say that love hadn’t been fair. Maybe Kenneth just wasn’t meant for her. Maybe someone else was.
Some people spent their whole lives searching for “the one.” Some even turned to dating apps, just to find the person destiny had set aside for them.
Ella met the woman’s gaze. Those brown eyes were lovely, but empty.
“When it comes to love, Rafael got the short end of the stick,” the woman continued. “Everyone thought he and his fiancée would end up at the altar. Everyone expected church bells to ring. And yes, there were bells… but—” She paused again, eyes on Rafael. “He was left behind. Right there at the altar.”
Ella’s jaw dropped.
That explained it. That explained everything. No wonder he seemed broken.
“But… why?”
“She found an American,” the woman chuckled bitterly. “You know the Four M’s?”
Ella blinked. “Four M’s?”
“Matandang Mayaman, Madaling Mamatay.” (Old, Rich, and Near Death.) The woman laughed, though her eyes betrayed the pain of the story. “Some people will always choose money.”
Ella sat there quietly. The words stuck.
She thought about Kenneth again. About how she would’ve accepted his decision to leave if he had just been honest. She would’ve understood. It was for his future, after all. Who was she to stop him? She was just his girlfriend. Nothing more.
Her phone suddenly buzzed. A message. She quickly pulled it out, heart racing.
Maybe it’s Kenneth, she whispered to herself with a hopeful smile.
But her world froze when she saw the screen. She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t even blink.
Why? Why was it so painful? Why were they together? Why was his arm around her?
Questions swirled, stabbing her heart, and only Kenneth could answer them.
Her phone buzzed again. Another message, this time from Kenneth’s sister.
> “We’re already at the airport, Ate Ella. Kuya Kenneth told me to keep it a secret, but I can’t. I can’t betray you.”
She shoved her phone into her pocket and ran. She didn’t know where—she just needed to run. To scream. To slap someone.
She could accept anything… but not this. Not betrayal. Not with her best friend.
Her knees buckled, her body meeting the scorching pavement as car horns blared around her.
“That’s also why Rafael never went back to his old school,” the woman said softly. “No one knows where that girl is now. But maybe… maybe Rafael just doesn’t want to remember her.”
“Because remembering would hurt too much?” Ella whispered.
“Maybe.”
Just like me, she thought, almost too quietly for even herself to hear.