Romantic Short Stories [DUBREDO]

I. Malacañang Garden

SUMMARY: A five chaptered novel about Rodrigo Duterte, the rich bad boy of Malacañang college, meets Leni Robredo, a poor staunch girl who taught him that not all things can be bought by money and that some things in this world require hard work and sincere efforts.

Language: Filipino/English

Grace was so excited to attend the first day of school. She immediately ran into her best friend, Leni, as soon as she spotted her. Unexpectedly, Grace ran into another student as she was rushing towards her best friend.

"Sorry!" She apologized shortly and continued running towards Leni.

The guy glared at his friend seeming to tell him to get back on that girl who ran into her. "Freshman siguro." His friend replied. "Walang freshman freshman sakin, turuan niyo yan ng tamang asal." He told his friend.

—

"Puntahan ko lang si Simon, ang laki pala ng campus baka mamaya naliligaw na yon!" Leni told Grace. Before Leni was able to go a group of guys suddenly ambushed Grace and showered her with eggs and tomatoes. Leni felt flabbergasted after witnessing the ambush. She ran towards the men and pleaded for them to stop.

"Tama na! Hoy! Ano ba?!" She yelled at them, one of the guys threw a piece of paper and then ran away.

Leni immediately ran towards Grace to help her up. "Kilala mob a yung mga yon?" She sounded so concern.

"Hindi." Grace replied. Leni picked up the piece of crumpled paper and opened it reading the message inside.

Matuto kang tumingin sa dinadaanan mo.

"Baka yung nabunggo kong lalake kanina." Grace hypothesized upon reading. "Nabunggo? Sobra naman 'to! Grabe sila! Pero teka may extrang damit ako dito, magpalit ka muna." Leni assisted her.

—

After Grace and Leni went to their dormitories, Grace took a bath and changed clothes.

Meanwhile, as they were walking at the hallway, a group of three men walked; the girls gathered around the hallway began to blush and whisper at one another.

"Oh my God siya yon!"

"Ang charming niya talaga sa personal!"

"Cutie pie!" The girls squealed.

Leni felt curious and so she asked the lady beside her who he was. "Si Rodrigo... Rodrigo Duterte." The lady shared.

"Oh..." She sounded uninterested.

"Heartthrob kaya yan ng school. Famous yan dito." The lady added. "Kung kiligin naman kayo wagas. Kung famous yan malamang may girlfriend na yan." She asked. "Yun na nga eh! Single si Rodrigo ngayon!" The lady replied.

Leni suddenly noticed Grace's silence. "Uy, okay ka lang?" She asked. "Siya yon." Grace uttered. Leni giggled.

"Siya ang alin? Wag mo sabihing crushie mo rin siya?" She joked. "No. Siya yung nabunggo ko kaninang umaga." Grace shared. Leni paused for a while and looked at Rodrigo. She recalled how her best friend were ambushed earlier and it urged so much anger inside her.

"Leni?!" Grace panicked as she saw her walking towards him.

"Hoy!" She called him aggressively startling everyone.

"I'm sorry?"Rodrigo asked her as he felt offended for being called hoy in public.

"Hindi na mahalagang malaman mo yung pangalan ko, kailangan ko magsorry ka sa kalokohan na ginawa mo sa best friend ko kaninang umaga!" She threatened him and pointed at Grace. He sarcastically laughed.