Richard's Standard

Chapter 13 - Dona is a Liar

Before heading to school, I stopped by a florist and picked out the loveliest flowers for Dona. Today was the day I planned to formally ask her if I could court her. I also wanted to meet her family in Dinagat Islands so I could talk to her mother. My feelings for Dona were sincere—I truly loved her—and I hoped that what we had would last a lifetime.

As I walked through the school corridor, I texted Dona to meet me on the rooftop. She quickly replied with a yes.

Excitement bubbled within me; I was eager to win her heart forever.

Bago ako tumuloy, I came across a school magazine published last year. It caught my attention when I saw Dona's face on the cover page with the headline "Dona Olarte: US Pride Bringing Home the Bacon and Gold Medal from the National Essay Writing Contest."

I decided to read the article about it. It's really an essay writing contest in English held in Agusan del Norte.

I skimmed through some lines from her piece: "One of us can fail. One of us can hurt someone we love. Lies cannot be refused when mistakes lie ahead. Shallow judgment deepens someone's faults. Narrow reasoning lessens our wings to fly. What do we wake up to every morning? How can the word 'hope' mend our pain and suffering? Remember, life's journey begins when our minds fertilize what we are carving for."

Right now, I can't believe what I'm seeing. It's so well-written in English. Dona can write incredibly well, but she claims she can't understand it? Wait, maybe she's just being coy? Or is she actually really wise?

She had told me she couldn't understand English, and I believed her. I know she wouldn't lie to me, but what the heck is going on here? What is Dona really up to? There's only one way to find out—I'll confront her about it.

I left the flowers in the corridor, my mind racing with questions.

While waiting for her on the rooftop, my mind is flooded with thoughts. I realized I haven't done any research about Dona; I've been completely mesmerized by her innocent charm. But I prayed she's not lying to me. Because if she is, I don't know if I could ever forgive her.

"Chad!" Dona called out, her bright smile lighting up the rooftop. "Sorry kung na-late ako ng kaunti. Inutusan pa kasi ako ni Mrs. Velco na bumili ng snacks niya."

I couldn't help but stare at her for a moment, captivated, until she stepped closer to me.

"Ano pa lang sasabihin mo? Ito naman, na-miss ako kaagad. Pero ako, sobrang na-miss kita, Chad. Hindi pa rin talaga ako makapaniwala," she said with a laugh.

"Ako rin, sobrang hindi makapaniwala."

"Talaga, Chad? Ikaw talaga, lalo mo akong pinapahulog sa'yo."

"Can we talk in English?" I said, trying to keep my tone steady, even though my heart was racing.

She stopped laughing, her expression shifting to one of surprise. "Hah? Naku, gusto mo na namang pagtawanan ako, no?" Her voice was light, but there was a hint of nervousness beneath her playful demeanor.

"Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala," I stated firmly, my frustration bubbling to the surface as I picked up the magazine and tossed it near her feet. The sound of it landing echoed in the quiet rooftop.

Dona bent down to retrieve it, and as she glanced at the cover, I could see her eyes widen. Her jaw dropped in disbelief, the laughter fading from her face as she processed the words printed there. "Chad, I—" she started, but I cut her off.

"You think I won't discover the truth?!" I shouted, my anger rising as the weight of her deception sank in. It felt like a betrayal, and I couldn't help but feel hurt.