Nothing 07

197x

AFTER FINISHING ALL the works in their flower farm for that day, Valentina hurried to meet Johnny on a gazebo near the plaza where he told her that he will be waiting for her to teach her. She did not know yet what waited for her in the gazebo. She was even kind of worried that it took her so long to get there. The sun was already setting down and the skies were slowly turning hazy. It was almost evening when she arrived at their meeting place.

Her steps slowed down when she spotted him on the gazebo, still sitting on the floor while reading a book with his eyeglasses on. Valen could not help but stare at him in silent awe. He looked even more intelligent with his looks today. It was something that made her even more conscious about herself and somewhat insecure of the privilege the man possessed that she did not.  

The light in the gazebo switched on because it was already night. Johnny reacted instinctively by looking up to it but stopped when his eyes met hers. He smiled at her while she remained calm and serious. He stood up when she finally neared him.

“You came,” he remarked as he gave her a happy smile.

“And you waited…” she pointed out then lowered her head in embarrassment. “I am sorry to keep you waiting. We had to finish a lot of farm works today. I was not able to ask someone to tell you that.”

“I understand, Val. I have no means to communicate with you either because I know you are busy all day. The only thing that I have and that keeps me waiting for you here was my palabra de honor, my word of honor. I promised you this, that’s why I have to honor my words.”

Valentina just stared at him. She could not believe what she was hearing from him. Perhaps Nenita and Johnny were really right.  Not all men grew up in a similar environment and with the same ideals, but there was nothing wrong with it. It was alright. Having an instant impression of them as wicked was what made it not right. Johnny was proving her impression wrong about city boys. She tore her eyes off him. She was feeling guilty and ashamed of how they started when all he ever wanted was to help her.

“I have nothing to pay you except for some of our vegetables and crops. If you like flowers, I can also give you some,” she said as she looked at him again only to find him smiling thoughtfully at her.

Valen could not help but ask herself inwardly again, ‘Why was he always like this?’

“It’s okay. I only want your honesty in exchange for this. I want you to tell me how you feel and share with me your honest thoughts.”

“Why?” she asked, her brows furrowing.

“Because I value one’s honesty. It tells me so much about what kind of person he or she is, and what kind of person I have been myself. Their honesty serves as my basis to better understand and deal with others. I want to help you better, and please tell me how through being honest with me. Deal?” he asked as he offered his hand for a shake.

Valen stared at his hand and pondered for a couple of seconds about things, her fears, and the consequences once she seemingly sealed the deal with him. Feeling determined to get somehow educated, Valen let out a sigh and threw all her inhibitions as she accepted his hand and shook it firmly.

In their short conversation that moment, she found out and proven that Johnny was not only a man of honor but also a man of honesty. These qualities had set Valen to believe and trust him. She will trust him.

They began their lessons with reading. Finishing the sixth grade did not afford her the adequate reading and comprehension skills. Valen could read simple sentences but could hardly comprehend them, but Johnny was a compassionate and patient teacher. He did not judge nor ridicule her. Instead, he taught her with kindness and much understanding.

When Valen can somehow comprehend simple sentences, she asked Johnny to teach her how to count because counting was an important skill to possess for farmers like herself, especially when they were selling their goods so that they will not get scammed and their inexperienced and unlettered background will not be taken advantage. She had to do it because their days together were almost coming to an end since school for Johnny will be starting, and thus, he had to come back to the city where he rightfully belonged.

Valen was in the middle of reading a passage from the newspaper Johnny was bringing daily for her to read and to be informed of what was happening in the Philippines when he silently placed a small cutout piece of paper with his telephone number on top of it. She looked at him inquisitively. He smiled at her in return.

“If you need anything, just contact me with that number.”

“But we don’t have telephones around here…”

“Keep it, just in case. Here,” he said as he took that piece of paper and wrote at the empty back of it his address.

After jotting down his details, he gave the paper back to her. “Let’s keep in touch. You can write me a letter and then send it to me whenever you can go to the town.”

“I can only write a simple one,” she admitted.

“It’s okay, Val. I just want to check on you. Tell me whatever you want also. I might bring them when I come back here once school is over. And if ever you ran out of writing materials, just feel free to visit my grandmother’s house. I have already told her to accommodate you when you come to our place.”

Valen had so much to tell him, but all she could utter was a simple, “Thank you…”  

The simplicity of her words was enough to put a smile on Johnny’s face.

“I told you. I want you to be honest with me always and before I leave. Now go tell me anything,” he encouraged her.

It took Valen time debating whether to tell him about how she felt or not. He will still be leaving anyway. There was no assurance that he would not forget about her and his promise to keep in touch once they lost their communication.

“Will you forget about me?” she asked bravely.

That got Johnny surprised at first, but then he immediately recovered to give her an understanding smile.

“Lost communication is not a loss in connection. No device can deter my palabra de honor, Val. Time and distance cannot break my word of honor, always remember that,” he assured her.

A contented smile suddenly found its way to Valen’s lips. His words comforted her and made her look forward to his comeback.

“I will wait for you then,” she said in almost a whisper.

“I will make sure to come back for you, too.”

|• Illinoisdewriter •|•