Fool Me Once

Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me..

The Bedanios were among the wealthiest families in our small town. They owned various stores like a sari-sari store, hardware, etc. that’s in addition to an enormous warehouse for onions and palay. What more, they lived in the grandest bungalow in our place at the time. I even attended a party there when I was in fourth year high school.

Mang Renato* and Aling Binay* were a handsome but extremely intimidating couple. Their son, Renato Jr. was my classmate in grade school but was transferred to another section in high school. He remained my friend, though.

About 15 years ago, I learned from my family back in the province that Mang Renato left Aling Binay. Rumors had it that the old man ran away with one of their young and beautiful helpers, one of their salesladies. Aling Binay, however, was one tough woman, despite what her husband did, she was able to manage their businesses.

After being gone for three years, Mang Renato came back. Thin and sickly. For their children’s sake, Aling Binay took back her remorseful husband. She nursed him back to health until he was strong enough to manage the businesses. Predictably, they flourished once again.

One morning after two years, though, Aling Binay woke up with Mang Renato gone, presumably back to the girl he left behind. Gone also were one 8-wheeler truck and their bank book leaving her with what they had in the store, the warehouse and a few thousand pesos in her wallet. The second blow was harder to take. Aling Binay had a stroke which left her invalid from the waist down.

Last time I went home, the stores were closed, the warehouse was empty and the bungalow was for sale. My friend, Renato Jr has been working in the Middle East as a factory worker, I guess. He is even asking me for a batch reunion in December, I said I’ll think about it. One tough guy..

*not real name