The Grand Mistress

"Alright," Lyndon didn't feel committed to what Simione asked him yet he could not refuse her. Of course they had to tell everyone because it wouldn't be good if they keep such a break up hidden. However, back in Devon City, his grandparents had already been disheartened about the couples break up that he almost wanted to deny it. If only not because his new woman was with him, he should have not said so. 

Just when he promised her, Simione left the oak tree where they had talked like nothing had happened.  Lyndon could only shake his head at it, thinking how Simione had seriously taken such a break up to heart. He never had really thought about it when he was in Lyndon but seeing how things get pretty complicated within his family and within his relationship with Sisi, he understood he must have underestimated such a break up. It didn't only caused the heartbreak with his grandparents, it also scarred his perfect relationship with Simione and right then, he was to face the frustration of the whole village who believed that he had the perfect fairytale like love story. Surely, they would all be frustrated with this.

Full of thoughts and regrets, Lyndon took a stroll in the woods but later on found himself in the fields where the old folks gathered. He did not mean to go there honestly, but his mind was occupied; he did not notice his legs brought him toward the fields.

"Brother Don!" Mario called on him when he caught the sight of the man. They had been working in the fields the whole afternoon and they were about to retire together with the rest of the folks if only Lyndon did not show up.

"Oh look who's here! Brother Don, it has been a while!"  Another village folk welcomed him. Indeed, because he had pursued a career in ballet, Lyndon had not been able to visit for a while. 

"Hello everyone, how are you?" He went on and gave them a polite bow. He noticed that they were all sweaty and dirty, so he looked toward the fields more and realized it was time for planting.

"We had been good around here brother Don," Mario told him. "How's London? I know that Cat is here because she went to bring us some delicacies from the orphanage yesterday. However, she did not mention you,"

"I just came," Lyndon announced. 

"Oh, you must be here because of Cat. Did you surprise her this time?" Mario teased and everyone beamed at it. The old folks had been fond of Cat and Lyndon's relationship ever since. They both saw them grow up as the two frequent every summer vacation before and saw how their friendship blossomed into love. Apart from that, the two—Lyndon who looked like a prince charming with his blonde hair and green eyes and Cat, who was a sweet and a kind maiden, do look so perfect for each other they couldn't help but adore it.

"Ahmmm…" The mention of Simione made Lyndon's throat run dry. Seeing their faces, he knew they were expecting a positive response and he couldn't just deny them that. So, instead of answering he just smiled.

His smile was so complex that Mario thought there was something peculiar that had happened; however he did not think it was a break up but rather something else.

"Wait…..wait...let me guess," Mario thought of it. Lyndon had always been abroad this time and had never set foot in the village for a long time. They said that he had been working real hard in London to make Cat proud and that he was starting a good career there. Seeing him then made Mario suspicious as he knew, the man would not come here if there was nothing special.

"Did you guys….." 

"Did we, what?" Lyndon shook a little and although he was smiling, the corner of his lips shook. He never thought telling these people about him and Simione's break up would make him feel so guilty, nervous and frustrated. He feared their reaction more than anything else that time and when he realized that Mario had finally figured it out, he felt so little and ashamed.

"Oh God!" Mario gasped. "Cat had turned eighteen right? Did you get married already? Is that why you came home? Did you come to tell us personally about it?"

"Indeed, Cat had turned eighteen already! Congratulations brother Don!" Another hollered joyfully. Hearing Mario and some other folks talking about marriage, the rest of the villagers came to congratulate them.

The situation got so pretty out of hand that Lyndon was not able to deny it, nor tell everyone the truth. He never expected that Mario would conclude his silence and presence in the village that way and so he found himself just accepting everyone's congratulations. 

"Congrats Brother Don! You must have been very happy. Seeing how much you are for Cat and now, finally marrying her makes me adore you so much. What a great man!" 

"Congratulations Brother Don!"

"Happy marriage to Brother Don and Sister Cat!"

***

After the news of Simione and Lyndon's marriage got out, the news of it spread like wildfire that it became uncontrollable. Even Simione was caught pretty off guard but was forced not to say a word specially that the whole village was celebrating about it. The farmers stopped the planting for a day and went to the orphanage to celebrate with the two, bringing gifts and food.

When Simione confronted Lyndon about it, the man just simply asked her not to ruin everyone's happiness and promised her that sometime in the future, when the hype about their marriage died out, he will personally tell everyone. The girl then who was still trying to ease her broken heart just let it go as she had more matters to think of so every time someone approached her about it, she just smiled and avoided it. 

Just that and because of the marriage celebration, Lyndon did not notice that he had spent an entire two weeks in the Comis Village already. He still wanted to stay for a while, giving time for Simione to change her mind and come home with him. He was hoping that when she was ready to give him a chance perhaps, he could make it up to her. However, Simione had been avoiding him and when he told her about going, she just gave him a nod. She didn't even bid him farewell.

The man had only two weeks off which he originally wanted to spend with family and his new lover in Devon City but because of what happened, it wasn't realized. Also, he had never enjoyed his stay in Comis Village unlike then and so although his plans were ruined, he felt really satisfied with spending his entire vacation in the mountains. Unfortunately then, he already had to go as he needed to get back to London right away for he had a concert scheduled. So with a heavy heart, he said goodbye to everyone and went back to Devon City alone.

Few days after he left, Madam Silicia called Simione in the Comis village, assuring the girl that Lyndon had gone off and asked her to come home already. She was really worried about her and wanted to take care of the girl now that she was suffering from a heartbreak. 

Besides, although Lyndon wasn't talking about it,  she had seen how Lyndon regretted what he did and so, she was very positive the two can still mend their broken relationship. She thought that perhaps his grandson was just so pressured in London and had been missing Sisi so much that made him lost for a while, hence the cheating incident. However, even after everything, Madam Silicia knew, his grandson still loves the girl, if not he would never be desperate to make her come home and would never be so saddened about Sisi not coming home with him.

After thorough convincing, Simione then finally agreed to come home. She thought about her graduation and didn't want to miss it. Afterall, her education was what's left with her all these times and might be the only thing that could help her get through everything.

If there was one thing she was thankful for, it was the fact that she had studied so hard to be a good match for Lyndon Tang. Since she had no rich family to lean on to and was only an orphan, she was very aware that she had to work hard to be on the same level with him. She thought then that if she could ace all her grades in the university, it would be easy for her to start a career and become successful. Hence, Simione made sure she graduated with good grades and with an outstanding record. 

In fact, that year, she was to graduate with honors and was to graduate earlier than everyone. While her classmates went on with their regular classes,she took many subjects at once that she ended up graduating earlier than her batch. 

So, even when she was still not feeling well, she forced herself to go back to Devon City and march up for her graduation day.