The Box

11. Saturday

Life went 'back to normal' for everyone after the holidays. Maia and Chuck would sometimes see each other at the orphanage but would communicate more via chat or calls on other days. They talked about random things as Chuck wanted to learn more about how Maia became the recipient of his box and how she searched for him.

"...when did you remember about me?"

"Paano ba? Uhmm, naglilinis ako ng kwarto nun. Nahulog ata yung sulat sa pagkaipit sa isa sa mga libro ko..."

"With my picture?"

"Oo ata. Nung una, nagtaka ako kung bakit merong sulat na ganun..."

"What do you mean?"

"Mga 6 years old pa lang ata ako nun nung natanggap ko yung box tapos nakita ko nalang yung sulat at litrato mo, mag-h-highschool na ata ako nun..."

"Oh! That's what, around 10, 12 years ago?"

"Mga ganun...di pa ako marunong mag-Facebook masyado noon. Nung nagsimula akong magkaroon ng mga friend requests na galing sa malalayong lugar, naisip kong i-search kita..."

"Malayong lugar? Abroad?"

"Malayo sa Manila. Probinsya, ganun. Yung mga kaklase ko dati..."

"Ah, okay. If I remember correctly, I used my full name when I opened an account for the first time."

"Hmm...at parang kakaunti lang din yung Faulkerson na nakita ko...or at least kahawig nung bata sa picture na meron ako..."

"Hmm. Yeah. We have a small family. Honestly, I was surprised with how you described the photo"

"Bakit naman?"

"Well, you were very detailed. And I cut off my brother from it..." Chuck laughed.

Maia giggled. "Hmm...mukha ngang may pinutol ka. Inayos ko pa nga ata yung pagputol kasi tabingi dati..."

"Oh?"

"Sorry na, OC lang..."

"No worries. I'd probably do the same. I usually use a ruler first and draw lines before cutting..."

"Ay! Pareho tayo!"

A big smile came to Chuck's face when he read what Maia sent about them being the same. In the months that their friendship blossomed, Chuck realized that he and Maia had a lot in common. Yet, he was still racking his brain as to when was the right time for him to ask her if they could be more serious in their relationship.

After their dinner on his birthday, they went their separate ways and would mostly just see each other in the orphanage. Chuck started texting Maia randomly and she gamely responded to him. After a few weeks of him initiating the chat conversations, Maia began sending him random messages as well. Soon, they were regularly chatting online that their messages would sometimes because one would be concerned about the other if he/she didn't send even just an emoji for a day.