Play the music always! It really matters to me if you listen to it while reading.
When Maloi starts to set her eyes on Aiah, she promises to herself that no matter what happens, she'll stay and love her till the end. Despite her stoic expressionless face, blunt attitude and cold demeanor, Maloi stays and still likes her.
When she learns that Aiah had a kid, she loves her even more. She makes sure that the kid will be safe while having surgery. She even surprised the entire floor with flowers on Mother's Day, just to let Aiah know her existence.
She secretly courts her. She made sure that whenever Aiah was around, she'd feel loved by her. When their shifts are the same, she brings food for her. When it's not, she'll have it delivered so she can have meals properly.
When the woman knows it was from her, she immediately declines everything. Telling her to stop because she doesn't have time for a relationship.
But due to her eagerness, she eventually gives in. Maloi didn't surrender until Aiah let her in, inside her heart.
'Mahal na Hara', bati niya.
'Iná, drop that. Ang laki ko na', reklamo nito.
'Aba at bakit? Hanggang tumanda ka yun padin ang itatawag ko sayo', sagot niya sabay gulo sa buhok nito. 'Bakit pala andito ka? Wala kang klase?
'It was cut shortly. I was going to the mall sana kaso Nanay called me at sinabing dito dumiretso.
'At mukhang base sa hilatsa ng mukha mo eh nagtalo na naman kayo.
'Ang kulit kasi ng Nanay. Gusto ko lang naman mag-mall with my friends pero ayaw niya kong payagan.
'Peia you need to understand why your Nanay was so protective. She was just thinking about your welfare', paliwanag nito.
'Inà, I am fifteen now. I have a set of friends also na gusto kong maka-bonding. Hindi ba pwede yon? frustrated na tanong nito.
'Pwede naman pero in proper manners sana. Ask permission if you really want to go, if she says yes, then go. You are still a minor. Paano kung may mangyare sayo doon, aber? Pangalawa, mukhang nakalimutan mo ata na pupunta tayo sa bahay ng Lala Maria mo, to celebrate your Tata's graduation.
'Oh shoot! Nakalimutan ko nga Iná, eh kaso wala tayong gifts pa.
'Yun ang magiging reason para pumunta tayong mall', natatawang sambit nito. 'Halika na at magpaalam muna tayo sa Nanay mo, tapos na din naman in ten minutes ang shift ko. Tayo na lang mag-bonding.
Agad na umabrisiete si Peia kay Maloi, ang kaninang nakasimangot ngayon ay nakangiti na.
'Sure ka na talaga Ina? gulat na tanong nito.
'Sure na sure', proud na sambit nito habang nakatingin sa isang singsing.
Oo, singsing. Kagaya ng napag-kasunduan ay nagpunta sila ng mall para bumili ng regalo pero lingid sa kaalaman nang bata na may iba siyang plano.
Ever since Regina and Narda decided to get married, Maloi dreams the same thing. She wanted to marry the woman she loved, all these years. Ipinangako niya noon sa sarili niya na kapag naging attending physician na siya at nakaipon na ay tutuparin niya ang pangarap na maikasal kay Aiah.
Napangiti siya. All these years hindi nagbago ang pangarap niyang maikasal dito. Ito pa rin ang babaeng nais niyang makasama habambuhay.
'When do you plan to propose? Is it grandiose? Peia asked.
