Payb Takes

On Your Defense

Sunday evening in Maine's Condo:

Richard and Maine were lazily lounging on the couch while checking for updates on their phones when he saw it. He looks at her seriously. She felt his gaze on him so she lifted her eyes from her phone and stared back at him.

"Love, you didn't have to tweet that. You didn't have to defend me. Kaya ko sarili ko." He said as he touched Maine's face reassuringly.

She looks him straight into his eyes. "I didn't have to but I want to. Sobrang unfair na nila sa'yo. Nasasaktan na ako." She paused as tears started brimming her eyes. Richard mover closer to her. He wiped her tears and held her close.

"Di pa ba nila nakikita lahat ng ginagawa mo para sa akin? Lahat ng ginagawa mo para mapasaya ang iba? Nasasaktan ako kasi you don't deserve any of these." Her voice was breaking. "Sobrang buti mong tao para sabihan ka nila ng kung ano-ano." She said, speaking in between sobs.

He took her in his arms and held her tight, feeling each sob that rocked her frail body... each sniff... each sob piercing through his heart. He closed his eyes and started crying quietly. They stayed that way for a while.

After some time: Richard held her face in between his hands and said, "Sssssshhhh... Tama na yan." He looked straight into her eyes. "Okay na yun, Love. Thank you. Thank you so much sa lahat. Mahal na mahal mo talaga ako." He said then kissed her forehead.

She smiled shyly then said, "Sobra."

He smiled upon hearing this, showing his dimple. "Paano yan? Mas sobrang mahal pa kita lalo?" He said then kissed her nose.

"Talaga ba?"

"Talagang- talaga", he replied then kissed her lightly on the lips.

"Gaano?"

"Sobra sobrang talagang talagang mahal na mahal na mahal kita.", he answered then kissed her lips again, longer.

"Sige na nga. Naniniwala na ako."

He protested. "Wag muna, Love."

"Huh? Bakit naman?"

"Kasi yung sagutan natin atsaka kiss dapat hanggang payb takes.", he argued then winked and grinned.