Payb Takes

Middle East Pa More

January 10 (Sunday), 2am, Laguna:

Richard was in his room sitting on his bed, getting ready to sleep. He was tired and jet-lagged but also happy because everyone loved his "pasalubong" for them from Dubai & Qatar. His gifts for Maine are in a box he specially packed for her, now sitting on his coffee table. He smiled when he looked at it, remembering her. He picks up his phone, about to call M when he heard her voice:

"Hi Love!", she said behind him. He turned and saw Maine by the door, beaming at him.

"Love!!! Jusko! Anong ginagawa mo dito?", his voice was raised with concern and surprise altogether.

"Grabe ka naman, Love. Wala man lang I miss you? Hysterical agad?", she protested. "I drove.", she said matter-of-factly.

"YOU DROVE?!", he almost yelled. "Mag-isa? At this hour? God, Nicomaine! What were you thinking?", his voice was raised in panic.

Maine looked at him with concern but was not shaken. She smiled at him instead. "He's so cute when he's in panic mode.", she thought. "Bakit hindi? Mas magaling pa ata ako sa'yo mag-drive eh tsaka kasama ko si Dean, nasa baba. Atsaka...", she moves closer to R and hugs him around the waist. She rests her head on his chest. "Wag mo na akong pagalitan please, Love. Na-miss lang kita ng sobra. Wala akong pakwe kung anong oras na. I just have to be with you now." She tightened her embrace and buries her face in his chest.

He sighed as he felt her hug tighten. "Magagalit pa ba ako? Ang lambing na naman ng bibi ko", he thought. He held her even tighter. He closed his eyes and smelled her hair. Sobrang miss na miss na miss na miss din kita, Love. Sorry kung medyo nasigawan kita kanina. Concerned lang ako sa safety mo. Haaaay... I love you so much, Love. Wag mo na tong uulitin please.", he said then kissed the top of her head.

She looked up to his face. "Promise."

"Pero thank you din sa pagpunta, Love. Di yata ako makakatulog ng di kita nakikita. Masaya ako na andito ka." He kissed the tip of her nose. "Pa-kith nga, yung payb takes.", he said pouting his lips at her.

She shaked her head. "Ayoko nga. Sa'yo yan favorite eh. Di ba ikaw ang nagthe-thank you sa akin? Dapat yung gusto ko ang masusunod."

"Bakit? Ano bang gusto mo?"

M stroked his chin so that he lowers his face to listen to her whisper to his ear. "Otso."

He was surprised and put on his "Chinito kilig" face. "Otso?", he asked doing their kilay language. "Sure ka sa Otso?"

She returned his kilay language. "Otso.", she winked.

He swooped down and carried her. "Game. Otso otso na.", he grinned.