Payb Takes

Time

Hi!

I thought of moving this story to a different book but it seems I can't do that without deleting it first.

So, instead of doing that, I am adding this message to inform you that this part of the book is not part of the current storyline of Payb Takes R&M but rather a peek into the possibilities of the future.

So, grab some tissues and read or re-read (if you have already seen it).

Thank you.

Deng

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R arrived at their meeting place. M was seated at their favorite spot in the rooftop cafe they always go to. There were two cup on the table. One for her coffee, she loves coffee and one he assumed was for his tea.

Her head was down, reading something from her ipad. "Probably, comments from her travel blog", he thought. He looked at her for a while, admiring how her cream colored dress seemed to set her skin aglow under the light of the sunset in the metro.

She looked up and saw him. She nodded a signal for him to go to her. He smiled as he walked to her. She didn't smile back. Her smile, where has it gone to? He missed her smile, her beautiful smile that always made his heart melt. He hasn't seen it for a while now. That thought shot a trail of fear in him.

He reached her and kissed her cheek. "Hi Love."

"Hi." was her plain response. "Sit down. I'll ask for a new cup of tea for you." She has always been so thoughtful but something is amiss today.

He touched the cup in front of him and it was cold. He was late. (Again) An hour late to be exact.

"Sorry, I'm late, Love."

"It's alright. I've learned to keep busy while waiting for you." Silence. Her words heavily filling the space between them.

The barista came to change his cup of tea when finally she said, "Richard, why are we still here?"

"Richard? What happened to Love? Something is definitely wrong", he thought. "What do you mean, Love?", he asked taking her hand that was on the table.

She pulled it back. "Here. In this relationship? Why are we still here? I don't see where we are going anymore. We.. I.. have been waiting to see what's next. Ang tagal na pero ganoon pa rin tayo." She look straight into his eyes. Her cold stare piercing through him.

"Love, alam mo naman di ba? Nagta-trabaho ako. Nag-iipon para sa future natin. Para secured na ang future natin at magiging pamilya natin. Para lahat nga magustuhan at kailanganin ng mga magiging anak natin kaya natin i-provide. Di ba yun ang gusto natin?"

"Yun ang gusto mo. Alam mo na kahit kailan hindi ako humingi ng material na bagay. Those don't matter to me. Oras mo lang ang hinihingi ko pero hindi mo mabigay. 3 years. 3 years, RJ. 3 years akong naghintay na mabuhusan mo ng oras. Tumigil na nga ako sa showbiz kasi akala ko kapag di na ako busy at maghihintay na lang ako sa'yo magkaka-oras na tayong magkasama."

"Love...", he started but couldn't think of anything to tell her.

"Here", she said setting old plane tickets on the table. "Those are all the tickets I bought for you every time you promised na sasamahan mo ako bumiyahe." She took out a set of brochures and put them on thr table. "Eto. These are all the vacations we planned but never got to go because something came up. Something always comes up. Taping, TVC shoot, concert, mall show,recording. Kahit special occasions na lang sana pero No. You still have work on those days too." she said. He was expecting her to be yelling, frustrated as she ranted but no, she was eerily calm. She was there with a clear purpose.

"I'm... I'm sorry.. I promise to make more time for you." was all he could mutter.

"Another promise. I've heard that way too many times over and over for 3 years, Richard. I have learned to accept it won't ever happen. I've had enough. It's over." she started coldly. No tears. No hesitations.

He stared at her blankly, thinking, "What have I done? What have I done to the sweet, funny, loving woman that I loved? I left her hanging for way too long."

"I'm breaking up with you." she pressed on, calmly.

Her words sounded like roaring thunder deafening him. He sat there heart pounding, his mind frantic. "Please.. Please don't do this, Love. I can't live without you. Please.. Ikaw na lang. Ikaw na lang ang direksyon ng buhay ko. Please, don't leave me." ,he said with tears streaming down his face.

"I'm sorry. I've made up my mind and I have accepted the fact that we can't be together anymore."

"Jusko, Meng! Makinig ka please. Wag ka namang magmatigas. I love you. Please... I promise..", he breaks down.

She closed her eyes, holding back tears but stayed firm and calm. "I have to. I have to while I still love you, while I can still respect you. I don't want to reach the point where I am so fed up with your empty promises that I begin to hate you."

She got up and placed a small box on the table. He doesn't need to open it. He knew it was their engagement ring. As she was walking past him, he caught her hand, got ul and hugged her from behind, clinging to her.

"Please, Meng, please..." was all he could say amidst his tears and sobs.

She was crying by now too. She turned and wiped his tears away. "Please don't do this to yourself. Enough. Take care, RJ.",with this she gave him one last kiss and walked away.

He was left there. His knees weakened and he fell kneeling on the floor. He felt like the whole world was closing in on him. The room felt like it's spinning around him ready to engulf him. His hand flew to his chest the pain in it was unbearable. He was shaking and seemed that it was getting darker and darker and darker.
*************************************
"Love? Love? Wake up."

R opens his eyes and saw her there. She looked worried. He immediately sat up and hugged her so tight he was afraid to let go. "Thank God it was all a bad dream. Please don't ever leave me, Maine. I can't live without you. I love you so much."

"I will never leave you. I love you Forever." she reassured him. He then let go and looked at her. "Atsaka wala na akong choice. Mrs. Faulkerson na ako oh with Charmaine on the way.", she teased him then kissed him on the lips. "Get up na, Love. Your turn to drive Sebastian to school."

*END*