Airplanes and Shooting Stars

The Reason

Onboard, MNL to AMS flight

M: Richard Faulkerson, Jr., will you forgive me, take a chance on me once again, and marry me so we can live happily ever after?

R: NO.

Every woman who was privy to the scene unfolding before them gasped while the men cringed at the direct and seemingly unemotional response that Rj gave to Maine.

A million thoughts were running through her mind. She wanted to move, to run and hide but she was physically frozen on the spot.

In her mind, she prayed.
M: Lord, help me! Bigyan nyo po ako ng lakas! If this is really the end, please let Rj and I have closure. But if there is still a chance, please give me the strength to fight for our love!

By His grace and mercy, Maine's mind clears up. Gathering her courage while thinking of the right words to say, she slowly stood up and looked straight into Rj's eyes.

M: Rj, after what I did to you, to our relationship, I know I don't deserve an explanation. I was a coward and I was so unfair to you. But after what happened with us and realizing how important you and this relationship are to me, I want to make sure I understand kahit na masaktan pa ako.

  She took a deep breath before continuing.
M: What are you saying "No" to, Rj? Are you saying No to me, my proposal or my explanation?

R: *unreadable expression* Why should the answer matter?

  She thinks "He really isn't making this easy. But this is just what I deserve after all."

M: It matters. Because if it's about the explanation, we can talk it over and I can explain things further. If it's about the proposal, I'm willing to wait until you're ready to believe that I'm ready to commit to you. But if it's about me - that you don't love me anymore, then I won't force myself on you. Oh Lord, please don't let it be about me.

Rj gazed at Maine for a few more seconds before he smiled widely. He approached Maine and hugged her tightly to their audience's pleasure.

When he leaned back, tears were running down his face.
R: Maine, what I meant when I said "No" is that it isn't only your fault. We were both at fault with what happened in our relationship. I felt that something was wrong but I waited for you to speak up instead of talking to you about it. I took on more work because I wanted to be a good provider to you and our future family, but I didn't realize that I almost lost my future because of it.

Maine was also in tears as she realized that they were being given another chance to make this work.

R: This time, if we do decide to move forward, I want it to be a decision made by the two of us. Hindi lang ikaw o ako ang magpo-propose. Pareho tayo, sabay. (pauses) Do you want to do this now or should we talk about it further?

M: I knew I made a mistake soon after I left you. Ngayon hindi na ako magsasayang pa ng oras. I've never been more ready to move forward and become your fiancée, Richard Faulkerson, Jr!

Maine gave Rj the ring box and then remembered her surprise.
M: Wait! I need to get something!

Intrigued, Rj tried to peek at what she was getting when she suddenly leaned back and they bumped into each other.
R: (teasing) We really need to stop meeting like this.