Perfect For You

Favor

Today was the day Maine had both waited for and dreaded. Today, she was temporarily bidding her loved ones goodbye before heading to the States for her 5 month internship.

When her bags had been brought down from their family car, Maine's parents were starting to get teary-eyed. They weren't going to see their daughter for a pretty long time, after all.

"Anak," Maine's mom held the sides of her daughter's face. "Mag-iingat ka dun ha? At saka wag na wag mong kakalimutang magdasal."

"Opo, nay." Maine nodded, fighting back the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. "Tatawagan ko po kayo parati." She added.

"Anak, alam kong mahirap sa amin ng nanay mo na mawalay ka sa amin, pero para naman 'to sa ikabubuti mo." Maine's dad patted her back. "Alam naman naming matagal mo ring hinintay ang pagkakataong ito para matuloy na talaga ang internship mo."

Maine wiped the tears that had fallen off her eyes before opening her mouth to speak.

"Nay, Tay, wag na po kayong malungkot." She said, trying to hide the sadness that she felt with a small, but genuine smile. "Uuwi naman ako eh. Hindi ako magtatagal dun."

"Ah sus." Maine's dad chuckled. "Baka mag-enjoy ka dun at makalimutan mo na kami dito ha."

"Ay grabe siya." Maine responded, to which both her parents laughed. "Hinding hindi mangyayari 'yun, tay. Promise." She held out her pinky finger towards her father, and he gladly intertwined his with it.

"Aasahan namin 'yan, anak, ha?" Maine's mom said.

"Siyempre naman, nay." Maine assured her.

Just when the three of them were starting to walk towards the entrance of NAIA Terminal 3, Maine heard someone call out to her.

As she turned to see who it was, she wasn't all that surprised when Jake's overly familiar stature came into full view.

She couldn't help but feel awkward upon seeing him as she remembered the intense conversation they had yesterday night.

Her defense mechanism was to avoid his gaze.

"O, hijo. Anung ginagawa mo dito? Akala ko nasa Cebu ka ngayon?" Maine's mom asked, after Jake had greeted her and her husband with a beso.

"I decided to cancel my flight on the last minute, tita." Jake said. "I can't afford to not be here before Maine leaves. She's too important to me po." He added.

"Mabuti nama't nakaabot ka pa. Papasok na sana si Menggay sa loob ng Terminal 3. Baka kasi magboboard na yung eroplanong sasakyan niya." Maine's dad said.

"Maya maya pa naman siguro, tito." Jake said, to which Maine's parents had both nodded in reply.

It didn't take too long for them to realize that Maine and Jake weren't talking. They just stood there awkwardly, Maine clearly avoiding any contact with the latter.

Maine's dad cleared his throat to break the awkward atmosphere.

"Wala pa naman siguro ang eroplanong sasakyan mo, Meng. Sa tingin ko, kailangan niyong mag-usap." Maine's dad said.