Their Forbidden Love | #JoChard @ WP 2013

The attraction...

Natapos na din ang misa pagkatapos ng isa't kalahating oras. Unti-unting nagsialisan ang mga tao. Huling umalis si Maya sa simbahan dahil nagdasal muna sya ulit.

After she prayed, she stood up and noticed that Richard was just looking at her from afar. He was just wearing a white v-neck shirt and slacks, and his sutana draped on his arm.

Nagulat sya nang makitang bakat na bakat ang katawan ni Richard sa suot nitong damit. Bumalik sya sa pagkaluhod sabay pikit at nagkunwaring magdasal. Pero ang talagang sinasabi ng isip nito, "Looooooord! Kasalanan ba ang makakita ng napakamatipunong pari?! Parang magkakasala na talaga ako nito! Help! I need fire extinguisher!" Tumatagaktak na ang pawis nito.

She slowly opened her eyes to see if he is still around. But to her surprise, he was now standing in front of her. Napasigaw sya at napaatras pero nabangga ang kanyang likod sa upuan. He hurriedly went to her and asked if she's okay. Hinawakan nya ang magkabilang braso ni Maya.

Richard: Are you okay, Maya?

Maya: (she just nodded and bowed her head down; pulang-pula naang mukha)

Richard: Bakit parang nakakita ka ng multo nung nakita mo 'ko? (nangasar pa)

Maya: (she said to herself) Paano naman ako maging ganito kung isang Adonis na katawan ang nakikita ko sa simbahan! Nakakagulat kaya yun! (she looked at him) A...e...pasensya na po talaga, Father. Nagulat lang talaga ako. (palusot)

Richard: Hahaha! You're being funny. Let me help you get up.

Tumango na lang si Maya. Di na lang sya nakipagtalo kasi sumakit na din likod nito sa pagkakabangga sa upuan ng simbahan. They both stared at each other as they both stood up. It seemed that everything around them went blur, and their hearts were the ones that are beating like drums.

Dali-dali nyang binitawan ang kanyang sarili mula sa pagkakahawak ni Richard. Parehas silang bumalik sa realidad.

Maya: Um...salamat po, Father. (sabay hawak sa kanyang likod)

Richard: (tumango lang) Are you really okay? Parang napalakas ata pagtama mo sa upuan.

Maya: Oo nga po e. (she showed a small smile) Sige lang po, ipapamasahe ko na lang ito mamaya sa hotel.

Richard: Oh I see. You're only staying in a hotel? Wala ka bang kamag-anak dito?

Maya: Meron naman po. Tsaka covered naman ng airline company na pinagtatrabahuan ko yung hotel expenses ko.

Richard: Ah ganun ba. Um...I assume, we can be friends? (to himself) Okay what am I really doing?! Di naman ako ganito dati ah...

Maya: Ah...ehhh...okay lang po ba?

Richard: Oo naman. (he smiled) Mas okay nga mga kagaya mong disente kesa sa mga nakita mo kanina, di ba? I mean... I don't hate anyone pero I'm more comfortable with people like you.

Maya: (nganga mode at nagblush naman ng husto) Tha—thank you po.

Parehas silang natahimik...

Richard: So, are you going back to your place?

Maya: Hmm...opo Father. Sige po—

Richard: Wait! Uh...can I have your number?

Maya: (nganga nanaman at napatanong sa sarili) Ay teka ano ba nangyayari dito ke Father? May gusto ba 'to sa akin? Ay teka nga, wag assumera, Maya! Baka ganito lang kabait si Father sa lahat...

Di nya napansin na kanina pa sya tinatawag ni Richard.

Richard: Maya!!

Maya: Ay Maya! (sabay tingin kay Richard) Naku pasensya na po, Father. May iniisip lang. (ngiti)

Richard: Hahaha! Parang kanina pa may gumugulo sa isip mo ha...

Maya: Ehhh pasensya na po. (nahiya)

They both exchanged numbers and had it saved on their phones.

Maya: Ayan okay na po. Sige mauuna na po ako. Thank you po!

Richard: Sige Maya, take care of yourself. (with his dashing smile shown off)

They both waved to each other. Umuwi agad si Maya sa kanyang hotel samantalang si Richard bumalik sa kanyang silid.

When she reached at the hotel, she went to the restaurant found there and she had her dinner. Then she went back to her room and had a quick shower. Pagkalabas nya sa CR, may natanggap syang isang text. "Ha? Si Father? Ano naman kaya text nya?"

She opened the message.

"I hope you went back to the hotel safe. Always say a prayer before you'll eat and before you will sleep. God bless you."

Parang kinilig naman si Maya sa nabasa at nagreply sya ng: "Opo, thank you. Same to you."

She said to herself, "Ang sweet ni Father ha. Pero natural lang naman siguro sa kanila ang maging sweet eh." She went to sleep with a smile on her face.

Habang si Richard naman sa kanyang silid sa may kumbento, panay ikot na sa kanyang higaan, di sya nakakatulog. He took a glance on the wall clock. It was now 11:30 in the evening.

He asked to himself while having his left hand pressed to his chest, "Why am I feeling like this? This is something weird. Maya, you're like a temptation. But...no..." He shook his head. "I know I'm just being friendly. Yes, being friendly." Pinanindigan nya ang kanyang sagot. Unang pagkikita pa lang nga nila ito pero mukhang may kakaibang nabubuo sa kalooban ni Richard na di pa nya maintindihan. Pinagdasal na lamang nya ang tungkol dito, hoping he can find some answers. Until, he fell asleep while mumbling a prayer...