Richard's totally lost it.
He went to the cafe to regain his confidence and to assure himself that he's still in the game. He wanted to be confident that everything that happened in the meeting was just a spur of the moment and did not mean that he's already lost control over his emotions. But, surefooted as he was when he came in the coffee shop, he felt his resolve crumbling in little by little as he went near her, as he talked to her, as he caught a whiff of her scent.
Though he refuses to accept, he left the place convinced of only one thing: he's still in love with Maine.
Now, in the still of the night, where only the full moon hung in the sky, he found himself in his mother's resting place asking for guidance.
"Ma, alam ko galit ka sa akin dahil sa ginagawa ko ngayon. Alam ko na kung nandito ka lang ngayon, babatukan mo 'ko. Naisip ko nga, siguro ikaw ang may kagagawan nitong nararamdaman ko ngayon 'no? Nakiusap ka siguro diyan sa taas na guluhin yung feelings ko." He sadly joked.
"Konti na lang bibigay na 'ko, pero ayoko namang mabalewala na lang lahat ng pinagdaanan mo dahil sa kanila eh. Ano bang gagawin ko Ma?" And at that point he let go of his tears, allowing himself to be weak for once.
--
It was already past midnight when he arrived at his condominium building. Just as he was to board his private elevator, a woman called him from across the lobby.
"RJ! Hoy RJ!"
He turned and he saw an old woman struggling to run fast to get to him. A woman with the same caring eyes as his mom's. Instantly, he knew who it was and seeing someone dear after a very long time took away some of the heaviness he had in his heart.
"Manang Fe!" He exclaimed and ran to meet the woman halfway. Manang Fe was one of the people who showed genuine love and concern for him and his mom in the past.
The old woman, who was a stewardess of Maine and her family's household before, gave him a warm hug and held his face with both her frail hands. "Kumusta ka nang bata ka? Patingin nga, aba'y lalo kang gumuwapo hijo."
"Kayo ho ang kumusta. Bakit nandito kayo? Sinong kasama ninyo?"
"Ay nandito na nakatira kasi yung apo ko, diyan kami sa kanya matutulog ngayon. Eh lumabas kasi kami kanina para kumain, medyo ginabi na." The woman stepped back and looked at him from head to toe. "Ang laki na ng ipinagbago mo eh no? Tatay ka na ba? May anak na ba kayo ni Maine? Nasaan ba yung batang yun bakit 'di mo kasama?"
"H-ho?" He responded, surprised by the older woman's inquiry.
"Si Maine 'kako, bakit wala?"
" Er.. h-hindi ko ho kayo maintindihan."
"Bakit, eh di ba --" Manang Fe stopped mid-sentence and gasped, covering her mouth with her hands.
"Bakit ho Manang Fe?" He prodded.
"Ibig sabihin hijo, hindi kayo nagkita?"
"Nagkita? Nagkita saan? Kailan?"
Manang Fe looked at him dearly, held his hand and with gentle and careful words, explained everything that had happened in the past to him. The woman ended her story with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Sana magkita kayo ulit." Manang Fe said as he kissed and bid Richard goodbye.
Overwhelmed at how quickly the situation has changed and now sure of what he needs to do next, he uttered a small prayer for his mother as he took the steps to where he's supposed to be.
"Ang bilis mo sumagot Ma, salamat. Alam ko na, alam ko na."
