Crumbled

Four.

Meanwhile in Marilog....

Three light knocks on a big wooden door.

"Tita Helen? Tao po?"

"Ric, ikaw na ba yan? Pasok ka na, hijo! Nandito ako sa kusina."

Unneccesarily sentimental as he is, it is the first time he's going inside the Mendoza's home again after a really long time.

Whenever he drops by to pick up Nico when it's time to go to the suppliers of the bar, he always preferred to wait outside.

The last time he was inside the same old big house was..

That night..

He literally shook his head to brush off a memory, started walking towards the kitchen.

"Hello, Tita!"

"Hi, Richard! Kamusta ka?"

"Tita naman! Nagkita lang tayo kagabi nung dumaan kayo ni Nico sa bar."

He said smiling, dimples showing.

"Ay, oo nga pala." Tita Helen said giggling.

"Heto na po yung sinasabi nyo'ng wine na kailangan nyo para mamaya."

"Salamat, hijo. Pakilagay na lang sa mesa..."

And so he did.

"..naalala ko kaso na paborito ni Maine ang wine na yan eh."

He stopped in his tracks upon hearing her name -- which the old cooking lady didn't seem to notice as she continued with what she's doing.

Paborito nga nya. It was the same wine we..

Shake it off, Richard. Shake it off.

"Iniwan ko na sa lamesa yung wine, Tita."

"Salamat! Anong oras na ba? Malapit na yata'ng dumating sila Nico."

He knew who's with Nico. His heart skipped a beat with the mere idea of her being almost in town.

He tried to compose himself before answering.

"Almost 2:00 PM na po. Ready na rin sa Rosario's. Nandun na lahat ng mga kakilala. Pati yung mga apo nyo, pinapunta ko na, bilin kasi ni Nico."

"Mabuti naman. Dadalhin ko na lang itong niluluto ko. Salamat at pumayag ka na sa Rosario's na ang kainan ha. Ayoko kasi ng maraming tao dito mamaya gawa ng dito tutuloy yung pamangkin ko."

Last night, Tita Helen dropped by the bar to personally ask him if they can rent the entire bar today for a welcome dinner party for Maine.

At first, he wanted to say no. Business-wise, he wanted to say no. Mas malaki pa rin ang kikitain ng bar if it will be open for everyone compared sa rental. 

May business wise ka pa'ng nalalaman. Utot mo blue, Richard.

But of course, he said yes. Nico and his mother are the closest thing to family, he had since his parents migrated to Denmark. A night off for the bar won't hurt.

Also, when Tita Helen mentioned Maine's name, Nico was standing right next to him, waiting for his reaction.

He felt like he was expecting him to say no - just to confirm his assumptions that he still hasn't moved on. And so, he found it amusing when he saw Nico's face after he said yes - with conviction!

Saying yes, wasn't a big deal, anyway. He's moved on.

Diba?

"Walang anuman, Tita." He smiled. "Mauna na po ako. Ready na po ang lahat sa bar so, pwede na po kayong dumirecho doon."