Ricochet (COMPLETED)

Chapter 22

©Juan Sarte IG

She arrived at the restaurant 10 minutes early. She's surprised Mrs F is already there. They kissed and hugged like old friends, both ladies are obviously fond of each other.

Mr F mostly worked from home during the time Mrs F was sick. That's why M was a frequent visitor at their house. She helped the Mrs with gardening which was pasrt of her therapy, while Mr F went over the documents she brought. And quickly, they developed a bond.

She often told M that if she probably had a daughter, she would be like M. Level-headed, strong yet sweet. She loves M's home made red velvet cupcakes, yon lagi ang dala niya for Mrs F.

They started talking after they ordered some food, Mrs F recommended some of her favorites from the menu for M to try.

"So, how are you, my dear? Alam ko busy ka with the transition."

"Ok lang naman po, yun lang medyo di na ako nakapag visit sa inyo. How are you enjoying Mr F's retirement?"

"Naku, ayun, para kaming honeymooners na walang magawa kundi mag inisan at maglambingan haha."

"Aww, ang sweet naman!"

"Pero, iha, di mo lang alam how happy Richard and I are about the news na may apo pala kami! We didn't know talaga na you & RJ dated!"

"Umm sa States po kami nag-meet and medyo hindi po nag work out so we parted ways."

"I don't mean to be nosy, iha. I just want to meet my apo as soon as possible. I am just so thrilled na magiging anak na kita pretty soon!"

Maine blushed when she said this. Mrs F gave her an indulgent smile.

"J said we will visit this weekend. Busy po kasi siya masyado sa office."

"Well, the reason I wanted to talk to you alone is, I want to share some things about RJ, for you to be able to understand him better. I just feel it's the least I could do."

"Umm, okay po."

"I didn't realize how sheltered our son is until nagkaproblema kami ni Richard. RJ's world simply turned upside down. Nawala yung pagiging masayahin niya, carefree! Parang he was forced to grow up fast."

"Dahil sa di ko makayanan na problema, I used my own son as a crutch. RJ was not just my crutch, he also received the brunt of my anger & frustration. Wala akong mapagbuntungan. On top of that, he was supporting us both financially. You can just imagine the pressure he was in. Pero ni minsan wala akong narinig na reklamo from him. He continued his studies, paid for it himself while working odd jobs in the States."

"I don't know if you noticed, wala kaming pictures ni RJ sa house except inside his room, kasi yung pictures will be a reminder to both my husband and I of the guilt we still feel causing our son's unhappiness. We both broke him & the saddest part is, di namin alam pano siya buuin ulit."

"When he came home five years ago, akala ko we will be able to start fresh. Pero he looked more broken than when we left him in the States. For months halos di namin sya maka-usap ng matino. It's a good thing Je was there. He was the one who told us na may hinahanap daw siya dito, that's why he came home."

"One night he came home drunk and he just lashed out on us. Lahat ng sama ng loob niya nilabas niya and he blamed us for losing the girl he might've had a real chance at happiness with. I was so relieved kasi akala ko depressed siya, broken-hearted pala. So this was probably the time you broke up."

"I don't want to overwhelm you with all the drama sa family namin, iha. But I just want to share this with you in case dumating ang panahon na di mo siya maintindihan. Just know that he's a really good man with the purest heart, ang problema lang he's just putting himself back together, piece by piece. And I'm pretty sure now that he has you & my apo in his life, mas kakayanin niya to face anything."

She heard everything but processing the information real slow. Like chewing food to avoid indigestion. Wow! It's overwhelming, alright.

"Thank you for letting me know and I'm sorry you all had to go through that. J and I are starting over from scratch. But he's making a headway with my son, they're pretty close & he's doing such a good job at this father-ing stuff."

"That's great, pero iha, another secret ha, di yata marunong manligaw anak ko. Di sa pagmamayabang pero girls are throwing themselves at him kaya wala siyang chance manligaw. So sana, bigyan mo pa rin siya ng points kahit sablay ha?"

"Hahaha! Opo naman, so far he's doing well naman po."

"I'm just so happy about the thought of an apo, RJ showed us his pictures and my God! Naluha kami ni Richard, carbon copy niya talaga!"

"I'll make sure po we will visit this weekend para po makilala niyo siya."

"Ok, iha, sya, I won't keep you. Masyado na kitang naabala. See you this weekend! Kiss my apo for me."

"It's always a pleasure to talk to you. See you soon."

Maine walked the short distance to the office. Her mind reeling. So hinanap talaga niya talaga ako? Yung totoong hanap, di tulad ko na sa Social Media lang? Bakit? Ba't kaya niya ako hinanap?

Her heart felt heavy at what J's mom revealed to her. Mukha naman siyang normal when they met. He looked ok pero yun pala may pinagdadaanan siya. Hay kawawa naman.

Her phone rang when she got to her desk, it's J.

"Andyan ka pa with mom?"

"No, back at the office na."

"Kakatawag ko lang kay JJ, nag sorry lang na we're not having lunch with him today. So how did it go?"

"Ok naman, it's been awhile di kami nagkita so we had fun."

"Uhh did you talk about pano natin ginawa si JJ?" He laughed softly.

"Umm slight lang, I left out the gory details."

"Kwento mo sa kin!" Maharot tone again, like melted chocolate, na may siling labuyo.

"J ano bang meron sa hangin dyan sa Cebu at ang landi mo?"

"Di ko kelangan hangin dito, it's all you, ikaw ang aphrodisiac ko."

"Hoy malanding bata, magtrabaho ka na dyan at sayang ang bayad sa yo!"

"Andito na ako sa airport, wait for me later, sana makaabot ako ng dinner with you, pag walang delay."

"Oh ok, good. See you then."

"Pero miss mo talaga ako?"

"Hay naku! Oo na nga, ang kulit mo!"

"Gaano mo ako ka-miss, please elaborate." His voice is serious but amused.

"Why don't you come home to find out?" Landian ba kamo? Let's do this, basta sa phone carry ko 'to.

"Get me the earliest chartered flight out of Cebu, alis na ako dito."