Gravity

9

AUTHOR'S POV

"Rj, are you sure that this is okay?"

Her heart was thumping at a faster pace than usual and she was unconsciously shaking her legs as they pulled up in front of Rj's house.

"Oo naman." He reassured her. "Para namang bago ka dito. Halos pamilya na ang turing nila sa'yo."

"But.. yung nangyari dati.. sa atin. Baka galit sila sa akin."

"Wag mong isipin yun, Maine. Hindi naman ako nagkwento. Saka personal yun at never naman silang nakialam."

"Pero kasi.."

"Maine.." Rj turned and held her hand.

"Wag ka ngang nag-iisip ng kung ano-ano. Mahal ka ng pamilya ko dahil alam nilang mahal kita at mahal mo ako, kaya sige na, halika na. Naghihintay sila sa loob."

With much hesitation, "Sige na nga.." Maine replied.

The two were welcomed by Richard senior, who was tentatively waiting for them at the living room. April, Angel and Rj's grandparents were also there while RD and Riza were still in their respective rooms.

"Maine, hija. Kumusta ka?" Richard asked after the two gave their respects to Rj's lolo and lola.

"Okay naman po ako, Tito. Kayo po?"

She smiled. "Kumusta po kayong lahat?"

"We're all good, bibi. We missed you!" April said, pulling Maine into a tight embrace.

"Miss ko na din po kayong lahat. Hi Angel!"

"Hi Ate Maine!" Angel smiled and kissed her on the cheek.

"Matagal tagal ka na rin hindi napupunta dito Menggay. Miss na namin ang kakulitan mo, lalo na tong si Angel. Lagi kang hinahanap dito kay Rj."

"Oo nga, Meng. Ikaw bukambibig niyan eh. Miss niya na makipaglaro sayo. Lalo na yung pagkakaraoke niyo." Rj added.

"Talaga ba baby Angel? Miss mo si Ate Menggay? Pa-hug nga!" Angel hugged her tightly.

"Sige na mga anak, lalamig na yung pagkain na niluto ng lola niyo. Kain na tayo?"

"Sige po, Dad. Lo! La! Tara po, kain tayo. Meng, upo ka na." Rj called out to his grandparents in the living room.

"O ayan na pala si RD. Nak, tara kain tayo." RD descended down the stairs.

The family and Maine gathered together at the table and sat. They said their prayers and began to eat. After a few moments however, Maine noticed that Riza wasn't there.

"Tito, si Riza po pala?" She asked.

"Ah, binulong sa akin ni RD kanina, medyo masama daw yung pakiramdam. Ipinagtabi ko na lang ng pagkain para makakain siya mamaya." Richard smiled.

"Ah. Sige po."

--

After lunch, which ended at around 3pm, Maine helped clear the table and wash the dishes. She was more than happy to do so, given that she hasn't been in the Faulkerson home in such a long time. She watched from afar as the family talked, laughed and bonded over at the living room, reveling at the fact that nothing seemed to have changed. They still treated her like she was family. Rj was right, she thought.