moirai

family

"Ga, is everything okay? Yaya Jane came over here kuno this afternoon. 2 days ka na kuno wa-ay ga-gwa sa room mo? What's up? Please call me."

Maine arrived from a weekend out of town with her team. In a couple of days, she was scheduled to fly back to Manila, ending her work in Bacolod. She was thinking of her work and life back home when a knock on her door broke her trance.

"...Inday Maine, si Toto Rj ari di sa gwa....sa veranda..." (Rj is here in the veranda) Emma, the maid, said softly.

"....ahh sige, salamat....ga-i sya food kag water please...ma-gwa na ko..." (Thank you. Please give him something to eat...I'm coming out soon)

"Hu-o 'day..." (Yes, Miss)

"Pangga!" Rj wrapped Maine in a bear hug as soon as she approached.

"Pangga! What's wrong? Ka ka-on ka na? Nagpa-ready ko sang dinner for you....didto ta sa dining table..."

"I'm okay....gin allergy lang ko sa dust sang isa ka adlaw...I'm fine...ari sina Tito and Tita?"

"You sure?....No asthma?...."

"I'm okay...."

"...I think nagpa-punong sila....buwas na guro mapuli kay gab-i na, o" (I think they went to the fish pens...they're most likely coming home tomorrow, I guess, coz it's dark already...)

"...ahh.."

"Why?"

Rj fidgets in his seat and Maine cradles his face in her hands which calms him.

"....bad....bad news....and good news...."

"Huh?"

"....bad news is that you're scheduled to go back to Manila next week, diba? Mabilin ko di...." Rj sighs and looks sad.

Maine slumps her shoulders and looks faraway.

"....the good news?" She asks, trying to be hopeful.

"I had a meeting with your boss..."

"...my boss? Mr. Tuviera? Why?"

"....uhmm....because.....because...."

"Because ano, Ga? Gina-niyerbyos ako sa imo..."

Rj stood up slowly from his seat and took a piece of paper from his pocket which he gave to Maine.

"...ano ni?"

"Open it..."

It was an e-ticket that said that her flight had been re-scheduled but there was no date confirmed.

"...nano ni? Pangga, I don't understand?" Maine said as she looked up from what she was reading and saw Rj on his knee with a small box in his hand.

"...Maine...my life was crazy before you came into it but it became crazier and happier when you came into it. I want to be crazy-happy with you forever....will you be my forever?"

Although he was smiling, tears were streaming down his face. The whole house was suddenly filled with people -- Maine's Tito and Tita, Pauleen and Steven, Maine's office barkada. Even the household staff were there.

Maine's eyes widened when she saw the crowd. She stood up, hugged Rj tightly as she buried her face in his neck.

".....she said, yes...." Rj announced to the crowd who clapped and cheered. The small crowd around them moved, and Maine saw her Mom and Dad who were also crying. She hugged them tightly.

"That's my boy!" A loud voice broke through the din. In the far corner of the room were Rj's parents.