13

Sweet 16

When Maine turned 16, Richard was already in college. That was around the time that Maine realized that she was falling more for him. She missed seeing him around campus. She loved it when he called, spending hours on the phone with him, analyzing the episodes of Lost & Sherlock, sometimes falling asleep with her phone on the crook of her neck. She just could not tell him that she liked him. He, after all, made good on his promise of being a kuya figure, that even her parents liked Richard hanging out at their home when he would sometimes help her out with her math homework.

"Kuya, sabi mo sa 16th birthday ko ilalabas mo ako. Kaso paalis ako for our family vacation sa States, so kelangan sa March 20 na natin gawin kasi me exams pa...." She told him, as Richard uncomfortably shifted on his seat.

"Maine.." He started.

"Ba't ganyan ka, namumutla."

"Eh ayun nga, paano ba, sa mismong birthday mo kasi me exams ako, actually finals week yan, and the following weekend me convocation ang PolSci org namin. So the following week, day before ng alis mo....." Richard trailed.

"So yun na nga, go na tayo!" Maine excitedly said.

"Uhm, eto nga, Maine.  Paano ba to. Me lakad din ako." Richard said glumly.

Maine's face fell. "So di tayo makaka-celebrate? Me school work again?"

"Actually." Richard pulled her closer to him, "Me date ako, eto sya o." He excitedly pulled out his mobile phone and showed Maine a pic of a girl.

Maine grabbed his phone , "You mean, si Ysa, yung ka-batch ko? Type mo pala sya?". She was blindsided - she didn't even think they knew each other. Paano ?!?

"Oo,  ang ganda at bait nya. Nakasalubong ko sya sa canteen one time nung sinundo kita, tapos nagkausap, ganun. So lately,  nag-kakausap na din kami.  Pinagpaalam ko sya sa parents nya kung pwede ko syang ilabas, lunch lang naman." Richard told her excitedly.

Maine felt like she was punched in the gut."Ah, so di ka na weirdohan na 16 years old si Ysa?" Tulad ko. " I mean, di ba madaming girls your age kang na-me-meet?

"Maine, nakalimutan mo ata na San Beda ako, so all boys..." Richard laughed.

"Ahhhh okay." Maine said, "I guess pag uwi ko na lang from vacation saka tayo mag celebrate?" Hay naku , me epal na. She gave him a thin smile while pretending to fix her books.

"Ok lang naman di ba? Pero promise, one full day tayo nyan, brunch to dinner, para isabay mo sa kwento ng bakasyon mo."

"Okay, kuya.", Maine turned away, trying to hide her disappointment. "Late na din pala, kelangan ko na matulog. Palabas ka na lang ke Yaya Pacing ha."

"Uy Maine, wait lang naman...." he started but she has already sprinted inside.

Kelangan ko bumawi, baka di na ako kausapin nyan, Richard thinks.

/

Maine received a card on her birthday with a gigantic Hello Kitty stuffed toy and a bouquet of flowers from Richard, who dropped it off her house after his exams. She held her stuffed toy close to her chest, twirling around, until her Nanay saw her.

"Maine, akala ko ba kuya Richard lang...." Nanay worriedly stated.

"Ay Nay, opo, kuya lang talaga, medyo crush lang naman. Na-touch lang po ako na me paregalo pa sya. Tapos Nay, sabi nya sa card o, I love you like a sister. Di ba ang cute lang?" She gushed.

"Anak, di yan ang mukha ng na-touch. Mukha yan ng isang kinikilig...Mabait si Richard, nakakatuwa na naglaaan sya ng oras sa iyo. Pero mag-ingat ka kung kanino mo ibibigay ang puso mo ha, bata ka pa." Nanay worriedly told her.

"Hay Nay! grabe ka sa akin! Mag empake na nga lang po tayo para sa bakasyon natin." Maine laughingly answered her but secretly enjoying the whole thing.

***

Author's note:

Bumawi nga ba? 😅

Meant to update earlier sana but we had a death in the family . At the moment though, I'm trying to channel my energy to doing positive things (like writing !) .

Anyway, I am happy to see Maichard pics in Bohol! :) Lakas maka-happy!

Special thanks to innamarie24 😘 salamat kaayo !

Pic from papixure_ne's IG as always