RJ felt like his entire world came to a halt when his father showed up. They stared at each other for a moment before his mother interrupted them.
"Anong ginagawa niyan dito?" he asked, eyes still glued at him.
"Son ... please."
"Wala kang karapatan na tawagin akong 'Son', 'Anak' o kahit Tisoy man lang. Alam mo kung bakit? Dahil di ka naman naging magulang sa akin eh. Pagkatapos mo kaming iwanan na parang bagong panganak na pusa bigla kang lilitaw?"
"RJ, tama na yan." his Mom said and so the young guy turned to her.
"Ma, wag niyong sabihin na tatanggapin niyo ulit to?" he asked, pointing at his Dad.
"Tisoy, tatay mo pa rin yan."
"Bahala kayo." the young guy answered before rushing inside the house. RJ then went to his own room and locked the door shut. He then started pacing back and forth, thinking of the words he's gonna tell his Dad once he reappears in front of them.
---
Maine went home a couple of hours later. After getting out of her car, Yaya approached her and asked where she came from.
"Sa Mall. Can you please bring thee bags upstairs? Thanks."
"Nag-shopping po kayo?"
"Hindi, nagpa-confine."
"Ay grabe siya."
"Sige na Ya ... please ... pakiakyat mo na yan."
"Sa taas po?"
"Hindi Yaya sa baba ... iakyat mo sa baba. Siyempre sa taas, pakitulungan mo na ako, bilis." Maine replied. The young girl carried six paper bags upstairs while the maid carried three. After doing so, Maine asked Yaya if Nicole is with RJ.
"Hindi po , umalis na si Tisoy kanina pa."
"Eh si Niknik?"
"Garden po."
Maine quickly stuffed her purchased products in her room and ran outside. There she saw her younger sister sitting on the same bench where she and RJ almost kissed this morning. She took a deep breath and walked towards Nicole.
"Nik?" she asked. Her sister looked up and gave her a smile. Maine then also sat on the bench and asked how her day went.
"Okay lang , chill." Nicole answered. She seemed alright but Maine noticed something different.
"Sure ka?" Maine asked again.
"Oo naman, ikaw ate?"
"I had a nice day."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure." Maine replied, shifting her position so she can sit comfortably. Nicole let out a sigh and then turned to her side so she can face her older sister.
"Nung mga araw na wala ako ... kumusta kayo ni RJ?"
Maine gulped after she heard the question. She looked at Nicole and saw the serious expression on her face.
"We're alright ... wala namang masyadong interaction .... yun lang nagpanggap siya but that's it. I promise." Maine said, lifting her right hand up.
"You sure?"
"Oo naman, did you really think na gusto kong maulit yung dati?" she asked.
"I know you don't. Ako din naman , ayaw ko."
Maine let out a sigh and held Nicole's hands. A few years ago, the two Mendoza sisters fought over a guy. He was no RJ but they liked him very much. But because of all the chaos and the turmoil it brought, they actually chased the guy away instead. It took Maine and Nicole a little over a year before they were able to fix everything. And now, something like that has started brewing again.
"Niknik ... do you like RJ?" Maine asked.
"Yes ... and I know you like him too." her sister suddenly replied, catching Maine off guard.
"What?"
"Come on Ate, I'm not that manhid to not notice about it. I saw the way you look at him. You like him Ate, just admit it."
"Nicole ..." Maine is at lost for words, she thought she has the situation under the control but now it's more than obvious that she really don't.
"Ate it's okay, di naman kami ni RJ di ba?"
"But he likes you too."
"I know he does. Can I ask you a favor?"
"Sure." Maine said, already preparing herself for the absolute worst.
"I can't stay here long enough to make sure that things are alright with me and I can't control his feelings. So please .... no matter what happens can you promise me that he will never get in between us?" Nicole asked with tears in her eyes.
"Of course." Maine asked and pulled her close. That's the moment of realization that she asked for.
Maine closed her eyes and a tear flowed down the side of her face. Things will change for Maine in ways she never expected them to be.
---
After getting convinced by his mother, RJ walked out of the room and talked to his father.He followed him back to the living room where they sat in front of each other.
"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" RJ asked.
"I came back para kumustahin kayo."
"Kumustahin? Okay lang kami, pwede ka ng umalis."
RJ's fists are now clenched and it's taking a lot of his willpower not to swoop in and punch his father on the face. He tightened his jaw at the sight of his father's smile.
"RJ, I'm sorry."
"Sorry? Di na kailangan ... nabuhay na kami ng wala ka."
"Please ... I know you're mad and I can no longer change the past but please .... don't do this to yourself."
"Wala kang idea kung gaano kahirap ang buhay namin nung umalis ka, wala kang karapatan para diktahan ako sa kung anong gusto kong gawin."
---
Maine was busy doing academical reports when she heard a knock on her door. She get out a bed and quickly ran towards the door.
"MA?" she asked, after opening it.
"May sasabihin lang sana ako."
"Okay ... what is it?"
"Next week na yung alis ko papuntang Hong Kong. Next week din uuwi yung mga maids tsaka yung driver kasi may piyesta sa kanila. Ikaw lang maiiwan."
"That's alright, I can take care of myself" Maine replied.
"Pero you know ... mas mapapanatag ang loob ko kung may kasama ka."
"Then I'll call Chanel and Teresa."
"I was thinking someone na maipagtatanggol ka in case." Mrs. Mendoza said, making her a bit confused.
"Who?" she asked.
"Si Tisoy."
"What???"
---
Maine x Tisoy sa isang bahay? stay tuned :) !
