13

It's not me, it's you.

"Can we talk?"

That was the first text message Richard has received from Maine after they last saw each other. He admits that their relationship faltered, and it's partially his fault. He wants to still hang out with Maine but it seems impossible as Ysa gets infuriated. " I think she likes you than you are ready to admit , Richard. I'm not dumb, I can feel it." Richard normally would have shrugged this off, but he has starting to feel conflicted as well. Yes, he was honest letting her know that he missed her, as they have been fixtures in each others lives for years now. But he was surprised himself with the uneasiness he felt when Maine touched Antonio ; the ribbing he got from Yaya Pacing about him & Maine. Of course, I like her, I wouldn't be hanging out with her if I did not genuine like and cared for her. Richard tried to rationalize his feelings.

It did not help that Richard got word that Antonio has been constantly with Maine. Picking her up from school and hanging out together. Was this jealousy, the same kind that Ysa feels with Maine? He wondered.

He was about to park his car at the local cafe where Maine asked to meet, when he saw Antonio gently kiss her cheek as he was leaving. Richard brows furrowed. That definitely left a bitter taste on his mouth. He waited until Antonio left before he went in.

"Why didn't I just pick you up?" Richard asked as he slid inside the booth.

Startled, Maine looks up at him. "Hello to you too. I just came from school and he offered to drop me off."

"Eh pwede naman ako ang sumundo sa iyo eh. On the way naman eh. Bakit ba kelangan si Antonio pa."

"Uhm, Richard, bakit po kayo nagagalit....Tsaka ayaw ko maging third wheel pag kasama mo si Ysa."

"Wala si Ysa. Tsaka dati naman tayo nagkaka lakad, eh bakit ba iaasa mo pa ke Antonio yan. Boyfriend mo na ba sya?" Richard didn't realize he was seething, and he had no idea that he was containing this within him.

"Wait lang ha, nakipagkita ako para mag usap, di para ma sermonan. And what is it with you if he is my boyfriend? He is single, and I am single. Wala naman sigurong masama di ba?" Maine's voice raised a bit.

Richard sighs and lowers his voice a notch. "Sorry, sorry, naiinis lang ako na akala ko this is our chance to catch up. And now we are fighting over someone else."

"Well, I am not fighting about anything. You brought that up."

Richard fell silent. It was the hard truth. Maine just looked at him pointedly. "And no, Richard. Antonio is not my boyfriend. Yet. He did ask if pwede syang manligaw. I haven't given him an answer."

They both fell into an uncomfortable silence.

"Sorry na, Maine. Ayaw ko makipag away. Sorry." Richard mumbled.

"Tell me. How long na ba kayo ni Ysa?" Maine asked.

"Uhm, give or take 6 months?" Ilan na nga ba? Richard thinks.

"And you are happy with her, right?" Maine pressed. Antapang mo, self.

Richard couldn't answer right away. "Uhm, yes. But I miss this. Being with you."

"Richard, you shouldn't say things like that. You're messing with my head. I can't...I can't do this with you." Maine closed her eyes, as if she was counting in her head.

"Why am I messing with you?"

Maine took a deep breath. Here goes. " Don't you get it? I never contradicted what you said before, about what Ysa thinks of us. And I don't know why you can't see it. I stopped calling you Kuya coz I don't see you in that way anymore. I stopped talking to you, even if it was killing me, because you have Ysa. I like you. I am sorry but I really do. And I know you don't see me that way, but I just... needed to be honest with you. Walang kapalit 'to. That's why we're here right now. "

Richard stared at Maine. His throat felt dry, and his palms sweaty. He was about to speak, until his phone rang. Ysa calling. It read.

Maine looked at his phone then at Richard. "I think hinahanap ka na ng girlfriend mo." She said sadly.

He looked at Maine, and pressed accept on his phone. "Hi Hon...." Maine winced. Richard was trying to reach her hand, but Maine quietly and quickly grabbed her bag.

"Wait lang, hon." Richard scrambled and pressed his phone to mute.

Maine stood up, "Wag na, kausapin mo na sya. I just wanted to tell you that. Goodbye, Kuya."

And with that, Maine stood up and left him. Richard was dazed for awhile, not realizing he had kept Ysa on mute.

/

"Babe, you've been quiet the whole time. What's wrong ba? Kanina lang you were okay naman." Ysa turned to him. Richard ended up picking her up from her house upon her insistence to go get milk tea.

"Ha...wala lang. Me iniisip lang."

"Sino ba kausap mo kanina?"

"Si Maine. Me sinoli lang ako." Liar liar pants on fire, Richard.

Ysa rolled her eyes. "Maine, maine, maine. I know I don't watch the same stuff as you do but gahhhhhd, lagi na lang sya nasasali sa usapan."

"Sinasagot ko lang naman ang tanong mo." He replied curtly.

"Ba't ang init ng ulo mo? Gaaaahhd, uwi na nga tayo. Lagi na lang tayo nag aaway lately."

"Eh di umuwi na nga. Ano ba naman Ysa, pinagbawalan mo na nga ako mag hang out with one of my closest friends tapos..."

"Ano tapos, tapos???" Ysa challenges.

"Forget it, I'm not in the mood to keep on arguing with you."

"Fine, eh di bababa na ako."

"Fine." Richard stops. "Gulo mo. Kinita mo lang ako para makipag talo."

Ysa steps out of the car. "You know Richard, I may be selosa, but anyone with a pair of eyes can see that she really likes you. And maybe you do too." Ysa slams the door, rattling the car and making Richard wince.

It was just not his day.

***

A/N:

Happy 68th Weeksary ADN!

I really had written out a different direction for the story pero sabi nga, change is the only thing that is constant. 😅

Comments , as always, are appreciated. 💛

Not proof read. All mistakes are mine.

Pic credit : from google images (i can't figure out where it came from!)