The Irony

Chapter 9

"RJ, nahihiya ako." 

"Wag ka mahiya, sya nag request na pumunta ka ngayon kasi gusto ka daw nya makilala, nila Daddy." 

"Nahihiya talaga ako. Puro family tapos ako.." 

RJ looked at her in the passenger seat to cut her off and gave her a reassuring smile. "Nandito naman ako eh. Tsaka family ka rin naman eh, kung papayag ka." 

"Pero, no pressure ha!" He quickly added. 

"Para-paraan." Maine teased, making RJ blush. 

RJ's sister has been wanting to meet the mystery woman in her brother's life and a small family gathering for her birthday seemed to be the perfect time for them to meet Maine. For the longest time, Riza has been bugging her brother to entertain thoughts of being in a relationship but he was too focused on work to even consider it so when he told them that he's going to put his panliligaw diskarte to work, she couldn't be more excited. 

"Dito na tayo!" RJ said as he parked in front of their house. He got out of his side of the car and rushed over to Maine's to open her door and help her out.

"Bakit? Is there something wrong? Ok lang ba itsura ko?" Maine asked when RJ giggled out of the blue. 

"Maine, ang lamig ng kamay mo."

"Sabi ko sayo kinakabahan ako eh." Maine whined, eventually joining him in a giggling session. 

"Amin na," taking her hands into his and rubbing them together. "Para ka namang mamamanhikan." And that earned him a playful slap on the arm. 

"Joke lang, toh naman. Pinaparelax lang kita, ang tensed mo. D naman nangangagat yung mga yun eh." 

Maine took a deep breath and held on to RJ's arm as he led her into their home. 

"Kaya naman pala ang lakas ng tama ng anak ko sayo hija, napakagandang bata. Welcome, anak, tuloy ka. Buti naman at nakapunta ka." Mr. Faulkerson said as he greeted Maine. 

"Good evening po. Naku, sayo po pala nagmana si RJ, Sir. Pero thank you po." Maine politely acknowledge his compliment. 

"Ay sus, Tito na lang. Tito Richard." 

"Lagi ko sya sinasabihan, Dad, na maganda sya pero binobola ko lang daw." 

"Hindi lang pala maganda eh, napaka humble pa. Oh dito na kayo sa kusina RJ, pakainin mo na si Maine. Baka pagbaba ng kapatid mo eh di na makakain si Maine."

"Kuyaaaaaa!" 

"Speaking of.." RJ stopped mid-sentence when his sister let out a long shriek as she approached them which made Maine even more conscious. 

"Waaaaaaah andito sya??" Riza quickly walked over to where RJ and Maine were standing and gave Maine a tight squeeze that she could barely breathe. "Finally, meron na akong ate!" 

"Riza, behave." 

"Kuya, ginawa mo naman akong aso. Ang harsh."

Maine doesn't have a little sister so she found it very cute to have someone look up to her as an ate the way Riza does. 

"Happy Birthday!" Maine said as she laughed at the two and hugged Riza back. It seemed like Riza had no plans of letting go. 

"Di ko na yata kayo kailangan i-introduce pa." RJ said, scratching his head. "Riza, di na makahinga ate Maine mo, hinay hinay lang."

"Ay! Sorry, ate. Sobrang tuwa ko lang na nakapunta ka kasi si kuya ang tipid magkwento tungkol sa love life nya." Riza let go of Maine but held on to her arm.