"Pero bakit may po pa rin yung sinabi niya?" Teresa asked Maine.
"I don't know, baka magalang siya." the young girl replied before sitting next to her best friend. They are now on their fourth day in class and she's telling her Teresa what RJ told him last Sunday.
"Anong naramdaman mo?"
"I don't know ... but gusto kong mag C.R. after niya sinabi yun."
"Ew." Teresa whispered and Maine laughed.
"That's what I felt."
"I don't believe you."
"Fine. I don't know parang nakita ko na yung liwanag tapos kinukuha na ako." she said, trying to describe the indescribable sensation she felt.
"Ay wow O.A. ... wala ka man lang sinabi sa kaniya? I mean ..."
"Andun si Mommy okay? Kelangan dalagang pilipina baka makita niya." Maine uttered right before their professor came in. The young girl's heart dropped after she realized who it is.
"Dad?"
---
"Ano? Sinabi mo yun?" Bogs asked after RJ told him everything.
"Oo. Ulit ulit?" he asked back. Much to RJ's surprise, the past few days he spent at the Mendoza's Mansion were filled with nothing but awkwardness. He tried to talk to her about it but she used her student excuse to always avoid him.
"Edi ibig sabihin niyan kayo na?" Bogs asked.
"Hah? Hindi. Bawal pa." he replied.
"Bawal?"
"Oo. Sabi kasi ni Mamsie dapat makapag-aral muna ako ulit." he answered. RJ then pulled out his phone after he heard it ringing.
"Hello Ma?" he asked.
"Sayo ba pera yung nasa la mesa?" she asked.
"Ah, naiwan ko po ba? Paki tabi muna po."
"Anim na libo yun Tisoy. Di pa ba sapat yun sa motor?"
"Di pa po eh. Sige po Ma, may ginagawa pa ako." RJ replied and ende dthe call. He then turned around and saw Bogs smirking at him.
"Bakit?" he asked.
"Rich kid ka na ngayon."
"Ulol, porn star pa rin yung dream job ko." RJ answered, smirking at his friend.
"Loko ka talaga ... umayos ka huy!"
"Ba ... Bogs ... sa'yo pa talaga nanggaling yan ah." he said. A few minutes later, one of their other friends approached them.
"Gelay, buhay ka pa pala." RJ said, only to be slapped in the arm.
"Aray ko naman."
"Narinig niyo na ba yung balita?" she asked.
"Na ano? Na mas mabango pa yung bayabas sa'yo? Oo naman." RJ said and saw her roll her eyes at him.
"Hindi, Baliw. May pa-audition yung Starstruck."
"Talaga? Di kami interesado." Bogs said and RJ giggled.
"Sali Ka Tisoy ... Starstruck yun ... magiging artista ka. Si Bogs ... hopeless. Hawig ni Jerald yan eh."
"Anderson?" RJ asked.
"Napoles."
"Ay grabe siya oh." Bogs said. A few minutes later, Gelay left the two of them alone.
"Ikaw kasi Soyti. Kung pinagbigyan mo si Gelay nung nag-inuman kayo nung pasko edi sana hindi nabuwang yan." Bogs whispered.
"Loko ka. Di ako kumakain ng talabang mukhang kalabasa." RJ replied before the two gigled like little boys in a park.
---
Maine took a deep breath and approached her Dad after the bell started ringing. Everyone left, it's now just her and him inside the classroom.
"Maine ..." he said. The young girl took one step closer, tears are now swelling in her eyes.
"Why ... why are you here? I thought you're dead." she said before taking a deep breath. For the past two years, Maine had zero communication with her Dad. And now all of a sudden, he's here in front of her.
"Na-bankrupt company ko ... naubos pera ko kaya kailangan ko ulit mag-trabaho. Hiyang hiya ako sa inyo kaya di ko na kayo ginulo."
Maine started crying. Him walking out of her life and just popping right back in made her feel emotionally assaulted. When he left, she lost a big part of her self. She became broken. But now that he's here, she felt nothing but confusion and pain.
"Bakit di niyo sinabi kay Mama? Okay naman na kayo di ba? Edi sana ... edi sana man lang sinabi niyo. Alam niyo ba kung gaano kasakit nung nawala kayo? Kung ilang gabi yun na inisip ko na baka anjan lang kayo at babalik. Oo alam kong matagal na kayong wala ni Mama pero hindi natatapos dun yung obligasyon mo. May anak ka. Ako yun ... kinalimutan mo ako." she said, blurting out words that could make her heart feel better.
"Maine ... please understand ayokong isipin mo na talunan ako ... na walang kwenta ang tatay mo. I did not wnat you to see me that way."
"So you just left? Dad ... you broke me. I have trust and abandonment issues because of you. I'm dropping this class." Maine threatened.
"Maine ..."
"No ... you left me .. you could never come back." she said.
--
RJ was busy watching a absketball game in their TV when his phone started ringing. He looked at the screen and answered the call.
"Ma'am Maine Ma'am?" he asked, quickly making his way outside.
"Asan ka?"
"Samin po."
"I know ... and wag ka na mag po please? Anong name ng Barangay?"
"Maputing Itim."
"Seriously?"
"Yep."
"I'll be there." she said and then ended the call. RJ let out a sigh adn waited by their gate. Half an hour later, she came in her car. The young girl quickly got out. RJ's heart dropped after he saw her puffy eyes.
"Anong nangyari?" he asked, pulling her in for a tight hug.
"Tisoy ... I mean ... Richard ... I ... I saw my Dad. Siya yung professor ko." she said. He pulled away from her and asked if it's true.
"Oo naman." she said, sobbing. RJ and Maine then sat on the bench.
"Gusto mo bang iiyak yan?" he asked.
"Ih."
"Anong gusto mo? Please smile tapos pag-usapan natin to. Gusto mong hawakan yung pan de sal o yung Tender Juicy?" he asked, hoping to at least make her do a half smile. And when she didn't. RJ just pulled her in for another hug.
"Andito lang ako okay? Hindi ka na mag-iisa."
---
that's it for this part guys ^^ what do you think? Magiging okay lang ba si Maine at yung tatay niya? sasali ba si RJ sa starstruck? lol stay tuned :) x
