"What?" Maine asked, heart pounding fast and face drenched in cold sweat.
"I .... I ..."
"I what?" she asked, freaking out.
"I'm kidding. Ikaw naman ate, di na mabiro. I know you like him as a person." Nicole answered and laughed a bit. Maine on the other hand, laughed nervously.
"Yeah right ... as a person." she uttered and quickly walked away from her. Maine then ran up to her room and locked the door shut.
---
"Ano? anjan na? Brad, umayos ka. Takpan mo lagi si junjun mo, baka magalit yan sige ka." Bogs said from the other end of the line.
"Gagu, di ko na nga alam kung ano yung gagawin ko niyan eh." he said before he glanced behind him to check if anyone's around to hear the words he's saying.
"Sara mo mata mo."
"Ano?" RJ asked.
"Tisoy, sara mo mata mo." Bogs said once again. RJ let out a sigh and did what his friend asked him to do.
"Sino nakikita mo?" Bogs asked.
"Wala, nakasara mata ko eh." he replied.
"Ulol. Isipin mo yung magkapatid, sino yung unang lumalabas sa isip mo."
"Si Maine." RJ answered, feeling his cheeks blush. That's the only moment when he realized that what he has for Maine is much deeper than he initially thought. He is in love with her. Completely, inexplicably and irrevocably.
"Edi ibig sabihin nun brad, siya na mahal mo. Kalimutan mo na yung isa."
"Mahirap gawin yung kung dito ako nagta-trabaho."
"Brad, mag-resign ka na." Bogs said and ended the call. RJ let out a sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. He realized that his friend is right, he has to resign.
---
"Ma'am?" Maine turned to her side and saw Yaya staring at her.
"What?" she asked, putting her book down. Yaya then sat next to her and held her hands.
"Bakit ang lamig ng kamay mo?" Maine asked, concerned that maybe she's sick.
"Humawak po kasi ako ng yelo. May itatanong po kasi sana ako sa inyo." she said. Maine sat up properly and asked what it is.
"Okay, ano yun?"
"Maganda po ba ako?" she asked and Maine almost laughed. She withdrew her hands from her and asked if she's serious.
"Seryoso? kala ko naman kung anong sasabihin mo."
"Ma'am, seryoso po ako. May nanliligaw po kasi sakin eh."
"Bulag ba?"
"Ay grabe siya oh. Di naman, foreigner." Yaya said with a smile on her face. For the first time in a long time, Maine got a glimpse of her sweet smile. She's definitely not kidding, she's in love.
"Foreigner? Oo , mahilig talaga yun sa exotic foods." Maine told her.
"Ay grabe talaga siya." Yaya answered and Maine laughed.
"Oh sige na, I believe you. Teka, does he know na nililigawan ka niya?"
"Emeghed. Oo naman."
"Then what's his name?"
"Philip, isa siyang British."
"Nice." Maine said. She then held Yaya's hands again.
"Yaya ... you're pretty, okay? Good luck." she added before walking away from her.
"Yun na po yun Ma'am?" the maid asked.
"Yep." she replied and ran up to her room.
---
"Di ka pa rin talaga nagbabago, shirtless pa din." RJ turned around and saw Nicole smiling at him. He smiled back and wiped the sweat off his face.
"Pawisin kasi ako eh." he replied.
"Okay lang yun. Sabi nga ni Mommy di ba pag nakikita ka niyang walang damit, nagmumura na naman daw ang flour kasi madaming pan de sal. If you have it, flaunt it." she said. RJ smiled, he did not understand any English word she said.
"Kumusta Baguio?" he then asked, wanting to continue with the conversation.
"Malamig pa din. May birthday gift na ako sa'yo." she said.
"Ano yun?" RJ asked in an excited tone.
"Trip to Baguio, kahit one whole day lang."
"Oh." he uttered. RJ's heart started beating fast, he's pretty sure Maine won't be there. And not having her around is something that he's not sure he'll be comfortable with.
"Gusto mo ba?"
"Sure." he said, not wanting Nicole to think of anything else. A part of his brain is already telling him that it's time for her to know the truth. However, there's an even bigger part of him that's begging to keep things a secret.
Nicole started walking away and RJ called her out.
"Teka!" he yelled and she quickly turned around.
"May kailangan kang malaman."
--
Maine is watching RJ and Nicole from the window of her own room. After she saw her sister walked away, the young girl quickly backed off.
"Goddamn it Maine, what are you gonna do?" she asked herself. A few minutes later, Miane picked up her phone and called her best friend.
"Teresa?" she asked.
"Oh?"
"I need help, andito na si Nicole. I can feel the freaking tension."
"Teka nga kumalma ka lang." her friend told her. Maine let out a sigh and calmed herself down.
"Dumada-moves na ba si Nicole kay Tisoy?" Teresa asked.
"Oo, eh sila naman talaga yung original Pabebe couple eh." Maine replied, pouting her lips.
"Then it's time for you to step up your game."
"What do you mean?" Maine asked before she stood up and locked her door shut.
"Maine, it's time para makipag-competition ka sa kapatid mo. Fight for who you want. Fight for who you love."
"Ayoko nga." she said.
"Ayaw mo? Edi dapat wag kang masasaktan pag bumalik si RJ kay Nicole. Ganyan mga guys, kapag sa tingin nila di ka an interested, umaalis na sila." Teresa said, reminding her of the same belief she used to have.
"So ... kakalabanin ko na yung kapatid ko?" Maine asked.
"Yes ... do your own version of hunger games. He is the prize."
--
Ready for some sibling rivalry? stay tuned :) x
