Yūgen

Promise Rings

His phone vibrated and he checked the screen to see one of Maine's wacky faces.

He loved that about her – although she's always insisted that she wasn't the most confident person in the world, she's never cared about how others might think of her weird (but frankly, cute) poses; from what I heard from their little chats over the phone, she did whatever she wanted as long it made her happy.

She did just that when she said yes to Richard's proposal at 18. He was 21, and they got married secretly three months later, in front of the local civil registrar officer, with the fixers (who they paid to fake some documents for them since they were both under 25) standing as witnesses. It was one of the most beautiful days in her life, even though Richard forgot to bring me, the ring, with him. She just laughed and kissed his cheek as he slid a paper clip he bent to form a ring on her long, delicate finger. Maine insisted on not wearing me on her finger, since their union was kept a secret. It took them a while, but they had a church wedding half a year later, when they told their families that they were married. Both parties insisted on having it, and she just shrugged and said "why not?"

She did just that when she left her family when she was 21. The two of them flew to America – Richard, having been born and raised in the US, petitioned his wife and they started to build a life in a place far, far away. Though it wasn't easy at first, she loved every moment of it – the freedom, having Richard by her side, all of it.

She did whatever she wanted as long it made her happy, and seeing that smile on her face, Richard knew he was doing fine.

He slid his thumb across the screen to answer her call, and he was surprised to hear her sounding frantic.

"Chard? Hi? Okay, I know you just got back from Oslob yesterday and I know you're tired but can I ask one teeny tiny favor? Babe, lahat ng bakers ko absent. Shit, babe, help please. Come here, I'm swamped. Oh god, I'm gonna die. Please tell my family I love them. Shit, babe. Mamamatay na ako, ayoko na," she said in one breath.

"Hello din, Mahal," he replied cheekily. It was Maine's thing when she's stressed out and vented on Richard – she calls him "babe". He loves teasing her about it and she ignores his calls when he does.

"RICHARD FAULKERSON JR., NOT NOW, OKAY!"

He laughed and, in a sweeter voice, tried to calm her down. "Maine, calm down. Breathe. Marami bang customers?"

"Dumadami sila by the minute. Paubos na yata 'yung nasa display rack." She whined and he could imagine her pout, "Baaaaabe."

"Okay, I'll be there in 15. Calm down, Mahal. Kapag ako dumating d'yan at hindi ka kalmado, papakasalan ulit kita, sige ka," he said in a jest.

"I'll wait for you," Maine replied meekly. Richard didn't know if that was for the help she was asking or the latter.

He shook his head and grabbed his car keys.

---

"Whoa. You okay?"

Richard went straight to the kitchen when Maine's waiting staff pointed him there when he asked where she was. He opened the door and was surprised to see a very stressed out, very rattled, and very frantic Maine. She looked up from the sugar she was measuring when she heard his voice.

Helplessly, she replied, "No. I'm dying here."

"Come on, you're overreacting."

"Leche ka, Faulkerson. I didn't call you para i-judge mo ako." She pouted and glanced at me on his chest. "No jewelries when baking. Hair net and apron are over there. Wash your hands."