13

Missing You

Maine was supposed to come home for the summer, but with her thesis dissertation looming, she chose to stay in Rome to take a few classes. She was also given a chance to observe one of the art historians at the Museo Nazionale Romano, who was coincidentally, one of the department heads of her University. Her parents decided to spend their vacation in Europe as well, with Rome being the end of their 3 week tour.

Richard, on the other hand, was gearing for the new school year. He was as busy as ever, and wanted to try to intern at his uncle's law firm, so he can also have more experience, even if it was just researching and photocopying involved for now. Everyone had to start somewhere, he thought. He had to go through an application process ("to be fair" his uncle insisted.) . He would not be doing this job until the following summer, but he wanted to get a head start.

They have both not video called in 2 weeks. Richard started to worry when Maine did not reply to his messages. He finally got a hold of her.

"Maine...."

"Kuya! I'm leaving in 10 minutes ha. Yung humanities group ko me final project. I'm at the library right now kaya pasensya pabulong ako. Wait saglit lipat ako sa restroom para makausap kita."

"Kuya na naman. Pero sige fine, sayang oras. How are you? I miss you."

"Luh luh luh. Totoo ba yan...."

"Maine, di ako padalos dalos , nanliligaw na nga eh, kahit long distance kinakaya."

"Ay nanliligaw ka na pala?"

"Maine... di pa ba obvious? Nagpaalam na nga ako kila tito at tita."

"Alam ko. Pero sa akin, hindi."

"Harsh mo...."

"But you didn't ask naman..."

"O sige, Maine, pwede na ba kitang ligawan?"

"....."

"Huy..."

"....."

"Maine, kausapin mo ako please...."

"Kasi Richard... baka maulit na naman ang LDR maging issue...."

"Hindi nga di ba. Kaya ko 'to, just have faith."

"Eh sige. I guess pwede. Haha...."

"Ba't ka tumatawa?"

"Kasi feeling ko si Yaya Pacing ang matutuwa dito."

"Alam na nya, Maine. Nagpaalam din ako sa kanya."

"AY GRABE SYA."

Their conversation was cut off, as a tall, guy came up behind Maine, and tapped her shoulder. Maine nodded, and spoke in Italian to the guy who left afterwards.

"Sino yan."

"Si Fabrizio. 5 minutes na lang ha, mag me-meet na kami ng group eh."

"Ba't ang gwapo, puro lalake ba kasama mo? Ilang kayong babae?"

"Wow ha machine gun lang ang peg. Oo gwapo sya. Hindi lang lalake mga kasama ko, si Thomas din at si Ileana at si Lucy."

"........"

"HUY."

" Ba't kasama yang Fabrizio...."

"Richard! Gusto ko sa group ni Fab kasi magaling sya sa written reports! Para mataas grade ko. Ayaw mo nun?"

"Fab na pala ang tawagan ha!"

"Eh sa yun ang nickname nya! hahaha!!! Ang cute mo magselos! Kakasabi mo lang na manliligaw ka tapos ngayon selos pa more. Pero seriously I gotta go, medyo mga serious yang ka group ko, kaya ayaw ko ma late!"

"Okay, Maine. But can we talk later? Text me when you get home. I'll put my alarm on din."

"Ok po. Bye!"

//

They seem to be playing phone tag for the next weeks as well. They exchanged short messages on iMessage and their social media accounts, but it was pretty quiet. Maine started to worry when Richard would respond in short messages, but he did say that he had a really tough schedule to prepare for.

Maine's parents arrived as scheduled. Luckily for her, the museum apprenticeship ended as well as her summer classes. She had a full week to enjoy her vacation and her tatay and nanay's visit.

She excitedly picked up her parents at the airport with her Aunt Agnes.

"Tataaaaaaaay, Nanaaaaay !" Maine all but screamed excitedly seeing her parents come out. She hugged them fiercely.

"Na miss ka namin, Maine." Nanay held her face and peppered her cheeks with kisses.

"Nako siya din. Di naman nagiiyak pero nagsasabi na miss na nya ang sinigang ni Tatay." Auntie Agnes said.

"Oo nga po, nakakamiss lang kasi. Even if Italian food is my fave, nag crave ako ng sinigang ninyo po." Maine hugged her tatay.

"Me isa ka pang na-mi-miss eh..." Her aunt looked at her and winked.

"Hala! Auntie! Busy yun." Maine flustered.

Tatay laughed. "Miss na miss mo na nga ba si Richard ha..."

"Naku Tatay, isa ka pa! Ba't ganyan po kayo..." Maine pouted, but obviously enjoying their banter.

Nanay laughed. "Sige na, umamin ka na. Miss mo na nga?"

"Ha... eh ... opo......" Maine blushed.

"Mabuti naman kung ganun...." Nanay said with a twinkle in his eye.

Maine looked at her parents, slightly confused. Until someone tapped her shoulder and she turned. She was so surprised that she almost lost her balance and that person ended up holding her waist.

It was Richard, looking slightly tired yet his eyes, gleaming.

"Hi Maine. I missed you too."

///

A/N:

I missed you too , Richard. Cheret!  😂😂😂 The pic I used for the chapter header, that's what I imagined yung lapit ng pag sabi ng last line.

Happy 78th weeksary, ADN / Maichard/ AlMaine/ etc... lol (basta yung solid sa dalawa, lamnyo na).

Advance weeksary to Team Butchikik!

Short update lang po. Again, sinaniban na naman ako ng characters at iniba na naman ang direksyon ng story. Ano ang susunod na kabanata? ;)

Fabrizio btw is inspired by Fab Morretti of The Strokes. La lungs. 👀

Not proofread etc etc.... 😅

Comment and tweets are love. ❤️

pic credit to flo_renz13's IG (who took it from EB's FB page)