Next To Me

23. Grocery Again pt. 2/Maine's Room

It was her Nanay, with Dean behind her as they trudge the grocery store looking for some merienda after a long travel from bulacan.

Nanay Mary Ann saw a familiar figure along the ice cream isle while she was getting cold drinks for them from the line of fridges . She went nearer to the familiar girl but she stopped short when the girl was pulled to an embrace by a guy beside her. She didn't want to interrupt what looked like a serious moment there but she knew it was her Menggay. She was so sure. And the tall, fair skinned guy, unknown.

She went nearer and gasped in surprise upon confirming that it really was her Menggay. She called out.

"Menggay?!"

"N-nay?!"

The two immediately jumped away from each other. Both were flustered and totally embarrassed. Blood rushed to her cheeks as she's trying to gather words to say to her mother.

"A-ano pong ginagawa nyo dito? Bakit po kayo nandito? Sino pong kasama nyo?" Words suddenly rushed out of her mouth.

"Hi, ate." Dean waved with a smirk on the side, knowing that he could tease her ate endlessly later on.

"Anak, di ba nagtext ako sa'yo na luluwas kami ng Maynila."

She suddenly remembered about a text message her Nanay sent to her three days ago. Shit,oo nga. Ngayon nga pala yun. She wanted to slap her forehead with her stupidity.

"Tsaka ano to?" Nanay Mary Ann continued, pointing to RJ, eyeing the guy.

"Nay, mukang nakabingwit ng pang-sampung kilong bangus si ate ah." Dean whispered to his Nanay.

"Hoy Dean! Naririnig kita!"

"Tumigil ka nga." She slapped his youngest son's arm. "Menggay, huwag mong ibahin ang usapan. Sagutin mo and tanong ko."

"E-ehem. Good afternoon po. I'm Richard Faulkerson, Jr. po. RJ nalang po." Rj had the courage to introduce himself to the elder woman, realizing that he is facing the parentals right after he confessed to Maine. Still, he soldiered on. He paid respect and reached out his hand for a shake to Dean.

Hmmm... Magalang na bata. Mukhang maayos naman ang pagpapalaki ng magulang. At tsaka gwapo. Aba'y may biloy pa o. Bangus nga ata ang nabingwit ng Menggay ko. Pero parang bangus nga, mukhang matinik din.

"Foreigner ka, iho? Menggay, bakit di mo sinasabi sakin na may boyfriend ka palang foreigner?"

"Nay, di po sya foreigner, tsaka di ko po siya boyfriend. Ano po, ah... ano..."

"Manliligaw po n'ya ko." RJ cut off to save Maine. "Pero, malinis po ang intensyon ko sa anak nyo. Wag po kayo mag-alala. Di ba?" he looked at Maine as if asking for approval.

"Ah.. Hehe.. O-opo Nay, parang ganun na nga." She looked at him with an awkward smile. She still need to talk to him about it later. "Eh, Nay. Tara na po sa bahay." She said, slinging her arms to her Nanay and leading the way to the apartment, with RJ and Dean behind.

Nanay noticed that RJ followed them up to the second floor of the building. "Iho, di ka pa ba uuwi? Aba'y gumagabi na ah."

"Nay, dito din po nakatira si RJ."

"Naku, Nay, magkasama na pala sa isang bubong." Dean interjected.

"Dean, pag di ka tumahimik d'yan sasapatusin na talaga kita."