Alden was restless that night then woke up with a start when he felt something gush out of him.
"Kingina, ano yun?"
He looked under the blanket and there it was.
Maine's monthly visitor.
He got up quickly and "KINGINAAAAAAAA." He fell to the floor, double over in pain. He reached for his phone and dialled his emergency response number. "Meng!!!!!!!! Pumunta ka dito please!!!!!"
"Rj, anong nangyayari?!"
"Meng!!! YUNG TIYAN KOOOOOO! AT ANG DAMING DUGO! Mamamatay na ba ako from bleeding?"
"Punyemas, wag kang OA. Yung tiyan mo - Dude, puson yan, hindi yan tiyan - oo masakit talaga yan. Teka, tumakbo ka na sa bathroom okay? Mag-shower ka na and napkin. Marunong ka naman gumamit ng napkin?"
"Parang diaper di ba?" He said, tearfully.
"Oo. Parang ganun pero didikit mo sa underwear mo, okay? Maligo ka na. I'll be there in a few minutes."
He was able to take a shower and dress. "How are you?" Maine asked when she got there.
"Kingina, bakit ganito? Ang uncomfortable ng napkin."
"Tiisin mo nalang. Kailangan mo yan eh. Kamusta yung puson mo? Este, ko? Eh... basta."
"SAKIT." He replied, pouting. "Ganito pala. Meng, hindi ko na kaya!"
"Rj, wag kang OA. Kaya mo yan. Usually naman sa first day ko lang masakit na masakit, then it gets better na. Here, I got soup for you. Also, here's the hot compress, put it sa tummy."
"Sorry pinapunta pa kita. Nakipag-break ka na nga, inaabala pa kita."
She just smiled sadly. "Okay ka lang ba?"
"Sa putanginang dysmenorrhea? Or dahil break na tayo?"
"Both."
"Hindi ko pa alam yung sa atin, hindi pa yata nag-sink in na tapos na tayo. Pero yung dysmenorrhea mo, sinusumpa ko. Ikaw?"
"Okay na. Ilang araw ko na din naman dinadala yun. Nung nakausap na kita, mas maluwag na yung loob ko." She fed him and reminded him to only take meds if he really couldn't stand the pain. "I have to go kasi may show ako sa Laguna, tapos derecho na ako kay Lola. Pero susubukan ko bumalik dito tonight."
"Hindi ka ba pwedeng mag-stay?"
"Matagal mo daw na-promise yung show sa Laguna, hindi pwede magback out."
For the first time, Alden hated his schedule. "Okay. Meng?"
"O?"
"Yung overnight pads ba, dapat ko baliktarin kung nakadapa ako matulog?"
***
Maine dropped by Lola Linda's house for dinner. She was happy that his family was happy to see Rj, but she was equally happy to be able to spend time with them again. It had been too long when she and Rj had a free day to just hang out with his family.
It was during dinner when the family teased each other, while having pasta with dried fish, "Isipin mo dati? Ayaw na natin ng tuyo kasi parating yan nalang ulam natin? Tapos ngayon, with pasta and olive oil, gustong gusto na natin?" Riza joked.
"Oo! Tapos, itong mga cupcake, makakatikim lang tayo pag may na-utang si Mommy para sa birthday." Kuya RD added.
Maine felt like she would cry. She was always given everything she wanted and needed. She never had their experiences.
She always knew of the family's hardships and seeing them reminiscing again of those times when they couldn't afford the luxuries in life and now enjoying everything they have, she couldn't help but be proud of Rj for being able to provide this to them. They were great individuals and if there was a bunch of people who deserved to be blessed, it was this family.
At one point, Lola Linda asked Rj - Maine - to join her in the garden. "Kamusta ka naman, apo?"
"Pagod lang po, Lola. Ang daming raket ngayong linggo."
"Sabi naman sayo na pwede ka namang magbawas ng trabaho. Hindi na kayo magugutom."
"Lola, hindi po natin masasabi yan. Ayoko lang po magkaproblema pag tagal." Maine replied, copying what she always heard Rj explain to her.
Lola Linda stared at her - then whacked Rj's head. "Hindi ko alam kung anong meron pero hindi ka si Rj, alam ko."
"Lola naman!"
"Sino ka?"
"Si Rj nga po! Kahit ano pang itanong niyo kaya ko sagutin yan!"
Lola Linda narrowed her eyes, paused, then asked, "Kailan ka tinuli?"
Maine was stumped. Okay, I did not see that coming. Malay ko naman kailan ang circumcision nitong Rj na 'to?!
"Sabi ko na eh. Alam kong hindi makakalimutan ni Rj yun. Sino ka nga? Pag hindi ka sumagot, babatukan ulit kita."
"Lola, wag! Masakit na kasi. Ipapaliwanag ko po, pero iisipin niyong nababaliw na ako. Pero sige, ganito po kasi..."
Maine felt relieved that she was finally able to tell someone, besides Alden, what they were going through. She wasn't sure Lola would believe her but she told the story anyway. Also, that they had broken up.
Lola Linda seemed to ponder on it before she spoke. "Hindi ko din maipaliwanag at hindi ko alam kung naniniwala ako sa kwento mo. Pero, kung ano man yan, sana matutunan niyo yung dapat niyong matutunan. Dun naman sa paghihiwalay niyo, gusto pa din kitang batukan."
"Lola!"
"Hija, hindi ko maintindihan kayong mga kabataan. May hindi pagkakaintindihan, hiwalay agad. Hindi niyo ba naisip mag-usap? Ayusin? Subukan ulit? Kaming mag-asawa, marami rin kaming hindi pinagkasunduan ng Lolo. Isang beses, binalak umalis. Alam mo ginawa ko?"
"Ano po?"
"Kinaladkad ko pabalik."
Maine laughed out loud. "Lola! Hindi nga?"
"Oo. Umaarte lang naman yun si Lolo niyo. Gustong marinig na mahal ko pa. Ayan sige, hinabol ko."
"Eh, Lola, kayo naman po, kasal na kayo nun at mahal niyo pa yung isa't isa. Ayaw na po sa akin ni Rj."
"Ayaw?" Lola Linda looked at her exasperatedly. "Ayaw na pala yung halos ma-ihi sa kilig pag magtetext ka. O, yung madapa-dapa na pag sagot ng telepono pag tumawag ka. At kapag naka-goodnight kiss sayo, lumulutang na yun pauwi."
"Dati po siguro."
"Anong dati? Huli ko siya nakita... wala pang isang buwan. Kahit nung panahon na yun nagkakaproblema na kayo, ganun pa din siya. Namumula pa din yung tenga pag nagkekwento tungkol sa Menggay niya."
"Pero bakit po sinabi niya yun kay Kristoffer?"
"Aba, hija. Bakit ako ang tinatanong mo?" Lola Linda looked into her eyes. "Sana maging maayos ang lahat. Miss ko na ang apo ko at ang Menggay niya. Ayusin mo yung problema niyo. At kung makulit pa din, kaladkarin mo pabalik."
