"Rj, someone is joining us for dinner tonight, okay? Please be at the restaurant at 8:00pm." Ate April texted Rj. He was rehearsing for the Sikat Ka Kapuso Abroad show.
"Ok, Ate. See you later." He replied then asked one of the dancers where the exact location of the restaurant was.
"Oh, it's a block away from here. We can walk you there. We're heading in that direction anyway later."
"Thanks! Thanks!"
Rj didn't think much about who was going to be at the family dinner that evening. Tita Jo and her husband had flown in from San Francisco and they've been hanging out with the Rj, RD and April since. Rj had other relatives in the States so meeting them would be awesome, Rj thought.
He arrived at the restaurant at about 7:40pm. But instead of entering right away, he decided to sit at the receptionists area first. He had been rehearsing the whole day so he was tired. He messaged Ate April that he was at the restaurant. She replied with the location of their table. It was a Japanese restaurant so they were able to reserve a private room for their party.
Rj heard familiar voices as he approached the room. It's tatami doors were shut so he could not see inside. As he slid the door open, he was greeted by his family who hugged and kissed him and engaged him in a little conversation before they sat at the low table. Tita Jo was directing where people would sit. She pointed Rj to a seat closest to the end but told him to save one seat at the corner for the guest. Rj just shrugged his shoulders and bent down to untie his shoelaces. He needed to remove his shoes to enter the room.
As he bent down, he saw small feet in ballet slippers. They looked familiar. But since he had seen so many people already that day, he didn't pay much attention to them. As he stood up to walk to his seat, he felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked back but didn't see anyone behind him. When he approached the table, he noticed that someone in black was already seated at the corner seat that Tita Jo said to keep empty. Rj had to excuse himself so he could fit in betweent the person in black and Ate April on the other side.
"Excuse me..." Rj said as he squeezed in between.
The girl looked at him, her face partly hidden by the baseball cap she was wearing. She smiled at him. Rj looked at the girl and felt his heart skip a beat when she smiled.
"....M....Maine?" Rj said, a bit unsure.
The girl removed her cap and shook her head so her hair dropped down. "Hi Tans!" Maine said as she stood up.
Rj scooped Maine in his arms and held her in a tight embrace, "Ms. Maine!....paano?"
Rj's family, who were just watching them, applauded and laughed. "Welcome, Maine!" they said.
"Thank you po"
Rj assisted Maine before sitting down beside her. "....sinundo ako nina Ate April at Tita Jo kanina lang...."
"...straight from the airport..." Ate April said, smiling.
"...yes...I took the evening flight....the same day you left...." Maine continued.
"Kaya pala di ka na sumasagot sa messages ko....I missed you!" Rj said as he pecked her on the lips.
"I love you..."
"I love you more....thanks for coming...."
"Anything for you, my Tans...."
