Lost in Tokyo

Ju Kyu

"Welcome home, Love!" As we entered Richard's condo. Today was finally the day that he settles in and moves into his new home for the next x number of months or years. The lights were off, and when they turned it on, it caught Richard by surprise. I had to laugh at how scared he looked.

"SURPRISE!!!!" Coleen was holding a welcome home banner, while Kuya John was filming the whole thing. Matti was just there eating some of the icing of one of the extra cupcakes. 

Richard kissed Nanay on the cheek, shook hands with Tatay, and gave my brothers a brotherly hug. That wasn't the only surprise I had. Richard walked into his room, and finally, there stood his dad and sisters welcoming him home. 

"SURPRISE!!!" Riza gave him a kiss on the cheek, and Angel was on her phone snapchatting the whole thing.

"Grabe kayo! Ano 'to!!! Love... How did you?"

"It was easy. All I had to do was add Riza on Facebook, duh!"

"Kuya, how come we've never met Maine?!"

It was true, he never had the time to introduce me to his family because he'd spend most of his days in meetings, and my schedule never suited a perfect opportunity to go all the way to Laguna to meet his family. "Sorry! We've just never had the right time to do so."

"We love Maine already! Funny story though! At first I thought it was a fake account, so I replied back for her to send a video-greeting, and then she did. I still didn't want to believe her until she gave me her number and told me to Facetime with her."

I laughed at how Riza was narrating the whole thing, and gave Riza a hug.

"Maine, I want to formally and officially introduce you to my family. Guys, this is my girlfriend, Maine. I am so sorry if you guys had to be introduced this way."

This time Tatay and Nanay enters his room, and calls out to Richard's dad! "Uy, balae!"

"Tatay naman eh!"

Everyone went out of the room and into the living room and started eating some of the food Nanay prepared for the gathering. Tatay and Richard's dad were seated beside each other, while the sisters were eating on the couch. Coleen, Angel, Niki, Riza, and Kuya John were having a hearty conversation in the living room, while Richard and I sat with our parents.

"Balae na talaga kami! Can you believe it Richard? Maine's dad and I have so much friends in common pala. Ano? Kelan na ba kasalan?"

"Oo nga eh! Itong si Richard, parang anak ko na rin 'to eh. Laging nasa bahay! Punung-puno na kami ng meetings mas lalo ng nakalipat na siya dito."

I felt Richard's hands clam up and all of a sudden he lets go of my hand. He kisses my cheek and he enters the powder room. After a few minutes later, he emerges from the room and sits down beside me.

"Hay nako, matagal ko nang sinasabi bigyan ako ng apo, pero wala puro trabaho 'tong si Richard!"

Something changed with Richard's face and his forehead started to sweat like bullets. His hands were cold, and it quite clammy. "Are you okay?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you okay, Love?"

"Maine, stand up, please."

I stood up immediately obliging at his request. Slowly, he kneels down on one knee.

"Love?"

"Maine..." 

"Love?"

"Maine, Tito, Tita, Dad, I know this is weird. I know that this might be too early, I wish I could've asked your permission, but I couldn't just wait. Maine, ever since that day you were trying to find your way, I didn't know that destiny had other plans and in the end I would find you, that you were on your way to my restaurant, that your dad and I have known each other. Maybe there's a reason for this. Maybe I was destined to be with you. Maine, will you get lost with me forever?"

She pulls him up and envelopes him into a hug as her tears start to fall down. "YES."