Mister Villain

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT

          

Some say that RJ has gone far and beyond anyone could ever go for another person.

When his girlfriend was involved in a car accident, he talked with his family about limiting his current presence in their company and allowing his Dad to take-on a more active role. This will give him more time to be with Maine and take care of her. He hired a nurse dedicated to helping her with her needs, a physical therapist who will focus with her on her body's recovery, and he immediately ordered for the refurbishing of their house in San Lorenzo Village.

Ever since they decided to take-up residence in Laguna, their former house has been maintained but is only used for certain events or exclusive parties their family would throw every now and then.

But now its location will be perfect for Maine whose doctors in Makati Med and St. Luke's in BGC will be within easier reach.

He talked to both of their families about his plan and converted the ground floor rooms to allow Maine easier access to anything she might need.

He had bar handles installed in the restrooms for her support and their sun room was converted into an in-house gym where she can exercise.

The nurse lived with them along with one member of her family who would stay with them for a week or longer.

RJ hired a nutritionist and a chef to help Maine with her diet, he hired a nanny to assist her, and he bought a car outfitted for people with disabilities.

Yet, even if people measured his love for her through those standards, RJ measured them by the amount of hours he got to spend with her in a day. Was he able to make her laugh? Was he able to make her angry? Was he able to encourage her? Was he able to listen to her stories? Was he able to irritate her? Was he able to read her favorite book to her well? Was he able to just sit with her in silence? Was he able to make her "feel" that day? Was he able to give her a semblance of normalcy despite the lack of her legs?

All he has ever cared about in the past months is her return to her well-being.

For two people who began a relationship in somehow rocky slopes, the accident has been a way for them to get to know each other far better than before and for them to go through so many things that sometimes, even couples who have been together for years do not even experience.

He's seen Maine wake up with morning glory, fall asleep drooling, vomit food out, bleed through her nose from exhaustion, and have hair almost dripping with moisture because she could not take a bath yet.

And she's seen him with meat in between his teeth, gnawing on his nails as he watched her train her legs, have hair sticking up due to the way he slept, heard him fall asleep snoring, watched the stubble grow on his face, and pick his nose.

Marami silang bagay na hindi pinagkakasunduan.

Marami silang bagay na hindi pa naiintindihan tungkol sa isa't-isa.

Pero mula noon hanggang sa ngayon, nasisiguro ni RJ na there is no one he would love to hate more than Maine.

She challenged him and was not afraid of him but she was always open to arguing with him and even be proven wrong.

Before they came together, alam na niya na matalino ito, may malaking puso, palaban, at may iisang salita.

Being with her, he has appreciated the actual depth of her intelligence, the true expanse of the love she had in her heart, the level of fire she put in every fight, and the sincerity in every word she gave to others.

He looked forward to each day with her and could not imagine not having her in his life anymore.

This is what has prompted him to finally say to her how much he loves her.