"Good morning!" Maine said as she entered Rj's house early one Saturday morning after being confined in the hospital. Pining opened the door.
"Good morning po Miss Maine! Welcome back! Okay na po ba kayo?"
"Hello Pining! Kamusta na kayo? Si Manang? Si Lani?"
"Okay naman po kami....teka, Sabado ngayon ah....bakit andito ka? Wala si Sir Rj...."
"Na miss ko yang 1million questions and statements mo!" Maine laughed. "....hindi....ihahatid ko lang tong mga papers ni Ma'am Chat....natambak na yung trabaho ko e....."
"Ahh...pasok ka....nasa veranda si Ma'am...." Pining said as they walked through the house and out to the veranda in the back.
"Ma'am....si Miss Maine po...." Pining said as they approached Mommy Chat.
"....coffee?....juice?..."
"...water nalang please....salamat...."
Pining nodded and left them.
"O Maine...good morning iha!"
"Good morning Ma'am....here are the papers that I worked on when you were abroad....I tried to finish most of them.....next week ko na po tatapusin yung iba.....konti nalang po yun...."
"Are you alright na ba? I heard you got hospitalized...."
"Opo....I'm better na po.....thank you po....."
"Did you see Rj na?.....ay wait....it's only 10:00am.....he's at therapy pala....he should be here by lunchtime, though...."
Maine smiled and nodded. "Uhmm....Ma'am...."
"Tita Chat....Rj's told me all about you already....." Mommy Chat reached over and tapped Maine on the hand.
"Tita....uhmm....why does Rj go to therapy?"
"He hasn't told you?"
"No po...."
"He was very malikot as a child. Yaya Caring would always get tired chasing after him. When he was playing in the garage one afternoon, he ran after his ball which had rolled behind our car...."
"......"
".....our driver was backing out of the garage because he was on his way out to pick up your Tito....."
"......"
"....he didn't notice Rj so he got run over.....both his legs were fractured....he was also asleep for about 3 days....we thought we lost him already.....we lost his little sister due to asthma....I think Rj blamed himself because she got very sick.....they were very close and were playmates....."
"....but he's okay naman po now?"
"...well, he was very sad and angry when Maya passed away....the psychiatrist told us that he showed his defiance by shouting......after the car accident he had physical therapy to help him walk again but we also ended up spoiling him....I guess we all thought that it would help him through his pain.......he's also the first boy apo on both sides....his Lola, my mom, didn't like seeing him cry during the first months after the accident that she wanted him carried or in a wheelchair all the time....buti nalang Rj got bored on the wheelchair and decided to stand and walk.....but sometimes, he's tamad to walk properly that's why he drags one foot more....but iha, we've noticed a big change in Rj since you arrived....not only is less bratty and hard headed, but he also decided to go back to therapy to correct his walking....Your Tito and I are really grateful that you came into Rj's life.....yes, Jose told us that you and Rj are now dating...." Mommy Chat smiled and took Maine's hand in hers.
Maine fell silent for a few minutes. Then she spoke, "....naikwento nga po ni Kuya Jose that he goes to therapy.....yung therapy center nya is near my house...."
"Ahh really?....."
"Yes po...."
"....ahh iha, have lunch here na please...."
"Po?"
"Have lunch here....I'll go tell Caring...." Mommy Chat said and stood up.
"Uhmm....Ma'am....Tita.....I'll just go to the office first...."
"Okay...." Mommy Chat went to the kitchen while Maine went into the home-office.
