Remembering Sir Tisoy

Pancit

"Hay nako, Fourth, anak, namiss talaga kita!" Maine's mother professes as she goes on and drags him over to the kitchen.

Fourth casually visited the Mendozas before he ever went on leave. And in these times, he would be the one there to chat with Mrs. Mendoza. The subject of spending more time with Maine was never brought up, as Mrs. Mendoza didn't know if it was right for her to talk to Fourth about it.

OA naman ni Nanay, parang si Fourth ang anak niya, Maine jokes to herself.

Fourth was carrying multiple bags of pasalubong. He places them on the kitchen counter, and starts to unpack it.

"Tita, namiss ko din po kayo. Eto po o, ang dami ko ngang pasalubong para sa inyo," he says excitedly.

"Eh ako, meron?" Maine butts in.

"Pinagiisipan ko pa kung ibibigay ko sa'yo, Mendoza. 'Di pa tayo bati."

The nerve, Maine thought as she rolled her eyes, and crossed her arms.

She decides to sit on the couch, continually looking at the sight before her. Her mother, so elated at Fourth for bringing her small keepsakes from his adventures. She never realised how much Fourth brings her mother happiness. She could tell how much she misses her sons. That reminds her, her mother's birthday is coming up soon, it's a good time to go ahead and plan something...big.

Her thoughts were disturbed when she felt her phone vibrate beside her. It was from an unknown number.

Unknown
7:59 pm
Hi! 😊

Maine
8:00 pm
Sino 'to?

Unknown
8:00 pm
It's Richard.

Maine
8:01 pm
Wait, ano? How did you get my number?

Unknown
8:01 pm
Remember that one time when you received a call. And no one answered on the other line?

Maine
8:01 pm
That was you???

Unknown
8:02 pm
Haha! Yeah!

Maine
8:05 pm
That doesn't answer my question, though. Paano mo nakuha number ko?

Richard
8:05 pm
Well, you're number's saved on Je's phone.

Richard
8:05 pm
So I just asked him for it. He seemed to have no problem giving it to me.

Maine
8:06 pm
He better start looking for a new sponsor, cause I'm definitely pulling out as his endorser for Sheen.

Richard
8:06 pm
Hahahaha! I'll make sure he gets the memo 😉

Maine
8:09 pm
Wait, why are you texting nga pala?

Sir Tisoy
8:10 pm
I'm kind of outside your house.

Maine was shocked by his last text, that she had to quickly run outside to make sure that he wasn't kidding. And...he wasn't. There he was standing right outside their gate, holding a generous bilao of pancit. He looked as handsome as ever as his undone tie hung across his neck - confirming that he just got out of school -, his coat draped on his shoulder, and his other shoulder leaned on one of the posts.