The Heart Can See (Completed)

Day 33b - Eyes Wide Open

A/N: Susubukan, sinubukan. Surprise update.

Maine closed her eyes and leaned against the closed door, her heart still pounding. My God! Ano ginawa ko? Bakit hindi ko siya kayang makita na malungkot?

"Bunso, ano nangyari sa 'yo? Parang hinihingal ka? Okay ka lang?"

"Yes, ate. Okay lang ako.... promise, okay lang talaga ko.", her hands moving to cover her heated cheeks.

She almost jumped when they heard the doorbell rings.

"Ano, tatayo ka na lang diyan? Anong problema mo?" Ate Ann nudged her aside to look into the peep hole. "Kaya naman pala e"

She opens the door to the beleaguered-looking suitor. "Pasok ka Alden. Kanina ka pa diyan?"

"Good evening po, Doktora. Hindi naman po. Pasensiya na po, nakaistorbo yata ako."

"Istorbo? Naku hinde! You're just what the doctor ordered. Sit down, mukhang tulala pa yung isa dito. Pa'no iwan ko muna kayo? Magandang hadlang na 'ko dito e. "

After her sister went to the kitchen to see about preparing drinks, RJ sat down beside her on the sofa. It's now Maine who's unable to look at RJ. "Sorry, akala ko kasi umuwi ka na."

RJ cleared his throat. "Why did you do that? I mean the ... "

"The kiss... on the cheek? To cheer you up. Hindi ko kasi matiis na makita kang malungkot."

"Sorry kung pinag-alala kita. I'm trying to overcome these occasional bouts of sadness pero hindi ko pa rin matanggal. Minsan gusto ko lang mag-isa. Just like today. Pasensiya na, nadamay ka pa."

"Is there something bothering you? I mean really bothering you? And don't tell me it's your moon-faced photo. I don't buy it. Kung dito ka nagpunta, ibig sabihin may kinalaman ako. Tapos may pa-request ka pa ng sign."

"I guess I owe you an explanation. Sabihin nating may nagpa-realize lang sa 'kin na I maybe being unfair by pursuing my intentions with you."

"Anong ibig mong sabihin?"

"Menggay, you're supposed to find someone who can be there with you and for you. Somebody who can grow old with you and not be a burden to you. Medyo bagsak yata ako doon sa grow old with you, knowing that my heart is a ticking time bomb. At least based on studies."

Bakit may kurot? "Then what are you saying? Umuurong ka na?"

"NO! Not by all means. Lalaban ako hanggang may chance. I'm just being transparent with you. Sooner or later, may magsasabi rin sa 'yo or ikaw mismo makakarealize nung sinabi ko...... And there's one more thing that I realized while I was aimlessly driving around before going here."

"Meron pa?" Ano ba, baka hindi lang kurot sa puso, baka saksak na?

"Puwede tingin ka sa 'kin?" RJ moved closer so he could hold her face and look into her eyes.

"There's a reason why you affect me this way. Hindi lang kita gusto, I love you Maine. Mahal na kita. For as long as my heart is still beating. Even beyond." He gave a teary smile. "Wala e, yun na yon, itotodo ko na. Nothing to lose. Call me unfair, but those are all my cards on the table."

Yes, and what cards they are. Ang daya mo naman e! "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything now. Alam ko medyo binigla kita. Sinasabi ko lang na maiintindihan kita if your decision will come to .... whatever."

"I see." Maine looks down because his words and the thumb caressing her cheek are doing a number in her heart.

Mistaking her expression for something else, RJ gave a mirthless laugh before releasing her face. "Dialogue ko yata yan. Yun lang po ang gusto kong sabihin. But thank you for cheering me up by that kiss. At least bumalik na yung smile ko. It really means a lot."

Maine became speechless, more so when RJ stood up.

"I need to go, pasabi na lang kay Doktora. Baka kasi akala ni Kuya Pekto kung saan na ko nagpunta."

A/N: Akala ko ba dapat happy? Ano ginagawa n'yong dalawa?

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Maine remained motionless minutes after RJ left. Then she finally moved to stare at his moon-faced photo from her phone.

This is how Ate Ann found her when she came back to the living room, carrying a tray of snacks and drinks. "Sorry Alden natagalan itong merienda. Tulog na kasi si ..... asan na yung bisita mo? Teka, umiiyak ka ba? Pinaiyak ka nung mokong na yon?"

Maine let out a sob. "Ate, nagtapat na siya."

"I'm assuming feelings niya pinagtapat niya at hindi utang o secret na asawa o girlfriend? Hinihintay ko pa rin yung CENOMAR." Ate Ann sat beside her, putting the tray on the table.

Maine wipes the tears in her eyes with the sleeve of her shirt. "Ayan ka na naman eh, naiiyak na nga yung tao."

"Pinapatawa lang kita." She stares at her sister and pulled her closed by the neck. "Halika ka nga dito. Eh nagtapat na pala ng pagsinta, bakit ka pa umiiyak? Diba dapat masaya ka? Unless hindi mo siya gusto."

Maine relayed what RJ told her, leaving no details unsaid.

"Alam mo Menggay, pinahanga ako n'yang manliligaw mo. Pero tama siya na hindi niya sigurado buhay niya. Alam mo ba na gusto ko ring sabihin sa 'yo yan? Doktor ako, and the last thing I want is to give false promises to my patients. Kaya aprub siya sa 'kin diyan. Pero teka, bakit ka nga umiiyak?"

"You're right ate, may tama na ko dito." Maine pointed at her heart. "Hindi ako magiging masaya kung hindi siya masaya."

"So anong gagawin mo?"

Maine made up her mind and heart. "I guess I just need to give him the sign. Yung sign na magpapa-happy sa kanya."

"Sigurado ka na?"

Maine nods, still crying. "Eyes wide open."

A/N:Ayun naman pala. Ang tanong mga ate at kuya, ano kaya ang sign na ibibigay niya?