Tú Eres Mi Sol

I

It was a little over 2 in the afternoon. It was scorching hot outside.

"Ricardo!!! ", a woman's voice was booming throughout the house.

She starts opening doors. After failing to find the person in question in the first 3 rooms that she opens. She moves to the last room in the house, the master bedroom and the biggest one. After opening the door, she sees an array of clothes, not just any other clothes but a woman's clothes.  

Finds a guy sleeping on the chaise lounge chair. She shakes him. "Ricardo! Wake up." She shakes him forcibly. And shakes again.

The guy opens his eyes. Startled. Quickly sits down.

"Ma, what are you doing here? Bakit ka andito?"

"Ricardo, Richard James, what is this that Manang Merting told me? May dala ka daw na babae dito?" She then pinches his abdomen. 

"What did I tell you about bringing girls to the house? I told you, you can't bring strangers into our house without telling me! Who knows if they're thieves or they're just using you?!"

The bathroom door creaks and it opens. They both turn their attention to the bathroom. 

A woman in white shirt and shorts comes out. She has a small face and deep-set gorgeous brown eyes that you'll recognise anywhere.

"Auntie Rose", the young woman gives the older woman a buss in the cheeks

"Dei! I didn't know it was you. Honey, how are you?"

"I'm so sorry, RJ brought me here. I didn't know it was off-limits to non-family. I'll call home, Auntie. I'll ask them to fetch me. Please don't be mad at RJ. He just wanted to cheer me up"

"Oh Dei. You're family. You know that you're always welcome here or in any of our houses. Anytime. I'm so sorry about your Dad. How are you holding up?"

"Auntie, I still miss him. I still miss Dad", the younger woman and the older woman were now hugging each other.

Rose looks at his son, he was smiling sheepishly and scratching his head.

"You kids stay here. Stay the night here. I'll ask Merting to prepare dinner for us."

***

"Merting! Merting!!"

"Ma'am!"

Merting or Carmen has been in the Faulkerson family for many years. The was almost the same age as Rose Faulkerson. The family sent her to school. She finished college but told the Faulkerson Patriarch that the city life was not for her. She now manages this vacation house, which also a farm. She's seen RJ and his siblings grow up. She's always been fond of those kids. 

"Hindi na kayo galit? Parang galit na galit kayo kaninang umaga noong tinawagan ko kayo na andito si RJ at may kasamang babae."

"Merting, alam mo ba yan si Dei. Yan ang gusto kong mapangasawa ni RJ. Siya ang gusto kong maging manugang! Di ba pinadalhan kita nang picture?"

"Ma'am, yung picture na yun mga 5 years ago na at malabo na ata yun. Hindi ko na siya nakilala."

"Merting naman! Pero ang gandang bata no?"

"Oo, Ma'am. Tsaka mukhang mabait. Alam mo, Ma'am, Kanina nag-ikot na sila ni RJ dyan sa farm. Sabi ni Berto, mukhang masaya daw si RJ na kasama yung babae. Parati daw nakatawa."

"Hahaha. Oo nga yang anak ko pa naman na yan may pagkabugnutin di ba? Magpaluto ka pala mamaya, dito ako kakain kasama yung dalawa. Mukhang kailangang tulong niyan si RJ. Ang bagal, parang pagong!"

"Ma'am akala ko ba habulin ng babae yang si RJ?"

"Merting, naku ayoko sa kanila, si Dei lang ang gusto ko. Tutulungan mo ako para maging manugang ko si Dei!"

"Ma'am, oo ba! Support kita dyan!"