"Ay, patay." Maine said. RJ's piercing stare bore straight through her. She gulped and quickly looked away.
"Patay talaga." He said with a poker face expression.
"Ah sige po matutulog na ako, goodnight." Maine replied and scurried off to the maid's quarters before RJ could say another word.
*
Maine woke up early the next day. She prepared breakfast for both Kirby and RJ before she started packing some of her things.
"Day off mo ba ngayon, Maine?" she looked up and saw Loleng staring at her.
"Oo ... bukas pa naman, bakit?"
"Ah, pahintay na lang po ako bago kayo umalis. Para may kasama si Kirby." Maine replied. After inserting the last piece of clothing she was going to take home with her, Maine zipped up her bag and placed it on the bed.
"Kumusta naman yung first week mo dito? Sa tingin mo tatagal ka?" Loleng asked. Suddenly, a flash of what happened the night before crossed Maine's mind. RJ promised her he will be a terror boss. And as much as Maine would like to believe he was only bluffing, a part of her was thinking he will do exactly what he said.
"Siguro po. Mabait naman po si Sir di ba? Medyo masungit nga lang pero mabait. Magtatagal naman ako siguro kung ganon." She replied.
"Mabait naman talaga yung batang yun eh. Kaso, ayun nga lang ... kahit naman siguro ikaw, malaman mong bigla na may anak ka pala magugulo rin siguro buhay mo."
"Oo nga po eh. Iintindihan ko na lang kahit parang laging may period."
"Hoy! Baka marinig ka nun." Loleng said and they both laughed.
"Ah sige po Manang, mauuna na po ako. Pakisabi na lang kay Sir tsaka kay Kirby."Maine told Loleng. She then picked up her bag and left.
--
"Aw, fuck." RJ said as soon as he saw the amount of unanswered calls and messages on his phone. He read the texts and realized he forgot to go to the party he was invited to.
"This is your entire fault, Maine. Your entire fucking fault." He whispered as though she could hear him. RJ got too pissed off with her that he just decided to sleep the night away to let his temper cool down. After realizing that it will take at least an hour or two for him to deal with his friends, RJ placed the phone under the pillow and left the room. He then went downstairs and saw Kirby in the living room.
"Good morning, bud!" he greeted half-heartedly.
"Good morning, Daddy!" Kirby yelled and turned his eyes back on the coloring book he was working on.
"Gising ka na pala." Another voice said. RJ looked on and saw Loleng smiling at him.
"Opo ... nasaan si Maine?"
"Umuwi. Day-off niya ngayon di ba?"
"Oh," Richard said.
"Eh bakit parang nalungkot ka?" Loleng asked in a teasing tone. RJ looked at her and frowned.
"Me? Malulungkot? Hell, no! Nanibago lang po ako ... tahimik yung bahay kapag wala siya." RJ answered immediately. He then went in the kitchen to drink a glass of water.
"Sabagay, madaldal nga yung bata. Pero mabait naman kahit papano." Loleng said when he returned.
"Yun? Mabait? Eh tinawag niya akong terror boss!"
"Pag-pasensiyahan mo na ... mas matanda ka naman sa kaniya eh. Papasok ka na ba bukas?" Loleng asked him and RJ nodded.
"Kelan mo ipapa-DNA test si Kirby?"
