"Hah? Hindi ba delikado yan, anak? Baka naman criminal pala yang boss mo?" Mrs. Mendoza asked after Maine told them Lala's deal. She looked at her Dad and saw the serious expression on his face.
"Grabe siya, criminal agad? Ma, tungkol yun dun sa mana na makukuha niya. Gustong masigurado nung Lola niya na karapat-dapat siya dun sa mamanahin niya." Maine answered.
"Para naman palang teleserye ang pamilya nila." Her aunt commented. Maine sat on a nearby chair and let out a sigh. Thoughts raced insider her head, all wondering whether she can do the job and keep it a secret from RJ at the same time.
"Iha, hindi kaya mas-mabuti na lang kung maghanap ka nang ibang trabaho? Mahirap na, baka mamaya maipit ka pa sa gulo nila." Mr. Mendoza suggested.
"Eh Tay, sayang naman po kasi yung makukuha ko dun. At least dito, pasok na ako ... may matatanggap na ako sa katapusan. Kung maghahanap pa ako ng iba ... edi shing di ba?" Maine replied.
"Tsaka gwapo naman yung boss niya ... mukhang mabait."
"Nako Meng, kapag may ginawang kalokohan yun sa'yo magsumbong ka agad ah? Uubusin ko lahi nila." Mr. Mendoza told her. Maine's eyes widened. She sat up properly and looked at him.
"Tay naman!"
"Eh sinasabi ko lang naman. Kapag may ginawa yun sa'yo, ay nako."
"Baka ako pa nga ang may gawin dun eh." Maine mumbled.
"Ano??"
"Wala po!! Wala!!"
--
The next day, RJ woke up early to fix some files for his work and to welcome Maine back from her day off. After organizing his bag, RJ grabbed two hampers of his dirty clothes and started spreading the contents around the house. He threw a few shirts on the couch and one of his dirty boxers on the kitchen table.
"Iho, anong ginagawa mo?"
RJ turned around and saw Loleng staring at him suspiciously. He gulped and gave her a nervous smile before throwing another dirty shirt on the floor.
"Wala Manang, nagkakalat lang." RJ muttered.
"Si Maine maglilinis niyan, ano?" Loleng asked and he nodded.
"Ay naku, ikaw talagang bata ka ... papagurin mo na naman yun."
"Oh come on ... let me live, Manang."
"Oh sige .... Ikaw bahala ... pero kapag na-in love ka dun ah ... mayayari ka." Loleng warned.
"Dun? Kay Maine? Kadiri ka, Manang" RJ said, pissed at Loleng for thinking he would fall for someone like Maine. Loleng laughed a bit and told him she was leaving. RJ followed her outside and locked the gate after she left. He then continued to wreak more havoc inside the house. RJ piled all unused kitchen utensils in the sink, emptied the vacuum cleaner bag on the living room carpet and pulled the curtains down until the beams they were hanging on slipped off from the rack. Finally, after an hour or so, he heard the sound of the gate bell ringing. RJ smirked and went outside.
"I already gave you a key! Why are you still pressing the damn bell?" he asked as soon as he stepped out.
"Eh naiwan ko po sa bahay eh ... papa-kuha ko na lang po mamaya sa tatay ko." Maine replied.
"Ugh, the incompetency ... pumasok ka na dito." RJ said and opened the gate for her. As soon as she got in, he locked the gate once more and started walking alongside her.
