Tú Eres Mi Sol

LIV

In New York, Rose and Lia Faulkerson were having breakfast.

"Do you think there's something going on with Dei and your brother?" Rose asks Lia while she sips her Italian Roast coffee.

"What makes you ask that, Mom?"

"There's something different about the two. They're not talking as much or being clingy as much."

"Mom, ganyan talaga yung dalawa di ba? Remember when Dei ate the last of RJ's favourite pastries when she was 9 or when RJ pulled a prank at Dei and it totally scared her? They weren't talking for a time pero eventually they can't last a long time. Magrereconcile din yung dalawa."

"Hmmmm..."

"Bakit Mom?"

"I don't know why they don't see it, they are so perfect together!"

"Hay Mom, the last time you announced to everyone na it seems finally they are together because they were very clingy with each other, Dei was dating Christian and RJ was starting to see Camille."

"I know, I know, Hija! That was too much excitement on my part, kaya ngayon I'm careful"

"Mom, ask ko lang, bakit ba sobrang pini-pair mo sina Dei at RJ? Malay mo, baka they are just meant to be good friends"

"Hija, I've grown to love Dei as much as my own kid. And she's so perfect for RJ. They work well together. I've never seen a team work well together. I feel, something like a mother's instinct na there's something between them"

"Mom, do you think if there's something going on with Dei and RJ, they will keep it a secret?"

"WHY WOULD THEY? THE WHOLE WORLD IS ROOTING FOR THEM!"

"Mom, Mom. Calm down. I was just asking."

Rose returns to her seat and drinks her coffee.

"Mom, there's just so much pressure for RJ and Dei to work out. I've overheard you about a hundred times telling RJ when he would go on dates with someone after Camille saying why don't you go out with someone like Dei. Or I've also heard Nicoleen and Nicolette telling Dei, date someone like RJ."

"If they do that, then RJ isn't the child I raised him to be, it's cowardice!"

"I'd have to disagree."

"Why?!"

"There's the three of you, Nicoleen and Nicolette, there's dad, there's RJ's friends, then there's the gossipmongers whose favorite pastime is to talk about us or the Mendoza's, there's so much meddling that's going to happen. The world that they are moving in will get so tiny, it'll suffocate them."

"Rachel Emilia! Are you saying that your mother is a meddler?"

Lia walks to her mom and says, "Mom, I love you and you know that. I'm going to take a shower now."

***

In Palo Alto.

Dei walks out of the room. 

"Dei! Gising ka na pala! Nagluto si Jerald ng breakfast. Hindi na namin inabot si RJ, ang aga pala noon nagigising!" Sam said

"Oi, anong for breakfast?" an excited Dei walks towards the kitchen, followed by Sam and finds Jerald in an apron, Mark, Rodjun and Tuns eating. They all shout, "Dei!!! Kain"

The boys move to make space for Dei. Sam gets Dei a plate, utensils and a table napkin.Tuns was making Dei coffee. And Jerald was making pancakes

"Spoiled ko naman sa inyo!"

"Syempre! Dapat lang!" Rodjun answered.

When the boys became friends with Richard, they became friends with Dei, too. They grew close to Dei. One time, the boys wanted to go to the mall to look for their prom suits, Dei insisted on going with them, with Yaya Pinky, of course. 

Richard had a homeschool session that day so they didn't invite him. When he found out, he grew livid, they have never seen Richard lose his cool demeanour. From then on, if Dei was involved, they'd usually tell him. They have never seen him angry ever again. They were like Dei's older brothers, and they knew then how much a young Richard dotted on Dei.

"Dei, anong nangyari sa lips mo? Parang namamaga?" a concerned Jerald asked.

"Hmm.. hmmmm.. kumain kasi kami ng scallops ni RJ. Bad reaction." she replied

"Hay naku, Dei, ewan ko ba naman sa iyo kung bakit gustong gusto mo kumain ng scallops, naalala mo yung bata pa tayo, kumain ka, lumobo yung lips mo, nakakatakot!" said Mark

"Masarap e. Tsaka hindi naman parati!"

"Hoy, Sam! Bakit ka tulala dyan?" Tuns asked

"Napansin niyo ba si RJ may sugat sa lips. Mukhang mayka-istulips ng matindi."

Dei almost choked. 

"Rodjun, Tubig para kay Dei. Ito naman kasing si Sam, bakit ka naman nagdidiscuss ng ganyan habang kumakain si Dei. Alam mo naman na bantay nito si RJ, gustong sabihin ba may nakalusot na hindi alam ni Dei?" Mark said

 "Guys, guys, making kayo sa akin, the all-knowing Jerald! Pakainin niyo nga muna si Dei, bago natin pag-usapan yan."

***

The boys decided to drive to San Francisco, they invited Dei but she declined, saying she had a slight headache and would rather take a nap. 

Richard went home as early as he could, in this case was 5.30 in the afternoon. "Dei! Dei!" he shouted the moment he came home.

Dei went out of the room, run to Richard and jumped at him. Her arms wrapped around his neck and he was supporting her with his hands. 

"Wala sila?" Richard asked

"Wala." Dei went in for a kiss. They kissed as if  they haven't seen each other in ages. They stopped for air and went on again, and again, and again. Richard was now carrying Dei. His bags  and car keys were dropped on the floor. 

Dei used her thumb to caress Richard's lips. "RJ, Love. I think bawasan natin yung roughness. Kanina nagtatanong si Sam kung bakit may sugat ka daw sa lips. Baka daw may tinatago kang babae na hindi namin alam."

"Meron naman talaga." He answered

Her face turned serious

"O, bakit serious ka dyan. Meron naman talaga akong tinatagong babae, ikaw!" He uses his index finger to point at her noise

She smiled and went in for a kiss again. 

"Dei, Love. Na-miss mo kiss ko no?"

"Sarap e. Na-diet kaya ako."

"Iniisip ko nga kung paano mapapaalis sina Sam e. Ano kayang bibilhin natin na ticket na they can't refuse and they will have to go."

Dei laughed. "RJ, Love. Ibaba mo na ako. Mabigat ako"

"Ayoko nga!"

The doorbell rings.

Richard looks at the door viewer still carrying Dei.

Richard puts Dei down and mouths,"Sam!"

They fix Richard's shirt and hair. They then pick up his things from the floor. They also fix Dei's clothes and hair. 

Dei runs to the bedroom and Richard opens the door. 

"We're back!!!" his friends shout.