She put a light lipstick on her lips for her final touch. After almost 2 years, this is the first time she wanted to be presentable again. For Richard. A few seconds he started knocking. Her heart begins to beat faster.
/
"Dei, ready ka na?", he asked over her door.
"Hmmm... Pasok ka, okay na ba 'to?", she asked trying her best to smile and ease the nervousness in her system.
He entered, his mouth fell open upon seeing her.
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"Richaaaard! Magsalita ka namaaaan, ano? Okay na ba? Hindi ba nakakahiya kay Mama mo? Sa family mo? Wait, yung make up ko, nasobrahan ba? Wag-"
"You're everything perfect Dei", he said looking on her worried eyes, assuring her.
"Sa... Salamat"
He smiled and went on her back to roll her wheelchair.
"No Dei, Thank You"
/
"ANO? TOYO?", Rio, the beautiful woman where Richard got his yes, exclaimed after she told them on how Richard tried to get her attention.
"Kuyaaaa! Nakakahiya ka! Kung ako si Ate Dei, binuhusan kita ng suka!!", Angel said.
"Eh kaso, mabait si Dei. Hindi katulad mo", Richard teased.
"Actually Angel, muntik na akong mapatawag sa 911. Akala ko bagong modus ng akyat bahay eh", Dei kid that made his mother and sister laugh their hearts out.
She grinned looking at his pouted lips.
His family welcomed her with open arms, and she never saw, not a single of a pity eye. They did not let her feel lesser despite of her condition. She never felt any discrimination, but a genuine love.
After eating lunch, Angel had to a attend her friend's birthday party so she left right away. Rio, told Richard Sr. and Jr. to do the dishes.
"Maaaa", Sr. and Jr. said in unison.
"Tigilan niyo akong dalawa! Maghugas na kayo ng pinggan at mag-gi-girl talk kami ni Dei"
"Dei?", Richard looked on Dei and searched for her eyes.
"Ok lang, nukaba?!"
"O? Ano pang ginagawa niyo dito? Hugas ng pinggan!"
"Daaaad", he said looking for his father's help.
"Anak, Dei, Rio... Bilang padre de pamilya-"
"Yes dad"
"-tungkulin kong...sumunod sa lahat ng utos ni Mama. Kaya Richard, halika na. Maghugas na tayo ng pinggan"
Rio has a wide smile on her face.
"I love you Dad"
"I love you too Mama", Richard Sr. answered winking.
Stomping their way to the kitchen, the two Richards did as they was told.
When they left, Rio sat beside Dei. Dei is very comfortable. Rio is a very beautiful woman, and seeing their family, she knew she's a great mother and an amazing wife.
"Hi, anak. Ok lang kung tawagin kitang anak?", Rio asked caressing her back.
"Po?"
The woman just smiled.
"Marahil hindi ko alam ang nararamdaman mo dahil wala ako sa sitwasiyon mo. I can't speak on your behalf. Hindi ko kailanman maiintindihan ang pinanggagalingan mo dahil iba ang pinaroonan ko.. Pero gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo na maganda ang buhay, marami pang rason para ngumiti. At ikaw, anak, ang rason kung bakit ngumingiti sa Richard. Kaya, salamat", Rio, said looking on her eyes then held her hand.
"T-tita", she said as her tears started forming.
"Hindi ka na iba sa akin, sa amin Dei, tandaan mo 'yan. Welcome to the family anak"
"Thank you po", she whispered then hugged her.
/
While the two Richards wash the dishes. Jr. started teasing his father.
"Ang lala mo kay Mama, Dad. Tiklop ka Kay Mama. Patay na patay ka"
"Oo naman! Yang pagmamahal ko kay Mama parang utang ng Pilipinas yan, hindi maubos ubos"
"Hahaha. Korni mo dad"
"Nagsalita si Boy Toyo!", his father teased back.
"Dad. May tanong ako", he suddenly got serious.
"Kailan mo nalaman na si Mama na?"
"Maniwala ka sa hindi? Unang beses pa lang akong nginitian ng Mama mo? Right at that moment gusto ko na siyang pakasalan"
He shook his head in response.
"May aaminin ako sa'yo Dad"
"Ano 'yon?"
"Nung isang gabi, sa isip ko ginawa ko ng Faulkerson apelyido ni Dei", he answered chuckling as his face turned red.
"Hulog na hulog ka din nak eh, mag-ama nga tayo"
\
They were all smiles as they head the way on her unit. She gave her keys to him, so he opened the door for her.
"Hindi na ako papasok, so you can rest"
She just smiled.
"Dei, Thank you", he said as she entered her unit.
"May sasabihin ako"
"Ano yun?"
"Lean down, ibubulong ko", she instructed.
A bit confused but he still did what he was told.
He leaned down closer to her, but instead of whispering something on his ear, Dei reached for his face pulling him down to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. He froze.
"Thank you, Richard", she whispered then distanced herself from him, slowly closing the door.
Richard was left, surprised. He touched his cheek where Dei's kiss still lingers.
Smiling as wide as he could making his way on his unit, he said to himself: "Hulog na hulog ka nga"
Before he sleep he made a decision.
Bukas. Magtatapatnaakobukas.
That night they both sleep with a smile on each other's faces.
