breaking free (completed)

8. gathering

"Good afternoon po...." Rj said as Sally, the young helper opened the gate for him. "....si Maine?"

"Good afternoon po.....sino po sila?...." Sally asked as she let Rj in and closed the gate again. "....pasok po kayo....si Ate Maine po?"

"Hmm..."

"....sa loob po....pasok po kayo....."

"Anong pangalan mo?"

"Sally po...."

"Sally, kinakausap ka ba ni Maine?"

"....hindi po nagsasalita si Ate Maine.....hindi po kami kinakausap.....si Manang Pepe lang po ang kinakausap nya...."

"Ahh...."

"Opo....pero narinig ko na po ang boses ni Ate Maine....medyo mahina lang pero masiyahin naman...."

"Ah talaga?"

"Opo.."

"Ilan taon ka na ba dito?"

"Mag-t-three years na rin po...."

"Ah okay....salamat Sally...."

"Sandali lang po....tatawagin ko lang si Ate Maine...."

"O, Rj...."

"Good evening po Tita.....these are for the family po...." Rj stood up and gave Tita MaryAnn a kiss on the cheek and a jar of cookies. "...freshly baked...."

"Good evening, iho.....Talaga? Thank you! Maine and Coleen said you bake nga daw...."

"Opo...it's one of my hobbies po..."

"That's good....so you know your way around the kitchen?"

"A little po.....I can cook but I like baking more...."

"Ahh good...good.....thank you for helping Maine and Coleen the other day at the park. Alam mo naman yung vertigo, unpredictable talaga e...."

"Ah opo....it's a good thing na may kasama si Maine lagi...."

"Hmm...ah eto na pala sila Maine...."

"Good evening..." Rj stood up and greeted the family who had now trickled into the living room.

"O, let's all move to the dining room and eat na...." Tita MaryAnn invited.

"O, Rj, you can sit there beside Maine....Coleen, dito ka na sa kabila....." Tito Teddy said.

"Thank you..." Rj replied and pulled Maine's seat before sitting down beside her.

They said grace after all the food had been brought in by the helpers.

"....Rj, try the paella of your Tita...." Tito Teddy said as he turned the lazy susan.

"Ah talaga po?...." Rj said as he served himself. "Hmm....it is good....I only get to eat paella in Alba...." Rj praised Tita MaryAnn's cooking. "....and this salpicao is very tender.....Tita, saan po kayo bumibili ng steak?"

".....My brother recommended this brand which can only be bought in SM....kaso lang, not all SM carries it...."

"I see....Tita, if you don't mind, I'll get the name later, ha?"

"Sure"

"Tatay....bagay dyan sa tea mo tong cookies ni Rj....he baked these daw..." Ate Niki said after they had dinner and were having dessert. They moved to the den.