breaking free (completed)

11. prize

The "celebratory" dinner was set for Sunday night. Rj agreed to bake a cake and some other goodies to honor Maine's "victories".

"...ano ba favorite nya?" He asked Coleen.

"....sabi nya, gusto daw nya yung spiced ginger cookies mo....pero mahilig sya sa mocha ice box cake, apple pie and strawberry shortcake...." Coleen shared.

"Hmm...thanks...."

"Hi!" Maine signed as she approached Rj who was already at the park when she arrived. They had been seeing each other at the park or sometimes, Rj would come over to Maine's house from work.

Rj looked her and smiled. "Hi" he signed back

"What are you doing?"

"....thinking....I want to try a new recipe...."

"Ahh...wait....Nanay said you're going to have dinner at home of Sunday?"

"....yes...."

"Yes. I will tell Nanay you said 'yes'..."

"Coleen told me the other day...."

"....I think you are my long lost brother....you and Nanay get along so well....even with the best friends of my brothers and sisters...."

Rj chuckled.

"Wait....why are your eyes red?" Maine looked at Rj

Rj shrugged his shoulders.

".....and you've been rubbing your nose...." Maine said as she put her hand on his neck.

"....you're sick!" she signed as she rubbed his back. "...and pawis....do you have a towel?"

"No....I'm okay...."

"No you're not....you don't look well...."

"I'm fine...."

They sat in silence for a long time. They always did. They both enjoyed their quiet moments with each other very much. Rj would get Maine's hand and play with her fingers and she would rest her head on his shoulder. This time however, Rj would constantly rub his nose and sneeze. And, much later on, he rested his forehead on his hands.

"....Maine....I'll go ahead...." Rj finally signed after a while and stood up.

"...okay....wait...I'll go with you...."

"Okay..."

Maine texted Coleen who went with her to the park that she would be at Rj's house.

"Okay.....text ka nalang pag magpapasundo ka na...." Coleen replied.

"....si Maine...." Rj said to Virgie, their helper, when they entered the gate.

"Good afternoon" Ate Virgie said and smiled. Rj had talked about Maine with his family. They knew that she did not speak to anyone. Maine just kept her head down.

"Ate.....water please para sa amin....sa room ko nalang..." Rj said as they walked inside. Rj lived in a one-story bungalow. They walked past the living room and into the hallway to the bedrooms. Rj's room was on the right side near the end of the hall. The room was neat and clean with his Iron Man collection neatly arranged on the shelves.

"Have a seat..." he said as he pointed to a couch on one side of the room. Maine sat down. Rj went into the bathroom. Ate Virgie came in and placed the tray of glasses with water on the desk and left.