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Maine went out of the room and looked for someone to accompany her to Rj's house which was a few blocks away.
No one could accompany her. All her siblings were out of the house and Yaya Pepe was busy with house chores.
"Sige na....kaya mo na yan..."
"But Yaya..."
"Eto naman e...madami pa akong ginagawa...."
"Please...."
".....sasamahan kita hanggang kanto...."
Maine thought for a moment. "....okay...kahit hanggang kanto...."
"....kaya mo yan....dito lang naman sa village e...." Yaya Pepe encouraged her.
(Yaya Pepe had actually asked Sally, the younger helper, to 'accompany' Maine but from a distance with strict instructions that she shouldn't be seen or noticed by Maine...
"......ang lapit lang pala nung bahay ni Rj.....malapit lang dun kina Betchay....di po ako napansin ni Ate Maine....nagtago po ako dun sa may malaking puno nung lumingon sya habang nag-aantay na buksan ng gate....")
Rj had fallen asleep again so he did not notice that Maine had entered his room. He only stirred from his sleep when he felt someone stroking his hair. He slowly opened his eyes and yawned.
"....hello..." Maine signed, smiling.
"..uh...hi!...you're here!" he said, sitting up in bed, his hair messy.
She reached for his head to try to fix it. He combed his fingers through his hair.
"....Yes, your maid let me in...." she signed. "....Yaya Pepe brought me to the corner of our street...."
"....wait....you walked here by yourself?"
Maine looked at Rj for a while then nodded slowly.
"....alone?......by yourself?" Rj repeated; both spoken and in sign language.
Maine nodded again.
"Wow! Wow! WOW!! That's awesome! I'm so happy and proud of you!" Rj said as he leaned forward and hugged Maine. "I love you, sweetie!"
Maine hugged him tightly and swayed until they both fell on the bed, laughing. Maine in her open mouth, no sound laugh.
Maine spent the rest of the day at Rj's house. She even had lunch with him. In the afternoon, he insisted that they nap together, he on the sofa and she on his bed. An hour later, he awoke and just watched her sleep, observing her simple beauty.
She woke up to him watching her. She smiled and signed, "why?"
"Wala lang....ang cute mo matulog....para kang kuting na nag-p-purr...."
"....FYI, I don't like cats....I'm a dog person..." she signed.
"Hmm....I see....did you ever have a dog?" he asked.
"None.....Ate is allergic to fur...."
"Hmm...."
"How about you?" she signed.
"I had a turtle and some fish.....the fish in the aquarium outside....some of them are mine...." he answered. "....about Sunday's get together....what kind of cake do you like?"
"Cake?"
"....nakakahiya naman kung wala akong dala, diba? I mean, I've been invited to so many of your family's gatherings...I think it's only proper that I should bring something...."
"Hmm....I was also going to ask you if you like cupcakes?"
"Cupcakes?"
"Yes....I brought you some..." Maine stood up from the bed and took out a small container from her bag.
"Wow!" Rj smiled widely. "You made these?"
"Yes....early this morning....I thought that it would make you feel better...."
"Yes! I'm better na nga diba? You took good care of me e...."
Maine smiled and took his face in her hands and pressed her nose against his. She had never been this "intimate" with him so Rj paused for a few seconds before he smiled and rested his forehead against hers.
".....I can help you bake, can I?"
"Of course!" he said as he took a bite from one cupcake. "....sarap!"
"Really?"
"....masarap! gawa ng love ko e...."
"Love?"
"Oo....love ko!"
"Who?"
"Sino pa ba...eh di si...."
"....who? Yung girl na lagi mong kasama pauwi?"
"Si Barang?! I mean si Barbara? Susme! Nakita mo na boyfriend nun? Kakatakot kayang mabangga yun! Ikaw lang ang love ko no?!" Rj exclaimed.
Maine chuckled. "....ang cute mo mag-panic...." she signed.
"Trust me, sweetie....you're my one and only..."
"....even if I don't 'talk' the way normal people do?"
"....kahit na magmukha ka pang paa!......I am willing to wait for the day to hear your voice.....I'm sure it will be the sweetest and best sound I will ever hear...."
