"So, are you coming to the dinner tonight?" RJ's mom asked him before stirring the cup of hot coffee right in front of her.
"I don't know, are you?" RJ asked back before glancing quickly at Maine. He hadn't told her about the dinner party happening at the mansion later that night.
"I mean I have to, right? Or else Lala wouldn't let me hear the end of it. RJ, I want to talk to you about the things that your father said. I want you to know that they're true, everything he told you ... they're true."
RJ became silent for a second. He stared at the smoke rising from his coffee and thought about what he would ask her next.
"Why are you still with him?" RJ then questioned her.
"For business purposes, I guess. We must show all of the investors and shareholders that our family is doing fine, so there would be no doubt in their minds that we can run the company. I know that he cheated on me, RJ. And I still haven't forgotten nor forgiven him for that. But I can't leave him. I really just can't."
"Why?"
"Because after everything he did, I still love him. And sometimes, that's what you do for the people you love, RJ. You make sacrifices just to keep things together. Kahit pa hirap na hirap ka na." she answered and RJ felt Maine grip his hands tightly. He looked at her and noticed a kind smile on her face.
"How about me? Do you even love me?" RJ then asked his mom. He spent most of his life practicing for the moment he could ask that question. But after being able to finally do it, he instantly wished he never did.
"Of course I do."
"Then ... bakit ... bakit niyo ako pinabayaan? And every time na may ginagawang kalokohan si Dad sa akin, bakit wala kang ginagawa? Every single time he called me names ... he insulted me several times, mom. Bakit wala kang sinabi? And bakit nag-stay ka sa states kasama siya? Do you consider that as sacrifice? Is that how you show your love to someone?" He asked. RJ felt his heart start beat fat and the air around him go thin.
"RJ ... no. I'm sorry for what I did to you; I guess I was too scared and hurt that I thought not being a mother to you will be the best for all of us. I got scared na baka I will do a bad job at being a mom kaya umalis ako. Yung mga time na nanahimik ako, wala akong excuse dun ... I'm sorry. RJ let me make it up to you. I'll do everything I can, I promise." His mother said. RJ thought he would feel happy to hear those words from her. But instead, he didn't feel anything.
"RJ?" Maine asked and he looked at her.
"Bigyan mo siya ng chance, please." She begged. RJ gulped and looked at his mom once more. He knew that unlike all the other talks they had before, she meant all the words she said in this one.
"Fine, I will. But if you mess this one up, you will lose me forever." He said and his mother displayed a warm smile on her face.
"Thank you, RJ. I missed you so much!"
--
Maine was touched by what happened between RJ and his mom. She held his hand the entire and whispered encouraging words to make him feel better about his decision. The three of them left the café 10 minutes past 7:00 pm. They walked his mother towards her car and talked a bit.
"So, are you guys going to the dinner tonight?" she asked them once more and Maine looked at RJ for an answer.
"Yes, I am. Love, are you?" he then asked her.
"Okay lang sa akin." Maine said.
"Great! I'll see you there. RJ, you won't regret this. I promise."
