Meng, lumapit ka nga dito ...
Maine heard her father say as soon as RJ left the room. She smiled, took a deep breath, and walked towards the chair right beside his bed.
"Ano po yun, Tay?" she asked despite already knowing what her father was going to ask.
"Sinuko mo na yung ano mo kay RJ?"
Maine's mouth fell open as soon as she heard that question. She then blushed and pushed herself away from her father's bed.
"HOMAYGAHD ... TAY NAMAN EH!"
"Nagtatanong lang, wag kang OA. Alam kong di komportable tsaka dapat nanay mo yung kausap mo sa ganito kaso wala eh, para kayong mga pusang naglalampungan kanina kulang na lang batuhin kayo para tumigil. Meng, alam mong mahal kita at ayokong masaktan ka ... pero gusto ko rin naman na matuto kang gumawa nang mga sarili mong desisyon sa buhay. Wala naman na akong magagawa kung may nangyari na sa inyo eh, kahit mabilis, kahit sana nag-hintay pa kayo kahit mga konting panahon man lang, pero wala, ano pa nga bang magagawa ko di ba? Ang sa akin lang, kapag nabuntis ka niya at sinaktan ka niya, hahabulin ko siya hanggang sa kabilang buhay." Maine heard her father. She smiled and moved closer to him. Though she fell that the situation was extremely awkward, she was also touched deeply by the words he said. Maine then reached for her father's hands and squeezed them tightly.
"Tay, wala po kayong dapat ipag-alala, mabait po si RJ at mahal po ako non. Di ba kayo tiwala sa ganda ko, Tay? Oo alam ko burol lang yung meron sa akin pero at least di sila patag. Tsaka taob yung iba sa akin. ako na kasi ang nanalo sa puso niya." Maine replied.
"Anak?" her father asked.
"Po?"
"Wala akong naintindihan sa sinabi mo."
"Ay, sorry naman. Basta, Tay ... nag-iingat po kami ... palagi." Maine answered in her calm voice.
"Palagi? .... PALAGI? ILANG BESES NA BA MAY NANGYARI SA INYO? INAARAW-ARAW KA BA NI RJ? HUMANDA YUNG LOKONG YON PAG-LABAS KO DITO, MENG. YUNG KALIWANG ITLOG LANG NIYA ANG WALANG PASA!"
"Tay!"
--
RJ just entered the street leading to his house when he already noticed Carter's car parked right in front of the gate. He pulled up next to it and immediately got out of his vehicle RJ fished his phone out of his pocket and dialed his friend's number. Carter's phone rang twice before he was able to answer.
"Why are you in my house?" RJ asked.
"You're here! I'll open the gate!" Carter replied. RJ looked and saw the other guy rushing to open the gate, and as soon as he did, RJ walked in and ended the call.
"Why are you here? How did you get in? What are you doing here? Where's Cherry? Where's my son?" RJ asked him.
"Kirby's upstairs ... jeez, I'm your best friend, not your enemy. Follow me quick!" Carter replied impatiently.
"Where?" RJ asked before Carter led him towards the garden where he saw a bouquet of flowers sitting on top of the table. Feeling confused, and partly scandalized, RJ immediately turned his eyes towards Carter.
"Dude, I'm straight! And I have a girlfriend!" he told Carter, thinking the bouquet of flowers was for him.
"Jesus, ew! That's for Cherry!" Carter replied.
"Cherry? Cherry? Oh .... You're gonna court her?" RJ asked, surprised.
"Yup," Carter replied, nodding enthusiastically.
