Drum Beats

Thirteenth Beat

"Ready ka na ba?" Maine said when she saw Richard standing infront of the bar. Richard nodded and went in her car.

"Do you know who you're arranged to marry?"

"Absolutely no idea," she replied. "I haven't told my dad about you yet, so he won't be expecting this."

Richard gulped. Even though he was just pretending to be her boyfriend, he was still nervous.

They stopped in front of a big house. Someone was waiting at the gate.

"Hi Manang Lita," Maine greeted.

"Nicomaine," the lady was teary-eyed. "Ang laki mo na. Ba't hindi ka ba nadalaw dito?"

"Na-busy po eh," Maine replied.

She's living on her own? Richard thought.

Manang Lita saw him, "Sino siya?"

"Ah, si Richard po," Maine answered. "Boyfriend ko."

That sounds really good when she says it, Richard thought.

Manang Lita looked shocked. "Meng—"

"Alam ko po, kaya po ipapakilala ko na po si Richard kay dad," Maine cut her off.

The lady didn't talk anymore and just walked inside. "Yung mama mo nasa kusina, naghahanda ng pagkain. Yung papa mo nasa office niya," Mang Lita said. Maine just nodded.

"Gusto mo ba ng maiinom?" Manang Lita asked him.

"Ay, no na po. I'm good," he replied.

"Stay here," Maine said. "I'll talk to dad first." Richard just nodded.

Richard looked around the house. It was huge. There were lots of photos, especially of Maine with her family and friends.

"So, I'm guessing you're Richard?"

He turned and saw a woman, maybe in her 40s, that looked a lot like Maine.

Her mom, he thought.

"Uhm, yes ma'am, I'm Richard," he stood up and shake hands with the lady.

"You're making me feel old with 'ma'am'," her mom laughed. "Tita nalang."

"Since when have you been my Maine's boyfriend?" They both sat on the couch.

"Just a few weeks po," Richard said.

"So bago lang," she grabbed two glasses and poured wine in it. She offered one to Richard and he took it.

"Where did you meet?"

"Sa—"

"Hi mom," they were interrupted by Maine. She smiled at her mom and gaver her a hug.

"Oh my baby," her mom said. "I missed you."

"I missed you too, mom," Maine replied.

After that, Maine went to Richard's side.

"So you're Richard," they heard someone say in a very stern voice.

Richard saw her dad walk towards them.

"Yes, sir, Richard Faulkerson Jr., sir," he kept wiping his hands on his legs because they were sweaty.

Her dad grabbed a glass of wine.

"Faulkerson, huh? Are you Richard Faulkerson's son? From the Faulkerson Corp?"

"Yes, sir," he replied.

"We're friends, your dad and I," her father said.

Crap, Maine thought. He's gonna make me marry Richard. Stupid, Maine! Stupid!

"Really?" Richard replied.

"Mh-hm."

"You picked a good one, Nicomaine," her dad said to her.

"You know me, dad," Maine said.

This is the end for me, Maine thought.

"I'm gonna have to cancel on Mr. Martinez," her dad said. "We're gonna have dinner."