-Rj-
My hands felt cold. I am so nervous but Im trying my best to be calm.
Sabay kaming tumayo ni Maine ng makitang dumating na si Nia, kasama nya si Rizza. Nasa Concha's Tagaytay branch kmi ngayon at pinakiusapan ko si Rizza na dalhin dito si Nia.
Agad kong sinalubong ang asawa ko na nakangiti samin. Sakin.
" Hi!"
" Hey, you! I miss you!"
Malambing na kumapit sya sa braso ko at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.
" Me too. Napagod ka ba?"
" Hindi naman. Wala akong nagawa kasi antok na antok ako kanina sa work. I watched your awarding sa EB! Ampangit ko sa VTR."
I chuckled when she pouted. I led her to the table where Maine is and as usual..
Nia: Omg! Hi, Maine Mendoza!😍
Rj: Eto nanaman po kami.
Maine: Hi, Nia! Drop the Mendoza please.
They buss cheek and I swear, Nia blushed!
Maine: Hi, Riz!
Rizza timidly smiled at Maine and said a quick Hello before saying she'll stay in the office.
Nia: Anong meron? Ang ganda mo talaga, Maine...😍
She cant stop her fangirl mode, really.
We settled in the private room.
Maine: Grabe, salamat.
I can feel that Maine felt the same as I am. I saw her gulp a couple of times and trying tk look at anywhere. Anywhere but Nia.
Nia: Kamusta naman ang movie?
Maine: Okay naman, mejo nangangalahati na din.
Rj: Kain muna tayo?
Nia: Sige, tawagin mo na si Rizza para sumabay na sya.
Rj: Ahm.-
Nia: Ang weird nyong dalawa. You look nervous.
Maine and I shared a look. Alam kong hindi nya kayang umpisahan.
Rj: Ah, Mahal? May ano, sasabihin sana kami ni Maine.
Nia: Ano yon?
Maine: We have a confession to make. But I want you to know that, hindi namin sinasadya.
Nia: Teka lang.
Rj: Mahal,
I held her hand tight.
Nia: Are you going to tell me that you just realize you still love each other and---
Rj: No! Hindi yon.
Nia: Eh, ano?
Maine felt silent and I see her guilt and anxiety at the moment.
I feel the same but we agreed to tell Nia.
I know I am risking a big chance of loosing Nia but I cant stay lying to her. Because I feel like I am cheating her everyday.
Nia: Rj.
The shift on her tone woke me up from my sudden lost of words.
Maine look down and nodded at me.
Rj: Im sorry. We really never meant that to happened.
Nia: What exactly are you talking about?
Nia is getting impatient.
Rj: Always remember that I love you so much and I am ready to give up everything for you.
Nia: CAN YOU JUST TELL ME ALREADY??
Rj: May.. Ah, something -
Maine: Im sorry. I should've stop myself when that happened, but I just -- Mahal ko si Rj, alam ko namang mali. I already loose my chance on him and he have you now.
Rj: Menggay..
Maine: And he's happy with you. Pinagsisisihan ko yung mga chances na hinayaan kong makawala. Yung buhay na sana ako yung kasama nya. Na-gu-guilty ako kasi hinahangaan mo ko, pero sa totoo lang, hindi dapat. You should hate me. Because when we love, we made mistakes. We are all human after all--
Nia: Did-- Did you ...
Maine: May nangyare samin.
Maine said it like a whisper but I felt Nia froze. She tugged her hand away from my grasp.
Nag-uunahang tumulo ang mga luha nya bago mabilis na tumayo. Her eyes and blank and teary. I can sense that she's trying to calm herself through deep breathing.
Maine: Nia Im sorry..
Maine cried too. And I know it was hard for her to admit it all.
Rj: Mahal--
I tried to hold her pero umiwas sya. She cant even look at me.
She didnt say anything, she just cried. Until she sat again.
Maine: Ni-- Nia, are you okay??
I heard panic on Maine's voice as she stands, nang tumingin ako kay Nia, nanlamig ako.
She's clutching her chest and her lips are quivering.
Nangingitim ang mga labi nito at halos hinahabol ang paghinga.
Rj: Mahal!
We tried to get hold of her but she weakly push us away from her. She struggled to stand and walk to the door, all the while we try to hold her but she just keep on pushing us away from her.
Nakatayo sa counter si Rizza kaya pagbukas ng pinto ay agad itong lumingon samin.
I saw her panic upon seeing Nia.
Nia: Rizz--
Rizza: Ate!!
I was quick to catch Nia before she fell on on the floor unconcious.
Rizza: Anong nangyare?!
Rj: Ready the car!
We rushed Nia on the nearest hospital, nanlalamig ang buong pagkatao ko.
------
DB: Ano bang nangyare, Rj?
Nia's finally stable. But she needs to stay at the hospital for observation. She's still unconcious though.
I stay silent. I am praying so hard to the heavens. Kahit hindi na ako patawarin ni Nia. Basta maging okay lang sila ng anak namin.
Kahit wala pa kong tulog ay pinilit ko padin bantayan sya. I want her to see me here by her side when she wakes up.
And when she did, gone is my playful and shy wife. She looks at me like I am stranger.
" Sabi ni ate pauwiin muna kita. Matulog ka muna kuya at magpahingan. Ako na muna bahala dito."
" Hindi, ano, mamaya nalang. May shoot din naman ako ng alas-tres ng hapon eh. Dito muna ako."
" Kuya, ano bang nangyare?"
I just look ate my sister and smile a little. As much as I trust my sister, I respect Maine, and I want to keep it just for the three of us.
Lumapit ako sa kama ni Nia, bumalik na ang kulay ng mukha at labi nya. Tahimik akong umupo sa gilid ng kama paharap sa kanya. Tinignan nya lang ako ng walang emosyon sa mga mata nya. Hinaplos ang malaki na din nyang tyan. Doon ako nakatingin habang nag iisip ng dapat sabihin. And when I look at her face, I saw her staring at me with pain in her eyes. Tears are building up on the side of her eyes. I cup her face and kiss her head, nose and lips. I felt her tears on my hands when I kissed her. She look at me with sad eyes when I pull away.
" I wonder if its me you're thinking everytime we kiss.."
" Nia.."
" I wonder if, when you did that with her, you thought about me even a little."
"...."
" And I wonder if your love for me is stronger than the love you have for Maine. I wonder if you really love me, Rj."
