One Shots: An ADNBookClub Writing Challenge

As Time Goes by

By: jenofgenovia

A/N For Maria Alexa, I hope I did justice on this prompt! Am a sucker for highschool sweetheart stories!

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14 years Ago
ADN University JS Prom Night

"And for the Prom King and Queen...Alden and Dei!"

Everyone applauded, well, it's everyone's favorite Senior Couple, Maine and RJ are back stage waiting for their turn, the key and scepter for the next JS Prom will be handed to them.

RJ: Maine...Maine...

M: Ano yun?

RJ: Bakat ba?

M: Hindi n! Kasi naman pakalat kalat nagkaron tuloy ng stain ang pang Amerikano mo! Isosoli pa natin yan bukas!

RJ: Eh wala kasi aking naibigay n corsage sa iyo kaya umakyat ako sa bakod nila Tita Lilia para makakuha ng orchids!

M: Kahit naman wala...pero thank you kasi ang ganda nya, bagay sa damit ko!

RJ and Maine had been the "couple" of the Junior Year, they grew up together and their parents are good friends. It's as if they're destined for each other. They are "in a relationship" but they are not making a big deal out of it. They are still young and wants to be successful in their studies as RJ is a full time scholar and wants to be a Doctor. Maine is planning to have a career in teaching, probably in English or Science subjects.

A year after, RJ's Mother was diagnosed for Breast Cancer, because of this, his father decided to migrate to the USA. RJ was not able to attend the JS Prom but Maine visited him that night, in her pink gown and an orchid brooch. They sat on the porch of his house and...

RJ: Sorry talaga...gusting gusto ko talaga na makasama sa JS Prom kaso walang bantay si Mama.

M: Okay lang yan...aalis na kayo bukas! Sasama daw ako ni Papa sa paghatid sa inyo sa airport.

RJ: Maine...

M: Yes?

RJ: Can we have a deal?

M: Anong deal yun?

RJ: Sabi kasi ni Dad baka abutin kami ng ilang taon sa US...pwede bang kapag 30 na tayo tapos hindi pa tayo kinakasal, TAYO ang magpakasal?

M: Hala....okay...

RJ: And....may I have this dance?

M: Walang music....

RJ: Someday when am awfully low, when the world is cold...

M: I will feel a glow...just thinking of you...

RJ: and the way you look tonight....

RJ leans down and kisses Maine...their very first kiss! It was weird, awkward...but really nice. Maine smiled as she walks to her house on the left side. The next day, Maine said goodbye to RJ on the Airport.

RJ: Yung AGREEMENT natin ha! Eto nga pala...for you. (hands his rosary bracelet)

M: Yes...here, for you...in memory sa pag akyat mo sa kapitbahay para sa corsage ko (gives her Orchid Brooch)


15 Years Later

"Oh my goshhhhh...Maaaaaammmmmmm anong nangyari? Bat ganun?"

Maine smiles as she drinks her coffee, she and her Student Assistant are preparing for Class, they needed to wait for a couple of hours and the girls made her tell the story of her "love life" or the lack of, she told them.

"Well, people change, that's just it...I heard na he's doing fine naman..ayoko kasi ng Facebook di ba? Napahamak kasi ang sister ko dyan, damay pa kaming lahat...oh well, let's go to class na!"

Maine just graduated from her Masters in Linguistics and is commissioned by the country's number one Charity Foundation to finish a research on the learning language of Filipino children. At the age of 32, Maine had never been in a relationship, she dated a lot of guys but somehow nothing works out. Her sister Cece was part of a pyramid scheme and a scandal came about, because of this she decided to live a quiet life away from her family. She visits her parents in the province every other week and living in a condominium with her cat Carrie.

RJ is now a Doctor, one of the top Pediatrician in Seattle, his Mother died about 10 years ago and his father suffered from Alcoholism. It took him and his sister Aurora years of patience and support in their Dad's rehab. Five years ago, Aurora got married and now has a 4 year old daughter that their Dad dotes on. Aurora had been encouraging RJ to go home to the Philippines and seek out Maine...

A: Kuya it's about time! Ano ka ba! Everything is forgotten na...Dad told me na nag u usap na ulit sila ng parents ni Maine...Kuya, kilala kita! Lagi kayang naka sabit sa stethoscope yang orchid brooch...

RJ: Alam mo Au Au...ang dami mong sinabi eh,may ticket na ako, I said yes to AND Foundation's offer na maging resident Pediatrician ng mga bata under their program. Babalik n ako ng Pinas in two weeks.

A: Yes!!!!!!!!

After Two Weeks

RJ, still jet lagged, wore his nice suit for the ADN Gala Night, out of habit, he places the orchid brooch on his pocket. He will be meeting two girls named Kate and Deedee, they are the Student Assistants of Maine.

Doctor Richard Joseph Faulkerson?

Yes.

Hi, po, I am Kate and this is Deedee...OMG Dee, suot ni Doc ung Orchid brooch!!!

Wait, you know this?

hay naku Doc RJ, pumasok ka na po sa loob!!!

And that he did...RJ entered the Gala Night and sees a familiar figure in the crowd! Dressed in light pink gown with her hair swept on one side and wearing drop earrings. She places her hand on her ear to fix her hair and then he sees it – his rosary bracelet!

He was spotted by Mr. de Leon, one of the Officials of ADN Foundation, they talk and then went into the crowd...

JDL: And Dr. RJ, here is our Linguistics Expert, Ms. Maine...Maine, RJ...o sige, magsayaw na kayo!

Mr. de Leon winks at Kate and Deedee, his job is done so he went ahead to the Bar for a drink, but not until he said something to the Musicians at the Stage.

RJ and Maine were caught off guard...should they kiss or hug each other?

RJ: Maine...

M: RJ...Doctor Richard Joseph...

RJ: Ms. Maine, the Linguistics Expert...Im' sorry Im' late!

M: Two years late....

RJ: But...did you wait for me?

M: Well, I am still wearing this rosary bracelet....

RJ: And am still wearing your brooch...

They smiled at each other and then by Mr. de Leon's cue, the music changed...the song "The Way You Look Tonight" is being sung by the Band and people started dancing.

RJ: Well, may I have this dance?

M: You owe me a lot of dances....

One Year Later

RJ and Maine are about to get married, their families are at the Church while Maine is about to march in. RJ proposed atop the mountains of Mt. Banahaw in one of their Medical Mission for ADN Foundation. They decided to stay in the Philippines as Maine is a dissertation paper away for her Ph D in Linguistics. It was a beautiful wedding and as the guests tease them about starting a family soon, the newly weds replied....

"in 7 or 8 months' time, we will be parents..."


- The End -