A/N: Hahaha! I really love this…us…our world! Nabubuhay rin ang kawatang lupa ko sa overwhelming response ninyo. Hindi lang po ako nag re-reply pa kasi inuna ko makatapos ng i-po-post ko para makabawi bawi sa inyo.
Saya-saya na nandiyan pa rin kayo to read my stories 🙂
Hopkors, ngingisi-ngisi rin ako rito habang patakas na nagnanakaw (na naman!) ng oras ng opisina sa pag basa ng comments paminsan minsan (sa isang gadget) habang at tipa-tipa ng istorya, kaya napuna na naman ako kanina (buti wala pa si boss):
Officemate 1: Hala, tignan nyo si attorney! Na aabnoy na naman oh! Ngingisi ngisi parang baliw.
ME: Hahaha! Bayaan nyo na ako, I’m just so happy nagkita na uli kami ni laptop ko.
Officemate 1: Eh anu po ba meron dyan sa laptop na yan kasi minsan para kayong abnoy diyan?
Officemate 2: Onga po attorney, ano po ba meron dyan at na o-autistic ka na naman?
ME: Si Krung-Krung at si Prem-Prem!
Officemate 2: Sino yun?
ME: Secret! 😉
PREVIOUSLY on Please Be My Legal Wife – Part 18
Richard rushed to the elevator and checked his watch. By the time he got out, Maya’s phone was already ringing.
Maya: Sir Chief?
Richard: Maya, I miscalculated the time so I’m about to leave the office just now. I may not make it at 4:00.
Maya: Okay lang po, I just woke up from a short nap. Maaga pa naman po and 7:30 pa po yung show. Besides Sir Chief okay lang po ma late, basta ingat po sa pag drive.
Richard: Okay, I’ll see you later.
********
Continuation……..
CHAPTER NINE
Hugs and Kisses – Resolved Issues
Maya came out of her room with Abby who kept tagging along wherever she goes. Maya looked so radiant in her light make up that emphasized her doe eyes and lips with hair neatly tied in a ponytail. The loosely wrapped long scarf around her neck is her favorite Louis Vuitton Rose stole given by her father. She let the scarf rest on top of her white silk-cotton sleeveless blouse paired with jeans that showed her curves and long legs. She matched it with weaved walnut brown wedges and belt, and a Louis Vuitton Ellipse MM bag.
Maya: Abby, manunuod lang ako ng concert ha. Kaya lang hindi kasi pwede ang bata doon eh. Pero promise, uuwi naman ako later with pasalubong. Gusto mo ba sa room ko ikaw uli magsleep? Abby happily agreed.
Sige, ipapa alam natin kay Daddy Chief. You know, dapat si Tito Emman ang kasama ko sa concert later eh. Kaya lang, nasa beach pa si Tito Emman kaya hindi siya makakasama. Buti na lang naglaro kami ng game ni Daddy Chief mo and he lost. Since I won, my prize is, sasamahan nya ako sa concert. Okay lang ba na hiramin ni Tita Maya si Daddy Chief for the concert? Abby happily agreed again.
Doris: Wow Ma’am Maya, ang bonggang proxy naman ni Sir para kay Emman! Gwapo na, macho pa!
Maya: Hahaha! Maya leaned towards Doris to whisper.
Alam mo pag nag de-date kami ni Emman mas girl pa sa akin yun! Natalo kasi sa pustahan si Sir Chief, kaya ayan wala siyang choice kungdi samahan ako.
Doris: Naku, sana sa akin na lang kayo nakipag pustahan! Pero mabuti nga rin po na hindi ako at natalo si Sir, para maiba naman ang gimmick-an niya, hindi panay opisina.
Maya: Sa susunod, tayong tatlo naman nila Sabel. Kasi kung isa sa inyo ni Sabel ang isasama ko ngayon, lugi yung maiiwan.
Doris: Talaga po Ma’am?! Mag de-date rin tayo? Promise yan ha?
Maya: Oo, promise! Ipapa alam ko yan kay Sir Chief.
Richard: Ang alin ang ipapa alam mo Maya?
Richard posed the question while going down the stairs. Maya looked at him and smiled. He looked so young and gorgeous in jeans and long sleeved light blue polo, paired with dark porto brown Bally desert boots.
Doris: Wow! Ang gwapo talaga ni Sir!
Maya: Ah, s-sabi ko po Sir Chief, ano…s-sa s-susunod kami nila Doris at Sabel mag de-date at ipapa alam ko po sa inyo.
Richard: Okay! Pati si Manang Fe sasama?
Manang Fe has just entered the living room and heard her name.
Manang Fe: Saan ako sasama?
Maya: Ay Sir Chief, yung kay Manang Fe po, dalawa lang kami na mag de-date, baka hindi nya magustuhan kung saan ko dadalhin si Doris at Sabel eh.
Manang Fe: Mag de-date tayo Maya?
Maya: Opo, pla-planuhin ko po iyan. Pero shempre sa lahat, mauna ko muna i-date si Abby. Diba Abby? Sir Chief, lalabas po kami ni Abby ha.
Richard leaned and kissed Abby.
Richard: Sure baby! Basta si Tita Maya ang kasama mo.
Abby clapped her hands.
Maya: O ayan Abby, pumayag na si Daddy. Tayong dalawa naman ang mamamasyal. Pero for now, iwan muna kita ha.
Ay Sir Chief, pwede po ba sa room ko matulog ngayong gabi si Abby? Bad dreams daw po siya kagabi eh, kaya natulog katabi ko.
Richard: Okay, pero Abby not all the time ha? Next time you have to sleep in your room. Kasi, may school na rin si Tita Maya mo eh.
Manang Fe: Ang guwapo naman talaga ng alaga ko! Ricardo, dapat dalas dalasan mo naman ang lumabas ng hindi kasali ang trabaho.
Doris: Naku Manang Fe, proxy lang si Sir Richard kay Sir Emman. Mabuti na lang nasa beach pa si Sir Emman. Macho tuloy ang ka date ni Ma’am Maya!
Maya: Naku naman! Malayo naman si Sir Chief kay Emman. Tignan nyo si Sir Chief… Maya went near Richard, Gwapo!… She walked around him. Matikas at tunay na lalaki! She leaned forward and inhaled his scent. Amoy gwapong Daddy! She made a step backward and looked at Richard from head to foot. At tindig ng tunay na lalaki!
Patay tayo dyan! Mapapansin ka mamaya sa concert!
Richard: What?
Maya: Ah wala, Sir Chief! Halika na nga, baka ma late na po tayo eh! Maya grabbed Richard by the hand and pulled him towards the door.
Manang Fe: Ricardo! Maya!
Richard and Maya stopped and looked back. “Manang Fe/Po?”
Manang Fe: Kuhanan muna kayo ng litrato. Halina muna kayo rito. Doris, kuhanan mo sila ng litrato.
Doris: Saan po ang camera?
Manang Fe: Ricardo, ang cellphone mo pahiram. Richard willingly and gladly handed over his phone.
Manang Fe: Diyan kayo sa may hagdanan.
Doris: Ready? 1, 2 CLICK!….eh teka po muna, bakit ang layo nyo, para naman po kayong hindi magka kilala eh.
Richard and Maya looked at each other and smiled. Without saying anything, the two leaned towards each other and smiled at Doris.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Ang ganda! Eh, kasama naman po si Abby. Abby! Come, picture kayo. Dito naman sa piano. Doris pulled out the piano chair and positioned Abby at the center. Richard and Maya sat and gamely posed.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Sir, last na, pwede kayo lang uli ni Ma’am! Abby, come here. Manang Fe pulled Abby with her. Instantly, Maya and Richard moved closer together.
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Doris: Ang saya! Naku sayang hindi nakita ni BFF. Tagal kasi sa palengke eh!
Manang Fe: Patingin Doris, baka putol putol ang kuha mo at panay paa yan ha.
Doris: Manang Fe naman! Ang ganda kaya ng mga kuha ko. Tignan nyo po. O hindi ba? Ang ganda nilang tignan? Naku, ang saya pag yan nadevelop!
Manang Fe: Ang ganda nga nila tignan. Sana nga madevelop.
Maya: Ano po Manang Fe?
Manang Fe: Ha? Ah, sabi ko sana ma develop ito agad. Bigyan nyo ako ng mga kopya ha.
Maya: Ay Manang Fe hindi na po uso ang magpa develop kasi hindi na po film ang ginagamit. I-pri-print na po yan ng diretso.
Manang Fe: Ganun ba? Sige, basta bigyan nyo ako ng kopya. Sha sige na at baka mahuli pa kayo.
Richard ushered Maya to the car. He walked beside her, making sure that she won’t look back which might ruin his surprise for her.
Richard: Do you have the tickets?
Maya: Of course Sir Chief! At kahit wala, sa face value mo, papapasukin nila tayo.
Richard: Just please make sure and check your bag.
He closed the door and immediately went around to the driver’s side.
Maya: Here are the tickets!
Richard: Good!
Richard drove down the street. She glanced at Maya who was busy taking picture of the tickets.
Richard: Maya, maaga pa naman, can we pass by this place I need to look at? Just for a few minutes.
Maya: Sure po! Maaga pa po, mahigit dalawang oras pa from the show.
Richard: Maya, may usapan tayo hindi ba? Address me by my name and drop the po and opo.
Maya: Eh wala pa po tayo sa concert eh.
Richard: Maya.
Maya: Okay okay!
After driving a few more meters, Richard pulled over and requested Maya to accompany him. Maya heeded the request and looked around.
Maya: Sir Chief ano po ginagawa natin rito?
Richard: This lot is being offered to me for sale. And Maya, Richard please.
Maya: Ang lapit lang sa mansion.
Richard: Yes, and this is much much bigger. Aalis na kasi yung may ari, they’re migrating to Canada. They do not see any possibility of returning to the Philippines kasi nasa Canada na rin yung only child nila na si Nefertiry who is already married to an American-Canadian.
Maya: And are you considering buying it?
Richard: Why not? It’s a good investment. With the location and the size of it, mababa yung presyo nya.
Maya: Richard, I think dun sa kanto mo ako napulot pa-ikaika.
Richard: Yes, it was there. And look, yung lot area starts from that corner up to there.
Richard pointed to the upper side of the hill, then rested his hands on his waist.
Maya: Wow! This is a huge piece of land. Much much bigger nga talaga.
Richard: Yes it is. I see some potential. Come here. Richard took Maya’s hand and helped her walk through rough road. If you put up a house somewhere here, look.
Maya: Wow, what a view! Mas maganda keysa sa mansion.
Richard: Yes! sa veranda you only get to see the lush green mountains but here, you are not only in the middle of a mountain surrounded by trees, you get to see the Metropolis and Laguna Bay.
Maya: You plan to build a house here?
Richard: Why not? It’s a better location.
Maya: It’s a huge land, pwede ata kahit anim na mansion rito eh.
Richard: I have 3 kids. We can all live in a compound.
Maya: That’s a nice idea!
Richard: So, what do you think?
Maya: Of what?
Richard: Is it a good idea to buy this?
Maya: Real estate is always a good investment. If you have the money, then go ahead. Maganda yung naisip nyo, mo, to put up a house and later convert the entire area into a compound.
Richard: If you have the chance, would you buy it and live in it?
Maya: It’s a lovely place to live in. Hindi na siguro ako lalabas ng bahay kung ganito kaganda ang location and surrounding ng bahay ko.
Richard: Okay! Let’s go!
Richard comfortably walked beside Maya and held her by the elbow, making sure she’s safe. When they were about to reach the car, Richard thought that it was the perfect time for a surprise. So he stopped walking and let go of Maya. She looked at him and stopped too.
Maya: O, bakit? Na wi-wiwi ka no? Sige na, wiwi ka na dun sa puno. Tatalikod ako. Pero Sir Chief, mag excuse me ka ha, baka ma nuno ka, mamaga yan. Sabihin mo “Tabi tabi po!”
Richard: Hahaha! You really have silly ideas Maya. Hindi ako na iihi.
Maya: Eh kasi bigla ka huminto na parang may gustong gawin eh. …Eeeww! Sir Chief! Umuutot ka noh?!
Richard: No! I wanted to give you something and it’s in the car. Richard, Maya.
Maya: Ha? Richard, ang dami na nung pindala mo, meron na naman?
Richard: Eh I was worried that you wouldn’t accept my apology again, so I made sure I had a back up.
Maya: Hmmm? Talaga?
Richard: Yes, kasi, if hindi ka makikipag bati, hindi matutuloy yung concert and I really want to go and fulfill my promise to you. Come.
They walked towards the car. Richard opened the passenger door and stayed behind it. Maya saw a huge brown classic teddy bear with red ribbon tied around its neck holding a pink heart cloth with the word “HUGS” stitched on it. Her face turned red as she leaned in to carry out the bear that was sitting at the back of her seat. She was hugging the bear when she faced Richard.
Maya: Sir Chief naman eh!
Richard: You like it?
Maya: Hindi pa ba kita sa mukha ko?
Richard: I want to hear it from you Maya.
Maya: I love it! Hmmmm… sarap yakapin! Ang bango ha! Sir Chief? Niyakap mo to noh? Kumapit yung perfume mo eh!
Richard: It was the only way to carry it. It’s about 4 feet tall and bulky! They could not provide me with a smaller one kasi yan lang daw yung size ng napili kong bear.
Maya: Wait lang, ikaw mismo ang pumili at bumili nito?
Richard: Yes! Para mas personal diba? Para mas sincere yung sorry ko.
Maya: Naman Sir Chief eh! Sobra sobra naman na ‘to. Sa message mo that came with the balloons at fruiquet pa lang, ramdam na ang sincerity mo eh.
Richard: Seeing your facial expression was worth all the effort I gave. Glad that you like it.
Maya: Super like Sir Chief. In fact, I love it! Kita mo nga oh, hindi na matanggal ang ngiti sa mukha ko.
Richard: Good! Let’s go?
Maya nodded at Richard with the smile still plastered on her flushed face. She gave the bear a tight hug and kissed it before settling it at the center of the back seat.
Maya: Okay, Sir Chief. Let’s go sago!
Richard: Eh bakit yung bear niyakap mo na, may kiss pa, tapos ako wala?
Richard wanted to test the waters but even before Maya could react, Richard retracted right away, afraid he might have offended her again. With raised hands, as if surrendering, Richard apologized. “Sorry, I was just kidding.” Again, without waiting for Maya’s reaction, he immediately looked away and walked to his side of the car. Almost simultaneously, Richard and Maya closed their doors and buckled up.
To avoid an awkward moment, Richard got his phone, unlocked it and handed it over to Maya. He started the engine and asked Maya to operate the phone for him. “Uhm, can you do the texting for me please.”
Maya: Okay, Sir Chief. Ano po yung message?
Richard: Thanks. It’s Richard Maya.
Maya: Okay. Thanks, tapos? Kanino ise-send?
Richard: I was saying thanks to you, Maya. Please type this message: Good afternoon, this is Richard Lim. I made an ocular of the land you are offering. When can we talk?I have some questions. Thank you. Send it to Marian Navarro Yip.
Maya: Okay. Na send na.
Richard: Thanks.
Maya: Sir Chief, pwede patingin ng photo gallery? Tignan ko lang yung pictures natin kanina?
Richard: Okay. But if you will not stop calling me Sir Ch–
Maya: Sorry, nakasanayan lang.
Richard: Then you better get used to calling me by my name too. May pangako ka sa akin bago pa yung usapan natin for this out of the box adventure.
Maya: Okay okay, hindi na maulit Richard. Can I look at the pictures kanina? Promise yun lang titignan ko.
Richard: Sure!
Maya: Ang cute ni Abby dito sa picture na to. Naka wacky oh!
Richard: Can I see? Richard remembered the photos he took early morning and got worried Maya might see them.
Maya: Mamaya na, you’re driving. Pwede mangelam? Makiki email ha. Send ko to sa email ko, pwede?
Richard: Pwede ako na later? Baka mahilo ka. Besides, we need to charge that phone now.
Maya: Okay. Ako na mag cha-charge, drive ka na lang. Richard hindi kaya traffic diyan sa Ortigas Extension?
Richard: This is the shortest route. Ang layo ng iikutin natin if via Marcos Highway then Quezon City. Besides, sabi mo, okay lang ang ma-late.
Maya: Sabi ko nga.
Maya glanced at the back of the car and stared at the bear, noting the details of the big stuffed toy.
Maya: Ikaw talaga pumili ng bear?
Richard: Yes, also the canister.
Maya: Canister?
Richard: Oh, you didn’t notice! Kaya pala. Well, the bear comes with a glass canister. They should’ve been together to give the message. It should be somewhere there at the back.
Maya looked back again and searched with her eyes. There resting on the car floor, is a classic glass mason jar with a vaccum seal type cover, filled with individually wrapped chocolates, about a hundred or so. Maya flexed her body and reached for it right away.
Maya: Wow! My favorite! Hershey’s kisses!
Maya looked at the teddy bear again and read the word “HUGS” on the heart. She looked back at the canister and noticed the word kisses repeatedly printed on thin strips of paper protruding from the silver foil wrapped chocolates. In a faint voice, she said the message: hugs and kisses.
Maya: Richard naman eh! Ikaw talaga umisip nito?
Richard: Yes! I know you’re thinking that I am not capable. But I did. It was a desparate move to be forgiven. I just could’t bear your silent treatment Maya.
Maya: Richard, hindi naman ako mahirap magpatawad eh. You didn’t have to do all these if at the first instance, your apology came from the heart and not from the mouth.
Richard: I realized that later. Kaya nga, bumabawi eh. Oh but Liza helped me with the balloons and fruitquet.
Maya: Dinamay mo pa si Liza.
Richard: Oh she enjoyed it. Sinigurado ko lang na makakabawi ako.
Maya: Bwing-bawi, sobra pa. You know, siguro malaki mababawas sa annulment cases if ganyan mag sorry ang mga husbands.
Richard: Bakit naman?
Maya: Yung mga annulment cases na alam ko, napuno na ang wife. Nilipasan na ng sama ng koob. Maraming pinalipas na sama ng loob kasi, hindi naman nag so-sorry ang asawa. Kaya, pag nasa settlement stage ang kaso, they find it hard to forgive already. Bato na yung puso eh.
Richard: Maya, there are a lot of difficult women.
Maya: Women are not difficult. We are so easy to please. Kung kayong mga lalaki you want appreciation, kami rin. Pero importante rin na nag-so-sorry sa amin if may nagawa talaga. It gives a person a sense of worth, kasi hindi ka binabalewala lang.
Richard: Maybe men just find it difficult to express themselves. Ako, I really find it hard sometimes how to say things. Even to my kids, kaya nga diba, you know how we were before. So I am really sorry for apologizing that way the other night –
TSUP!
Maya was too overwhelmed. She wanted to show Richard how much she appreciates his gestures just to say sorry to her. So, without thinking, she unbuckled herself, leaned towards Richard and kissed him on the cheek.
Maya: There. That is the only way I know how to express my appreciation because it’s nothing if it will remain in my heart. I want you to know that I appreciate you and everything that you do, especially all your efforts just to say you are sorry. Hindi lahat kaya gawin yan.
Richard was taken aback but his heart could only smile. For the nth time, Maya just gave him another natural high and all he could do is to smile back at her. “Thank you.” he managed to say in a soft voice.
Moments of silence passed. Nobody spoke. Both just stayed quiet, glancing at each other once in a while. As expected, Maya broke the silence first.
Maya: Okay ka lang?
Richard: Of course! Couldn’t get any better. Nabigla lang ako, nagulat lang.
Maya: Sa kiss?! Sorry naman if offensive. Sige, babawiin ko na lang!
Maya unbuckled herself and leaned towards Richard one more time. She held his face and pressed her lips on his cheek and did a sucking motion.
Maya: Ayan binawi ko na!
She buckled up again and looked out the window. Richard pursed his lips, trying to control his smile. He slowed down to the side of the road then pulled the hand break.
Richard: Maya. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that, last night you were giving me the cold shoulder, and then you rejected me and pushed me away. Richard heaved a sigh. Maya, can you please look at me. Richard gently touched her chin and moved it to make her face him.
Look, I thought I already lost your friendship because you consistenly rejected me up until last night. Then now, here you are, back to your oldself again. I’m just so happy that I was forgiven. I was not expecting things to get better with a kiss from you and your words of appreciation.
Maya: Fine.
Richard: Are you really THAT spontaneous? Hinalikan mo akong bigla, pero bigla mo rin binawi.
Maya: Eh ikaw kasi eh. Ang dating, parang na asiwa ka sa ginawa ko. Babae ako so it was humiliating on my part.
Richard: Maya, didn’t I just say a while ago that sometimes I find it hard to express myself? That I don’t know how to say things? Maya, you just don’t know how that kiss made me feel earlier. In fact I haven’t gotten over it yet when you took it back.
Maya: Okay, sorry, wrong interpretation. Pero binawi ko man yung kiss, hindi ko naman binabawi yung sinabi ko eh. You are very much appreciated, lalo na yung pag-sorry.
Richard released the hand break and continued with their journey while no one talked. A little later, after glancing now and then at Maya, Richard initiated the conversation.
Richard: I didn’t know na pwede pala bawiin ang kiss…..So that’s how it is done.
Maya: Naman eh. Maya blushed.
Richard: Okay okay, I was just teasing.
But I’m really curious now, what if the kiss was a smack on the lips, pano yun babawiin? Or if its uhm… French kiss? When tounges are involved? Hahaha!
Maya: Sir Chief! Maya blushed profusely and covered her face with both hands.
Richard: Maya I wasn’t referring to us, I mean you doing it to – ….ahaaaa….so, this topic is something you are scared to talk about….oo nga pala, you never had any boy –
Maya grabbed Richard’s right forearm and squeezed it hard, as if wringing out the water from a soaked towel during laundry.
Richard: Okay I’ll stop. Sorry.
Richard still could not get over the kiss so he kept on glancing at Maya. She felt he wanted to say something. So she explored.
Maya: Ano na naman yan?
Richard: Hmmm?
Maya: May gusto ka na namang sabihin?
Richard: Nothing. I uhm… I ah… I just noticed that you smell different from your usual scent. But it’s nice. What are you wearing now?
Maya: Ah yun ba? Amethyste, Bvlgari, bigay ng sister-in-law ko.
Richard: Smells really good. The other one is also nice.
Maya: Ah yung lagi ko gamit? Clinique Happy.
Richard: Yeah, that one. So does it make you happy?
Maya: It helps me be in a good mood. So yeah, happy state, it makes me happy.
Another moment of silence swept through their journey until they reached the business district in Makati.
Richard: Oh no, I made a wrong turn. Traffic na dito.
Maya: Labasan na kasi sa ibang offices. Pero maaga pa naman eh. Pagchagaan na natin yung traffic. You know if you go straight, Taft Avenue ang dulo nito.
Richard: Okay, I think you are right. So, distract me. I easily lose my patience in traffic.
Maya: Kaya mo yan. Sabi nga ni Theodore Roosevelt, believe you can and you’re half way there! Eh di konti na lang nasa Folk Arts Theater na tayo!
Richard: Maya. You know that’s not possible with this kind of traffic. So just distract me. Madali uminit ulo ko sa traffic.
Maya: Distract you? O sige, paano, magtatanggal ako ng blouse dito, ganun?
Richard: Maya!
Maya: O, ayan! Na distract na kita, salita pa lang! Gusto mo ako na lang mag-drive?
Richard: You won’t get rid of the traffic. Just talk to me.
Maya: Okay, what about? You choose the topic.
Richard: Well… uhm…did you know that one of the things that men cannot handle well is rejection?
Maya: And that includes you?
Richard: Yes. For one, I am an only child and I grew up getting what I need, what I want. Things happen the way I planned or want them to be. The death of Alex was the most difficult time for my family. It was hard for everyone but it was harder for me because it was a deviation from what I wanted, a break away from my plans. That is why while everybody moved on, I still couldn’t let go and I stayed broken.
Maya: And that is why you easily get upset when your expectations are not met?
Richard: Yes. That’s what happened to me when you came home late that night.
Maya: I see.
Richard: Then you rejected me last night.
Maya: Rejected you?! Hindi ah.
Richard: Yes you did!
Maya: That is another accusation that you insist.
Richard: Another accusation?
Maya: Dami mo kaya binintang sa akin the night you went ballistic!
Richard: Ballistic?! I thought you already understand why I got upset that night?
Maya: Yes, but that is the only word I could think of to best describe your behaviour that night.
Richard: What about you? You were giving me the silent treatment! It was so deafening!
Maya: Teka, when I tried to say so many things in words, you did not let me! Now you’re complaining when I spoke in silence? Silence is another word for hurt!
Richard: I tried to talk to you, I tried to apologize! You ignored me many times last night! Then you pushed me away! I felt so rejected the whole night!
Maya: Teka muna, STOP! If we will just argue talking about it, let’s not talk na lang.
Richard: No, Maya. This is important to me. You are important to me, to my family. I value your friendship. So, let’s talk about it now!
Maya: Sayang ang bear and kisses and all the efforts if mauuwi lang naman ito sa away. Malapit na tayo sa concert venue, baka masira lang lahat. If you want to talk about it, we should both have an open mind and heart. Kal-ma lang.
Richard: Fine. I’m sorry. Okay, I did not give you the chance to explain that night. Please explain now. Why did you not text or call?
Maya: I told you, na drain ang battery ng phone ko. Yes, may phone si Sir James, at may mga land line nga naman na available. That is why I understood why you wouldn’t and couldn’t accept my reason.
Pero you did not let me explain further. Kasi ang problema, wala akong na-memorize na number na pwede kong tawagan. Sir James tried to help. Unfortunately, he used a different car. Yung calling card na binigay mo sa kanya, nasa card case, na nasa car naman na ginamit nya when he came to your house.
Sige, I really thought of asking Sir James to ask his dad, kasi apparently, you know each other well. Pero kasi, pauwi naman na kami and malapit na sa Antipolo, mas matagal pa yung kakainin na oras if we stop so he can call his dad etc. Besides, I thought 8:30 was still early. I mean, hindi pa alarming.
Richard: Not a single number?
Maya: Not a single number. I just rely on my phone all the time. Mali pala. Dapat may maliit man lang na phone book to record important numbers. For now, I already memorized yung land line sa mansion pati na rin yung number sa LAS, yung si Liza ang sasagot.
Richard: Okay. Then I am sorry for not letting you explain that night. I was so worried and upset, hindi ko na naisip ang possibility na yan.
Maya: Oh yeah. Sabi ko nga you did not even let me finish my sentences, instead at one point, you smacked the table then you cursed me and accused me of being a liar.
Richard: I did not!
Maya: Oh-yes-you-did. If I remember it right, ganito ang sabi mo, “Oh shit Maya! What a LAME alibi! It is so UNACCEPTABLE especially coming from you! Such a disgraceful act of falsehood!
O hindi ba those were the very words you said to me? Ay hindi pala said. Those were the very words you HURLED at me.
Okay, sige, I will also give you a chance. Explain your side now. Pero gusto ko with dance movements ha, like Gangnam Style!
Richard: Maya.
Maya: Fine! Kahit wala ng dance movements. Go!
Richard: The first part was just an expression! It didn’t mean anything.
Maya: Well for me it meant something and it was offensive. When you said it, sinabi mo na rin in my face that I am a worthless person kasi isa akong poo-poo.
Richard: Hahaha! You’re funny Maya.
Maya: Anu ang nakakatawa? That’s what it means. Shit is vulgar slang which means feces, waste; in vernacular, TAE, etchas, ebak, poo-poo! In Emman’s language, pink jerbaks!
Richard: Hahaha! Halika nga rito. Richard was lauging hard while he unbuckled Maya’s seatbealt. He grabbed her head and squeezed it under his armpit in a head lock. He kissed her head then released her. You’re so cute!
Maya: Naman Sir Chief yung hair ko! Maya complained as she fixes her hair. Hindi cute maging shit ha.
Richard: It was just an expression of frustration and anger Maya.
Maya: Then it’s a stinky and ugly expression to use and say to a girl.
Richard: It was not directed at you. But just the same, I’m sorry.
Maya: Okay, that’s history then. Eh yung second part? Lame alibi and disgraceful act of falsehood. You just made it sound sophisticated. But what you really meant was walang kwentang pagdadahilan kaya hindi katanggaptanggap dahil nagsisinungaling lang ako. Right?
Richard: I already explained to you that I was upset –
Maya: Upset? That is an understatement. You were furious! You went ballistic!
Richard: Exactly! And when that happens, you are no longer rational, you lose your ability to think properly. That is why as I have said earlier, the possibility of you not remembering any number never crossed my mind. I admit, I was wrong there and I am sorry.
Maya: Okay! That’s done too. Pero wait. About that alibi thing, it was a wrong usage.
Richard: Seriously Maya? You want to discuss now correct usage and grammar?
Maya: Yes, kasi baka you might go ballistic again and use the same word instead of a more appropriate one… like excuse. While the word alibi is an accepted synonym for excuse, explanation, justification or reason, it should not be interchanged with those words all the time.
The word alibi really means a claim that you were somewhere else when an act you are accused of doing happened in another place so it is physically impossible. . It’s a pretext.
Remember the Vizconde massacre? Hubert Webb? Hindi ba ang defense nya he was in the United States when the massacre happened so he could not have been at the scene of the crime in Parañaque? Yun ang alibi. It is an excuse but in a particular context.
Eh yung sa akin, excuse for not texting or calling. And I did not justify it by saying I could not do it because I was in another place. So you should have said “lame excuse” not “lame alibi.”
Richard: Noted Attorney! Can we now go back to other matters?
Maya: Meron pa? Go ahead, mahaba pa naman ang lalakbayin natin.
Richard: Why did you ignore me the whole time last night?
Maya: Ignore you? Hindi ah. Kinakausap naman kita diba? I even sat beside you, and served you with dessert.
Richard: That wasn’t talking. You just said your sentences at my hearing distance. You were not even looking at me in the eyes. And! You referred to me as Sir, without the Chief! What was that all about?
And yes you sat beside me kasi wala ka ng choice. In fact, you refused but Manang Fe insisted. And you kept on moving away from me.
One more thing, you served the others dessert as well. But the difference is, you were enthusiastic with their comments about the desserts while you almost ignored mine.
So? Three matters. Explain.
Maya: Sir Chief? Pwede time out muna? Na wi-wiwi na ako eh.
Richard: Seriously?
Maya: Oo! Kanina ko pa pinipigilan. Pero hindi ko pala pwede i-hold ang call of nature!
Tutal usad pagong naman ang traffic, can I walk to that gasoline station?
Richard: Okay you can walk pero dun na lang sa fastfood restaurant, ayun oh, for sure mas malinis ang CR at may water and soap.
When Maya came out of the comfort room of the fastfood restaurant, Richard’s car was already parked in front with blinking hazard lights. Richard immediately got a visual of her so when she went out of the door, he rolled down the window and called her. “Maya!”
Maya ran inside the car and buckled up.
Maya: That was a relief! Ikaw, ayaw mo ba mag CR muna? Baka matraffic pa.
Richard: I’ll be okay. Ikaw, okay ka na? You might be hungry. You want anything?
Maya: I’m fine. Halika na.
Richard moved the car back to the road.
Richard: Okay. So, bakit mo nga ako hindi pinapansin?
Maya: Eh kasi may tampo na nga ako, dba? Kasi nga there were hurtful words. Aside from that, masama talaga loob ko kasi, I was not given a fair chance. I was not allowed to explain and defend myself and I am an aspiring lawyer at that. Kaya yun yung reason, bakit hindi ko magawa maging normal, to look at you in the eyes when I spoke.
I did not intend to ignore you. But because of my first reason, ang effect, walang gana. Then lalo pa ako nainis kasi, you acted like parang walang nangyaring sigawan the other night. Yung hindi makapag sorry agad, okay acceptable pa kasi nga may tao na may pride and it takes a while before they could say sorry. Pero to appear as if it never happened was also unacceptable to me. Ano yun, amnesia lang? Bale wala lang ang feelings ko, ganun? Tao lang ako, napupuno at nasasaktan din.
Tapos ikaw, normal na normal ka lang, so I also felt offended. Balewala lang ang lahat. Kaya nga when you were complimenting my desserts, hindi ko makuha matuwa kasi nga in my mind, kagabi lang you insulted me. Tapos normal ka lang ngayon? At iniinis mo pa nga ako last night diba? Alam mo na pala that I was moving away, dikit ka pa ng dikit!
Richard: Ahhh….so your epoxy punch line was meant for me!
Maya: Yes, kasi nga inis na inis na ako sa mga hirit mo.
Richard: Maya, do you think I had a decent sleep that night? Hindi ko binalewala ang nangyari. I was very much affected too. I was very upset it had to happen, again. But even then, I thought, it will pass just like my other
Maya: episodes.
Richard: Okay, if you want to put it that way. Akala ko it’s just one of my episodes na papalampasin mo lang din, at lilipas lang din. But I was wrong. I admit, I was not prepared for your reaction that night.
I was expecting that you will retort at me with confidence and conviction. Akala ko you will take me lightly as you usually do, I thought you will tolerate me. But you didn’t.
Masyado lang siguro ako naging at home with you. Iba naman kasi tayo eh.
Maya: Anung iba?
Richard: Iba. I really can’t explain, basta iba nga tayo. Well, first, were close friends.
Maya: Hmmm? Talaga? Close tayo?
Richard: Hindi ba? Iniyakan na nga kita eh, hindi pa ba yun close? That’s emotional intimacy. Among my friends, si Raffi pa lang ang iniyakan ko, and that was when Alex died. And you, I already saw you wearing just your underwear. Halos nakita ko na ang kaluluwa mo. Kakayanin mo yun to stay calm and cool after that incident if it were another guy? Say, James Ventura?
Maya: Siempre hinde!
Richard: See? Kasi nga iba tayo. Kaya akala ko we’ll just sleep it off and that on the next day, we’ll be okay.
Then kahapon you did not text me about Abby. So I knew things got different after. Pero you texted in the afternoon, kaya akala ko, okay na uli nung dinner time. That is the reason why I looked normal. Hindi mo lang alam, deep inside, gulong gulo isip ko kasi hindi mo ako pinapansin. That’s why I had to leave in the middle of the dessert.
Maya: Hahaha! Kaya ka ba biglang sumungit at nagpunta sa veranda?
Richard: Eh ano nakakatawa?
Maya: Akala namin, sobrang kabusugan mo, nauutot ka na, kaya ka nagsungitsungitan para makalayo ka pa- veranda para hindi mahalata.
Richard: So that’s why Nikki offered me tea!
There was another brief moment of silence after the laughter. Then Richard touched Maya by the hand.
Richard: Maya, hindi kita binalewala. I only have a few trusted friends. I told you, you are important to me, I value our friendship. I knew something was wrong that is why I wanted to talk to you last night, remember? But you did not only avoid me, you refused my request to talk. In fact you pushed me away and sabi ko nga, I felt rejected.
Maya: Sorry, it was not my intention to reject you. I was not ready to talk kasi masama pa rin ang loob ko, and it wasn’t wearing off even after I prayed and even after I played the piano. Tapos lalo lang sumama loob ko kasi you were commanding me to accept your sorry for “whatever”.
Richard: Look, I didn’t want to sleep last night na ganun tayong dalawa. I was very disturbed by the way you treated me. I was desparate to talk things out with you. After how you acted at dinner, it took a lot of courage for me to reach out to you at the piano. But you pushed me away when I hugged you. It was my way of offering peace, as my first step to saying sorry.
So I got frustrated and desparate, kaya my apology turned out that way.
Maya: But you were able to apologize properly, sobra pa nga sa effort. Sabi ko na nga kanina, efforts appreciated, apology accepted. So, okay na ha, move on na tayo. Next topic!
Richard: There is one more thing.
Maya: Ha? Meron pa?!
Richard: Why did you drop the Chief?
Maya: Huh? Di ba ayaw mo? So, Sir Chief na uli tonight? Hindi na Richard? Ang gulo ha. Para kang weather, pabago bago. And I thought kaming mga babae ang fickle minded –
Richard: You know what I’m talking about, Maya. You purposely and consciously dropped the Chief and just referred to me as Sir many times last night. Why so?
PS: hanggang dito na lang po muna ha! (please?!)