MaiChard AU: Never The Strangers [Completed]

The Day After

Maine woke up at the at the sound of her phone ringing, thirty minutes before her alarm clock. It was Val.

"HOY MENGGAY!! ANONG NANGYARI KAGABEEEEEEEEE?!

"Good morning to you, too. Yung totoo? Nakamegaphone ka? Alas sais ng umaga, beh."

"Sorry. Sorry. Good morning! So ano na na nga?"

"Alam mo, magkikita tayo for lunch later e. Atat?"

"Eeeeh sige na. Kagabi pa ko di mapakali e. Tapos umulan pa ng malakas. Anyare? Daliiii!"

"Fine fine. So ayun nga umulan nga ng malakas..." Maine proceeded to tell her the events of last night as he brew her morning coffee and take out orange juice from the fridge for her cereals. Val could only be heard giggling, screaming and punching what seemed to be a pillow as she continued with her story.

"Pero here's the best part."

"Sheeet!Meron pa?! Nagkiss ba kayo? French kiss ba? May tongue? MENGGAY!! SUMAGOT KA!!"

"Gaga! Hindi no. Sa hands lang."

"Anak ng pating naman, Meng. Ang guwapo nun o. Di mo pa sinunggaban? Ngayon ka pa talaga nagpabebe? Ang romantic ng setting, friend. Umulan, malamig, kayong dalawa lang. Ano ba?!"

"Hahahaha. Wag kang ano. Gagang to. Hindi yun. Eto kasi, hindi ko pa nakuwento sayo to kasi si RJ lang ang nagpaalala saken kagabi."

"Haynako. Ang alin yun?"

"Nagkita na pala kami dati. Like five years ago."

"What the-- seriously?!"

Val let out another shrill scream after Maine told her how she found RJ years ago, sprawled on the pavement, wincing in pain. "Destiny to, frieeeend!"

"Valeria! Yung ear drums ko! Ano ba?!"

"Hoy! Wag mo kong magtawag tawag na Valeria, hindi ako matronics na telenovela actress! Pero girl! At least hindi ako nagkamali sa pagkilatis sa kanya. He really is a gentleman. San ganda mong yan. Natiis nyang di ka halikan?"

"Eeeeh, enebeh. Wait lang. Pano mo naman sya nakilatis, aber?"

"Ah e kasi, nameet ko na sya sya. In person."

"What?! Kelan? At bakit di mo sinabi saken?! Anong ginawa mo?"

"Well."

"Ano nga?!"

"Remember Last week when you called me about Kessler Boom?"

"Yes. Sinsabi ko na nga ba e. Kaya ba para kang kitikiting binudburan ng asin when I called you last Wednesday night?! Hoy Valeen ha. Sinasabi ko sayo pag etong si RJ bigla na lang nawala sa mundong ibabaw at di na nagparamdam saken..."

"Beym! Huli ka balbon! Gusto mo din si RJ no? Atey, wag nang magdeny. Umiinit ang cellphone ko dahil sa init ng blush ng pisngi mo, oh!"

"Wag mong ibahin ang usapan. Anong ginawa mo?!"

"Fine. Sabi ko lang naman, kakapunin ko ang Junjun nya kapag pinaiyak ka na. Yun lang naman. Ang harmless kaya."

"Hay nako, Valeen."

"Pero seriously, friend ha. I feel naman that you both like each other but I just want to make sure na hindi ka nya lolokohin. Di kagaya ng ex mong mukhang gorilyang tisoy."

"Hahaha. Ang harsh mo kay James. Pero may point ka e. Char! Oh sya, I'll see you at lunch later. You'll bring the mock ups for my cookbook cover?"

"Yep, labs. Laters. Mwah!"

****

As RJ expected, Sam and Je would be hounding him about his date when they met for drinks the next day. RJ came in late because he had to finish putting in supply orders for Café del Rio and the moment his friends saw him, they both shouted "Paps!" in unison, catching the attention of the people drinking by the bar, including girls that checked him out as he walked towards Sam and Je.

"Huy. Ang ingay nyo. Bartender, scotch on the rocks, please."

"Paps, eto naman. We're just excited for you. Ang tagal tagal mong bakante tapos eto na! Happy lang kami ni Je for you, Papi."

"Oo nga naman, Paps. Yang ngiting yan? Ilang taon kong di nakita yan ah. Huy, tawa ka ng tawa. Muntanga to. Magkwento ka!", Je teased.

"Fine, fine. Sam, naalala yung babaeng tumulong saken nung nabangga ako ng bike some years ago?"

"Uy, tangina, Pre. Wag mong sabihing si Maine yun?!" Sam forcefully clapped one hand on RJ's shoulder then clapped his other hand to his mouth to muffle his loud gasp.

"Yep." RJ confirmed, nodding his head.

Je extended his hand to him. "Pare, congratulations. Sabi na si Maine talaga ang destiny mo e. Eto na. Natagpuan mo na ang magiging nanay ng mga anak mo."

RJ smiled even wider as the thought sank in. He could clearly imagine it, Maine playing with their baby the way she did with Matti when he visited her home for lunch last Sunday. He couldn't help but smile at the thought. He liked the idea. Very much.

"Paps? Huy! Tulala o." Sam waved his hand on his face, trying to get his attention.

"Sorry Paps, ano uli yun?"

"Wow, Pre! Naimagine mo agad yung sinabi ko, no? Naku Pareng Sam, wala na to. Hulog na hulog na o." both of them high fived and shook their heads, laughing softly.

The bartender just then put 3 shots of tequilla in front of them. "This round's on me." Sam and Je looked at RJ incredulously. "Masaya ako e. Bakit ba?"

"Naks! Masaya ka nga. Galante ka pag masaya ka e. Pero maiba tayo, Pareng RJ. Si Sam, may Patring na. Ikaw, may Maine. Lakad mo naman ako kay Val, Paps. Sige na."

"Je, pag naging kami ni Maine, ikakampanya pa kita kay Val. Pero kelangan mo pa ba ng wingman sa gwapo mong yan?"

"Sabagay, may point ka. Sige, Paps. Focus ka muna kay Maine. Malay mo, mauna pa kami ni Val sa inyo."

"That's the spirit! Let's drink to that!" Sam chimed in holding his glass up in the air, RJ and Je laughing as they follow suit.

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A/N:

Super thank you po for reading Never. The Strangers. Akalain ko ba namang aabot sa ganto kahaba ang AMACON story ko. 😅

As always, di po uso ang beta reading and proofreading saken #tamad so all mistakes are mine. Let me know what you think or tweet me your favorite lines or quotes at @bankingonkismet or comment down below.😘