uncolored (completed)

stranded

       

"Good afternoon po, Tita....si Menggay po?"

"O, Rj....napadalaw ka?"

"...opo....miss na miss ko na po siya e.....may dala nga po pala akong fruits.....inabot ko na po kay Ate Pepe..."

"...ahh talaga...sus! nag-abala ka pa....thank you....teka....tawagin ko muna si Meng....have a seat, anak...."

"...thank you po...."

"Wow Babe! You're here.....diba sa Angono kayo kanina?"

Rj stands and kisses Maine on the lips.

"....Oo....I brought you fruits...."

"...ay grabe sya...diba ako yung galing biyahe? tapos ikaw ang may pasalubong?"

"hehehe! I missed you!"

"I missed you......sooooooo........soooooooooooo....much!" Maine said as she embraced Rj tightly around the waist.  He buried his face into her shoulder.

"Rj...."

"Good evening po, Tito...." Rj shakes Tatay's hand.

"Good evening sa 'yo....dito ka na mag-dinner....ang lakas ng buhos ng ulan o....tiyak ma-traffic pa-luwas...."

"...ahh...sige po....salamat...."

"Naku! Mukhang di titila agad tong ulan na to.....Dean, check mo nga kung baha na....." Nanay says at the dinner table.

"....Nay....baha daw sa Quezon City....saka sa C-5....."  Dean says as he looks at his phone.

"....Buti nalang naka-biyahe pa ako kanina...." Kuya John said.

"...at buti rin na di ka naabutan ng malakas na ulan...." Ate Niki added.

After dinner, Maine and Rj settle in the living room with everyone to watch Matti play with the toys and gifts Maine and Colleen brought from the US.  They were amused at how much Matti had grown and developed over the past months.  Giggles and chuckles from the adults and shrieks from little Matti filled the living room and somehow drowned the sound of the storm outside.

"...naku! Mukhang ayaw tumila ng ulan...." Maine said, looking concernedly at Rj as the time ticked on the grandfather clock.

"....mabuti pa, dito ka nalang magpalipas ng gabi, Rj....." Nanay Maryann said as she stood up from the sofa to go to the kitchen.

"Huh?" Maine and Rj look at each other.

"Oo....dito ka na matulog tonight....mahirap bumiyahe sa ganitong maulan....." Ate Niki said.

"....Pepe....pakihanda nung guest room...." Nanay said as she approached the kitchen.

"O, eto....here's a towel for you....and I have your extra shirt pa upstairs....wait, kunin ko lang...."

"Thanks, Love....nakakahiya...."

"....ngayon ka pa nahiya.....eh nung sa Italy at Morocco, magkasama din naman tayo....."

"Oo....pero...."

"Pero ano?"

"....pero wala parents mo...." Rj whispered loudly.

"......" Maine chuckled.  "....wait lang....kunin ko lang yung clothes mo...."

"...Thank you, Love...."

Maine stayed in the guest room with Rj until it was time to go to bed.

"....Colleen....Colleen.....girl...." Maine whispered loudly in the dark.

No reply; a faint and steady snoring....

Maine tiptoed out of their bedroom to the guest room downstairs.

She knocked gently.

She turned the knob and entered quietly and snuggled into Rj's warm, familiar embrace.

Rj felt and recognized Maine's scent and comfortably embraced her with his arm and leg as they slept together.

Very early the following morning, Maine woke up and crept out of the guest room and back to her bed.

Soon after, Rj arose and got ready for the day.  He showered and patiently waited for the Mendozas to start their day.  He had breakfast with them and he and Maine left Maine's home to go to their Saturday work.