There Was You (Completed)

19 - Pride and Principles

♪♪Doon ay kaya kong ipunin lahat ng bituin/ Doon ay kaya kong igapos ihip ng hangin/ Doon ay kaya kong ipagbawal buhos ng ulan/ Sa panaginip lang kita nahahagkan twina/ Doon lang ♪♪

(Doon Lang  - Filipino ballad by Nonoy Zuniga)

"Sinabi mo 'yon? Ateng naman, mao-offend nga yung tao! Para kang nag-offer ng trabaho, eh nagpapacute na nga siya sa 'yo."

Maine realized that now. "Ate Kai, what if he says no? Maybe I should not push through with this scheme."

"Ahahaha! Bakit, wala kang maisip na ibang gaganap, no? Aminin!"

She stopped typing. "It's not like that."

"Echosera ka! Siguro, na-iimagine mo na yung future akbay niya sa 'yo no? Tapos sabay bubulong kunwari? O kaya yung future HHWECBs n'yo? Yiheee! Ano ba! Bakit ba kasing-haba ng pila sa LRT yung kilig ko sa inyo? Kainis!"

Maine covered her ears, refusing the images popping in her head from Ate Kai's words. "I'm not listening to this. Wait, what's HHWECB?"

"Ano pa, eh di 'Holding-hands-while-eating-corn-and-banana-q'. Tutal yun naman ang date food n'yo. hahaha!" Then she turned serious. "O siya, balik ka na lang diyan sa article na sinusulat mo, may mapapala pa tayo."

She removed her glasses and put her head down on the table. "I don't think I can concentrate."

"Teh, buti pa, itulog mo na lang yan mamaya! Hindi ka matitiis no'n. Hula ko lang naman."

A/N: Ang tanong ateng, makakatulog ba yan? Baka magbilang lang yan ng bicepsss. He will say no, he will say yes, he will say no....

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If Maine thought that she was already scot-free from sermon, then she was wrong. It was Tita Terrie's turn to scold her that night.

"Okay ka lang???"

She was surprised by her tone. "Tita?"

"Yun ang isasagot ko sa 'yo, kung ako si Richard at ganon ang pagka-offer mo sa 'kin. Beri-beri wrong, iha. Hindi ito kasing-dali ng flat-tire emergency or bentahan ng kotse. Kahit sabihin mo pang fake fiancé, may konting personalan na 'to. Kailangan ng personal touch."

Do they have to rub it in? "Tita, the opportunity presented itself. I just took advantage of it. At least he already knows. If he says no, fine! We'll just find somebody else. Maybe I should look at those pictures again." She tried to put conviction in her voice.

"Saan lumabas yung 'fine', sa ilong mo? Don't me, Nicomaine! Feeling ko, aamin ka na lang kay Jumong na nagsinungaling ka, pag di tumuloy si Richard. Magdasal ka na lang na hindi ka sana niya matiis."

A/N: Tita Terrie, Joon-mo po, iba po si Jumong.

Maine remembered Ate Kai's similar words earlier. Did they talk to each other? Am I that transparent that they can read me like this?

"Pero iha, I'm proud of you. Para masabi mo kay Richard yon, alam kong isang drum ng lakas ng loob ang ininom mo. Para kang nagpiano recital in front of the whole school. Naiiyak ako. May tissue ka ba diyan?"

A/N: Aaaaw, Tita Terrie, yellow blanket you want?

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WEDNESDAY

Poor man's beach. Baywalk, Manila Bay.

Madaling-araw pa nang umalis si Richard ng bahay at nagpark malapit sa US Embassy para maglakad-lakad sa tabi ng dagat. Kailangan niyang madesisyon. Hindi na puwedeng patagalin pa.