Choices & Chances

Chapter 13

Tulungan mo ang sarili mo, anak. Patawarin mo na ang sarili mo at mahalin mo ng buo, hindi lang para sayo kundi para na rin sa taong mamahalin mo, o minamahal mo.

His mother's words have been playing in his mind for the past couple of days, since they last talked on the phone. One can't say he doesn't try, because God knows he does, but he just can't find it in him to move on from the accident. RJ sighed and took a sip from his drink.

"Boss, mas malalim pa sa dagat yang iniisip mo," he heard Maine say as she sat down beside him on the sand.

They were currently at a bonfire on the beach with Maine and her friends from work. After everything that happened with Maine for the past week, RJ knew she deserved this time on the beach, and he happened to be free that Friday evening so he decided to accept her invitation to join them for the bonfire. He missed spending time with Maine on the beach and he also wanted to be with her as much as possible after learning about her back pain.

"The usual," he replied with a small smile. "Pero, hayaan na natin."

"Are you sure? Wanna go for a walk muna?" Maine asked, offering her hand to him.

RJ took her hand and held it in both his own, gently caressing them while smiling at her. "I'm sure. Dito muna tayo, sarap dito sa may fire eh. How's your back, boss?"

"Boss, ok lang. Wag mo na isipin kasi okay nako."

"For now. Kailangan mo ba ng pain killer?"

"Boss, promise, malalaman mo naman kapag hindi eh. Wait, kuha na lang muna ako ng barbecue, may bagong luto." Maine excitedly pointed where her friends were grilling some food.

He watched her grin as she stood up but RJ gently pulled her down before she could even get up on her feet. "Ako na, boss. I'll get you some food," he told her with a smile.

"Boss, ayoko ng binibaby ako. I can do things for myself."

"This is not me treating you like a baby, boss. This is me treating you as someone special to me." RJ got up and smiled at her before walking over to get food.

"What's that phrase my cousins always use for teasing? Oh, haba nga hair mo teh!" Kayla said, suddenly appearing behind Maine.

"Ang slang mo! And it's haba NG hair mo, not NGA," Maine laughed. "There you go again with the teasing."

"Hey, at least I tried." Kayla replied, laughing with her. "But, girl, ikaw na!"

"You've been spending way too much time with with your cousins."

"At least I learn new ways of teasing you and your prince charming. It's more fun teasing you in tagalog coz you blush more, like now." Kayla poked Maine's side, teasing her like there's no tomorrow.

"Stop!" Maine just laughed it off, hiding her face with her hair.

"He seems very protective of you," Kayla said with a serious tone, making Maine look at her friend.

"He is," Maine replied back.

"And from what I understand, he was already protective of you even before he found out about your back problem, right?" Her friend asked, the only person from her circle of friends in California who knows about her life story.

"Yeah," Maine smiled.

"He seems like a keeper to me. I still can't believe the arrogant customer at the restaurant who yelled at me months ago is now joining us for a bonfire, and he actually turned out to be a fine man."