Your Universe

#YU30

•RICHARD•

Wala na si Maine pagdating ko sa bahay namin. Hindi ko na tinapos yung dinner. Nagpaalam na lang ako kay Ms. Castillo na may emergency sa bahay kaya kailangan ko nang umuwi. Anya even tried to stop me from going home but I declined.

"Richard, wag ka na kasi munang umuwi!" she said while following me to the parking lot. "Ngayon na lang tayo ulit nagkita oh!"

"I don't care, Anya. Uuwi ako. Kailangan naming mag-usap ni Maine."

"Hanggang ngayon patay na patay ka pa rin kay Mendoza no?" she said coyly. I turned around and saw her glaring at me. "Puro na lang si Mendoza."

"What are you even talking about, Anya?"

"I like you, Richard!"

"I'm sorry Anya, you can't have me. Mahal ko si Maine. Try finding someone else."

"And what do you even know about love, Richard?! 16 ka pa lang!"

"Anya, you don't have the right to invalidate my feelings for Maine just because of my age. Ayokong maging bastos kaya please, bumalik ka na sa loob," I told her. She grabbed my arm pero tinanggal ko agad yon. I looked her in the eye and said, "Remember this, Anya. I will always choose Maine. Always." I told her and and went inside the car.

"Umuwi na kuya, hinatid namin ni Kuya Dan kanina," Mary told me while eating her yogurt. "Umiiyak kasi. Sabi ko nga sasamahan ko na lang siya sa kanila kasi dalawa lang sila ni Yaya Pe, pero ayaw naman niya."

"Sana pinilit mo na lang," I told her, pacing back and forth.

"Tapos magalit din sa'kin? Hindi na no," she scooped another spoonful of yogurt. "Puntahan mo na kaya, hindi yung paikot-ikot ka pa diyan. Nahihilo na ko sa'yo."

"Si Angel?"

"Nasa taas na, natutulog. Katabi pa yata si Globie."

I grabbed the car keys and went outside. "Pag dumating sina dad sabihin mo pinuntahan ko lang si Maine!" I shouted. Pambihirang buhay to.

***

Pagdating ko sa kanila, pinagbuksan ako ng gate ni Tita Mary Ann. "Nandun siya sa kwarto niya, RJ," she told me as she guided me inside the house. We settled in the living room with Yaya Pe giving us drinks.

"May nangyari ba sa inyo?" Tita Mary Ann asked after sipping from her cup of tea. "Pinuntahan ko kasi kanina sa kwarto niya pero hindi ako nilabas," I started fidgeting, I'm getting nervous as she continued to ask me questions. "Nag-away ba kayo, RJ?"

"Galit po yata siya sa'kin, tita," I started. "Akala po niya kasi may something sa amin nung isang kaklase ko nung elementary. Naabutan niya po kasing nakakawit yung kamay sa braso ko."

"E may something nga ba?"

I shook my head. "Tita wala po. Susmaryosep kahit kagat-kagatin pa ho ako ni Maine, wala po talaga."

I saw her chuckle and sipped from her cup of tea again. "Ikaw talaga. Kausapin mo na lang at alam mo namang selosa yang si Menggay. Paliwanagan mo at mabubuksan din ang utak niyan. Alam mo namang padalos-dalos yan minsan."

"Hindi po ba ako papagalitan ni Tito kapag umakyat ako sa kwarto ni Meng?" I asked. "Baka po kasi hindi ako babain dito eh."