My Sunflower World

Chapter 5

Present

Ricky put down the journal he had started reading again when he returned to the beach house after taking Maya home. It was the first thing he saw when he entered the house through the veranda. He sat down again where he sat earlier, took a deep breath and picked up the journal. He was not yet sleepy. Who would be, with the wonderful way his day had turned out. When he impulsively took a trip to the beach house, for some deep thinking and to mull over the issues in his life, he was just preparing for a week of solitude and introspection. But Maya happens, and he was very glad!

For a while, Ricky felt happy reading the journal, unlike when he read first part of it, earlier. He felt his grandfather’s happiness as he narrated his and Maya’s first several days at the beach house. However, he felt sad again, remembering how it ended.

He wanted to continue reading but he needed to sleep. He checked the time and realized that it was actually past one o’clock in the morning already! It has been a long, but wonderful day. He checked his phone, which he had forgotten somewhere in the house earlier, and saw that he has several missed calls and frantic messages, all from the same number which he promptly deleted. He does not want any intrusion to the idyll he was having with Maya.

Instead, Ricky went to sleep thinking of the lovely lady he met unexpectedly. He was looking forward to spending another day with Maya. With the journal with him, he is sure of that. He had an inkling that it was difficult for Maya to part with the journal for the night. He smiled. When sleep finally managed to get hold of him, he dreamed of a guy who looked like him, but wearing clothes from another time period, smiling at a beautiful lady dressed in a colorful top, leggings and artist smock, busily putting paints on an easel. From time to time, the lady and the gentleman shared a loving look. It was a very nice dream.

The next thing Ricky knew, a loud sound penetrated his sleep. He felt disoriented where he was in the beginning, but then he realized that he was at his family’s beach house, and the sound was coming from his mobile phone. Half-dreading to see who was calling, he checked the screen of his phone. He heaved a sigh of relief when he saw that it was Maya calling.

“Good morning, Maya!” Ricky greeted with a big smile as he leaned against the headboard of the antique bed he slept in.

“Ricky, good morning!” Maya said cheerfully, then noticing that Ricky sounded sleepy. “Sorry, did I wake you up? I know, we agreed to meet around 10AM, napaaga ako! ”

“Yes, but it’s okay.” Richard looked at the clocked and saw that it was already past 8 o’clock! “I overslept. Tanghali na pala! Nag-breakfast ka na?”

“Not yet!” Maya put the picnic basket she was holding on the veranda.” Actually, I’m outside, I have brought breakfast for you kaya nga rin ako maaga. Alam ko kasi na mag-isa ka lang. Di ba bukas pa babalik ang mga caretaker mo? Maaga kasi akong nagising kaya nagluto ako ng breakfast for us.”

“Really, you are outside!” Ricky got out of the bed fast, with a grin on his face, happy to know that he will see Maya in several minutes, instead of hours. “Wait, I will get down as soon as I can.” He quickly went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth, took a quick shower, then he put on a yellow polo shirt and khaki shorts. He went down the stairs with something akin to a spring on his feet. From the stairs, he saw Maya standing outside, looking so lovely in a yellow summer dress tied around the nape of her neck. Beside her was a big picnic basket.

“Good morning Maya!” Ricky greeted Maya happily, giving her one of his bone-melting lopsided smiles. “I’m sorry it took me a while to go down. Great to see you this morning!” He then moved to give Maya a peck on the cheek, while helping her with the basket.

Maya’s heart skipped a beat with that kiss. She knew it was a customary greeting, but she felt electricity travelled through her body with his lips touching her face. Her poor heart, it has not even recovered from the beautiful smile he bestowed her! He looks very handsome in the shirt and shorts he was wearing. He also smelled so nice, of masculine soap, seeing that he took a shower before going down to meet her. “Good morning, Ricky!” She said a bit breathlessly.

“Please come inside!”

“Maybe, we can just eat here at the veranda, Ricky. The view is very nice.”

“Okay, I would love that. I will just get plates and other stuffs. I will make coffee for the two of us din. Sorry, haven’t even done that yet.”

“I can do that, and no worries, Ricky, kasi I also brought coffee for us. Here o!” Maya took out a small thermos from her picnic basket.

“Wow, thanks a lot, Maya. Sandali lang, I will get plates. Ako na ito since you have brought breakfast.” Ricky went inside the house and several minutes after, he returned with plates, utensils, plate mats and two mugs.

Maya started setting the table. “I made champorado and tuyo for us. Mainit pa naman so hindi na natin kailangang i-microwave. I also brought some fresh fruits. Manang Miring went to the market early this morning. Kumakain nga pala ng champorado and tuyo?”

Ricky looked at Maya in surprised when he heard her mentioned champorado and tuyo. It felt like deja vu. Parang nangyari na ang scene na ito sa kanya! Then he suddenly remembered that he read about it in the journal. Baka iyon ang dahilan kung bakit familiar ang lahat. Maya’s grandmother also brought champorado and tuyo for his grandfather. Nagkataon lang!

“Bakit you looked surprised, Ricky. Ayaw mo?” Maya asked seeing Ricky’s startled expression.

“No, no, Maya. I love it. One of my favorite food iyan. Para lang nangyari na sa akin ito. You know the sudden feeling na titigil ka and felt that what was unfolding before you, seems to have happened to you already. Deja vu.”

“Oh! Yes, I understand. It happens to me as well, from time to time, especially when I hold a paint brush and was using my grandmother’s old studio!”

“Exactly! Itong ginagawa natin ngayon, parang nangyari na. Then I remember that I have read something similar sa journal ng grandparents natin. Nagkataon lang.”

Maya stopped, her brows knitted, and then she smiled. “Ay oo nga. I remember that. Pareho nga. I didn’t realize that! Basta paggising ko lang kaninang umaga, bigla kong naisip na magluto ng champorado and tuyo for us. Parang bagay sa panahon.”

“Exactly, and I really love champorado and tuyo. It has been ages since I tasted that.” Ricky said, pulling a chair for Maya.

“Thanks Ricky. Natapos mo na pala ang journal? I gathered na nagbasa ka ulit pagkatapos mo akong ihatid kagabi?”

“Yes, but a little bit lang, about their happy times here.  Hindi ko pa natapos. Pagkauwi ko kasi, hindi pa ako makatulog. Siguro dahil na rin sa very nice day that I had.” Ricky said, gazing at Maya, intently, then giving her a big smile. “It was really lovely meeting you yesterday, Maya kahit napagkamalan mo akong multo.”

Maya and Ricky both laughed at what he said. Then they both enjoyed their delicious breakfast while gazing at each other at times, and at the same time enjoying the beautiful view before them, just like another couple did, 50 years ago.

Note:  This used to be part of Chapter 3. I revised Chapter 3 into Chapter 4 and 5. This is part of the revision and reuploading that I’m doing. Please click on my ‘Thought Process’ post on this. 🙂   Likewise, please see the Richard and Maya index under Library for the revised chapters!