Posts Tagged Fanfiction
On The Street Where You Live – Chapter 15
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on June 20, 2015
Chapter 15
Maya spent the rest of the morning at the nearby supermarket, buying ingredients for the spaghetti that she will cook for Abby. She also decided to buy a chocolate dedication cake from a local bakeshop. She asked the shop staff to write ‘Welcome back to Mirasol Street’ on the cake. She also brought flowers for Manang Fe, red and white roses, and a bottle of wine.
Her mobile phone rang when she was unlocking the door of her apartment. By the time she was in, and about to answer her call, the phone has stopped ringing. She dropped her groceries on the kitchen table and checked her missed call. It was Doris who was trying to reach her.
“Yes BFF, napatawag ka? Sorry hindi ko nasagot kaagad. Kagagaling ko lang sa grocery eh. ” Maya said when Doris picked up her call. “Magluluto kasi ako ng spaghetti.”
“Hi Maya, okay lang naman. I though na baka nga out on errands ka since Saturday or baka kasama mo si Richard.” Doris said. “Tungkol kasi ito sa lakad natin bukas. Unfortunately, I have to go to Laoag early tomorrow morning kasi biglang na-confirm iyung interview that I was trying to schedule with the elusive retired feisty actress na naka-base na sa Pagudpud, si Miriam Bonifacio. Naalala mo, siya iyong sobrang frank na actress na sobrang galing naman sa acting. She is not active in the business for several years now. She just walked away, di ba? We would like to include her in the current issue we are working on, kasama nung lawyer that I interviewed recently.”
“Oh, so hindi kayo makakasama sa amin nina Ricky at Abby sa Tagaytay?” Maya said, a bit disappointed. She was looking forward to seeing her bestfriend and Lance again, to their bonding with Abby, and of course, with Ricky. Para na rin sana maipakilala niya si Ricky kay Doris as her boyfriend. However, she understand the nature of Doris’ work. Mas matindi pa sa demand ng work ni Doris ang naging demand sng dati iyang trabaho. “Sayang naman, but I understand BFF. No worries. Nasabi mo na ba kay Lance?”
“No, Maya, ako lang ang hindi makakasama sana.” Doris clarified. “Kung okay lang ba sa iyo na sina Lea and Lance na lang ang sumama sa inyo nina Richard at Abby sa Tagaytay? Lance is over the moon and counting the hours na until tomorrow since I told him about it yesterday.”
“Okay na okay naman BFF. No worries, ako na ang bahala sa kanila. Kahit nga kami lang ni Lance okay lang.” Maya assured her friend. “Akala ko kasi isasama mo si Lance sa Laoag for a little vacation after your work.”
“Naku, hindi kasi bibiyahe pa ako by land from Laoag to Pagudpud. Saka di ba may school si Lance. Isama mo na si Lea sa trip mo para naman on the side eh magkaroon kayo ng you and me time ni Mr. Dremboat. Para makapanligaw siya ng husto at mapag-isipan mo naman nang husto kung sasagutin mo na siya.” Doris said in a teasing tone. “Alam mo na namang support na support ko iyang lovelife mo.”
“Hahahaha, ikaw talaga BFF, walang kakupas-kupas! Dapat magsama kayo ni Attorney Ryan, iyong boss ko na close friend ni Ricky!” Maya said, smiling “Pero BFF, kami na kasi ni Ricky eh!”
“Kayo na? You mean as in sinagot mo na si Richard? Ibinigay mo na ang matamis mong ‘oo’ sa nag-iisang lalaking nagpapatibok niyang puso mo? May boyfriend ka na rin sa wakas!!!” Doris asked excitedly, in rapid succession. “Kailan pa naging kayo? Parang the last time we talked yesterday morning, wala kang nabanggit!”
“Yes, Richard is now my boyfriend. BFF, I’m so happy!!!!” Maya said happily and giddily. “Kagabi ko lang siya sinagot.”
Maya told Doris about her dinner with Richard the night before and the trip home, him letting her drove his car and him telling her he love her very much after they shared a kiss. “Hayun BFF, pagka-park namin ng car kagabi, I was just so happy to be with him. We kissed, then he told me he loves me very much. It was a perfect moment, so I told him that I love him too! Sinagot ko na! Masyado bang mabilis ang mga pangyayari? For me kasi, I have never been surer in my life than at that moment. I love him very much.”
“Maya’ I’m so happy for you BFF. Imagine sa tinagal-tagal man ng panahon at sa dami ng mga nangyari sa mga buhay ninyong dalawa, in the end kayo pa rin pala!” Doris said. “BFF bilang number one fan ng love team ninyo ni Richard at nag-iisang saksi sa pagmamahalan ninyong dalawa, ito lang ang masasabi ko, KINIKILIG AKO TO THE MAX!!!!” Doris shouted on the phone with matching tili!
“BFF, nabasag yata ang eardrums ko doon, pero salamat ha, for everything, for the support you know at maraming iba pa.” Maya laughed at her best friend’s reaction. “I never felt like this before. Iyon bang sobrang saya ka lang. Bigla kang napapangiting mag-isa and kapag kasama ko siya, parang kami lang dalawa ang nasa mundo. Kapag tinititigan niya ako niya ako para akong matutunaw! Kapag magkausap kami, parang tumitigil ang orasan. Just the thought of him makes my heart sing. Tapos siya ang huling nasa isip ko sa pagtulog ko sa gabi.” Maya finished eloquently.
“Ganyan talaga ang true love, Maya BFF! You are lucky to have found love, with a wonderful guy like Richard. Alam ko he will cherish you. The fact kasi that you have surpassed ten years of being apart and all the trials, then kayo pa rin, malaking bagay iyon. He is also lucky to have you. Ikaw ang yata ang pinaka-loving and most giving person that I know. You deserve all the happiness and blessings coming your way after ng mga unos sa buhay mo.” Doris said. “Saka ten years na rin naman ang history ninyo ni Richard kahit most of it magkahiwalay kayo. Sa buong panahon na iyon hindi nagbago ang feelings ninyo for each other and that is a very good foundation na. It does not happen to everyone.”
“Thank you very much BFF. I agree with what you said wholeheartedly. I love you and again, thanks again for being there with me, you and Tito Fernando. Parang kapamilya na talaga ang turing ninyo sa amin ni Nanay.”
“Naku, BFF, talaga naman. Kung pwede nga lang na maging mag-sister tayo. Kaso, iyung pudra ko, na-friendzoned ng mudra mo!” Doris said, teasing. “Teka, alam na ba ni Tita Tessie na sa wakas, may boyfriend ka na? Baka magpamisa iyon sa lahat ng simbahan sa galak.”
“Eh wala akong magagawa, one man woman yata talaga kaming mga Dela Paz ladies! Kita mo si Nanay, then si Manang din.” Maya said. “Yes, alam na ni Nanay ang tungkol kay Ricky. Tatawagan ko na nga sana siya kanina pero naunahan na niya ako, pagkagising ko, tumawag na siya. Like you said, ang saya-saya niya ng malaman na may boyfriend na ako. I told her also Ricky and I’s history. At hindi lang siya, happy, take note BFF, sabi pa naman sa akin, sa wakas daw magkakaapo na siya! Ganyan ka-advance si Mother!”
“Hahahaha, si Tita Tessie talaga, sabik na sabik na sa apo. Lance is so lucky to have her as an honorary grandmother.” Doris said. “Pero, tama naman siya, apo kung apo the soonest.”
“Sabi nga pala ni Nanay, ikumusta ko raw siya sa iyo at ihalik kay Lance kapag nagkita tayo.” Maya said, suddenly remembering her mother’s bilin. “Miss ko nga na si Nanay nang sobra-sobra, more than two months na nga kaming hindi nagkikita. Plan namin ni Ricky na umuwi sa Mindoro the next free weekend that we have. Di ba may parating na long weekend? Titingnan ko lang ang load ko and his schedule and kapag okay, bibiyahe kami pa-San Nicolas. Gusto niyang makilala si Nanay, and I promised Nanay rin that I will introduce Ricky to her the soonest time possible.”
“Talaga, meet the parent na agad-agad? Nakakatuwa naman iyang si Richard, matapos mawala sa buhay mo ng parang bula sa loob ng sampung taon, dinadaan sa santong paspasan ang lahat! Grand bawi kung grand bawi, kumbaga!” Doris teased her BFF, then seriously she asked, “Paano pala iyan BFF, what if Richard propose na to you kahit bago pa lang kayo because he does not want to waste time. Handa ka na ba?”
“Yes, BFF! I am!” Maya replied quickly and with conviction. “When I saw him again and realized that I still feel the same for him, and then when he started courting me, inihanda ko na ang sarili ko kung saan man kami mapunta, kahit sa simbahan, even if I had just started my career as a lawyer. Siya lang naman ang minahal ko, wala nang iba. Hindi naman magbabago iyon. Sabi mo nga ten years na rin ang history namin kahit most of that decade, magkahiwalay kami. He is the only one for me. Tanggap ko kung ano man siya and all the things that had happened to his life during that time. His first wife Alexandra and his precious angel, Abby. Pero for now, I’m enjoying our relationship muna. Hindi ko na muna iniisip ang engagement and kasal. Kung tuloy-tuloy na ito at kami na forever, I hope so, then I’m prepared na and more than willing to spend the rest of my life with him.”
“BFF, naiiyak naman ko sa happiness para sa iyo!!!” Doris said emotionally, sniffling. “Basta BFF matron of honor ako at ring bearer si Lance.”
“Hahahaha, Doris naman! Of course when that time comes! Pero matagal pa iyon. Kasisimula pa lang namin ulit ni Ricky!” Maya told her best friend.
“Naku BFF, malay mo bukas mag-propose na siya sa iyo!” Doris teased. “Sabihin mo lang kaagad if he did na ha, para makapag-diet ako ng husto at ng sexy ako sa matron gown ko.”
“Hahahaha, impossible iyan, bukas agad, as in. Pero promise ko sa iyo kapag nangyari iyan, when the right time comes, si Nanay at ikaw ang unang makakaalam!” Maya said.
“Okay, BFF. Love you. O paano, paalam na, see you when I see you. Bahala ka sa bebe boy ko ha. Hello na lang kay boyfie, saka na lang kamo kami magkumustahan. O siya magluto ka na ng spaghetti para sa future daughter mo, I presumed para kay Abby iyan. Di ba ngayon ang lipat nila pabalik ng Mirasol? I’m sure hit iyan. Iyan na yata ang pinakamasarap na spaghetti para kay Lance, at siyempre para sa akin din ah!”
“Surely BFF. Ingat ka sa biyahe at good luck sa interview mo.” Maya said. “Yes, the spaghetti is for Abby. Ricky said to drop by around 4 o’clock later. Sabi ko ako na ang bahala sa snacks, tulong ko sa paglilipat nila. Gusto ko ring makilala ng husto si Abby. Kasi di ba, isang beses pa lang kaming nagkita, di pa kami formally introduced. Nandoon rin kasi si Manang Fe sa bahay ni Ricky, maghe-hello ako.”
“Naks naman, mommy na mommy at future wife na talaga ang peg ng BFF ko.” Doris added.
“Hahahaha, Doris, ikaw talaga. O siya, goodbye na tayo at magluluto na ako!” Maya said, smiling.
Maya checked the time after and Doris and she finally ended her phone call! “OMG, pasado alas una na pala, kailangan ko nang magluto!”
Maya got moving briskly. She was finished with everything by 3PM. While she was warming the spaghetti sauce, Maya took a bath. She chose to wear shorts and a floral blouse. When she had checked her phone she saw a message from Ricky.
Hi sweetheart, we are here at Mirasol na! Settling in. I missed you.
Maya smiled at that. “Sus, ito talagang sweetheart ko, sobrang sweet! Para iilang oras pa lang kaming naghihiwalay.” She typed a reply.
Hello my sweetheart. I’m done na. I will be there in 15 minutes. I missed you too. See you!
She was about to put the phone in her bag when it beeped again.
Wait, stay there, sweetheart, I will pick you up. No buts. I’m going out of the house na!
Maya just smiled and shook her head. “Ang kulit talaga ng sweetheart ko!”
Several minutes after, Maya’s doorbell rang.
“Hi, sweetheart!” Richard said with a big grin. He looked very happy.
“Hi sweetheart! Parang ang saya-saya natin ah.” Maya said, smiling lovingly at her boyfriend. He looks so handsome and so mabango talaga. She will never get tired of looking at him like this and seeing him with one of his bone-melting lopsided smiles. “Halika pasok ka muna. I will just put the spaghetti in a container.”
“Of course, I’m here with my beautiful and wonderful girlfriend again.” Richard said as he followed Maya inside. He likes her in shorts. It shows off her long legs. He likes her in everything! She is very beautiful, in whatever she chose to wear!
Maya laughed, looked at Richard. “Ikaw talaga, pinapakilig mo na naman ako eh.”
“Siyempre naman, sweetheart, that’s my goal in life and I have an ulterior motive when I offered to pick you up.” Richard confessed, gazing at Maya intently, with mischief in his eyes.
“What is it?” Maya asked curiously.
“This.” Richard said, then before Maya could react, Richard lowered his lips to her and gave her a searing kiss. Maya opened her mouth to let Richard deepen the kiss. Before they know it, they are sharing one of the most heated kisses they have shared so far. Several long moments after, they were both catching their breaths.
Richard traced the seam of Maya, kiss-swollen lips. “I missed that. I needed my vitamins before we face the troop. For sure, mamayang gabi pa ulit kita masosolo pag dating mo sa bahay.” He said grinning. “I love you very much, sweetheart.”
“Sweetheart, ikaw talaga! But I love you very much, anyway!” Maya said, grinning, pinching Richard lightly on the side.
“Ouch, sweetheart, now you have to give me another kiss to sooth the pain you have caused.” He said dramatically, with a matching pained facial expression, but the smile he was trying to hide from Maya betrayed him.
“Hay naku, Mr. Lim, nagda-drama ka na naman! Halika na, baka gutom na si Abby.” Maya said, as she started walking towards the kitchen. But then she smiled sweetly at Richard, stood on her toes, cupped his face, then she lowered her lips to him and kissed him quite thoroughly, “May masakit ba pa, sweetheart?” She whispered softly.
Richard grinned naughtily at Maya’s innocent question. “Hmmm, meron pa sweetheart, a different kind of pain naman after that kiss.” He said, grinning at her unrepentently.
Maya blushed, getting his meaning. “Naku, Richard Lim, magugutom na talaga ang anak mo!” With a loving smile to Richard, she went to the kitchen. Richard followed and helped Maya with packing the food, the flowers, the wine and the cake that she bought, at the same time, sneaking little kisses to her, which made the task longer.
It was already a bit after 4PM when they managed to get out of Maya’s apartment. Hands, intertwined and with loving gazes, they walked happily towards Richard’s home.
Note: Have a nice weekend everyone! Thank you for the likes and the wonderful comments to Chapter 1 of Beyond Forever! I hope you will like this additional Saturday night treat! GV always!
Beyond Forever – Chapter 1
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on June 20, 2015
Chapter 1
Present
Something wet hit the page of the journal that Maria Yasmin Ventura Dela Rosa, ‘Maya’ to family and friends, was reading by the beach, then another, and another. Maya closed Ricardo Lim’s journal hastily, and clutched it to her chest tightly. She looked up at the sky and noticed that it has gotten dark the past hour or so. She got engrossed in the journal again, lost in the past, and didn’t notice the changing weather!
“Oh my God, uulan na! Mukhang malakas pa. Ano ba iyan, ang ganda-ganda ng araw kanina! Naku, mababasa itong journal!” Maya exclaimed, panicking. She needed to protect the precious journal that she found while cleaning the attic of the Ventura ancestral house in New Manila, several weeks after her grandfather James died.
The house in New Manila was bequeathed to her mother, but since it was Maya who has been staying there with her grandfather, Marina Ventura-Dela Rosa told Maya that it’s hers, since she loves that house very much. She and Maya’s father prefer their house in Ayala Alabang. Maya’s mother also told her, that eventually, anyway, it will pass on to her as per the term of her grandfather’s will stated. Maya discovered the journal while organizing things in the attic as she would like to put her grandfather’s stuffs there for safekeeping, with her and her mother’s yaya, Manang Fe helping her.
Maya looked around and checked where she really was. She realized that she had wandered a bit farther off from where the beach house her mother’s family owns. The nearest shelter is the white house several meters away that looked abandoned the past several times she passed by it. Manang Miring, the caretaker of the Dela Paz beach house mentioned that the family of the late Ricardo Lim, from Manila, owns it. It turned out, it is the same Ricardo Lim whose journal she was trying to protect at that moment. She should have just photocopied it and leave the original in a safe place to protect the almost 50 years old journal, but Maya like the feel of it on her hands, her link to a past that she is very much drawn to. She did scan all of the journal’s pages and the photos she discovered were inserted in it, to save it for posterity. She ran towards the white house, keeping her fingers crossed that she will reach it in time. The large droplets got more frequent while she was running towards it.
By the time Maya was catching her breath at the covered part the terrace of the beautiful house, it was raining very hard. Seeking a warmer place, Maya tried the glass door that lead to the living room of the house. Luckily, it was unlocked. Maya was a bit nervous entering the empty house as it belongs to another, but the desire to make sure that the journal is completely dry was stronger. For reasons, she can’t explain, Maya was drawn to the journal, which according to her mother, when she asked her about it, belonged to her mother. Marina Dela Rosa never thought much about that journal, that at times, she would see her mother caressing and holding from time to time with a pensive expression on her face. Maya Dela Rosa-Ventura, yes she and her grandmother share a nickname, aside from the fact that she is the spitting image of her grandmother, never knew that her daughter saw her holding the journal, and writing on it at times.
Maya had asked her mother if she had read the journal, after she had read it herself in one go, late at night. She was unable to put it down once she had started reading. Marina Dela Rosa told her daughter that she had been meaning to, when she saw it several years ago, while looking for a vintage Chanel dress she would like to wear for a theme party, among her mother’s things. Marina told Maya, it must have been her father James who boxed her mother’s journal, without knowing what it was, when her mother died when she was 18. Marina told Maya that she accidentally dislodged the box containing it while looking for the dress inside her mother’s old aparador.
Marina then asked why Maya was asking whether she had read it. She asked what was in it. Maya was not sure whether to tell her mother about the content of the journal at that moment, and over the phone. She told her mother she will just tell her about it when she and her father, Antonio return from their business trip. Her parents were in the States for their cargo business. It was a business started by her father’s father, her grandfather Fernando Dela Rosa, no relations to her grandmother’s family who bore the same last name.
Maya suddenly was pulled from her thoughts when the living room was suddenly illuminated by a sharp lightning, followed by a very loud thunder. Maya screamed, surprised at how loud it was. Suddenly, she heard a loud sound from one of the upstairs rooms. That, startled her more than the lightning and thunder, as the house was supposed to be vacant.
“Oh no, sabi ko na nga ba, haunted itong bahay na ito!” Maya said, her heart thumping too much from fear or nervousness, she can’t explain. Her very vivid imagination going into overdrive! She closed her eyes and tried to comfort and calm herself. “Maya, Maya, hayan na naman ang imagination mo. Kalma lang, baka naman daga lang iyon o kaya naman pusa, aso, kambing na nakapasok sa bahay! Mabuti pang makipag-meet and greet ka na lang sa multo kaysa naman mabasa itong precious journal!” In her state, it never occurred to her that she should fear the living more than the dead, na baka may ibang nakapasok na tao sa bahay na bakante, maliban sa kanya.
“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” Someone suddenly bellowed from the balcony, at the same time the huge chandelier above her flooded the living room with bright light.
Maya looked up in surprise and saw a guy rumply dressed in a white shirt and dark-colored jeans. Another lightning lit the sky, and she saw his face clearly from where she was craning her neck. She shrieked. “Oh, my God. Multo nga! Please, please nakikisilong lang po, Mr. Ricardo Lim. Malakas kasi ang ulan. I don’t want the journal to get wet!” She said, trying to be brave, saying his full name comforted her, made him more real to her. That is how she thought of him ever since she had started reading his journal and after she discovered his pictures with her grandmother. “I know you are a good ghost naman!”
“Sandali lang Miss, don’t move, please. I will go down.” The handsome and seemingly very familiar vision told Maya.
“Ganoon ba talaga magsalita ang mga multo?” Maya mused, her heart still beating very fast. “Parang normal lang at modern na modern. Saka naka-jeans din, di ba dapat naka-barong at dark pants, gaya ng sa movies!”
‘Mr. Ricardo Lim’ reached Maya finally. With arms folded, he asked her again, gazing at her intently. “Do I look like a ghost to you? Look closely, Miss. How did you know my name?”
Maya looked closely, and realized that he is no ghost. He looked liked he just got out of bed and still looked quite tired. To be completely sure, she slowly approached him and poked him on the face gently. “Oo nga, tao ka!” She blurted out.
“Of course, I’m human! Why would you think ba that I’m a ghost? Saka, you haven’t answered my question, how do you know me? I don’t think we have been introduced. Do you live nearby? Why are you here?” ‘Ricardo Lim’ asked in rapid succession.
“Your name is really Ricardo Lim?” Maya asked inanely, not quite believing yet that she is meeting this guy who is the spitting image of Ricardo Lim of the journal! Truth to tell, Ricardo Lim was a handsome man in the black and white and sepia photos she had been gazing on the past weeks. But this Ricardo Lim takes it to another notch higher. Maya, looking at him closely, felt her heart beating faster.
“Yes, let me introduce myself properly. I’m Ricardo Lim III. But you can call me Ricky.” He then gave Maya a lopsided smile that made her breathless, her heart galloping with an a feeling she can’t yet fathom. “And you are?”
“The third, this must mean, you are the grandson of Ricardo Lim, Senior, who was married to Alexandra So-Lim-Valderama! You are the current CEO of the family corporation, that is after your father Ricardo Lim Jr. took an early retirement early this year. Your mom is the former Rosemarie Madrigal, the pianist, and you are an only son, just like your dad.” Maya blurted out, her brain suddenly functioning in full gear again, remembering the information she had searched before.
“Now, I’m getting nervous.” Ricky Lim said with a hint of a smile in his voice, an imp seemed to have suddenly possessed him, looking a at the beautiful lady wearing a maxi halter dress, with doe-shaped eyes, pouty lips, and high cheekbones, clutching something to her chest. “Are you a stalker of my family?”
“Of course not. Hello, there’s Google kaya, Mr. Ricky Lim! Anything I needed to know about your family, I found there.” Maya retorted, getting flushed in the face. She does sound like a stalker, isn’t, with that statement? “I mean, I did check on your family several weeks ago.”
“So, stalker nga. Online stalker!” Ricky insisted. He likes seeing her flustered. At the same time, he was trying to cover and make light of the whole thing to drown the instant attraction he was feeling. She looks more beautiful with her trying to explain herself to him, and her witty reply. Now, he is liking the unexpected turn in his afternoon. He smiled charmingly.”So, Ms. Stalker, what is your name?”
“Hmmmp, maybe I should tell you, only if you take me seriously, Mr. Ricardo-not-a-ghost-Lim-III.” Maya said, for some reason, she is enjoying their repartee.
“Okay, serious na talaga. May I know your name and how come you know a lot about my family?” Ricky asked with a friendly smile. “Maybe, we should sit too, since kanina pa tayo nakatayo.” He then led Maya, by holding on to her elbow to the sofa by the big window of the living room overlooking a garden. He sat on one of the armchairs to her left.
“I’m Maya Dela Rosa,” Maya started after she sat down. “I live in the beach house before this one, for now. I don’t really know your family, but I do know of your family because of this.” Maya opened the journal and got a black and white photo from it. She handed it to Ricky. “That is the reason why I checked on the Lim family.”
“This is my grandfather, Ricardo! But I don’t know the lady with him.” Ricky said, then he looked closely at the photo, then back to Maya. “She looks like you. It is really uncanny! Parang ikaw talaga, except that the clothes she was wearing was from another time period. Grandmother mo?”
“That is true. My family has told me that countless of times. And you look like your grandfather! Uncanny. I never realized that when I saw some photos of the family. Medyo iba kasi ang hitsura mo doon. That’s the reason why I thought you are a ghost and also sa katitingin ko na rin sa photo niya! Kamukhang-kamukha mo kasi ang grandfather mo. And yes, the lady in the photo was my grandmother Maya, same nickname as mine. Her name, though, is Maria Eulalia, and mine is Maria Yasmin. Since she died young, 45 years old lang, my grandfather asked my parents if he can call me Maya too, in her remembrance. Everyone did eventually.”
“Maya, Maya…..” Ricky said softly. “Why does the name sounds familiar? I know it is not uncommon name, pero narinig ko na ang pangalan na niyan sa bahay namin. Oh well, I will remember it din siguro in a while. My grandfather died young also. He was 40.”
“Maybe because of a painting she did na nasa family mo, if your family still has it. I guess it is, because it has not turned up in the market after all these years. You see, our grandparents knew each other. According to this journal, the painting was given by my grandmother to your grandfather in 1965.” Maya said showing Ricky Lim the journal.
“Oh, I think I know that! My grandmother Sandra still has that painting. Now I know I remember where I have heard, or rather, seen ‘Maya’ before. It was scrawled at the corner of the painting, a painting of the beach outside actually, with a guy gazing at someone off the frame, with an obvious look of love on his face.” Ricky Lim said. Every time he visits his grandmother, he had stared at that painting. He was drawn to it.
“That’s the one! Your family still has it? I’m glad! Amazing! How’s your grandmother?” Maya asked. She read some articles about Alexandra Lim also and her charity works, but not much about her personal life. She had gleaned also that she got married again several years after having been widowed, to Victor Valderama, a property developer.
“She’s doing well, considering that she is now 79 years old. She and my second grandfather, Victor, actually the only grandfather I have known since Lolo Ricardo died before I was born, now live in Batangas, at their property there.” Ricky Lim said. “Whose journal was that nga pala?”
“Oh, this one! It’s a journal I found among my grandmother’s things. I think it belonged to your grandfather, and was continued by my grandmother after his death. May ilang pictures na naka-insert also.” Maya said. “I asked my mother about it, but while she knows that it is my Lola Maya’s, hindi niya alam na sa lolo mo ito. Manang Fe, my old yaya mentioned that the first time she had seen that journal was after your grandmother visited my grandmother one afternoon in 1975. She remembered well kasi raw sobrang lungkot ni Lola Maya after. That year din nagsimula ang entries ng lola ko sa journal na ito. My grandmother also made mentioned of your grandmother’s visit din sa entry niya, but not much else. I Googled your family, to check if the photos were that of Ricardo Lim. After reading the journal I just needed to find out more.”
“Hmmm, 1975? That year namatay si Lolo Ricardo! Baka it has something to do with that. My dad said that year rin sila umuwi ng Pilipinas from San Francisco to settle here for good.” Ricardo said, thinking and staring out., then he looked at Maya again, who he caught was staring at him. “So, not only our grandparents knew each other, they more than just knew each other, is that correct?”
“Errrr, yes. They fell in love in this very place. This is the place where they met!” Maya said softly. “I guess you have a right to read this also as he was your grandfather. Would you like to?”
“If it is okay with you, yes please” Ricky said. Somehow, he is also drawn to the journal, in the same manner that he is very much drawn to the beach painting, and this place. “Mukha namang matatagalan pa ang ulan na ito and you can’t go to your house yet, not that I’m sending you away, you can stay as long as you want, I can read it now.”
“Okay, that would be best. Honestly, the journal has become precious to me and I don’t want to part with it kahit sandali lang.” Maya admitted. “I guess, because I feel the emotions that came out of the pages of it and it is my only link to the thoughts of a grandmother whom I share a name and looks, but haven’t had the chance to be with.”
“Your grandmother must have been very beautiful.” Ricky said all of a sudden.
“She was. Di ba, kita naman sa picture.” Maya replied. “You should see her photos in some of the clothes she had worn to some parties. She was very beautiful and elegant. She was also a very talented painter.
“Not only because of what I see in the picture, but because you are, very beautiful you know, if I may say so.” He said, gazing at Maya intently.
Maya blushed, her heart beating fast. “Errr, thank you.” She simply said. “Here’s the journal.” She needed to regain her equilibrium.
“Before we go back to the past, so to speak, would you like a cup of coffee?” Ricky asked, giving Maya another of his lopsided smiles.
“Sure, it would be great in this rainy afternoon.” Maya said, returning the smile with one of her own, which lit up her whole face. “Thanks.”
“I’ll be back in a couple of minutes.” Ricardo Lim stood up and walked towards the direction of the kitchen.
While waiting for him, Maya took the opportunity to look at her surroundings. The house feels familiar and she feels at home with it, kahit noong una na akala niya walang tao, also when she passed by it the past several days. Kahit doon sa bahay ng pamilya ng lola niya, ganoon din ang pakiramdam niya. She has not been here before as her mother only told her of this place after her Lolo James died. Marina Dela Rosa said she thought the place has been sold a long time ago.
Since she is at loose end at the moment, Maya decided to take the trip to Ilocos and check the beach house on impulse. Hindi niya inakala na nandito rin si Ricky. Ricky! Imagine, she got to meet the grandson of the man her grandmother loved very much until the end. Magaan ang pakiramdam niya kay Ricky. Normally she is not completely at ease with someone she just met. Kasi nga siguro, they have a ‘shared’ past, their grandparents and their ill-fated love! Hay, she sighed.
“Why the sigh, Maya? Is everything okay?” Ricky asked when he returned carrying two steaming cups of coffee.
“No worries, Ricky, okay lang ako. I just sighed because I thought of our grandparents and their love. You will understand after you have read the journal.”
“Okay, I will do so, now.” Ricky said, giving Maya the coffee and sitting beside her this time.
Both Maya and Ricky took a sip of their coffee, looked out of the window, then at each other, with smiles of instant connection and understanding, before starting the journey to the past, to a love that had come at the wrong time for two people who found it, while not looking for it.
On The Street Where You Live – Chapter 14
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on June 17, 2015
Chapter 14
Maya woke up early the following morning despite the late night she had. At first, she was surprised to find herself still in her office clothes, but then the wonderful things that had happened the night before came flooding back. She had a huge grin when she got out of bed. Boyfriend! Richard is her boyfriend now! Lord, kung nananaginip lang ako, ayoko ng magising! She touched her lips, remembering the searing kisses and more, that she and Richard shared the night before.
The ringing of her mobile phone interrupted Maya’s beautiful reminiscing. At first, she can’t remember where she had left it. Then she realized that the sound was coming from the living room, where she had left her bag, with the phone in it, when she and Richard arrived at her apartment last night. Good thing, that phone is programmed to ring on full volume if it is inside a bag or a pocket!
She fished out her phone from the bag, and saw that it was her mother calling her. “Hello po, ‘Nay! Good morning!!! Kumusta naman ang pinakamaganda kong nanay ngayong umaga!” Maya greeted her mother cheerfully, happy to hear from her. She had been meaning to give her a call that weekend.
“Maya, anak, parang ang ganda ng gising mo ngayong umaga ah!” Teresita Dela Rosa told her daughter while gesturing to Chona, her helper, to serve the tapsilog and longsilog that two of their regular customers ordered. As usual, Cristina’s, the eatery that Maya and her had name after Cristina Rose was doing a brisk business that Saturday morning. They really need to expand the place to accommodate their growing number of customers.
“Magandang-maganda po talaga, ‘Nay! I had the best night po kasi last night!!! Nayyy, sobrang saya ko po ngayon. Para pa rin akong lumulutang sa saya!” Maya said, grinning happily, while getting a glass of water from the fridge, then taking a sip.
“Hmmm, parang feeling ko in love na ang anak ko!” Teresita Dela Rosa said all of a sudden. Iyon ang una niyang naisip nang marinig ang boses ng anak niya na parang may kakaiba talaga.
“‘Nay, paano ninyo naman po nasabi iyan?” Maya asked her mother, surprised at her statement. She thought her mother would just ask about her job since the last time they talked was the night before she started working for RRMA. It had completely skipped her mind to call her mother after her first day at work and the days after that!
“Para kasing may iba sa boses mo ‘nak!” Maya’s mother told her. “Tama ba ako, Maya? In love ka at may boyfriend ka na, sa wakas!”
“Errrr, ‘Nay, opo. Kagabi lang po.” Maya admitted, then teased her mother. “Daig mo pa si Madam Auring ‘Nay ah. Nahulaan mo agad with matching call pa sa akin ngayong umaga! Ano pa po ‘Nay ang nakita mo sa bolang kristal mo?” She teased her mother.
“Hahahaha, ikaw talagang bata ka! Mas maganda naman akong di hamak kay Madam!” Teresita Dela Rosa bantered. “Siyempre, Nanay mo ako kaya kabisado kita. So, sino naman itong magiging manugang ko? Sa wakas magkakaapo na rin ako! Imagine, ngayon ka pa lang nagka-boyfriend eh malapit ka nang mag-trenta.”
“Nanay naman, advance na advance, kasasagot ko pa nga lang po kay Ricky. Saka Mother, ilang taon pa kaya bago ako mag-30!” Maya said. “Nanay, I’m so happy. I’m sure kapag nakilala mo si Ricky magugustuhan mo rin siya ng husto. He is the best boyfriend in the world!!!”
“I’m sure I will. Maya. I trust your judgment, anak. Sa tinatagal-tagal mo ba naman bago nag-boyfriend, sigurado naman ako na hindi ka pipili ng basta-basta.” Nanay Teresita said. “Saan mo naman nakilala pala si Ricky, anak? Parang wala ka namang nakwento sa akin tungkol sa kanya before. Sa law school?”
“Nanay, actually, I have mentioned him before, pero hindi by name. Remember, noong isang beses na ginunita natin iyong death anniversary ni Ate Cris and the two of us spent the morning sa puntod niya, noong nasa law school na ako, and the one and only time you asked me about a boyfriend?” Maya asked, trying to jog back her mother’s memory to that particular moment.
“Hmmmm, parang naalala ko iyan. Mga 5 years ago? Noong ika-limang death anniversary ng kapatid mo? Iyong huling punta natin sa sementeryo na nagtagal nga tayo ng buong umaga.” Teresita said. “Wait, I think I remember that! I asked you kung wala ka pang boyfriend eh 22 years old ka na, turning on 23! Kasi naman noon ni crush wala akong narinig mula sa iyo simula nang magdalaga ka.”
While remembering thhe good times with her Ate Cris and all the things they wanted to do when she returns to the Philippines after her contract in Dubai is finished, which of course, was not realized anymore, Maya and her mother got into talking how fleeting life is, and that it could be gone in a snap. Hindi mo talaga masabi, they both agreed.
Teresita told Maya that one thing she had learned after Cris died is that life is too short for regrets, for fearing the unknown, for living in fear, and for not taking chances, for setting aside what you can do today, thinking that there is still tomorrow or there is still plenty of time to do the things you want to do, when in fact hindi natin alam talaga if we will still wake up the next morning!
She told her daughter to treasure every moment, and not to shy away from opportunities coming her way, but enjoy life at the same time. She told Maya to live, really live. She told Maya that it includes falling in love, the headiest and most wonderful of emotions, but she must also choose wisely. Maya asked her how would she know if she had chosen the right person. Teresita Dela Rosa assured Maya that she would know when the time comes. Maya admitted to her mother then, that she might have already found the one person she wanted to share her life with, but he disappeared from her life all of a sudden before she can truly find out, and that she had tried to look for him in the other guys she had met, but her heart only beat for that person.
Teresita Dela Rosa, seeing her daughter’s pensive mood while telling her this, and the way her eyes lit up when she spoke of the guy she had fallen in love with, took hold of her hand then told her that if he is really her destiny, then fate will find a way to make them meet again in the future, that some people no matter what the distance and the circumstances are, are just destined to be together, and that love always finds a way! Di ba anak, she told Maya, minsan meron ngang mga tao na hindi mo iniisip na magkikita or magkakakilala dahil sa layo ng kanilang estado sa buhay, magkaibang-magkaiba ng pananaw sa buhay, or magkaiba ng lahi, pero nagkikita, nagkakatagpo and they fell in love. Or kung minsan, may lovers na maraming taong nagkahiwalay, nagkaroon ng sari-sariling buhay at pamilya, pero sa huli, sila pa rin ang magkasama hanggang sa pagtanda nila. Love moves in mysterious ways, di ba, sabi nga ng kasabihan, was her last words to her daughter on the subject.
“Nanay, naalala niyo po iyong lalaki na sinasabi ko sa inyo during that conversation?” Maya asked her mother. “Si Richard Lim, si Ricky po iyon! Siya po ang boyfriend ko simula pa po kagabi.”
“Talaga, anak! Paanong nangyari?” Teresita Dela Rosa asked, surprised, but at the same time, she felt very happy with this development in her daughter’s life.
Maya told her mother how she and Richard met again at the law office where she works and how she ended getting assigned to his account. She also told her mother how she and Richard had picked up from where they left off ten years ago! Maya told her mother din how she and Richard met ten years ago, how his family left the country abruptly, but not the reason for it, and that it happened at the same time they were dealing with the untimely death of her Ate Cris.
“See, anak, tama ang sabi ko sa iyo noon! Kapag kayo talaga, pagtatagpuin at pagtatagpuin ulit kayo ng tadhana!” Nanay Teresita told Maya after she finished telling her a condensed version of hers and Richard’s love story. “I’m happy for you, Maya. I know some people might frown at the speed of your courtship, but I know you anak, hindi ka naman papasok sa hindi mo sigurado, lalo pa at kasama na rin sa pagmamahal mo diyan kay Richard ang pagmamahal sa kanyang anak.”
“Maraming salamat po, Nay! Sobrang saya ko po. Nang makita ko pa lang ulit si Richard, ramdam na ramdam ko na hindi nagbago ang pagtingin ko sa kanya. Nasigurado ko po iyon ng husto nitong nakalipas na araw kahit sandali pa lang po ulit kaming nagkikita. I feel it in my heart, in my soul.” Maya said, conviction and happiness evident in her voice. “Saka po si Abby, kahit isang beses ko pa lang po siyang nakita, mahal ko na po siya at alam ko po na mahalagang parte siya ng buhay ni Ricky. Tanggap ko rin po na widower siya. Naging open naman po sa akin si Ricky tungkol sa naging buhay niya the past ten years. ”
“Natutuwa naman ako sa iyo, Maya. Napalaki talaga kita ng tama. I’m sure kung nabubuhay ang ate mo, tuwang-tuwa rin iyon.” Nanay Teresita told her youngest. “O basta, the first opportunity, gusto kong makilala ng personal iyang nobyo mo. Base sa kwento mo, mukha namang mabuti siyang tao and that you are very lucky that you two found each other again. Hindi nangyayari iyan sa lahat ng tao!”
“Opo, ‘Nay. Kapag may pagkakataon po, and maayos na ang work ko, uuwi po ako diyan sa atin at titingnan ko po kung maisasama ko si Ricky.” Maya assured her mother. She really want to introduce Richard to her mother.
“O sige, asahan ko iyan ha, anak. Mas may linaw iyan kaysa ang pagpunta ko ng Maynila. Hindi ko maiwan itong Cristina’s eh.” Nanay Teresita said. The two of them have talked before of her mother spending a week or so again with Maya in Manila, but unable to have it scheduled because of the eatery and its demands on Maya’s mother time.
“Hindi pa po ba kayo nakakahanap ng magma-manage ng Cristina’s diyan sa San Nicolas? Kumusta na po iyong plano ninyo na magtayo ng branch sa Poblador?” Maya asked. The small restaurant, which had started as a carinderia became a popular eating place not only with the residents of San Nicolas but also those in neighboring towns, as well as the tourists that flock to the beaches of Mindoro, especially during the summer season, since a year ago. A popular food magazine has included it in the list of the things one should do and try while on vacation in Mindoro, making special mention of the kare-kare that Teresita Dela Rosa still personally prepares among the equally delicious dishes that Cristina’s offer. Na-feature rin ang Cristina’s sa isang magazine program sa TV recently. So, because of this, mas dumami pa ang mga customer nila. At times they have a hard time dealing with the influx of customers. They really need someone to manage Cristina’s and also to build a branch in neighboring Poblador para sa mga nakatira roon and to expand na rin now that they can.
“Meron na, Maya. Iyong pinsan mo na si Melinda. Di ba kaka-graduate lang niya ng HRM nitong nakaraang Abril? Ayaw niyang diyan sa Maynila magtrabaho, mas gusto niya raw dito sa atin mag-base.” Teresita said. “Nagpunta sila rito sa atin kagabi ni Kuya Rollie tungkol diyan. Magsisimula nga siya ngayon. Hinihintay ko lang. Dito ko na nga rin sa bahay natin pinatitira para hindi na siya bumiyahe pa at saka maige rin iyon, may kasama ako sa bahay.”
“Ganoon po ba, Nay? I’m happy naman na finally, may kasama na kayo.” Maya said. “Sure na sure po ako na in good hands kayo diyan kay Melinda. Masipag na, matalino pa at saka responsable. Kampante na ako. Naiisip ko nga po na baka nahihirapan na kayo. I will tell you nga sana to slow down na kasi lawyer na ang anak niyo at ako na ang bahala sa inyo”
“Naku, Maya, huwag mo akong intindihin. Okay lang naman ako. Alam mo naman na mas gusto ko itong busy ako. Asikasuhin mo na lang ang sarili mo. Ngayon lang naman sa buong buhay mo diyan na iisa na lang ang ginagawa mo. Mahigit sampung taon mo rin namang pinagsabay ang pag-aaral at pagtatrabaho. Enjoy your life, lalo na ngayon na may boyfriend ka na.” Teresita told her daughter. “Kumusta nga pala ang trabaho mo? Hindi na tayo nakapag-usap simula noong Linggo.”
“Oo nga po ‘Nay. Pasensya na kayo, hindi ko na kayo natawagan pa. Meeting Ricky again turned my world upside down in a very nice way. Tapos po, nag-babysit pa ako kay Doris.” Maya explained. “Okay na okay naman po ang work ko Nanay. Maganda po iyong law firm na napasukan ko. I like the partners, lalo na po iyong senior partner na si Atty. Rafael Reyes, parang grandfatherly, and then iyong senior kung saan ako naka-assign, si Attorney Ryan na nagkataon nga na friend pala ni Ricky since college.”
“Mabuti naman. Good choice nga na diyan ka na lang napasok. Imagine, nakita mo pa ulit ang prince charming mo.” Nanay Teresita said smiling. “Nakakakilig nga ang love story mo anak!”
“Nay, talaga!” Maya said, smiling.
“Pero Maya, aminin mo, parang pang-teleserye ang love story ninyo ni Richard. O kaya naman parang movie ng Star Cinema. Iyon bang mga rom-com anak.” Nanay Teresita said. “O kaya para ba ‘anak na sa mga pocketbook na binabasa mo ng walang bitawan hanggang madaling-araw!”
“Hahahaha, Nay, ikaw talaga, sobrang hilig sa mga romance movie.” Maya said. “Sa iyo ko yata talaga namana ang pagkahilig sa romance stories.”
“Dapat lang. Bakit nga ba hindi, parang pang-pelikula rin naman ang love story namin ng Tatay mo.” Nanay Teresita retorted, smiling, remembering her beloved husband.
‘Nay, alam ko po na si Tatay ang love of your life, pero hindi po ba kayo nakaisip na mag-asawa ulit? Di ba po, nanliligaw sa inyo si Tito Fernando? Hindi nga sumusuko eh!” Doris’ father, a widower, started courting her mother when Maya has just started law school.
“Hay naku, Maya, friends lang talaga kami niyang si Fernando, kahit ano pa ang tukso niyo ni Doris at kagustuhan ninyong magkaibigan na maging magkapatid.” Teresita said. “One man woman yata talaga ang mga Dela Paz women! Tingnan mo si Nanay, ako, and now ikaw. Wala nang ibang nagpatibok sa puso ko kundi ang Tatay mo. Iyon nga lang maaga siyang kinuha sa atin. Tama na ako roon. Hindi na iyon natutumbasan ng iba pa.”
“Well, tama ka naman po diyan ‘Nay. Now, I understand completely. Ganyan din po ako kay Ricky. I will not love another.” Maya said, thinking na wala rin talagang ibang nagpatibok ng puso niya, kundi si Richard. Ganoon din ang Mamang niya, her grandmother Conchita, hindi na nag-asawa pa kahit medyo bata pa nang mabiyuda, mga 50s pa lang siya noon.
Maya’s parents met at the airport in San Nicolas. Nagkapalit sila ng mga bagahe sa pagmamadali. Dayo lang doon sa lugar na iyon si Arturo Dela Rosa. Magbabakasyon sana kasama ng kaibigan niyang si Fernando na taga-San Nicolas, habang si Teresita Dela Paz naman, pauwi noon ng Mindoro dahil semestral break sa college. That incident started a beautiful friendship and an equally nakakakilig na ligawan. Nang magpakasal sila, Arturo, who was originally from Baguio moved to San Nicolas with Teresita, para raw hindi siya malayo sa pamilya niya. Her mother worked at first, but opted to be a stay at home mother when Cristina Rose and Maya were born. Bumalik lang siya sa pagtatrabaho sa kapitolyo nang mabiyuda siya.
“O maiba ako, Maya. Kumusta na si Doris and si Lance? Basta kung may time ka tulong-tulungan mo na lang ang kaibigan mong iyon.” Nanay Teresita said. Parang anak na rin ang turing niya kay Doris and si Lance, parang apo na niya.
“Opo, Nay. Maayos naman po sila ni Lance. Magkikita kami bukas kasi kasama namin sila nina Richard and Abby na pupunta sa Tagaytay. Ipapasyal po namin ang mga bata. I forgot to mention earlier na nagkataon na magkaklase sina Lance at Abby sa progressive school na malapit dito sa Mirasol Street.”
“That’s nice to know, Maya. Maganda iyon at ng makapag-bonding kayo, kasama ng anak ni Richard. Ikumusta na mo na lang ako kay Doris at ihalik kay Lance.” Nanay Teresita said. “O sige, tawagan na lang tayo ulit ‘nak. Nandito na pala si Melinda. Kailangan ko siyang bilinan siya ng mga gagawin bago ako pumunta sa Poblador.”
“Sige po, Nanay. I love you very much.” Maya said.
“I love you din, anak. Be happy. Good luck sa trabaho mo ha.” Nanay Teresita said. “Mag-iingat ka parati and huwag mong pababayaan ang sarili mo.” She added before ending the call.
Maya suddenly realized, with that phone call, one of the longest she had with her mother, that she misses her very much. Maybe, she should go home the soonest possible time she has kahit na weekend lang. Baka sa next long weekend, she could, Maya mused.
Maya put her phone down by the coffee table in the living room and was about to go back to her room to take a bath and do her morning rituals when the doorbell rang.
“Sino kaya ito, ang aga naman!” Maya muttered to herself. “Baka si Edselyn, naubusan na naman ng coffee. Her next door neighbor and friend, a flight attendant at Time Airways always runs out of stuffs. Hindi na kasi nito maasikasong mag-grocery because of her irregular schedule.
But it was not Eds at the door, but a very handsome Richard Lim in a pale blue shirt and jeans that hugged his muscular body, with a lopsided loving smile for Maya, and in his hand was a big bouquet of tulips and sunflower and a big paper bag.
“Good morning, sweetheart! I brought you breakfast.” He said with a big smile, showing her the big bag he was holding.
“Ricky!!!” Maya said, very, very surprised to see him bright and early! “Good morning! I thought maglilipat kayo this morning?”
“Maaga pa naman. May dala na akong ibang gamit, then babalikan ko na lang sina Abby and Manang Fe in a while. I just want to have breakfast first with my beautiful girlfriend.” He gave her another charming smile, then moved to lower his lips to hers.
“Sweetheart, wait! Hindi pa ako nagto-toothbrush man lang.” Maya said self-consciously, putting her hands over her mouth. “More than 24 hours ko nga ring suot itong damit na ito!”
“I don’t care, sweetheart.” Richard smiling, then gave Maya a quick kiss. “Did I wake you up pala? Kagigising mo lang?”
“No. Kanina pa ako gising. Surprisingly, I woke up early. Sorry pala at tinulugan kita. Thank you for putting me to bed.” Maya said, realizing then that Richard carried her to bed. “Nabigatan ka ba ng husto sa akin?”
“Hmmmm, what’s the safest answer to that sweetheart? Slight?” He teased, then laughed. Maya laughed with him. “Kayang-kaya ka pa naman nitong muscles ko, sweetheart.”
“Mukha naman, sweetheart.” Maya bantered back, then said, “Tumawag kasi si Nanay noong papunta na ako sa banyo. Medyo napahaba ang kwentuhan namin. Katatapos lang naming mag-usap nang mag-doorbell ka.”
“Oh really! Kumusta na ang nanay mo?” Richard asked. “I hope I can finally meet her soon. Ano pala ang sabi mo sa kanya? Sinabi mo na ang tungkol sa atin?”
“Yes, I did. She wants to meet you too. I told her about us after she blurted out pagkabati ko na siguro raw may boyfriend na ako.” Maya said, then smiled. “In fairness sa nanay ko, malakas ang radar. Imagine, she guessed na in love daw ako, after I answered her call. I told her that yes I do, that I have a boyfriend, and I’m in love with a very wonderful guy.” Maya said while affectionately pinching Richard’s cheek.
Richard smiled at that. Happy to know that Maya’s mother know about them. “I’m glad you told her, sweetheart. When are you planning to go and visit her?”
“Hmmm, I’m not yet sure. Pero after our phone call, bigla ko siyang na-miss ng todo. The last time kasi na nagkita kami noon pang nag-oathtaking kaming mga bagong lawyer. I’m planning to go to San Nicolas sa next long weekend.” Maya replied. “By the way, have a seat, Ricky and thank you for these beautiful flowers and the breakfast.”
“Really, you will? Okay lang ba kung sumama ako sa iyo?” Richard asked. “Ten years in the making na rin ang meeting namin ng nanay mo. I would like to finally meet the lady who gave birth to my beautiful and very loving girlfriend.” Richard said, gazing with Maya with so much love.
“Talaga, sasama ka sa akin? Sure! Sigurado ako matutuwa si Nanay noon. Saka para makita mo rin kung saan ako lumaki.” Maya said.
“Okay, just let me know when so I can clear my schedule rin.” Richard said. “Thanks a lot Maya. I’m really looking forward to meeting your mother. Halika na kain na tayo!”
“Oh, is it okay if I take a shower first?” Maya asked. “I can get you coffee muna.”
“Sure, sweetheart. No need to get me coffee. I got us coffee. Ako na ang bahala rito. Go take your shower.” Richard offered.
“Thank you, sweetheart. I will be back in a jiffy.” Maya said.
Maya went back to her room, while Richard proceeded to the kitchen and started setting the table. Thirty minutes after, Maya returned, wearing a floral skirt and a white sleeveless top.
“You look lovely, sweetheart.” Richard told Maya when he saw her walking towards him. This is the first time he had seen her again in casual clothes. ” Ready na ang food natin. I hope you will like it.” For breakfast, Richard got them tapsilog, and some fruits, with a big thermos of coffee.
“Wow, looks masarap, sweetheart. Thank you for setting the table.” Maya sat on the seat that Richard pulled for her.
The two of them chatted about the trip to Mindoro while eating, as well Richard and Abby’s move to the big house.
“What’s Abby’s favorite food, Ricky?” Maya asked as they were sipping coffee.
“Spaghetti! Kahit yata araw-araw, hindi nagsasawa doon si Abby.” Richard replied.
“Okay, I’ll bring that when I drop by your house later.” Maya said.
“Sweetheart, you don’t have to. Pahinga ka na lang today, ito na nga lang ang pahinga mo.” Richard said.
“Sweetheart, I want to, please. It is the least I could do to help you out, bring merienda.” Maya insisted. “Besides, Mr. Lim, hindi mo pa natitikman ang spaghetti ko.” She added, smiling.
“Okay, sweetheart, you are the boss. I’m sure, Abby and I will like it.” Richard said. “Thank you, Maya. I have the best girlfriend in the world.” He then took Maya’s hand and kissed it. “I love you very much.”
“I love you very much too, Ricky!” Maya replied, looking at Richard with a big smile.
She will never get tired of hearing those words from him, and her, saying to him. They shared a deep look, and before they realized it, they moved their heads, angling for the sweet kiss they shared, initially, followed by a searing one, then another. They broke up grinning goofily, with faces flushed.
Richard helped Maya with the dishes despite her insistence that she can do it herself. After their second cups of coffee, Richard told Maya that he needed to get going dahil idadaan pa niya sa big house ang mga dala niyang gamit.
“I’ll see you later, sweetheart.” Richard said softly, reluctant to let go of Maya’s hand while they were at the door of her apartment. He wished he could just spend the whole morning, cuddling with Maya.
“See you sweetheart.” Maya replied, gazing at Richard’s handsome face. “Thank you for the wonderful Saturday morning treat.”
They shared another kiss before parting for the morning, looking forward to seeing each other again, and spending the evening together. In several hours, they will live in the same street again!
On The Street Where You Live – Chapter 13
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on June 15, 2015
Chapter 13
“So, that’s how wonderful it feels!” Maya murmured to herself after she and Richard slowly broke apart, catching their breaths and equilibrium after that earth-shaking kiss. She was taken off guard by that, in a very, very nice way. She never knew it would feel like that, like her whole universe was anchored on the feeling that Richard’s soul-shattering kiss brought.
“What was that Maya?” Richard asked gently, lovingly, cupping Maya’s chin. He heard her, but he wanted to be sure that he heard her correctly. He, too, felt the earth moved with that kiss. It felt like their souls fused with that kiss.
Maya flushed, not sure whether to admit it to Richard or not, but on the other hand, she mused, this is Richard and she is comfortable with telling him such things. “Well, I never knew that a kiss would feel like that, like your whole world is centered on that kiss and the person you are sharing it with. I mean, sometimes I would imagine what it would feel like, especially when I would read about it in the romance novels I was addicted to, but still, my imagination felt way short of the real thing.” Maya finally said with a shy smile, her lips still tingling from that kiss.
It dawned on Richard then that this was Maya’s first kiss and he felt privileged and honored to be the one she had shared it with. Yes, he initiated it but Maya shared it with him. He felt it. He cupped her face, then said softly, for he too felt the difference in the kiss. “With the right person, with the person you love, it is. I felt the same Maya. It was like my first kiss as well. Kisses are not the same.”
“Really, Ricky?” Maya asked, curious to know. She thought it would be somewhat the same with Richard, sort of, as he had girlfriends before and has been married for a number of years.
“Yes, because of what I feel for you when we shared that kiss.” Then taking Maya’s hand, Richard looked deeply into her eyes. “I love you very much, Maya. I never stopped. What I felt for you ten years ago, it is still here, in my heart. It has just laid dormant while we were apart and when so many things and circumstances have kept us apart. When I saw you again, my heart jumped and beat faster. The same way it does every time I would see you years ago. I became alive again. Suddenly, my heart feels so light and I doubly look forward to each morning. When I go to sleep at night, you were my last thought. I feel this indescribable happiness when I’m with you, when I see you kahit across a conference table lang.”
“R-r-ricky,” Maya whispered, not completely believing that she is finally hearing those words from Richard’s lips. Parang feeling niya nananaginip pa rin siya. Yes, she knows he has feelings for her, otherwise, he would have not said he will court her proper this time, but hearing those words, she felt like she was transported to a place that only her and Richard exist. Then taking a deep breath, calming herself, she admitted to Richard. “I never stopped loving you too, Ricky. Wala namang ibang naging laman ang puso ko kundi ikaw. Walang ibang nagpatibok nito ng ganito, kundi ikaw. I only feel this happiness when I am with you.”
“M-maya, you mean…?” Richard asked hesitantly, thinking that he was just dreaming too, that he was not hearing those words from Maya. But he does! He hoped he would hear it from her during the course of their courtship but he was not expecting it this soon.
“Yes, Ricky, I love you too. Ikaw lang ang nandito” Maya said, pointing at her heart, then gazing at Richard with all the love that she is feeling. “And you are right, I may have not kissed anyone like that before you, but I think I would have known the difference too. I felt like it went beyond our lips fusing together. I felt it deep into my soul.”
“Maya, Maya, sweetheart, you are making me the happiest guy in the world.” Richard said, his voice suddenly unsteady! “So this means, tayo na, ha? You are my girlfriend na, finally! Sinasagot mo na ako?” He babbled.
Maya smiled, seeing the happiness and the love on Richard’s handsome face. “Opo, Mr. Lim, tayo na po. You are my boyfriend na po.” She said, touching his face lovingly. “I love you very much!”
“Maya, I’m the happiest guy in the world at the moment! Thank you. I love you very, very much, sweetheart.” Then he lowered his head to hers again and they shared another beautiful kiss.
“I love you very much, Ricky. Parang feeling ko nananaginip ako, and yet, here we are.” Maya said, touching Richard’s face lovingly. “Parang nakikita ko ang mga sarili natin 10 years younger, inside a car din after our first unofficial date. Naaalala mo iyon, noong nag-bookstore tayo. Kung alam mo lang, sobrang happy ko that night.”
“This is real, Maya. Fate made us meet again so we can continue what we started ten years ago. Not so many people have second chances like this. I promise not to waste it. I will love you until the end of my days and it will be my goal to make you happy.” Richard said eloquently. “And sobrang happy ko rin that night. For me, that was our ‘first date’.
“Thank you, Ricky. You are right. Ayaw ko na ring sayangin ang panahon. Ten years na ang nawala sa buhay natin. But you and I, we can’t regret those ten years. It made us better persons. It shaped us to be the persons we are now, and in your case, it gave you Abby pa. Tapos you found love din naman with Alexandra even if it was a different kind of love.”
“I completely agree, Maya. Let us move forward together from now on and let’s not waste our moments.” Richard said, cupping Maya’s face and giving her another kiss, this one more intense than the first kiss they have shared. Maya returned the kiss with all the feeling she has in her. “And thank you very much, Maya, for understanding that Abby is a part of my life now and that Alexandra was part of it.”
“Ricky, I do. I just want you to know. Alexandra was there for you when you needed someone and who can’t not love Abby. She is a precious girl.” Maya assured Richard. “The past is the past and we can’t do anything about it. Good thing, we have the present to build on towards our future, wherever it would lead us.”
“I love you, you know, Ms. Dela Rosa, you and your big loving heart.” Richard said, so overwhelmed at that moment. He is sure already where the present would lead them, to a future together.
“I love you too, Mr. Lim, kahit ilang lifetimes ang dumaan, ikaw pa rin ang nandito sa puso ko.” Maya whispered lovingly.
Maya and Richard stayed in the car for several minutes more, savoring the moment and the change in their relationship status. Maya’s head was pillowed on Richard’s chest as he caressed her hair slowly, interspersing it with soft little kisses.
“Halika na ihahatid na kita sa apartment mo. As much as I want to stay with you here all night, alam ko na you had a long day na rin.” Richard reluctantly said after a while.
“Halika sa itaas na nga tayo magkwentuhan. We will be more comfortable there. Don’t worry, I’m not sleepy pa naman. Besides, wala naman tayong pasok bukas. Though, oo nga pala, maglilipat pa kayo in the morning.” Maya said. She, too, was reluctant for the wonderful evening to end.
“Oh, no worries about that. Hindi naman iyan kailangang sobrang agang gawin. Kami-kami lang naman nina Manang and Abby. Besides, Sabel can help and nandoon din naman si Joma.” Richard assured Maya. “Halika, I will take you up to your place.”
Richard opened the door for her. Hands intertwined and with sweet smiles for each other they went up to Maya’s apartment.
“Coffee, juice, water?” Maya asked as she and Richard entered her apartment. She dropped her things on the table and told Richard to sit on the sofa while she gets them something to drink.
“Nothing at the moment. I just want to be with you.” Richard said softly, lovingly. Then he led Maya to the sofa. But instead of letting her sit beside him, he reeled Maya in and she ended into his lap. “I just want to cuddle with my girlfriend.” He whispered softly, lovingly.
Maya smiled, thrilled at hearing the word ‘girlfriend’ again. “Yes, boyfriend. I love saying it and hearing girlfriend from your lips. Imagine, after all these years, boyfriend na talaga kita, Ricky! Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala.”
“Sweetheart, ako rin. We are so very, very lucky. Pagkatapos ng sampung taon at ng lahat ng nangyari sa buhay natin, tayo pa rin! You know what, sweetheart, kahit hindi tayo nagkita sa RRMA, I was really planning on looking for you pagkatapos ko lang ma-settle si Abby and the business too. Shot in the dark, pero I was determined to find you and see if I can pick up where we have stopped before. I was hoping for kahit kaunting chance lang or a closure at least if you are not free na to have me. Kaya nga nang sinabi mo na hindi ka pa taken, sobrang saya ko kaya.” Richard said, hugging Maya tight. “I’m been thanking God ever since for this second chance.”
“Talaga, sweetheart! Pero kung hindi sa RRMA, sure ako na magkikita pa rin tayo since you are moving back here at Mirasol. Imagine, pagkatapos tayong paghiwalayin ng circumstances, kahit ano pala ang gawin natin, pagtatagpuin pa rin tayo. You know, there is a part of me, that has been waiting for you. I was so reluctant to let you go and what we had started years ago. Like I have said, in all those years, wala talagang ibang pumasok dito sa puso ko. Not Jason, or the guys that have courted me while I was working as a journalist or even while at law school. Wala akong maramdaman sa kanila na katulad ng naramdaman ko sa iyo. I just wished then, that someday, I will see you again and see if the feeling is still the same, na sana we will end up together pa rin despite the odds kasi the feeling is still there or para na rin maka-move on since we didn’t have a closure if ever man na that you have moved on na rin. Pero nang makita ulit, I felt again what I felt for you ten years ago, like you, parang nabuhay ng sobra-sobra. Hindi talaga nagbago. Even when I thought that you were married and have a kid na. I fought it lang a bit since I thought you were married. Pero nang malaman ko na widower ka, my heart jumped. I’m so happy, Ricky, that we found each other again and that what we felt for each other ten years ago is still here, very much alive in our hearts.” Maya said emotionally, touching Richard’s face softly and his heart.
“I love you very much, Maya.” Richard said with all the love he is feeling. “I can’t find words to describe what I am feeling at the moment. I can’t thank God enough for still making this possible, for us ending up with each other pa rin sa hinaba-haba ng panahon.”
“I love you very much too, Ricky.” Maya replied. “Sobra-sobra.”
Maya and Richard gazed at each other with all the love they are feeling, wanting each other to know, wanting to show it in every way they could. Richard cupped Maya’s chin, caressed her lips with his thumb softly, then his lips replaced his thumb. Richard gave Maya a searing kiss which she responded wholeheartedly. His tongue sought entrance to her mouth and when she let him in, their tongues dueled and mated into a love dance.
“Ricky….” Maya whispered against Richard’s mouth, unable to put into words the effect of Richard’s kisses and caresses on her. He is driving her crazy with emotions that she was feeling for the first time. She felt like she was on fire.
“Maya, sweetheart…” Richard murmured in between kissing Maya. He can’t get enough of her. At the back of his head, he knew that things are going to get out of hand soon, if he does not put a stop to the fire that has ignited between them. But he wanted more, a couple of minutes more of this, of being with Maya like this. He deepened his kiss again. Maya responded. She also started touching him, caressing his hair, seeking what, she can’t fully explained. She just wanted to be with Ricky as close as possible.
Maya somewhat had an idea of effect of what they were doing on Richard. She can hear his shortness of breath and the evidence of his desire for her from her perch on his lap. She felt his hand moving to the underside of her breast and she waited with bated breath for that touch that she knew was coming. She didn’t wait long, as Richard cupped her left breast through the opening of the sheath dress she wore that morning. Maya gasped from the effect of his touch. She felt like she have been singed. She felt the heat traveling to her inner core. She wanted more. Her body undulated against Richard, silently begging for more.
“Maya, sweetheart, what you do to me….” Richard whispered, trying to stop the conflagration that was consuming him and Maya fast. “I love this, but we need to stop, sweetheart while we still can, while I still can.” He said in between gasping for breath.
Maya tried to get out of the haze of desire enveloping her, knowing that Richard was right, they needed to stop, for now. She wiggled and Richard groaned loudly, as if he was in pain.
“Sweetheart, don’t move like that, you are killing me.” Richard said with a pained expression, still fighting off the intense desire he was feeling for Maya.
“Oh!” Maya realized what she had done and the effect on it on Richard’s body. She flushed, realizing the full extent of Richard’s desire for her.
“You are lethal, sweetheart.” Richard said, smiling lovingly at Maya, trying to catch his breath.
Maya just smiled and hugged Richard. She should feel uncomfortable with the level of intimacy she and Richard had reached that evening, considering this was all new to her, but she was not. For her, it was perfectly okay and normal between them. She is ready to go where it would lead Richard and her. But maybe that night is not the time to take their relationship to the physical level.
“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Richard asked after a while, looking at Maya’s thoroughly kissed lips. “I’m sorry, I got carried away.”
“Ricky, sweetheart, don’t be. Dalawa naman tayo roon.” Maya assured Richard. “I maybe innocent in the physical aspect of a relationship between a man and a woman, but I know about it on a theoretical level. Sa dami ba naman ng bodice-ripper novels na nabasa ko, sweetheart,” She finished with a smile.
“Hmmm, really, those sexy poses on the cover, hanggang loob ng books? Mas intense pa?” Richard asked. “There must be something in those books, maybe I should start reading that too!” He teased after Maya nodded.
“Hahahaha, Ricky, ikaw talaga.” Maya laughed. “You don’t need to find out what women found in those. I think you are doing pretty well for yourself.”
Richard grinned. “Really, sweetheart. So kasing-level ko na ang mga bodice-ripper heroes?” He asked still teasing.
“Richard Lim, ang ego!” Maya teased, pinching Richard on the side.
“Ouchy naman, sweetheart! Kasasagot mo pa lang sa akin, battered na ako.” Richard teased, pretending to be hurt, by pouting his lips.
“Oh, poor you.” Maya said, then gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Better?”
“So much better.” Richard grinned. “May masakit pa dito sa side ko.”
“Ha, sobra na iyan Mr. Ricky Lim ha!” She protested smiling, but still, gave him another kiss.
They shared a big smile after, then gazed deeply into each other’s eyes. They cuddled for a while, until Richard realized that Maya was not moving or saying anything anymore while he caresses her hair. He checked and saw her sleeping. Her head pillowed on his chest. He also noticed her steady breathing.
“My poor sweetheart!” Richard said affectionately, lovingly. She must have been very tired. They had a very long, but very wonderful day. He looked at the clock and realized that it was already past midnight.
With Maya still in his arms, Richard stood up slowly, then walked towards the door to the left of the living room, guessing it to be Maya’s room. He opened the door and he was right. A big bed dominated the room, with a small reading lamp by the side. The other wall was covered with a floor-to-ceiling book-case and beside it a small study table and a settee against the big wide window. It was a very nice and cozy room.
He laid down Maya gently on the bed. “Ricky….” she whispered sleepily.
“Shhhh, go back to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll let myself out.” Richard said, covering her with the comforter. He also turned on the air con unit he saw. He went back to the bed and kissed Maya on the forehead. “Good night, sweetheart. I love you.” He whispered to her now sleeping form again.
Richard slowly closed the door of Maya’s room and let himself out of the unit, making sure that Maya was tucked in safely for the night. He got out of the apartment building with a big smile on his face. The love of his life is sleeping safely for the night. In several hours, he will see her again. He can’t wait! Richard doubted if he can sleep very well that night with all the happiness in his heart,
He drove off into the night, leaving Mirasol Street one more time, then he will be back there for good! He will be with the love of his life everyday, on the street where they started! He found himself humming ‘On the Street Where You Live’ from My Fair Lady while driving home. But unlike poor Freddy Enysford-Hill with Eliza Doolittle, he has Maya’s love. He found the love he had been looking for all his life and that wonderful lady loves him back! Life is just so perfect at that moment!
Windblown – Prologue
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 3, 2015
‘Cinderella’
“Mr. Lim, we are so glad you can make it.” A lady in her late 40s, but still very beautiful shook Richard Lim’s hand as soon as he introduced himself and she introduced herself as the organizer of that night’s event. She was obviously very happy and very relieved that he was there. “How is your mother?” She inquired.
“She is doing better, Ms. Bermudez. Thank you. The doctor said she has stomach flu.” Richard Lim replied. It was his mother who was supposed to be a judge at the Miss Mindoro beauty pageant being held in San Nicolas, Oriental Mindoro that night. “What time will the pageant start?”
Rebecca Bermudez checked her watch, then looked again at the handsome young man before her. By her calculation, he is in late 20s. A lot of the girls may not be able to concentrate if they see the Chairman of the Board of Judges for this year’s pageant!
“The pageant will start in 15 minutes, Mr. Lim. You are just in time. Why don’t you take your place with the other judges in front of the stage!” Ms. Bermudez suggested.
“Please call me Richard, Ms. Bermudez.” Richard gave the lady his bone-melting lopsided smile which didn’t fail to make her heart beat faster.
Oh my goodness, Rebecca thought, he is as old as her eldest nephew and he still charms her like this. The ladies will be in for a treat this evening. “Okay, Richard it is then. Please do call me Rebecca.”
Rebecca led Richard to the long table where all the four other judges were. Richard recognized one of them as the well-known acoustics singer Violet who was from Mindoro. There was a another guy that looked liked a politician and the two others who seemed to be former beauty queens.
They introduced each other. And he was right in his assessments, the guy is the congressman representing the lone district of San Nicolas in the House of Representatives. The other ladies were former Miss Mindoros. One of them, Tiffany eyed Richard with interest, which he ignored. He is not into relationship these days, even short term ones, having just come out of a bad break-up.
Shortly after, the candidates, all 10 of them, representing different parts of Mindoro paraded on stage. Some of them have the looks of being veterans in the pageant circuit and heavily made-up. Some of them seemed too young for the gowns they chose to wear for the competition. Richard was already getting bored and jaded, trying hard in keeping an impassive face, when the last candidate entered the stage.
“Good evening! I’m Maya Dela Rosa, from San Nicolas. I’m 19 years old.” She introduced herself after waving in a very distinct way. She then gave the audience a smile that lit up her whole face and made her so much beautiful than she already is.
Richard Lim sat straighter on his chair. He took a second, and a third, and another look at the tall, willowy girl on stage, who appeared very confident, except that from his seat, he noticed her crossing her fingers behind the folds of her gown. Unlike the other candidates, she was wearing a simple, classically cut gown in deep violet that suits her a lot, and her face was almost devoid of make-up, highlighting how beautiful she really is, with her high cheekbones and doe-shaped eyes fringed with long lashes.
Like the other nine candidates, Maya Dela Rosa took a short turn around the stage and this she did, with so much grace and poise. Richard felt his heart beat faster, when before she exited the stage, their eyes met and held. It was just in seconds but it felt so much longer.
More than two hours into the pageant which had involved the candidates parading in their swimsuits, with candidate number 10 getting the loudest applause, and a talent portion with the same candidate wowing the audience when she danced with all her heart and interpreted superbly the swan’s dying moment in ‘Swan Lake’, the competition was down to three finalists vying for the title.
The question and answer part of the competition will be a big deciding factor in who will win the coveted title.
The hosts called on the first of the three finalists, Stephanie Rivera who fumbled with her answer to a question asked by Congressman Renato Santos. The second one, Jessica Lopez didn’t fare better with the question from Violet. She got very nervous and made a convoluted response to a simple question.
Then it is Maya Dela Rosa’s turn, candidate number 10 in the early rounds of the competition. She fished a piece of paper from a glass bowl and than handed it to the male host, James Ventura, son of the mayor of San Nicolas, who was barely concealing his admiration for this beautiful and poised candidate.
“Ms, Dela Rosa, you got Mr. Richard Lim, of Lim Corporation, our Chairman of the Board of Judges. Mr. Lim, your question for Ms. Dela Rosa, please!”
Richard gazed at Maya Dela Rosa, who met his gaze confidently and without blinking, offering him also a shy smile. Richard, for some reason, fumbled a bit seeing that smile directed at him, and it had not happened to him before. He had to clear his throat before he can speak clearly again.
“Good evening, Ms. Dela Rosa! Here is my question. What, for you, is the most important words of wisdom your parents or grandparents have told you?”
“Good evening po, Mr. Lim. For me, it is what my maternal grandmother has told me when I turned 18. She told me to live my life to the fullest and with no regrets. She told me to grab all the opportunity I could, be the best I could be, work hard to achieve all my dreams, and at the same time reach for those goals the honorable way, and not because I killed someone else’s dream to achieve it. She said, at the end of my journey in this earth, I should be able to say that I have lived and not just existed.”
“Thank you, Ms. Dela Rosa. Wise words indeed from your grandmother. She must be a remarkable woman.”
“She is, Sir. She is.” Maya simply said but Richard felt the emotion.
Richard thanked Maya. She executed a curtsy, then walked back, and joined the other two finalists.
The judges deliberated for several minutes. The results were soon tabulated by the accounting people and handed to the hosts.
“Okay, here is the moment we have been waiting for, the results of this year’s closely fought competition.” James Ventura thundered to a waiting crowd. “Our second runner up, is Ms. Stpehanie Rivera from Poblador.”
Stephanie stepped forward and tilted her head a bit, unable to conceal her disappointment in not winning.
James Ventura was all smile by then, teasing the audience a bit. “Now, I will announce the first runner-up first, and then the winner of tonight’s competition. And the first runner up is Ms. Jessica Lopez of San Fabian, and this year’s Miss Mindoro is no other than, Ms. Maya Dela Rosa of San Nicolas!” He announced to the deafening cheers of the mostly San Nicolas crowd. His co-host, a TV personality who was also from Mindoro, called on the reigning Miss Mindoro for the transfer of the crown to Maya Dela Rosa.
Richard was looking intently at Maya and saw her reaction when she was announced as the winner. She closed her eyes and it seemed like she uttered a silent prayer. It seemed like she was not really expecting that she would win! It was so fleeting and he felt he was the only one who saw it. She also sought him out and they shared a silent look, which both of them didn’t seem to understand that time. Then her attention was called by the reigning Miss Mindoro who was transferring the crown to her.
The ceremonies completed. Maya and the runner-ups posed for pictures.
Rebecca took this opportunity to usher the judges to the reception the organizers have prepared for them, the winners and their families. Initially, Richard was giving it a miss since it was his mother who was supposed to be there, but changed his mind because of Maya. He wanted to talk to her, even for a short time, as if there is a force drawing him to her. He knew he had an early flight the following day, but he was willing to forgo sleep just to see what it is that is attracting him to this lady.
Less than an hour later, the main room of San Nicolas Golf and Country Club was bustling with conversation with candidates mingling with the who’s who of San Nicolas and other guests. Several tried to engage Richard in a conversation, mostly ladies attracted to this silent, handsome chinito guy. They were drawn at his air of mystery. He politely did, but his mind was elsewhere.
“Our new Miss Mindoro sends her apologies. She can’t join us for this gathering. She has a family emergency.” Rebecca announced briefly “But do continue enjoying the night. There are plenty of food and we have hired a band from Manila for tonight’s party.” Maya insisted to her earlier not to tell why she is missing this after pageant party. It was too private for her. Rebecca’s heart goes out to the young lady. She also insisted that everyone should enjoy even without her.
Richard was in a quandary. He wanted to ask Rebecca for information, but was reluctant to do so as it was a bit irregular. Besides, what can he do, he does not know Maya at all, come to think of it, to be asking what made her disappeared into the night, like Cinderella from Prince Charming’s ball!
Note: My new story, begging to be written, so I did this first. Chapter 9 of Crushing On You coming up as soon as I have finished writing it. 🙂
My Sunflower World 
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