Posts Tagged Richard and Maya Fan Fiction
Windblown – Chapter 2
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 10, 2015
Breathing the same air
2014
“Cho, do you want to take a gondola ride?” Maya asked her nephew and godchild as she toured him and his mother, her Ate Cris, and her husband Jeff at The Venetian in Macau. Cris and her family were in Macau after Hong Kong. It was Cris’s, and her husband Jeff’s treat to Pocholo for his birthday. Luckily, they came while she has some free time. When Crris told her they are coming to Macau as well, she took a much needed vacation too. Too bad her aunt and uncle can’t come this time as they are busy with their various businesses.
“Can we, Tita Ninang? Really, really!” Cho said excitedly. “Mom, Dad, can we?”
“Of course, Cho!” Cristina Rose told her son. “Pero, okay lang ba na hindi ako kasama, sweetie? Ikaw na lang, your Tita Ninang and your Daddy? Medyo nahihilo si Mommy. I will just wait for you at the restaurant over there.”
“Cris, you feel nauseous ?” Jeff asked solicitously. “If it is okay with Maya, sila na lang ang mag-gondola ride ni Cho, sasamahan na lang kita.”
“No, please Honey, just go with them. I’ll be okay. I just need to sit down and keep still.” Cris assured her husband. “I can’t just sit on a moving boat feeling like this. Di ba, you want to try to try a gondola ride and since we can’t go to Venice, this is the next best thing.” She smiled at her husband.
“Sure ka, Ate Cris, I can just take Cho? Okay lang naman na kaming dalawa!” Maya said. Jeff and her cousin told her earlier that Cho will have a brother or a sister in seven months or so. Cris found out that she is pregnant the week before they left for their trip to Hong Kong Disneyland and this Macau trip to see Maya.
“Yes, yes, I will be okay. Don’t worry.” Cris assured her cousin whom she hasn’t seen in two years, and her wonderful husband. She and Jeff got married two months after Maya left for Macau. She was already three months pregnant with Cho then. Maya was not able to make it to the wedding, but visited them the Christmas after that.
Maya and Jeff, both holding Cho’s hand walked to the place where they can buy tickets for the gondola ride down the hotel’s Grand Canal. They opted for a private gondola as a treat to Cho. Jeff and Maya put Cho between them. Soon after, they were gliding along with their very friendly gondolier, with Cho happily looking around.
“Nakakatuwa naman itong si Cho, Kuya Jeff! Hindi takot sa boat ride!” Maya remarked. “You and Ate Cris are so lucky to have this cute little boy. Ang bright bright niya for his age.”
“We are, Maya. He is a joy.” Jeff remarked. “Of course, hoping kami ni Cris na girl ang susunod naming baby, pero sa totoo lang, basta healthy and maayos na ma-i-deliver ni Cris, we are happy and blessed na.”
“That’s true, Kuya Jeff.” Maya said. “Iyon naman ang pinakaimportante sa lahat.”
“How about you, Maya? No plans yet of settling down?” Jeff asked his cousin-in-law. Maya is like a cousin to him too and they got along pretty well kahit hindi sila masyadong nagkikita. Maya on the other hand, considers Jeff an older brother. Unang kita pa lang niya sa husband ng pinsan niya, magaan na ang loob niya dito. She is also very glad that her Ate Cris found herself a wonderful and a very responsible husband.
“Hmmmm, malabo pa yata iyan sa ngayon, Kuya Jeff! Wala naman akong boyfriend!” Maya said with a smile. The truth is she hasn’t had a boyfriend yet, at age 27! But that’s hers na lang to know.
“Baka naman kasi sobrang pili ka and sobrang taas ng standard.” Jeff teased. Maya is a very beautiful girl, inside out. In fact, he already noticed several guys looking at them, at her while they glided along the man-made canal. Cris told him about Maya joining the Miss Mindoro Beauty Pageant years ago and winning.
“Kuya Jeff! No kaya! I date naman!” Maya said, grinning. “It’s just that, I can’t find pa someone that makes my heart beat faster and make me feel giddy seeing him or just thinking of him. Besides, hindi naman ako nagmamadali! ” Then, suddenly, she thought of the guy who managed to do that once in her young life.
Jeff noticed Maya’s faraway, longing look, as if remembering something from her past. Ah, so there was someone who managed to do to that to her. Jeff thought to himself. That guy must have made a very strong impression to his cousin-in-law for her to remember it until now.
“I’m sure, Maya. Matatagpuan mo rin iyon. Don’t settle for less.” Jeff assured Maya.
“Of course, Kuya Jeff. I want a love story like Mamang and Lolo Kiko!” Maya said smiling, then told him a bit about hers and Cris’s grandparents love story, just in case her cousin didn’t tell her husband about it.
While they were chatting happily, with Cho clinging to both their arms as he looked around him and pointed to them the interesting stuffs he sees, a guy was looking at them from one side of the canal. He was looking at them with a sad, pensive expression.
“I found her again and I guess it was too late!” Richard Lim sighed sadly, grimacing at the blow fate dealt him. “She is married and has a kid now. Lucky guy!” He felt like someone squeezed his heart when he managed to confirm that it was Maya Dela Rosa on the gondola, with a guy and a little boy who looks a bit like her.
Who would have thought that this is what he would see when he started to aimlessly watch the gondolas ferrying passengers along the canal while he waiting for their company lawyer, Ryan Molina and his wife Ivy, who went to the souvenir shop of the hotel. He got a bit impatient as they were taking very long, and decided to walk a little bit farther than the shop. That was when he saw her. At first, he thought that maybe it was just someone who looks like her, but as the gondola approached, he was able to confirm that it is Maya! She was chatting animatedly to the good-looking guy beside her and the little boy was clinging to both of them! She looks like the Maya etched in hs brain and who invade his thoughts from time to time. She has just grown more beautiful and more poised since the last time he caught a glimpse of her.
Since Richard missed meeting her again four years ago at the airport in Singapore, he, sort of, believe that if they are meant to be, they will meet each other again, at some point. Stranger things have happened in this world. However, he is also a realist to believe that it may not happen at all. Besides, maybe, he will not feel this strange pull when he meets her again and get to know her better, so he just went on with his very demanding professional life, designing and developing boutique hotels and resorts all over the country and in some parts of Asia. Though in his heart, he does not believe that he will feel nothing for Maya if he sees her again. Seeing her again, here in Macau proved that. His heart still skipped a beat with a glimpse of her.
Now that he had seen that she has a family of her own already, he felt this overwhelming sadness. He could have actively looked for her the past several years. In this day and age of social media, it is not so difficult to find people you haven’t seen in years as long as they are visible online. And then what, just approach her like that, send a PM to her Facebook account or ask to be her ‘friend’ by sending a friend request, he asked himself? Likewise, thinking that what he felt years ago, the connection he thought they had when their eyes met, was just all on his part made him feel down. Maybe, it is time to move on, or try at least, he mused. She was just something beautiful from his past. For a time, she made him feel an emotion that was alien to him. She made him feel alive.
He took one more look at the gondola where she was, then turned his back to walk back to the shop and look for Ryan and Ivy. This is their last day in Macau as they will return to the Philippines the following day. They have arrived here two days ago to see if Emerald Hotels and Resorts, Lim Corporation’s subsidiary that handle all their property developments, can join in the hotel boom in this part of Macau. While the deal their potential partners were offering was enticing enough, Richard and Ryan didn’t accept it as in exchange the investors wanted the majority control.
“Richard, Brod, sorry natagalan kami.” Ryan said apologetically. “Ito kasing si Ivy, ang daming binili.” He said half-complaining, but smiling indulgently at his wife.
“Ha, sandali lang kaya ako.” Ivy said, gazing at her husband. “Let’s eat. The shopping made me hungry.” She suggested with a smile.
The three of them walked around, looked for a nice and quiet restaurant, and settled in to eat dinner. Husband and wife bantered and told Richard about some of the funniest, and most memorable antics of their children, while waiting for their food. Richard laughed at their stories. Being an only child, he misses having a big family. When he has a family of his own, he wants a big one.
“Ikaw naman kasi Brod, why don’t you settle down na! Eh di sana, may kwento ka na rin namin ni Ivy about your kids.” Ryan teased his boss, fraternity brother and his best friend. Richard have been the best man at his and Ivy’s wedding. When Richard offered him the job as Emerald’s legal counsel several years ago, he jumped at the opportunity.
“Oo nga naman, Richard.” Ivy seconded her husband. “Wala ka pa bang nakikita sa mga date mo. Ang gaganda naman nila. Saka iyong madalas mong kasama dati, mukhang mabait naman.” Ivy was referring to Linda, a model he dated for a while. He dated when the loneliness gets him, but there was always something lacking in those. He had stopped doing so for a while now.
“Kayong dalawa, ako na naman ang nakita niyo.” Richard laughed, a laugh tinged with sadness since the image of Maya with her husband and child suddenly propped up in his head.
“Babe, tigilan na nga natin si Richard.” Ryan told his wife, but added, “Brod, sino ba kasi iyon? Baka naman mahanap mo pa ulit. Kawawa naman ang mga nagiging date mo, goodbye na after several dates.”
“Hahahaha, let’s eat na lang. Mahabang usapan iyan.” Richard said, laughing. But when he thought that the two were not looking, he had a sad, faraway look, which Ryan saw.
While Richard and his friends were eating, Maya, Cristina Rose and Jeff with a sleeping Cho in his arms were on their way back to the hotel where Maya works, which is just several minutes away from where they were. Cris and her family is staying there instead of Maya’s apartment as the hotel is more convenient.
“Sayang Ate Cris, hindi ka nakasama. Enjoy na enjoy si Cho sa gondola ride. I took a lot of pictures naman for you.” Maya chatted as they walked, avoiding the throng of tourists with their camera’s clicking nonstop as they marvelled at this part of the hotel. Maya remembered the first time she was there. She felt like she she was suddenly transported someplace else since it was nighttime when she walked around and when she reached that area, it felt like daytime!
“Thank you, Maya. Next time. Malay mo naman, kapag malaki-laki na itong bago naming baby, mabalik ulit kami rito ng Kuya Jeff mo. Nandito ka pa noon siguro.” Cris said.
“Naku, Ate Cris, baka wala na. But for sure, we can always go back here, sama natin sina Tita Lulu and Tito Mario, saka sina Lino and Lindsay, family trip! Pwede one Christmas season!” Maya told her cousin. “I have been meaning to tell you and Kuya Jeff, that I’m thinking of returning to the Philippines late this year or early next year.”
“Really, Maya! That’s good news! I’m sure Mama and Papa will be glad to know that, pati na rin si Lino.” Cris said, grinning happily. Then she hugged her cousin. “Maya, I’m so happy you will be in the Philippines again. I misssed you a lot, little sis!”
“Awwww, me too, Ate Cris! I think it’s about time I return home.” Maya had been thinking about doing so, for several months now. She had been a way for so long. She felt a longing for the old country. It is time to move again. Maybe, she will get restless again but for now, she is longing for the Philippines.
“I agree with Cris, Maya. Iba pa rin ang sarili nating bansa. I also worked abroad, di ba, and even if the salary is bigger, hinahanap-hanap ko pa rin ang Pilipinas.” Jeff added.
“Eh ano pala ang plan mo pagbalik sa atin?” Cris asked.
“I submitted several job applications in hotels and resorts in the Philippines. Let’s see what will happen. I think something will turn up naman.” Maya spoke confidently. “If not, I can just develop one of the properties Mamang left behind in Mindoro. I’m sure Tita Lulu and Tito Mario will not mind naman. Noon pa nila sinasabi iyon sa akin. Di ba, I got na the money from Mom and Dad’s investment when I turned 25 two years ago. I can use that.”
“For sure, Maya, tatanggapin ka lahat ng mga inaplayan mo. In fact, baka nga over qualified ka pa, with your position and experience here. If you choose to develop naman one of the properties in Mindoro, lalo na iyong malapit sa beach sa San Nicolas, okay rin lang. Di ba, Mama and Papa told you na it is yours. It was what Mamang would have wanted. Kami naman ni Lino okay na okay na kami.”
“Thank you, Ate Cris!” Maya smiled at her cousin, happy in the thought that she is going back to the Philippines and she have several options when she returns.
They have reached the hotel and Maya said goodbye to her cousin and her family at the lobby. She promised to pick them up bright and early for their trip to the historic section of Macau the following day. On the way out, she said hello to her colleagues and staff who were on duty. She is not due back to work for another day.
Since she was not yet sleepy and she felt restless, Maya opted to walk on the second floor of the hotel, which interconnects to the other hotels via a network of shops. She stopped at a Starbucks kiosk and bought her favorite brew, then continued walking, sipping coffee while window shopping.
While she was looking at a display of a very nice skirt, top and winter boots, her peripheral vision saw three people walking. They were talking in a combination of English and Filipino so she looked unconsciously. Her heart skipped a beat when she caught sight of the tall guy walking with another guy and a girl. He looks like Richard Lim! But before she can check again, they took a turn and disappeared from her sight.
Maya was stunned for a few seconds, heart beating so fast, indecisive on what to do next. Then as if her feet have minds of their own, she found herself going to the direction they disappeared to. However, she can’t find them anymore as the corner forked into two other directions, then several others.
“What would I say to him anyway, if it is him?” Maya asked herself. “Introduce myself and ask him if he remembers me from a long ago beauty pageant in Mindoro! Wouldn’t it sound weird? Saka, baka naman hindi siya iyon. That I just thought it is him dahil iniisip ko siya. Dami namang Chinese dito, baka kamukha lang!”
Nevertheless, that incident unsettled Maya. Coupled with the coffee she drank, which she shouldn’t have, she was unable to sleep that night. She had panda eyes when she returned to the hotel the following morning. While waiting for her cousin and her family, she looked around, hoping to catch a glimpse of the guy who looks like Richard Lim, but she didn’t find him anymore.
Maya drove her cousin to the other side of Macau where all the popular tourists sites are located – from Senado Square to the Ruins of Saint Paul, old churches and others. They spent half a day there, then returned to the hotel as her Ate Cris was not feeling well. Maya stayed in their hotel room playing with Cho, while her Kuya Jeff went out for a walk around the complex.
In that instance, Richard, Ryan and Ivy were in the process of checking out from the same hotel. While Ivy was busy doing it, Ryan inquired if Richard is okay.“Brod, I noticed na parang quiet ka since our sightseeing trip at The Venetian. May problema ba? Is something botthering you!” Ryan asked his best friend.
“Wala naman Brod, baka pagod na rin ako. We have been traveling for quite a bit for a month na.” Richard said, unable to share to Ryan, his closest friend, about Maya. He does not think he will understand. Even he, at times, does not understand this preoccupation with her.
Ryan wouldn’t be a good lawyer if he does not know how to read people at least, on a level, and he knew that there is something bothering Richard, that he was being evasive. But he respects his desire to keep it to himself. He does not want to pry, anyway. “Basta Brod, kung kailangan mo ng kausap, nandito lang ako ha. Daanin na lang natin iyan sa inuman sa paborito nating bar sa Makati.”
“Thank you, Brod.” Richard said, trying to muster a smile.
Ivy returned to them, telling them that they can now leave the hotel. They took the hotel car to the airport. Richard glanced one more time at The Venetian when they passed by it, as if saying a final goodbye to something, or to someone.
The following day, it was Maya’s turn to check out her cousin and her family from the hotel. While doing so, she chatted with some of her old colleagues and staff at the front desk. Two years after she started working there, she transferred to Operations and has been there ever since, as an assistant operations manager. She didn’t know what made her do it, but she thought of asking one of her old Filpino staff if someone named Richard Lim is in the hotel guest list. Edselyn checked the computer, and Maya’s heart was beating fast while she waited with anticipation.
“Meron po Ms. Maya, from Taguig City, Philippines, pero nag-check out na kahapon!” Edselyn said. “He stayed with us for three days.”
“Oh….” was all Maya managed to Edselyn as she felt breathless all of a sudden. So it was really him she saw! She is very positive of that now. They almost met again! She thanked Edselyn, and when she asked curiously if there is something she can do pa, she told her she only wanted to know if they had a guest with that name.
Maya was still in a bit of a shock, thinking of what could have been, when she returned to her cousin.
“Maya, okay ka lang ba?” Cris asked, noticing her pallor.
“Ha….? Oh, yes, I’m okay, Ate Cris.” Maya assured her cousin. “Halika na. Wait for me in the lobby, please. I will just get my car.”
Maya drove her cousin to the airport, distracted with the thought that she and Richard could have met again!
“Maya, thank you for everything.” Cris hugged her cousin when they were inside the airport.
“No worries, Ate Cris, Kuya Jeff, and you little Cho. I’m glad to see all of you.” Maya said with a smile.
“Paano, little sister, see you in Manila na lang soon. Thank you ha.” Jeff said with a big smile.
“Sure, Kuya Jeff. I’m sure bago lumabas itong si Cris Jr. eh I’m back there na.” Maya said, patting her cousin’s tummy. They said their final goodbyes and she went out of the airport. She was back on being on her own again.
On the way back to her apartment, Maya looked around at the place she had called home for the past four years as if starting to say goodbye. While she had a good life here, she really feels it’s about time to go back to her real home!
Crushing On You – Chapter 11
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 9, 2015
Natasha
“Good morning Sir Richard!” Liza greeted Richard with a big smile, as soon as he entered his office after dropping Maya off at the entrance of her office two floors below.
“Good morning Liza! Do I have anything urgent this morning?” Richard inquired, smiling and feeling at the top of the world that morning.
“Wala naman po, Sir.” Liza replied, but handed Richard a big card. “You just need to sign this birthday card. Kayo na lang po ang hindi pa nakaka-sign!”
“Sinong may birthday Liza?” It has been a tradition in LC for the executives to sign the birthday card for whoever executive or company officer has a birthday. It is included in the flowers that is sent to the birthday celebrators.
“Sir! Si Ms. Maya kaya! Even if I know, for sure, you have plans for her birthday, please sign the card na rin para kumpleto na kayong mga executive.” Liza said, smiling. She saw her boss and Maya, earlier holding hands while they walked to the elevators. She was behind them. She almost squealed with delight upon seeing them so sweet towards each other. She concluded na sila na talaga!
“Yes! She did mention that her birthday is coming up when I asked kung kailan. Give me the card.” Richard got the pen that Liza gave him, then signed his name too, together with the other executives, except that he put a heart and a smiley beside his name.
Liza laughed when she saw it. “Sir Richard, ikaw talaga. High school lang ang peg, hahahaha. Pero it’s cute naman!”
Richard laughed too, then went inside his office to start his work day. He was humming a line from a song from the ‘The King and I’…..To kiss in the sunlight/And say to the sky/“Behold and believe what you see/Behold how my lover loves me”…. when he sat on his desk to tackle his paperworks.
More than an hour later, a tall lady dressed in a figure-hugging sheath dress, parked herself in front of Liza’s desk.
“Good morning Ma’am, may I help you?” Liza inquired politely. There is something familiar with the lady which she can’t place.
“I would like to see Ricky Lim, please. Tito Patrick said this is his office now.” The lady asked, her demeanor, a bit haughty for Liza’s taste.
“I don’t recall him having an appointment with you Ms…..” Liza asked.
“I don’t have. But I’m sure, he will see me. Just tell him, Natasha Melendrez.” Natasha said, brooking no argument.
“Sandali lang po.” Liza stood up, then knocked on Richard’s door, instead of calling. While she was doing so, Liza also realized why the lady looks familiar. She is the daughter of Probo and Norma Melendrez, a close friends of the Lims, and an ex-girlfriend of Richard Lim, if what she overheard before was true.
“O Liza, bakit hindi ka na lang tumawag sa intercom.” Richard asked, seeing that Liza was not there to bring documents to him.
“Sir may naghahanap po sa inyo sa labas. Wala po siyang appointment. Si Mr. Patrick Lim daw po ang nagturo sa kanya ng office niyo.” Liza said, hesitantly.
“”Sino raw siya, Liza?” Richard asked. His uncle didn’t mention sending anyone to him when he saw him just before he entered the Legal Department.
“Ms. Natasha Melendrez daw po, Sir!” Liza said.
“Oh…” was all Richard said. He thought for a second, then said, “I guess, just send her in if I don’t have any other appointment that would get affected by it.” His Uncle Patrick has always had a soft spot, rather a blind spot, for Natasha, not knowing her true character!
“Okay po, Sir.” Liza went out of Richard’s office again and returned to Natasha Melendrez to accompany her to Richard Lim’s office.
Richard settled into his seat again, tapping his fingers on the desk, thinking what could bring Natasha to his office, five years after they parted ways. He was also wondering why she had given her maiden name when the last time he heard, it was already Ortiz. She had married one of his ex-closest friends, Nathaniel Ortiz.
“Ricky, so nice to see you.” Natasha said with a big smile when Liza ushered her into Richard’s office. She proceeded to where Richard is, then tried to give him a kiss on the lips. He deflected it, so it landed on his left cheek.
“Please have a seat Natasha.” Richard politely said, gesturing towards one of the two visitor chairs in front of his desk.
“Can we sit in the couch over there?” Natasha requested. “It is more intimate. Sitting on that visitor’s chair, I feel like I’m on a job interview.”
“Why are you here, Natasha?” Richard said, ignoring her request. He decided to cut through her phoney cheerfulness and solicitousness as if nothing bad had happened between them. “After all the things that have happened, I thought we don’t have anything else to talk about.”
“Richard, come on, Honey, you haven’t moved on from that? I regretted what I did. Isn’t it enough? Besides, Nate and I are not together anymore. Our divorce became final two months ago.”
“Please don’t call me ‘Honey’, Natasha. I haven’t been since I caught you in bed with one of my best friends, in our own bed!” Richard said calmly. “I have moved on. I don’t feel a thing anymore. I don’t care whether you and Nate are still together or not.”
“Richard, that can’t be true. You loved me. You were even willing to live in the States permanently for me. You chose me over having a place in your father’s company.” Natasha insisted. She had high hopes for this meeting. What she said was true, she regretted being unfaithful to Richard. Nate is not the person Richard is. She wants to have a second chance with Richard.
“Natasha, please! Let’s not rehash the past. I may say things you will not like to hear and which I don’t like to say to you either. Let’s just remember the happy times. The past is over and done with. Let’s leave it at that. I’m in love for the first time in my life and for me that’s what matters now.” Richard said before he could stop himself, wanting only to convince Natasha that there is no going back for them. “Besides, I did continue living in the States after we broke up and you married Nate. So, it was just not you. I’m sorry, we were not just meant to be, a big part of that was your own making.”
“Ricky…..” Natasha started, but seeing Richard’s firmed and unmoving expression, she stopped. In a way, she knew, deep inside herself that this is a futile effort anyway. She had hurt Richard in the past a lot. She was that immature and selfish. She had her chance. She just thought that she would just have another when she heard from Tito Patrick that Richard is still single and does not seem to have a girlfriend at the moment.
Natasha returned to the Philippines after her divorce became final to start anew. If not for the fact that she was pregnant with Nate’s baby, she would have not married him. Her parents insisted and rather than lose the good life she had, which her parents threatened to do, she did it. They also told her she made a big mistake when she chose Nate, by having an affair with him, over Richard. They were right. She didn’t understand why she stayed in the marriage even after she lost the baby.
Richard and Natasha stared at each other silently. Natasha, at a lost on what do to next. Richard, hoping that Natasha will leave. They had nothing to say to each other.
The door suddenly opened.
“Ricky, sweetheart, dumiretso na ako. Wala si Liza sa post niya. Sabi mo naman…..” Maya stopped when she realized that Richard is not alone. “Oh, I’m so sorry. You have a meeting. I thought it was just you since I didn’t hear a sound when I was approaching.” Maya looked at the lady sitting at Richard’s visitor’s chair. “Hello.”
Maya was about to excuse herself, when Richard got out of his chair, approached her and gave her a kiss on the lips. “Don’t go, Sweetheart. Please meet, Natasha Melendrez, daughter of Tito Probo and Tita Norma, friends of my parents.” He said by way of introduction. “Natasha, please meet my girlfriend, Maya Dela Rosa. Maya is also LC’s Head of Corporate Communications.”
Natasha took a closer look at Richard’s girlfriend. What she saw made her feel more defeated. For she saw before her a beautiful, poised her girl, her eyes shining with intelligence, looking at her with a sincere friendly expression, and looking at Richard with so much love. She swallowed hard.
“Nice to meet you, Maya.” She simply said, then to Richard, “Ricky, I will get going. Mom and I will meet for lunch. Hello to Tito Roberto and Tita Esmeralda.”
“I will, Natasha, and good luck. I hope you will find happiness too.” Richard simply said. He realized he felt tons lighter at that moment. He had forgiven Natasha a long time ago. In fact, he considered himself to have a lucky escape. Doubly so now, that he found Maya.
Maya and Richard watched Natasha walked towards the door and then closed it gently.
“Maya, let’s have an early lunch! Here at my office, if it is okay with you? I will send Liza out for food.” Richard asked. While Maya didn’t ask who Natasha is, he wanted to tell her, to clear the past completely, so to speak.
“Sure, Sweetheart! I’m free na. I just want to give this sana to you.” Maya said, then gave Ricky his favorite brew from Starbucks. “Nagpabili ako kasi kay Richard, the messenger. I didn’t realize na almost lunchtime na pala.”
They both smiled at that, remembering Maya’s wrong text message.
“Palagay ko dapat nating pasalamatan iyang si Richard Lazaro sa progress ng love story natin.” Richard teased Maya.
“Hahahaha, Sweetheart, sa palagay ko rin.” Maya said. “Teka, let me call Minerva lang to tell her I will have an early lunch. May I use your phone?”
“Sure, go I head. I will just go and see if Liza is back. I will ask her if she could order lunch for us from the restaurant downstairs.” Richard said. “What would you like?”
“Just the pasta carbonara that they have there with roast beef on the side, salad and a can of regular Coke.” Maya said. “Thank you, Sweetheart.”
Maya made her call while Richard peeked out to check if Liza is there. She saw him doing so. “Sir, may kailangan po kayo? I had to dash out earlier while you had a visitor.” Liza explained.
“Yes, sana Liza. Would you please call the restaurant downstairs and have them deliver lunch to my office for Maya and I.” Richard then told Liza what Maya wanted and told her what he would like.
“No problem, Sir! Nandiyan pala si Ms. Maya!” She remarked. At the back of her head, she realized that Maya and Natasha must have met each other if she had arrived at her boss’s office while she was away. She shrugged, thinking that it must have been okay. “Dalhin ko na lang po sa office niyo Sir, pagdating. I will just tell the restaurant manager to put it in your tab again.”
“Thanks Liza! I’m on a break na ha.” Richard said. He didn’t want to be interrupted for the next hour or so, while he talk to Maya about Natasha.
“Noted, Sir.” Liza assured her boss.
Richard returned to his office and saw Maya looking out at the view outside while waiting for him. She smiled brightly when she saw him.
“Have I told you lately that I love you very much.” Richard said as he cupped Maya’s chin and looked deep in her eyes.
Maya smiled. “Not in the last couple of hours, Atty. Lim! And I love you too.”
They shared a loving smile, then Richard lowered his lips to Maya and gave her a gentle kiss.
“Come, Sweetheart, before I get totally lost in your very kissable lips, let’s sit on the couch. I have something to tell you.” Richard took hold of Maya’s hand, interlaced it with his and gently pulled her to the couch.
“Hmmm, parang alam ko na kung tungkol saan. Is it about Natasha?” Maya asked she settled down in the crook of Richard’s right arm. “Your ex-girlfriend?”
‘“Yes, and I’m right, I was pretty sure that you will read the situation correctly.” Richard said. “How come you didn’t ask me about her as soon as she had left?”
“Well, I want you to tell me yourself.” Maya replied. “While I admit, I was curious at her sudden appearance, I also know naman that she was from your past na. Otherwise, you would have not courted me like that. I also trust you and you have not given me any reason to doubt that and the feelings you have for me.”
Richard’s heart swelled. He is so lucky to have her. He loves her so very much “Thank you for your trust, Sweetheart. I’m so lucky to have you. Despite having girlfriends before, Natasha being the most serious one from my past since I entertained the thought of marrying her, you are the only whom I feel like this, the only one I ever love.”
“Thank you for that, Ricky.” Maya cupped Richard’s face and kissed him gently. “I love you. I love you. I love you.”
Richard gazed at Maya lovingly. “And I the same! But I don’t want anything between us so I would like to tell you about Natasha.” Maya nodded. Richard took a deep breath and started speaking of the past.
“I shared an apartment with Natasha and my cousin Rafi while studying in the States. They were friends and studying designs. Both of them wanted to be fashion designers. When Rafi met Charlie and moved in with him, they eventually marry of course, Natasha and I were thrown together. Before we knew it, we were living together in the real sense of the word. She was a fun person, and that was the problem, she was like an overgrown child. She was also a party girl, refusing to grow up and accept responsibilities. While me, on the other hand, had to spend long hours studying and then finding my way in corporate America. My plan was to stay there for her as she didn’t want to live in the Philippines. I also entertained the thought of us marrying in the beginning, but was not so sure afterwards because of the way she was and me, realizing that I was not sure then if I really love her.
She used my long hours of working hard to establish a future for us, as an excuse later on, when I caught her in bed with one of my best friends who also moved to the States to study for a post graduate degree. She told me that I neglected her, and I was so caught up in my career. We parted ways and her parents, from what I heard from Mama, afterwards, pressured her to marry Nate when they found out she was pregnant with his child. Now, she came here to tell me that their divorced was final two months ago.”
“She wanted to see if she could pick up the pieces and have another chance with you!” Maya concluded on her own, understanding the situation she barged in earlier, better.
“Yes, but I told her there is no chance of that, as I already have a girlfriend and for the first time in my life, I’m in love.” Richard said looking at Maya lovingly. “There was an uneasy silence between us after that. I was hoping she would leave. Out of politeness and respect to her parents, I didn’t want to be rude, then you came in, like an angel.”
“Ricky, sweetheart, thank you for telling me. I appreciate it very much. It made me love you more. You know what? What is important to me is us, our present, and our future together if we are so lucky to have it. The past stays in the past.” Maya said.
“Sweetheart, we will have a future together. We will work on it.” Richard vowed. “We will be together in everything. Thank you for being so wonderful, for being so understanding and for trusting and believing in me.”
Richard and Maya gazed at each other with so much love on their faces, in their eyes. They both felt that their hearts will burst from too much emotions and feelings at that moment, and because they can’t help themselves, they shared another kiss. There was this overwhelming feeling to connect physically. It started as a tame one, but that was not the case several minutes after, as they were kissing heatedly, tongues duelling and mating, their faces flushed.
Before the situation completely got out of hand, the sound of a knock on the door penetrated their world. They broke apart suddenly. Richard remembered that Liza was supposed to bring in their food! Richard and Maya both tried hard to catch their breaths fast. It took Richard several minutes before he managed to open the door for Liza.
Richard and Maya had a leisurely lunch, both were very much aware that their relationship shifted to another level. It just got deeper and more wonderful! They found every excuse to touch each other, feed each other morsels of food or share a quick kiss while having lunch.
Windblown – Chapter 1
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 8, 2015
Glimpse
2010
Maya Dela Rosa settled into her seat in the economy class of Singapore Airlines’s last flight bound for Singapore from Manila that night. This is her first time to be out of the country in so many years. Three years will be a long time to be away from everything familiar to her, but this move is for her own professional and personal growth. She is looking forward to working abroad. For her, it is an adventure and it may cure the restlessness she had been feeling lately. After visiting a friend in Singapore, she will travel to Macau to work at one of the new hotels in Cotai Central.
Prior to this, and right after finishing a degree in International Hospitality Management two years ago, she had work for the same hotel chain in Manila. First she was hired as a front desk personnel and then was promoted as supervisor a year ago. Due to her excellent performance, the position at the new hotel in Macau was offered to her, with a higher salary, and more room for growth. For Maya, the consideration was not so much on the salary, but rather the chance to grow and learn more about the industry. She wants to be a hotel general manager in the future. Besides, it is time to spread her wings. She is restless and she can’t explain why. She felt she had existed in a vacuum since the night she was crowned Miss Mindoro three years before.
The morning after she was crowned as Miss Mindoro 2007, Maya’s Mamang, her grandmother, died. She took a turn from bad to worse while she was in the pageant. Since then, Maya had lived permanently in Manila with her aunt and her family. Her Tita Lulu, her mother’s only sister and her husband Tito Mario treated her like a daughter and she is very close to her cousins, but she feels it’s about time she goes on her own. She is almost 23 years old. If she had her way three years ago, she would have preferred to live alone and deal with the sadness she was feeling on her own. But her Tita Lulu wouldn’t hear of it, insisting that her Mamang would have not wanted that. Lulu Francisco also said Maya was too young be on her own, and they are family so they will take care of her, of each other. Maya deferred to her then, as she loves and respects her aunt.
“Mamang, I still miss you. I love you. Please be with me in my new adventure.” Maya muttered. She always have a silent conversation with Mamang’s spirit when she wanted to be comforted, when the feeling of being truly alone gets to her. Mamang was more like a mother to her, than a grandmother. Maya barely remembered how her parents looked like since they died when she was very young. She knew, though, that they have loved her very much. She remembered family outings, her mom and dad reading her a story in the evening, and being cuddled by them.
Maya lost her parents in a car accident when she was 10 years old. Her Mamang took care of her. Like when her Mamang died, her Tita Lulu also offered to take her in then, to raise her with her cousins Cristina Rose and Lino, but Mamang insisted that she will be the one to take care of Maya. Both of them comforted each other and helped each other dealt with the lost of Teresita Dela Paz Dela Rosa, so young to have died at age 35, and her husband Arturo Dela Rosa, gone at age 40.
Maya and her parents used to live in Quezon City. Maya’s dad was an executive in an international cargo company. Her mother also worked in the same company as the personnel manager. One evening, on the way home from a party, a truck lost its break and rammed into her parents’ vehicle. They died instantly. Mamang brought her home to her native Mindoro after the funeral.
Maya’s parents left her quite wealthy. It turned out, her parents invested their earnings well. However, Mamang refused to touch her inheritance even for Maya’s schooling and expenses. She insisted on providing for her grandchild. She has hectares of farm lands, and some businesses in Mindoro. She said Maya can do whatever she wants with the money when she is 25 years old. But while she is in her care, she can well provide for her.
To entertain a young Maya, when she was feeling sad, Mamang will tell her stories about princesses and princes in faraway lands, of gods and goddesses in Greek and Roman mythologies. Mamang was a professor of literature at the college in San Nicolas before she retired. She also told Maya how she met her grandfather and the great love they had. It fueled Maya’s young mind, and she became determined to find the same kind of love when the time comes. She will not settle for less, she told her Mamang. Conchita Dela Paz also told her grandchild of her dream to join beauty contests, but her very conservative parents refused to allow her. In fact, she told Maya, it was one of her unfulfilled dreams. Mamang followed all the beauty pageants avidly – from Binibining Pilipinas, to Miss World, Miss Earth, Miss Universe, and others.
It was for Mamang that Maya, then a junior college student in 2007, decided to join, first the Miss San Nicolas Beauty Pageant, then the Miss Mindoro Beauty Pageant. Maya thought it would please and cheer up her grandmother who was already bedridden at that time. She was diagnosed with colon cancer in late 2006. It took courage on Maya’s part to do so as basically she was a shy, bookish person and she would have not thought of joining a beauty pageant on her own even if people have told her she is very beautiful and a ‘Binibining Pilipinas material’. She was the runaway winner of the Miss San Nicolas Beauty Pageant, which already made Mamang very happy. Then there was the Miss Mindoro Pageant. Ah, going back, down memory lane, meaning remembering the pageant night itself, and Richard Lim!
Maya was very nervous that night. But one thing was driving her, to win for Mamang. She gathered all the inner courage she could muster and forged on to compete. She may not win that night as all the other candidates were also very beautiful and very determined, but at least she tried for her grandmother.
When she was in the middle of the stage, for the first time, all she saw was a sea of people and bright lights. It was only when she was about to turn back to exit the stage that her eyes focused on Richard Lim. She didn’t know then that he was the Chairman of the Board of Judges, as the judges were only introduced midway through the pageant. When their eyes met, she felt like a current ran through her body and her heart skipped a beat. When she got backstage, she had to catch her breath not because of the ordeal of being on display when she was not used to it, but because of him.
Throughout that night, Maya was very conscious of Richard Lim. Her young heart was never the same after that. For the first time, a strange, wonderful emotion touched it. When the competition was just down to her and Jessica Lopez, her heart was somersaulting from nervousness, anticipation and this feeling of unexplained happiness and giddiness, knowing that he was there, sitting with the other judges. She was also beset with worry. Mamang was in a bad condition when she left. Maya didn’t want to go anymore but Mamang insisted that she should go and compete and even teased her about bringing home the crown for sure. Her cousin Cris was the only one with her that night. When James Ventura, a high school classmate, and a former suitor actually, announced her to be the winner, she thanked God and at the same time, silently offered her winnings to Mamang. Unconsciously, she had sought Richard Lim and saw him looking at her too. Suddenly, she can’t breath.
Her Ate Cris texted her Tita Lulu to let Mamang know through her that she won the pageant. Her Tita Lulu replied that their Mamang had the most beautiful smile when she was told. However, half an hour later, she took a turn from bad to worst. Her Ate Cris informed her about it when she and the two runner-ups went backstage to get ready for the after pageant party. She was just planning to say hello and not stay long, as she wanted to go home to be with her grandmother. But upon hearing that her grandmother was in a bad condition, she told Rebecca Bermudez that she will not able to attend the party completely. She understood. For a while, Maya felt a tinge of regret in not seeing Richard Lim again, but her Mamang was more important. Mamang rallied throughout the night with her family by her side, but at dawn, she had said her final goodbye to them.
The house in San Nicolas was closed down, the farmlands left in the hands of the caretakers, and the businesses sold as there was no one who can manage it from Manila after her funeral. Maya started her new life in Manila two weeks later. It had meant no more going to Mindoro twice a month and during her semester breaks.
From time to time, Maya had wondered about Richard Lim, even up to imagining their paths crossing again. However, the reality was they moved in different circles so she believed there was no chance of that. She just concentrated on her studies and finished at the top of her class. She could have not asked for a more loving family than what her Tita Lulu, Tito Mario and her cousins gave her. She and her Ate Cris are like real sisters. But there were instances wherein she felt left out also, missing a having a mom and dad of her own, and missing Mamang so much. That restlessness drove her to travel around the country whenever she has the opportunity. In recent months, that feeling increased and it was one of the reasons why she took this job in Macau.
When Emman, her gay best friend in college who is working in one of the hotels in Orchard Road, found out about her plans, he cajoled her into spending several days with him first. She thought it would be good to see him also and unwind a bit before concentrating on making her way in the international hotel management world.
Maya settled more comfortably in her seat, with the thought of reading a book throughout the rest of the flight. She was about to get her Kindle from her bag under the seat in front of her when the guy beside her, a good looking foreigner, spoke and introduced himself.
“Hi, I’m Roman Taylor!” The guy said by way of introduction. “Are you off to Singapore or just transiting?” He gave her a friendly, non-threatening smile. However, Maya sensed his interest beyond that.
“Hi.” Maya said, then politely, “I’m Maya Dela Rosa. Yes, I’m going to Singapore.”
“Really!” Roman seemed to perk up more upon hearing that. “Staying for good?”
“Not really. I’m just visiting a friend for several days.” Maya replied, not volunteering more information.
“Oh, too bad. I thought we could get to know each other and go to dinner, you know, as soon as you have settled in.” He said, looking very interested in getting to know her. “Maybe, you and your friend can squeeze it in, one evening. Have dinner with me please.”
“I’m really sorry, Roman. Thank you for the invitation, but I don’t think we can. My time in Singapore is limited.” Maya said regretfully, using that as a way out.
“Oh well, just in case you find yourself there again, here’s my card.” Then he handed her his business card.
Maya took it politely, thanking him. To avoid further conversation, Maya opted to watch a movie. Roman also settled into his seat to do the same. Roman might look like an older version of Liam Hemsworth, but she is not interested. No one had made her heart beat faster since the night of the pageant. Maybe, it will skip a beat again for someone else, other than Richard Lim, but she is not in a hurry to find out. Romance was the last thing in her mind at that point in her life. “I wonder where is he now?” She mused.
Unbeknown to Maya, Richard Lim was in the same flight. He was in business class. He boarded the plane after most of the passengers in the waiting lounge had boarded. He preferred it that way. Richard is going to Germany via Singapore to meet with potential business partners of Lim Corporation’s latest project, a luxury resort in Bohol. Richard has been in charge of the family corporation’s property developments since three years ago. So far, he had built resorts and hotels in Mindoro, Palawan, Davao, and now Bohol.
Richard’s first project was actually in Mindoro. A month after the pageant, he was back in Mindoro overseeing the building of a mountain resort at the town adjacent to San Nicolas. In the beginning, Richard was hesitant to look for Maya as not only they don’t really know each other but he realized she is years younger than him. He was not also looking for a relationship at that time. But he can’t help himself, he did. He asked around and found out that she had moved to Manila after the death of her grandmother shortly after the pageant. He believed it was the reason why she missed the party! Richard’s heart went out to Maya. His contacts didn’t know where she is staying in Manila or what schools she goes to. He thought of finding out that too. But he got busy with the project, and the next one, and the next one, as he needed to prove himself to his father.
Roberto Lim was initially very reluctant to diversify and put the family’s corporation into property developments, especially hotels and resorts. But Richard persuaded him, armed with tons of research and projections on how the industry was developing at that time and its potential for big growth and boom as more and more people travel, in search of beautiful places to stay. From time to time, he would think of Maya Dela Rosa and what could have been had the circumstances been right. Also, as if he was drawn helplessly, every time candidates for the various beauty pageants were announced, he would check if Maya is among the candidates thinking that with her beauty, intelligence and talent, she would find her way there, and win easily. But it seemed that she had laid very low since her grandmother died.
The flight attendant interrupted Richard’s thoughts and asked him what he would like to drink. She was also looking at him with interest. Richard politely asked for a cup of coffee. He then took out his laptop and started working. He needed to anyway, and this is his way of deflecting whatever signal the beautiful flight attendant seemed to be sending.
Richard got engrossed in the facts and figures he was reviewing. Before he knew it, the plane had landed at the Changi Airport. He was the last one to leave the plane. He hurriedly gathered his things, walked briskly out of the tube, going to the main airport, wanting to go the airline’s lounge, and continue working until he boards his long flight to Europe.
Richard was trying to find which direction leads to the airline lounge from the gate where he got out, when he caught sight of a girl turning on her mobile phone. Her carriage, and the half-profile of her face looks familiar. It looks like the girl also came from the same flight that he took as she was standing close to the gate where he got out. He was about to go to her, to check if he is correct, heart beating faster, when she moved while talking on the phone and took the travelator. Before he lost her in the crowd of passengers that surged in after her from the gate next to theirs, she turned as if she unknowingly felt someone staring at her. Richard saw her face and confirmed that it was indeed, Maya Dela Rosa!
“Maya….!” Richard uttered, then hurried after her but he can’t find her anymore among the throng of hurrying passengers.
Instead of going to the lounge, he decided to walk around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Maya, which was near to impossible as the airport is vast. He only stopped looking when it was time to board his flight to Frankfurt. It was a long and lonely flight for him.
Maya, at that time was already eating a late dinner with Emman at his apartment, not knowing that she almost saw again the man who have been haunting her thoughts the past three years, that they almost met again!
Crushing On You – Chapter 10
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 6, 2015
Meeting the Parents
Maya and Richard broke apart. Smiled lovingly at each other. Richard caressed Maya’s face gently. Maya did the same. There was wonder in both their expressions as if they can’t believe that they are doing this, that they are officially in a relationship, that they have been lucky enough to find each other, to love each other.
“Goodnight, Sweetheart! I’ll see you bright and early tomorrow. Don’t cook too much. I will bring pandesal and cream cheese again. We have never gotten around to eating those this morning.” Richard said.
“Okay. Good night! Drive carefully and text me when you get home.” Maya replied. “I love you.”
“I will. I love you too.” Richard gave Maya a quick kiss on the lips, and then he was off towards the direction of Dasmarinas Village.
Maya entered the house humming one of her favourite songs from My Fair Lady… “I could have danced all night, I could have danced all night…” She felt like she was floating from sheer happiness, as exhilarated and as giddy as Eliza Doolittle had been after Professor Higgins danced with her.
Manang Fe didn’t wait up for Maya this time as she had remembered to text her earlier before she went to the lobby of LC. She informed her old nanny that she will have dinner with Richard. She opened the fridge and check what she can cook for Richard the following morning. She also left a note for Manang Fe saying that she will be the one to cook breakfast.
Her phone beeped when she was putting all her stuffs on the study table in her room.
Richard: Home now, Sweetheart. Good night! I’ll dream of you.
Maya: Good night my Sweetheart! I hope it will be a good one!
Richard: I’m sure it will be!
Maya: Love you!
Richard: Love you more!
Maya and Richard had the best sleep that night.
The following morning, Donya Esmeralda was surprised to see her son going down the stairs very early again. Now, she will bet her collection of porcelain tea sets that it is not work that made her son get up very early two mornings in a row.
“Going to Maya’s again, son?” She asked as she took another sip of her morning tea while reading the newspapers.
“Errr, yes Ma! We went out to dinner last night. Kinulit ko si Maya na iwan na lang iyong car niya ulit sa LC. I drove her home.” Richard said, then kissed his mother on the cheek. “Ma, she is my girlfriend na. Sinagot na niya ako kahapon.” Richard added with a big grin.
“Oh my, oh my! Really son! I’m so happy! See, I told you, sasagutin ka ni Maya.” Donya Esmeralda was all smiles as she stood up and hugged her son. She is very happy to see Richard like this.
Donya Esmeralda never thought she will see her son this happy. Yes, Richard had relationships before and he never told her much about those. This is the first time that he was quite opened with her and had openly declared to her his love for someone. She knew then, that this is it for her son. Of course, she knew about Natasha as she is the daughter of a family friend. But that girl was bad news and she was glad that Richard didn’t end up with her.
“O kailan mo iimbitahan for dinner dito sa house si Maya, para naman makilala namin siya ng husto ng Papa mo.”
“Ma, kilala mo naman siya, more or less, and especially Papa!”
“I mean, son, as your girlfriend and my future daughter-in-law, di ba?” Donya Esmeralda said.
“Future daughter-in-law kaagad, Mama! Kasasagot nga lang sa akin!” Richard sat down beside his mother, grinning.
“Hay naku, knowing you son, I know this relationship is for keeps. Ngayon lang kaya kita nakitang ganito! And you will not tell me about it kung fling fling lang yan, and if you are not serious about this relationship. Aber, kailan ka huling nagkwento sa akin ng ganito? Never di ba?”
“Hahahaha, ikaw talaga Ma. But yes, you are right. I never felt like this before. And this is it for me and this is for keeps.I would never have told you about it if I’m not serious about this, if I’m not head over heels in love with Maya. But for now, I want Maya and I to enjoy our relationship first. Get to know each other more. Just do what couples do.” Richard said, then added, “About the dinner, I will ask her, okay.”
“Sure, son! Have you mentioned something about this to your Papa?”
“Mention something to me about what….?” Don Roberto asked from the doorway, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, his briefcase in his other hand.
“Maaga ka rin sa office today, Roberto?” Donya Esmeralda asked as she gave her husband a kiss on the cheek.
“Yes, I need to meet with some people from our subsidiary that is having a problem. Ricky knows about this. James Ventura will be with me in this meeting.” Don Roberto said as he sat down beside his wife. “What were you supposed to tell me, Ricky?”
“Go son, tell your father your wonderful news.” Donya Esmeralda prodded Richard.
“Pa, I was just telling Mama that I have a girlfriend na again. I’m in love with the best girl in the world, and you know her.” Richard said, a bit nervous actually. Sometimes, his father could be unpredictable. Besides, his father didn’t like Natasha for him even if she is the daughter of one his closest friends. “It is Maya.”
“Si Maya Dela Rosa, iyong Head ng CCD?” Don Roberto asked. “Iyong anak ni Arturo Dela Rosa?
“Yes, Pa.” Richard confirmed. “Mama mentioned nga that her father was your old banker.”
“Yes, yes, he was! A very nice and straighforward fellow, no bullshits and very trustworthy. Congratulations, son! Finally! So does it means you are settling down now? You are not getting any younger you know. Ilang taon ka na ba, 35, di ba. Your Mama and I want apos also while we can still play with them!” Don Roberto said, grinning. “Mahirap naman naka-wheel chair na kami pagdating ng mga apo namin.”
“Pa, you are just like Mama! Kasasagot nga lang sa akin ni Maya. Darating tayo diyan. And Papa, Mama, thank you.” Richard breath a sigh of relief! While he will love Maya to the end even if his parents are against her, it is wonderful that they like her.
“I like her son. Hindi katulad noong naging girlfriend mo na anak ni Probo. Maya seems like a very level-headed lady, intelligent, beautiful and well-liked in LC. Hindi nagkamali ang Uncle Patrick mo sa pag-hire sa kanya. Now I remember! You were quite taken with her at your welcome party to LC. Di ba siya iyong kausap mo ng matagal bago kita ipinakilala sa ibang executives?” Don Roberto finished.
“Pa, pati iyon, na-observe mo!” Richard said laughing. “Saka Pa, like I have told Mama, let’s leave Natasha in the past.”
“Of course son! Nabanggit lang. You know, hindi naman magiging magaling na businessman itong Papa mo kung hindi ako observant. I had an inkling that you were interested in her.” Don Roberto said, smiling. “Why don’t you bring her to dinner one evening!”
“Iyan din ang sabi ni Mama, Pa. Okay I will. Tanungin ko lang si Maya on when she can come dinner. For sure, she would say yes. But is any day of the week okay with you two?”
Donya Esmeralda and Don Roberto said that Maya can come to dinner any day during the week or even during the weekend.
“Papasok ka na ba sa office? Let’s leave together. We can chat along the way. Sumabay ka na sa akin and magpa-drive ka na lang kay Lem mamayang gabi kung mauuna kang umuwi sa akin!” Don Roberto asked as he stood up and gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “Aalis na ako Esmeralda.”
“Okay, Roberto.” Donya Esmeralda said. “Have a great day!”
“Pa, mauna ka na po. I have to pick up Maya pa.” Richard said, getting up too.
“Oh, okay then. Hello to Arturo and Teresita. I haven’t heard from him or about him since he retired from the bank.” Don Robero suddenly remembered Maya’s father, and mother.
“Maya said her parents are based in Mindoro now since her dad retired. He has an organic farm. Di ba ganoon din ang gusto mong gawin?”
“Really! So, itinuloy pala niya. He talked about it before. He wanted to retire while he is still strong and healthy raw.” Don Roberto remarked. “Anyway, let’s talk about this some more. Baka maabutan na ako ng traffic bago ako makalabas ng Makati. Bye son and hello to Maya.”
“Mama, I’ll get going na rin.” Richard said.
“Bye, son and don’t forget to text me on when is Maya coming to dinner para mapahanda ko ng husto sina Doris and Lea.” Donya Esmeralda said as she accompanied her husband and son to their garage.
“I will Ma.”
Father and son left the house one after the other. Richard arrived at Maya’s place less than an hour later.
“Good morning, Sweetheart! Did you sleep well?” Maya greeted Richard with a brilliant smile when she opened the gate. She was already dress for work. She looks very lovely in another plain maxi skirt and printed top.
“Good morning, Sweetheart! Of course, ikaw yata ang laman ng panaginip ko.” Richard said grinning.
“Sweetheart, kasing cheesy na naman nitong dala mong cream cheese ang lines mo. Halika na nga. Breakfast na tayo,” Maya said as she closed the gate and they started walking back to the house.
“Wait! “ Richard suddenly said as he reeled in Maya to him gently. “Where’s my good morning kiss?”
“Sweetheart, ikaw talaga!” Maya said smiling. “Heto!” Then she kissed on him the cheek.
“Hmmm, that was not a kiss.” He teased.
They looked at each other lovingly. Then Maya tiptoed and kiss him on the lips.
“That’s more liked it!” Richard said grinning. “I love you.”
“I love you too!” Maya said. “Halika na. I haven’t told Manang Fe pala about us, pero for sure, matutuwa iyon. She and Fely left the house early to go to Bulacan. She left a note na lang para raw huwag na akong gisingin ng maaga. Inatake raw sa puso iyong Tatay ni Fely. I haven’t heard from them. I hope Tiyo Rene is okay.
“I hope too that Manang’s brother is okay. Ask her if there is something we can do to help if ever. By the way my parents know na about us. Mama is asking nga when can you come to dinner.”
“Really, you told them? Pati ang Papa mo? Anong reaction nila?”
“Yes. They are very happy for us, if course. They say hello to you and your parents din.”
“Oh!” Maya suddenly shy, at the same time, felt relieved. She was not so sure how will Don Roberto react to his son courting and being in a relationship with an employee of LC. “I’m glad they took it well.”
“Why not?” Richard asked, frowning, puzzled.
“Well, maybe, they wanted you to be in a relationship with a Filipino-Chinese girl and not with an employee of your company.” Maya shrugged. “Just a thought!”
“My parents are not like that, especially Mama. Papa naman let me be rin! Besides, I love you very much. Even if they will be against our relationship, I will still love you and will stand by you.”
“Oh, thank you Sweetheart. Sobra mo naman ang akong pinapakilig. I love you very much and I’m willing to fight for that love too no matter what. Pero siyempre, mas maganda that everyone is happy about our relationship di ba? I’m really, really so happy, Ricky, with how things are. And about the dinner, please tell your mother, anytime.” Maya said, touching Richard’s forearm and leading him to the dining room. “Halika na. Kain na tayo, I cooked Spanish omelette for you.”
“Tamang-tama sa dala kong pandesal.” Richard put down the paper bag he was carrying. Maya started transferring the still hot pandesals in a serving dish, together with the herb cream cheese that Richard bought at the same bakery he got the pandesal.
“What would you like to drink. Coffee or juice?” Maya asked.
“Hmmm, coffee please. Sa sobrang excitement ko na sabihin kay Mama, tapos dumating pa si Papa, I forgot to make myself a cup of coffee before I left. Thank you, sweetheart.”
“Okay, coffee coming up.” Maya stood up and went to the coffee maker in the corner. She poured a cup each for her and Richard. She stirred in sugar after asking Richard how much he would like to have in his coffee.
She returned to the table, then they started eating.
“Wow, this is really delicious Maya!”
“Thank you Ricky.”
“Do you like to cook?”
“Yes, kapag may time. Aside from gardening, iyan ang stress reliever. I can handle omelettes and other simple dishes, pasta, mga ganoon, pero hindi ang mga complicated and fancy dishes. I’m more into baking.”
“Talaga! I’m sure you are good at it, judging by this omelette and the champorado yesterday.”
“Thank you.”
They continued chatting about they usually like to do to relieve stress, home cooked meals versus restaurant food, and other topics they found themselves talking about as they enjoyed their breakfast like an old, married couple, so very comfortable with each other.
“That was a very good breakfast, Sweetheart. I can get use to this everyday.” Richard remarked, gazing at Maya.
Maya smiled back. “Me too!”
Then, as if there was a magnet pulling them, they moved closer towards each other. They were about to kiss, when a sound made them looked at the door.
“Mom! Dad!” Maya blurted, seeing her parents looking at her and Richard, very, very curious. and were very very surprised at seeing their daughter and the good looking, chinito guy beside her, about to kiss.
Richard stood up. “Good morning po!” He politely said.
“Mom, Dad, I didn’t know you are coming today! Biglaan ba ang luwas niyo ng Manila? May nangyari ba?” Maya said surprised to see her parents, then went to kiss them. Se returned to Richard’s side, then hold on to his forearm and introduced him to her parents. “Mom, Dad, si Ricky po, Richard Lim, my boyfriend. Ricky, my parents, Arturo and Teresita Dela Rosa.”
Richard moved forward. “I’m glad to meet you po Mr. and Mrs. Dela Rosa.”
“Lim? By any chance, are you related to Roberto Lim of Lim Corporation?” Arturo Dela Rosa asked.
“He is my father po, Mr. Dela Rosa. I work at LC rin po like Maya.” Richard replied. “Nabanggit nga po ni Papa na kilala na kayo. In fact, Mama and him told me to say hello to you and Mrs. Dela Rosa. They didn’t know that you are now based in Mindoro.”
“Really, you are Esmeralda’s son! Kumusta na siya?” Teresita Dela Rosa asked. While she has a lot of questions for her daughter, she already liked Maya’s young man. The Lims are good people. Despite their wealth, their feet remained firmly planted on the ground. And, Esmeralda Lim is a fun person to be with. Nagtataka lang siya at ang aga, nasa house na nila agad si Richard Lim. But on the other hand, as far as she could remember, the Lims live nearby.
“Okay naman po siya, Mrs. Dela Rosa. Hayun po, busy sa charities niya.”
“Mom, Dad, please join Ricky and I for breakfast. Marami naman ang niluto ko. May dala pang pandesal and cream cheese si Ricky. Umalis nga po pala si Manang Fe. Inatake iyong kapatid niya. Iyon pong tatay ni Fely.” Maya told her parents.
“Oh, I hope Rene gets better and that it is not a serious atake. Kaya siguro Manang Fe forgot to tell you anak that we are coming. Tumawag ako sa kanya kagabi, to tell her that we are staying for a few days kasi may business meeting itong Dad mo sa ilang restaurants dito sa Makati who are interested in ordering organic vegetables and other produce from our farm.” Maya’s mom said. “We ate na rin pala before we left Mindoro.”
“Oh, okay po! I will just tidy up and put away everything, then Ricky and I will go to work na.” Maya said.
“I’ll help you.” Maya’s mom said. “Arturo, why don’t you and Richard get some air in Maya’s garden.” She suggested, subtly, brooking no arguments. She silently gestured to her husband to go along with her.
‘Okay. Richard. Halika, doon muna tayo.” Maya’s father said, then ushered Richard to a door at the left of the dining room.
When the two men were out of hearing, Maya hugged her mother. “Mom, ikaw ha, gusto mo lang akong i-interrogate kaya mo sila pinalayo. Sasabihin ko rin naman sa iyo. And bago ka magtanong, heto na nga po, kahapon ko lang naging boyfriend si Ricky.”
“ikaw talagang bata ka, hahahaha. Kabisado mo ako ah. Sige you are forgiven na. You know what, for a while when I saw you with Richard earlier, akala ko nag-asawa ka na nang hindi namin alam! Sobrang cozy kaya ngayong dalawa. Sweet niyo anak.” Teresita Dela Rosa, half-teased, half-chided her daughter good-naturedly. “Tapos ang aga-aga pa niya rito. Akala ko tuloy dito na siya natutulog. Kahit naman of age ka na, siyempre ikaw pa rin ang nag-iisa kong bunsoy.”
“Mommmm…..” Maya said. “We went to dinner last night. Iniwan namin iyong car ko sa LC and he brought me home. Sabay kaming papasok, so I told him to have breakfast here again.”
“Ha, o eh di ba, the other week lang lang kita kausap ah. Wala ka namang nababanggit na may nanliligaw sa iyo.” Mommy Tere hugged her daughter affectionately. “And ‘again’ ha, so this is not the first time, Richard had breakfast here.”
“Ganito kasi iyon, Mom…..”
Then Maya proceeded to tell her mother a summary of her and Richard’s courtship. All the while she was doing it, Mommy Tere can see that her daughter is indeed in love for the very first time in her life. Her face looks so animated, so full of life and her eyes are shining with love while speaking about hers and Richard unusual, short but nakakakilig na courtship.
“Maya, you are a Dela Paz nga. You fell in love like every Dela Paz women. It happened to your Mamang, to me with your Papa, and Cristina with Jeff. We just seemed to do it this way. I don’t know. Maybe, it is recognizing the one and only for you instinctively, as if there is an irrisistable force tugging you towards that person. Then you get to know him, and realized that indeed, that intuition and instinct were right. The important thing is that, you are sure of what you feel, of what he feels and his intentions towards you, and that you very happy. I just asked, pero I can say from the way you talk naman that you are happy and very much in love.”
“Talaga, Mom!!” Maya remarked. “Mom, I’m super, super happy. Walang pagsidlan. I’m praying that this is for keeps. I love Ricky with all my heart. It may happened so fast, but in my heart and in my mind, this is it. This is my forever, my happily ever after.”
“Then, your Dad and I are very happy for you too.” Mommy Tere said. She kissed her daughter’s cheek affectionately. Mother and daughter stayed like that for a while.
In the lanai, a similar conversation was going on. Richard knew that he will be ‘grilled’ by Maya’s Dad.
“Kumusta naman po ang flight niyo, Mr. Dela Rosa?” He asked as an opener.
“Okay naman. Mabuti hindi na-delay.” Arturo Dela Rosa replied. “Kailan pa kayo ng anak ko?” He asked pointblank.
“Kahapon lang po niya ako sinagot.” Richard replied. Then he decided to be frank also and lay Maya’s Dad’s concerns to rest, whatever those are. “Sir, Mr. Dela Rosa, I love your daughter very much and I was the happiest person in the world when she said yes to being my girlfriend. Makakaasa po kayo that I will cherish her and hinding-hindi ko siya bibigyan ng reason to cry because of me.” He said with conviction and with utmost sincerity.
Maya’s father looked at Richard, then realized that he really likes Maya’s young man, and that he and his daughter will suit very well. He can also see that Richard loves his daughter very much. In all his years in the banking industry, he considered himself a pretty good judge of character.
“Thank you for that Richard. I will hold you on to that. All we want is for our daughter to be happy. In the past, even if we would have wanted her to choose a career other than Journalism, we supported her with her choice because we want her to live her dreams. But that was nothing compared to this. This is her affair of the heart and we know it had taken her long to find and choose someone. She chose you, to give her love!” Arturo Dela Rosa added. “Tere and I are happy for you and our daughter, and please call me Tito Arturo.”
When Maya’s Dad said that, Richard breath a sigh of relief! From then on, the topic shifted to him asking about his Papa. Soon after, Maya and her mother, peeked and checked on them.
“Naku, Arturo, baka ma-late na itong mga bata. O Maya, Richard, pasok na kayo. Don’t worry about me and your Dad. We can manage.” Mommy Tere said.
“Okay po, Mom and Dad. I will see you later.” Maya kissed her parents.
“Sige po. Mrs. Dela Rosa, Mr. Dela Rosa. I’m so glad to have finally met you.” Richard said.
“Richard, di ba sabi ko Tito Arturo na lang. Ito namang si Tere, Tita Tere na lang.” Arturo Dela Rosa said. “Di ba, Tere.”
“Oo nga naman, Richard.” Teresita Dela Rosa added.
“Sige po, Tito Arturo and Tita Tere. Papasok na po kami ni Maya.”
“Ingat kayo.” Maya’s parents told them, one after the other.
When they were in the car and Maya’s parents went back inside, Maya teased Richard.
“Parang pumasa ka naman with flying colors ah.”
“Saan?” Richard asked deadpan.
“Saan pa, eh di sa interrogation ni Dad.” Maya said smiling. “You should have seen their expression, especially Mom when she saw us, about, errr, to kiss. Sabi niya akala niya raw nag-asawa na ako kasi ang aga mo pati sa bahay, hahahaha.”
Richard laughed. “Parang alam ko na kung kanino ka nagmana.” He teased.
Maya laughed too. “Ha, Atty. Lim, I will never live down all my bloopers ba.”
“Well, that is one of the reasons why I love so rin.” Richard said lovingly. “Saka kahit Spanish Inquisition pa I will face for you.”
“Awww, Sweetheart. Ikaw talaga. Rapunzel na Rapunzel na talaga ang feeling ko.”
“Rapunzel na Rapunzel, the princess with the long hair?” He asked puzzled. “What’s the connection!”
“Hahahaha! Oh! I have to teach you the modern lingo one of these days, Atty. Lim. You’ll never know the term may end up in courts too. Halika na, baka ma-late na tayo!”
Life will never be dull with Maya. Richard thought, very, very happy. “Sure Ms. Dela Rosa and bago tayo bumiyahe, I need a dose of vitamins.” Richard suddenly said, grinning. “Parang fading na ang bisa noong nauna eh!”
“Ha, you forgot to take one this morning? What is it ba? Baka meron sa house. Let me go and check.” She was about to get out of the car when Richard stopped her by holding on to her forearm.
“I’m not speaking about a pill. I mean this.” Then Richard lowered his lips to Maya’s and gave her a kiss. Maya responded and before long, they were sharing a searing kiss in full view of whoever is passing by Maya’s street.
“I love you, Maya.” Richard said after they broke apart, faces flushed, catching their breaths, with Richard still tracing Maya’s lips with his thumb.
“ I love you too, Sweetheart Ricky.”
Maya and Richard gazed at each other, their hands intertwined. A honk sounded. Richard moved. He kissed Maya’s hand before letting it go to drive to work.
Both of them, at that moment, feel that everything around them is richer in colors and that with each other, and the love they have, they can tackle whatever challenges the day will bring.
Crushing On You – Chapter 9
Posted by Antigone in Richard and Maya Fiction on January 4, 2015
Loving
Richard returned to his office late afternoon, tired and was not in a very good mood. He had been in a meeting with his father and the LC Board of Directors which lasted the whole morning and most of the afternoon. It was a difficult, gruelling, meeting as the board and his father have very diverse positions in addressing the problem that one of their subsidiaries is facing. To top it all, he missed the morning coffee break with Maya. He was really looking forward to that.
His father’s secretary called Liza to inform him of the urgent meeting less than an hour after he had settled down in his desk to check on the briefs he asked Fred and his three other lawyers to work on.
Before he left his office for the meeting, he called Maya and informed her that he had to cancel on their coffee break. She already knew the reason why, after he said he will attend an urgent meeting of the board. As the Head of Lim Corporation’s CCD, she knows the flow of information within the company. She said, they can do it some other time, no worries, and that he can just give the pandesal and cream cheese to Liza, which he did.
“Liza, how are things?” He asked his secretary as soon as he sat down on his desk, massaging his forehead.
“Okay naman po, Sir. Here are the contracts that you need to finish reviewing today.” Liza put a thick pile of documents on Richard’s desk. “Sige po, Sir, babalik na ako sa station ko. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I’m okay, Liza, I better work on these papers so I can go home early. Oh by the way, there is one thing you can do for me, can you reserve a table for two at that revolving restaurant in Libis for say, 7-7:30PM?” Richard said, thinking of inviting Maya to have dinner with him to make up for their missed coffee break. If she can’t, he will just cancel the reservation. It would not be much fun without her. He ought to call her first, he knows, but he just want to catch his breath first.
“Yes Sir, right away po. Do you want me to request a romantic dinner set-up?” Liza asked with a big smile.
Richard laughed at that. “Ikaw, Liza, ha! Sure, and many thanks! Ipagdasal mo lang na libre si Maya.”
Liza smiled back and left her boss. She came knocking back several minutes after. Richard thought it has something to do with the reservation he had asked her to do.
“Yes, Liza? Okay na ba ang reservation?” He asked when she was approaching.
“Okay na Sir. I was about to text you na nga about it, when this arrived for you.” Liza placed a big brown Starbucks paper bag on his desk.
Richard looked at it, having an inkling from whom it came from. Now, he has a big, goofy smile on his face, which is a much better improvement on the scowl he had when he went back to his office earlier. “Oh, thank you Liza.”
“No problem, Sir. Sabi ko na nga ba, it will make you happy.” Liza teased before turning back to go her work station again. Unbeknown to Richard, Maya has called Liza earlier, asking her if she can text her when Richard is back at his office, which she did as soon as she saw him approaching. So, that was why Ms. Maya wanted to know, Liza mused. Ang sweet naman nilang dalawa. Sila na kaya? She asked herself.
Richard looked inside the bag as soon as Liza left. In it, was a coffee tumbler filled with his favorite brew and a slice of blueberry cheesecake. He also found a note, tucked into the side of the tumbler.
Dearest boyfriend,
I heard the meeting was a very intense one. Just want to cheer you up a bit. Sorry, I can’t deliver this in person as I have scheduled a staff meeting this afternoon.
Love,
Maya (yes po, your girlfriend now 🙂 )
Richard almost dropped the coffee tumbler he was about to take a sip from upon reading Maya’s note. He read it again, wanting to be sure. The words were the same. “YES!!!!” He shouted.
It was so loud, that Liza came running to his office to check. “Sir, is something the matter? Ano po ang nangyari?”
“Ha, ah, errrr, wala Liza. May natanggap lang akong very, very good news.” Richard said grinning, blushing a bit. Come on Richard Lim, you are acting like a teenager instead of a well-respected lawyer, he said to himself!
“Oh, okay!” Liza said smiling, and shaking her head when she returned to her work station again.
When Liza left, Richard grabbed his phone, intending to call Maya, but then he realized she is in a staff meeting. He just decided to sent her a short message.
Thank you for the coffee and the cake, my beautiful girlfriend! 🙂 🙂 🙂 The best coffee delivery ever! Dinner later?
Maya was listening and checking on Emman’s presentation when her phone vibrated. She jumped a bit. She already was having a hard time concentrating, waiting to hear from him. She discreetly checked her message. However, upon reading it, she was not able to hide the big smile on her face. She blushed. Good thing the room was dimmed for Emman’s presentation. She typed in a quick reply.
Sure. 7PM?
Great, so very looking forward to our first dinner as a couple ; -) I love you.
I love you too. Magtrabaho muna tayo, baka masisante na ako! 🙂
Both of them have huge smiles and flushed faces when they put their phone down. It became more difficult to concentrate with work the rest of the day, with that major development in their relationship.
“That concluded my presentation!” Emman said, and Maya was jolted back to the meeting.
“Okay. Good presentation, Emman. Please email everyone a copy of your presentation for reference. If there are no other concerns, our meeting is adjourned.”
Everyone started getting out of the conference room, having no more concerns that needed to be tabled for that week, leaving Maya and Emman alone.
“So, kumusta naman si guwapong-guwapong Atty. Richard?” Emman asked as he started putting the projector in its case.
“Okay naman. Bakit mo naman biglang naitanong?” Maya asked.
“Eh kasi naman, sis, ang ngiti mo kanina. For sure, siya iyon. Nasa direct line of vision kaya kita kahit na busy ang beauty ko sa presentation ko, sight na sight ko.”
“Ikaw talaga, Emman. Walang nakakaligtas sa iyo.” Maya smiled. “Since ikaw ang super bestfriend ko dito sa department natin and you know about this, and since you and Liza played a role in this, sige na nga. Kami na ni Ricky!” Maya admitted to Emman. She was just so happy. She wanted to shout it to the world.
“Kami, as in…..?????” Emman almost dropped the projector. “OMG!!! Talaga, Kailan pa? Grabe naman pala ang tumama sa iyo, parang pana ni Hawkeye ang peg, bull’s eye na bull’s eye! At ito namang si Atty. Richard parang si Superman sa bilis ah.”
“Parang wrong universe yata ang mga superhero sa allusion mo, Emman!” Maya teased Emman. “Parang hindi naman taga-Marvel si Superman!”
“Whatever sis, basta, pareho silang mabilis. Pero one thing I’m sure of, hindi mo naman ibibigay ang matamis mong oo ng hindi ka sure diyan sa nararamdaman mo, and sa intentions ni Mr. Handsome Lawyer. I’m happy for you. Welcome to the land of ‘in a relationship’ status sa FB! Finally! Poor Sir James!”
“Thank you, Emman. Don’t worry about James, friends lang kami talaga noon. Imagine, sa tagal ba naman naming nagkakilala, wala naman kaming ibang naramdaman sa isa’t isa, maliban sa friendship. Feeling ko rin si Diana ang long-time love noon, hindi lang makaporma.” Maya said. “You know me, after what happened to me and seeing that life is too short to dawdle, to waste time, I would rather take things in stride kapag sure na ako. This time, I’m very, very sure. Bakit ko pa patatagalin? I haven’t felt this way before. My mind and my heart are telling me, this is it. It has taken me this long to find that special someone that makes my heart beat faster, that makes me happy with just the thought of him and fill me with so much emotion every time I think of him!”
“Wow, sis, so right and so eloquently put! I’m so happy for you. Wishing you and Atty. Guwapo the best. Teka parang pang-wedding na ang wishes ko.” Emman smiled, then hugged Maya. They both returned to their work stations with happy smiles.
“Ma’am Maya, may naghihintay po sa inyo sa office niyo.” Minerva said as soon as Maya stopped in front of her cubicle.
“Ha sino? May appoinment ba ako?” It can’t be Richard as they will see each other later. Pero you’ll never know, she mused.
“Si Sir James po.” Minerva added. Hmmm, lately, dumadalas ang mga guwapo sa department namin ah, Minerva thought.
“Oh, okay. Thanks Minerva.” Maya said, a puzzled look on her face as James does not normally go to her office. They usually meet outside for socials, and if it is about office matters, they meet at one of the conference rooms near his office.
“James, hello! Sorry, I didn’t know you are here. I had a staff meeting earlier.” Maya greeted her friend.
“Hi Maya! Sorry if I dropped by unscheduled! I just needed to stretch my legs after the gruelling meeting with the board, earlier. Coffee and Snickers for you! Here! I hope it is okay if I have my coffee break na rin with you.” He said with a big, lost little boy smile.
“Of course!” Unlike that coffee time with Richard, Maya sat on her desk, while James sat on the visitor’s chair while they have their coffee. Maya was about to grab a bite of the Snickers when she was reminded of the time Richard gave her Snickers too. She smiled, lost in thoughts.
“Ehemmmm, Earth to Maya Dela Rosa! Saan ka naman nakarating?”
“Errrr, James, wala. I’m just so happy.”
“Come on, this is your college BFF you are talking to. What gives?”
Maya smiled at that. She did tell Emman and mabuti nang sa kanya na malaman ni James ang balita dahil for sure, magtatampo ito sa kanya ng husto.
“James, I’m in love! Kami na ni Ricky.” She blurted out.
“In love? Ricky?” James asked, then the realization. “Oh you mean, si Richard Lim! Oh my, parang ang bilis naman ng mga pangyayari ah. Ilang araw lang tayong hindi nagkausap ng husto. Kailan pa?”
“Today lang!” Maya said with a smile that lit up her whole face.
Seeing this, James knows that one of his long-time and treasured friends has truly found love and is very much in love. Ngayon lang niya nakitang ganito ka-giddy si Maya!
“Seeing you this happy, what can I say, except that I’m very happy for you, too. Richard is a very lucky guy.” James said, then went to Maya’s side to give her a hug. “Truly, I’m so happy for you, college BFF. Richard is a good guy naman.” Then he added, jesting. “Ikaw ha, ako ang tagal na kitang kilala, hindi ganyan ang hitsura mo kapag ako ang kasama mo.”
“James!!! Ikaw talaga. You know, and I know, you consider me a sister and not a girlfriend material. Ganoon din naman ako since I don’t have a brother!”
“Hahahaha, joke lang.” James said, with a big smile.
“Kasi naman, sa ginuwapo-guwapo mong iyan, stable pa, responsible pa, pero torpe naman. Bakit hindi mo kaya subukan. Malay mo.” Ganoon yata talaga kapag in love, gusto mo rin lahat ng tao ma-in love and maramdaman ang wonderful feeling ng in love, Maya mused.
“Maya naman…..” James protested, scratching his head.
“Ha, anong Maya naman! Hindi ka ba nagtataka kung bakit single pa rin siya hanggang ngayon.”
“Eh bakit, ikaw? Ngayon ka lang naman din nagka-boyfriend ah.”
“Basta, bakit di mo kaya subukan. Tamang-tama, may outreach program ulit si Diana and her group next week. Sasama kami ni Ricky talaga doon, why don’t you join? Birthday gift mo na sa akin.”
“Sige na nga!” James smiled at his makulit na friend. He was really, really glad to have the old Maya back. He does not want to see her like in the state she was in after what she experienced in the Visayas.
The two of them said goodbye after 30 minutes. Maya finally had time to make inroads of the papers on her desk. The beeping of her phone interrupted her after a while.
Hi my lovely girlfriend, see you at the lobby in 15 minutes?
Maya looked at the time and realized that it is now almost six o’clock.
Hi my handsome boyfriend! I can just meet you at the restaurant. I have my car with me, di ba?
Please, let’s go together. You can take your car tomorrow.
Okay. Sige na nga. See you.
Richard immediately saw Maya when he got into the lobby of LC at 6:15. She was chatting with James. She saw him and waved, at the same time giving him a loving smile.
“Hi. Kanina ka pa ba?” Richard said softly, then gave Maya a kiss in the cheek, gazing at her lovingly.
She was also all smiles for him, as if they were the only two people in the busy lobby.
“Ehemmmm, ehemmm again, Earth again to Maya and now Earth to you too, Richard Lim. Nandito po ako.” James said with a grin.
Maya and Richard looked at each other, then grinned, and were still grinning when they faced James.
“Hmmm, and yes, Maya told me na. Congratulations, Richard! You are one lucky guy, ikaw lang, tanging ikaw lang ang nakapagpasagot dito sa BFF ko. Hwag sanang umiyak itong bestfriend ko ha.” James gave Richard a friendly warning as he patted him in the back.
“Of course, makakaasa ka James. Thank you.” Richard said shaking the other guy’s hand.
“O sige, baka ma-late na kayo sa dinner date niyo! I’ll get going na rin!” James said with a smile. “Enjoy your night.”
Maya and Richard said goodbye to him, then walked towards the elevator banks.
“Let’s go Maya. I will take you home again this evening, please. Promise tomorrow, you can drive na ulit. Would that be okay?” Richard cajoled sweetly. “I really like us sharing a ride.”
“Okay.” Maya said smiling.
They continued walking towards the elevator with hands intertwined. Maya is getting used to Richard being a touchy-feely person, and she likes the feel of their hands interlaced. The sight didn’t escape the notice of the employees who rode with them to the three-level basement parking. When they got off the level reserved for executives, two of the female employees talked about what they saw.
“Sila na ba?” A girl from Accounting asked her colleague.
“I think so. Tingnan mo naman, sobrang sweet. Hayyyy, kinikilig ako.” Her colleague replied.
“Ikaw naman kung maka-react wagas. Bakit ikaw ba ang niligawan ni Atty. Lim!”
“Hindi nga, pero I’m a sucker for romantic stories. Para silang sa pocketbooks lang na binabasa ko. Hay, sana ako rin makatagpo! Ang swerte naman ni Ms. Maya!”
“Ipagdasal mo kaya sa Quiapo tuwing Biyernes!” Her colleague teased her as the two of them got off on the third level. She continued, “Bakit, swerte rin naman si Atty. Lim kay Ms. Maya. Minerva, her secretary only has good words for her. Saka tingnan mo naman ang beauty-beauty kaya niya. Matalino pa. Dati nga iyang kilalang journalist di ba? Mula nga ng pumasok iyan dito, ngayon ko lang nakitang may kasamang ganyan, so sweet pa.”
By that time, Richard and Maya was about to exit the parking area. Richard drove towards the direction of Libis.
“Hmmm, opposite direction yata tayo ng Makati! Where are we going?” Maya asked, Richard still not letting go of her hand. “Saka, wait, Ricky, pahiram muna ang kamay ko, concentrate ka sa driving.”
“Okay.” Richard said grinning, but before letting go of it, he raised it to his lips. Maya felt a tingle of excitement with that gesture.
“Let’s try the revolving restaurant sa may Libis. I heard masarap ang food doon and the view daw the best kasi nasa top floor.” Richard replied as he navigated the, hopefully, short ride to the place.
They arrived at the building where the restaurant is a little past 7PM due to the traffic. Good thing he had asked Liza to book the place between 7PM to 7:30PM. They took the elevator to the highest floor and when they reached the restaurant, they were led to a table set for a romantic dinner for two, facing the magnificent view of the metro and beyond.
“This is amazing!” Maya said as Richard seated her, then took the seat beside hers.
When their waiter approached, both of them agreed in ordering the chef’s special dishes and a bottle of the restaurant’s best wine vintage that would complement the food. When the wine arrived, Richard poured a glass each for Maya.
“To us! I love you very much, Maya. Thank you for saying yes. You made me the happiest guy today.”
To us, Ricky. I love you very much too, and you made me the happiest girl too.”
They gazed at each other with so much love, the other people in the restaurant just faded away.
The moment was broken when the waiter returned with the first of the food they ordered.
Like their previous meals together, they chatted and enjoyed each other company while enjoying their food, but this time, their heated gazes were added to the mix. Sometimes, they would look at the view while sipping their wine and Richard’s hands on top of Maya’s. They felt like they were alone in a secluded place, at the top of the world.
Three hours later, after their wonderful dinner, and very enjoyable car ride to Makati, Maya and Richard arrived at Maya’s gate. Richard solicitous as always, opened the door for her.
“Would you like to come in, Ricky?” Maya asked.
“No na, Maya. You need to rest na rin. It is late. I will pick you up tomorrow.”
“Okay, have breakfast here again, please.”
“I’ll like that.”
“Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
“I should be the one saying that. Today has been the most wonderful day of my life dahil sinagot mo ako. I love you, Sweetheart.”
Hearing the endearment, Maya’s heart somersaulted. At that moment she felt so full of love and happiness and it is because of this wonderful guy.
“Me to Ricky. I’m so happy. I love you very much too, my Sweetheart. I never expected to find love like this, so fast, so unexpected. I never felt like this before.”
They gazed at each other, reluctant to part for the night.
Richard cupped Maya’s chin. “I never felt like this either.” Then he lowered his lips to hers, and they shared a very sweet kiss, their first.
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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