The Box

25. reconnecting

The ladies reminisced about their high school days over lunch. "I-add mo ako sa Facebook ha? Tapos, sabihan mo ako agad kung babalik ka ng Canada" Betchay said when she brought Maia home later in the day.

"Maraming salamat sa araw na to."

"You're welcome. Kelan nga uwi nyo ng Manila? Mag-coffee tayo bago ka umalis"

"Next Saturday"

"Sige, tawagan mo lang ako"

"Thank you ulit"

---

"I heard you girls went to the lake. What did you do there? Did you have oysters?"

"Nag-renta si Bet...si Lizzie ng speedboat. Nag-order sya nung dalawang klaseng oysters. Yung isa, yung pinigaan lang namin ng lemon. Yung isa naman, may sauce. Parehong masarap."

"Oh. She knows how to drive it?"

Maia nodded and giggled. "Parang nag-d-drive lang daw ng kotse..."

"Did you have fun?"

Maia nodded.

"That's good"

---

Aside from reuniting with Lizzie/Betchay, Chuck excitedly planned to give Maia a taste of the city he grew up in. Their two week vacation was filled with all kinds of activities Maia could imagine. Maia could not stop gushing about the fresh and huge fruits and vegetables she saw at the market.

"Nay! Tay! Yung mga prutas dito, ang lalaki! At ang tatamis!" Maia said on video call to her parents. She showed them photos she took and they, too, were amazed at the size of the fruits Maia presented. "Kaso, ang sabi ni Chuck, bawal atang magdala ng fresh na prutas sa Pilipinas. Bibili nalang daw tayo sa supermarket. Yung mga imported."

"Sus! Wag na! Magastos pa yan at mabigat." Nanay said.

"Ah Nay, naalala nyo si Betchay? Si Elizabeth, yung anak ni Aling Susana at Mang Jaime?"

"Betchay?"

"Opo. Yung nakatira sa tabi nung water tank dun sa dati nating tinitirhan"

"Si Jaime na electrician?" Tatay asked.

"Opo. Yun po."

"Umalis na rin ata sila dun sa barangay."