Your Universe

#YU26

I was the last to put a flower on top of her coffin before they pull it down to her grave. Unti-unti nang umaalis yung mga nakipaglibing sa amin, tapping our shoulders before they leave. Our family stayed for half an hour more, just in time that mom is finally laid to rest.

"RJ, tara na," aya sa akin ng daddy. Tumayo na rin sina Kuya Dan, hinihintay kami bago umalis papunta sa kotse.

"Mauna na kayo dad, kakausapin ko lang si mommy," I told him. "Mamaya na kami aalis ni Maine."

"Sigurado ka?" He asked us. I nodded and smiled at him. Inabot niya yung susi ng kotse sa'kin. "Gamitin niyo na ni Maine yan. Umuwi kayo agad pagkatapos niyo dito para makakain kayo ng meryenda."

"Yes dad."

Umupo kami ni Maine sa damuhan pagkaalis nina dad, feeling the cool breeze as we looked over mom's grave. Hinawakan ko yung kamay ni Maine.

"Ma, tonight will be the first night na hindi kita kasama. Iba kasi yung nasa ospital ka, alam ko na kahit hindi tayo magkasama, nandun ka lang at naghihintay sa amin nina Mary," I felt my tears starting to fall, and Maine wiped them off using her thumb. "Ma, pasensya na kung may mga nagawa man ako na hindi mo nagustuhan. And I deeply regret the four months I've wasted on not visiting you at the hospital. Sorry talaga, ma. I should have been there for you.

"But that's all in the past now. I know you understood me, and I thank you for that. Thank you for being a wonderful mom to me and my siblings, a wonderful wife to dad, and a wonderful person in general. Thank you for everything, mommy. Alam kong hindi ka na nahihirapan ngayon, which is what's important. Ayaw naming mahirapan ka, kaya I promise you that I will be okay, hindi man ngayon, but in time. Ikaw nang bahala sa amin ha? Dalawin mo ako lagi sa mga panaginip ko, just like what you did last night.

"I love you, ma. Mahal na mahal kita."

•MAINE•

Dinalaw ko si RJ three days after his mom's burial. Nagsimula na yung classes kaya dala dala ko papunta sa bahay nila yung notes namin for that day, and his favorite kaldereta which I cooked earlier.

Pagdating ko sa kanila, pinagbuksan ako ng gate ni Mary who was still in her school uniform. "Kakarating ko lang din ate," she told me as we walked inside their house. "Hindi ako umabsent para hindi ko rin ako malungkot. Nasa likod si kuya. Ay teka, tulungan na kita diyan ate," she grabbed the pot I was holding and guided me towards the back of their house, where RJ is.

He's sitting at one of their pool loungers, scribbling something on his notebook. Nilapitan ko siya saka ako umupo sa tabi niya.

"Hi, love," I called him. He looked up at me and smiled, putting down his notebook.

"Ihanda ko lang to ate, kuya, para makakain kayo," Mary said and went back to the house.

"Anong dala mo?" RJ asked me. Nilagay niya sa side table yung mga gamit niya and pulled me closer to him, my head resting on his chest.

"Yung notes ko kanina, saka ano.."

"Ano?"

"I cooked kaldereta for you earlier. Hindi ko lang sure kung magugustuhan mo."

I felt him kiss me on top of my head. "Magugustuhan ko yun, luto mo eh."

"Bolero kaaaaa..." I cupped his face and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "How are you holding up?"

"I'm fine, love. Papasok na rin siguro ako bukas. Nakakalungkot lang din kasi dito sa bahay."

"Kaya mo na?"

"Hundred percent sure. Saka, diba aalis pa tayo? We need to go to universities already para makapagprepare na tayo for the entrance exams. Gusto mo this weekend?"

"Love, walang pasok ng weekend."

"Ay, oo nga pala. This friday na lang after classes. If that's okay with you."

I smiled at him. "Friday's okay."

He pulled me in for a hug and whispered. "Thank you Maine ha?"

My forehead creased a little. "For what?" I asked.

"For being here, for helping me go through everything."

I caressed his back and smiled. "If I go through the same, I know you'd be there for me too, RJ."

He looked at me and smiled back, the same smile he gave me the first time we talked at one of the benches at school, the same smile I fell in love with. He cupped my face and kissed me, full of love and affection.

He rested his forehead on mine as we pulled off our kiss, catching our breaths. "I love you, Maine. Always."

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A/N: Unbeta'd ulit. Hahahaha! Pasensya na dun sa mga nasaktan sa 25th, di ko sinasadya huhu pero I hope natuwa kayo dito. #YU26 for your comments on twitter! Or tweet me, I'm @fymaichard 😊