"Mahal, ano gusto mo?" RJ asked.
"Coke float lang, Mahal." She answered. They both sat down.
"Yun lang? Mahal, pumapayat ka na. Pumili ka na ng makakain, libre ko naman eh." He said.
"Wala nga akong gana, hal..." She said as she placed her head on the table.
"Walang gana? Bagsak mo nanaman yung exams mo?" He asked. She nodded.
"Pag-nalaman nina Nanay yun... Baka hindi na ko pag-aralin ni Nanay '." She said.
"Tsk... Bukas, pupunta ako sa bahay nyo." He said.
"Bakit?" She asked.
"Ire-review kita, Mahal. Para naman matulungan kita." He answered.
"Thanks, mahal." She said with a smile.
"Oorder na ko ah. Ako narin oorder ng para sayo." He said as he stood up and walked towards the counter to order.
Maine then recieved a call from her mother. She answered it.
"Hello? Nay."
"Jusko. Nicomaine, asan ka na ba? Kanina ka pa namin hinahanap ng Tatay mo! Gusto mo bang atakihin kami sa puso! Susmaryosep kang bata ka!"
"Nay, kalma ka lang. Kasama ko po si RJ. Wag kayong mag-alala."
"Kasama mo nanaman yang anak ng mayaman na yan! Ang tigas-tigas din naman kasi ng ulo mo eh. Diba dati ko pang sinabi na hiwalayan mo yang RJ na yan! Nakaka-inis yang nanay nya!"
"Nay, kung mag-aaway kayo ni Tita Lucille. Wag nyo kaming idamay ni RJ."
"Sumasagot ka nang bata ka ah! Yan ba itinuro ng boyfriend mo?!"
"Nay, tumahimik na lang kayo, pwede? Tahimik na kam ni RJ. Please lang po."
"Nako! Bahala ka sa buhay mo!"
"Kina RJ na lang ako magpapalipas ng gabi. Baka sumabog na yung bahay sa init ng ulo myo pag-nakita nyo ko."
She ended the call then placed her head back on the table. RJ came a minute later, holding a tray of food.
"Hey. Tumawag Nanay mo?" He asked.
"Yep. Kulang na lang pasabugin nya yung buong mundo eh." She said. He sat beside her then hugged her.
"Don't be like that to your Nanay. Nanay mo parin sya." He reminded.
"Eh anong magagawa ko? Alam mo naman na kahit minsan, di sya nagpaka-nanay sakin." She sighed.
"Let's just eat." He suggested.
"Mahal, pwede bang dun muna ako sainyo makikituloy? Ayaw ko munang makita si Nanay." She asked.
"Sure." He answered, then took a bite of his meal.
"Akin to?" She asked. He nodded then she took a bite of her chicken.
•••
"Ma! Ma, I'm home na." RJ called. His mother came down then gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"How's school, RJ?" She asked.
"Fine. By the way, I got a 95 in our Math subject." He announced as he showed his test paper.
"That's good, anak. Patuloy mo lang yan." She encouraged.
"Ma, Maine will stay here for the night. She doesn't want to see her mom." He said.
"Hindi ko sya masisisi. Nobody would like to see that ogre's face." She insuslted.
"Ma..." He called.
"What? I'm just joking. Maine, hija, you can stay here for as long as you want. Okay?" She said.
"Thank you po, Tita. Ang bait nyo po sakin." She said with a smile.
"You're welcome. So, kumain na ba kayo ng dinner?" She asked.
"Yes, Ma. We'll head upstairs na lang po. Magrereview po kami sa Science." He said. They both went upstairs then started reviewing.
•••
"Mahal... Ang hirap naman nito. Ang dami mong sinulat." She complained.
"Maine... Onti na lang yan. Come on, para sa exam yan." He said.
"Sige na." She answered.
After an hour of reviewing, RJ finally decided to rest.
"Mahal, tulog na tayo." He said. She closed her books then layed beside him.
"Hindi ka magpapalit?" He asked.
"Wala na kong damit. Pang-pasok ko na yung nasa bag bukas." She said.
"Then get some clothes from the closet. Marami dyan o." He pointed at his walk-in closet. Maine looked at him as she walked inside the closet.
"San galing tong mga to? Past girlfriends mo?" She asked.
"No. I bought that for you. Alam mo namang ikaw ang first girlfriend ko diba? So I'll do my best for you." He said.
"Thank you, Mahal ah..."
•••
"San kaya galing yang mga damit nya? Ang gaganda o!"
"Hmmp! I'm sure galing yan sa ukay-ukay."
"Hindi eh. Branded o!"
"Malay nyo, peke."
"Shut up, girls. I'm sure, humigi yan ng pera kay RJ. Kawawa naman ang RJ ko."
"Tapos na kayo?" She asked. The girls turned their eyes around as an answer.
"Mahal, what happend?" RJ came in all of a sudden then placed his arm around her shoulder.
"Wala. Tara na?" She lied.
"Sur—"
"Ummm... RJ, pwede ba tayong mag-usap mamaya?" Corinne asked.
"Don't you dare go near me as if naging girlfriend kita. Hindi ako inagaw ni Maine sayo, ako ang kusang pumili sakanya." He warned.
"RJ... Alam ko namang napilitan ka lang sa pagpili sakanya. Hiwalayan mo na sya, please..." She begged.
"Kahit lumuhod ka pa sa harap ko, wala akong pakeelam. Mahal ko si Maine, higit pa sa ibang tao, at higit pa sa sarili ko." He said. He walked away to follow Maine.
•••
"Nakakainis talaga yung bruhang yun. Shit! Ang daming plastik sa mundo!" She yelled.
"Si Corinne pa. You know her, queen of plastics. Once she gets near you, just call me, okay?" He said and Maine nodded.
"Mahal..." She called.
"Hmmm?"
"Eto na po exams ko." She nervously showed her exams which made RJ laugh a bit.
"Why are you so nervous? I'm not going to bite you, hal!" He joked then he opened the test paper.
"76/100."
"Sorry kung mababa. Wag mong isipin na hindi ka naging mabuting tutor sakin. Kilala mo naman ako diba? Kahit anong—" Before she could continue, he gave her a kiss. They pulled away after a minute, and RJ looked at her eyes.
"H-Hindi ka galit?" She asked. RJ turned his head then smiled.
"I am actually a proud boyfriend right now, Mahal. This is great. You've improved." He said.
"Talaga? Hindi ko naman magagawa to kung hindi dahil sayo." She hugged him.
"Thank you, Mahal. I love you." She said.
"I love you too. Lahat gagawin ko para lang sa ikakasaya mo." He whispered.
