Kwentong Maya & Ricky : Birthday
“Alam ko na where to celebrate your birthday brod. Pumunta na lang tayo sa bar. Isama natin yun mga engineers.” Atty. Ryan suggested.
“What? No! I won’t go to a bar to celebrate my birthday!” He said in a louder than normal voice, upset at his friend’s suggestion.
“Mabuti naman at pinansin mo na rin ako.”Atty Ryan was actually just trying to get the attention of his friend, whose mind seemed to be drifting elsewhere. “Kanina pa ako nagsasalita dito. I’ve been talking for about 15 minutes already brod and you were totally ignoring me. You’re hurting the feelings of your friend who cleared his schedule just to visit you on your birthday.” He even exaggeratedly remarked.
“Oh stop it Ryan!” He was really in a foul mood and he couldn’t even hide it.
“Brod bakit ba kasi? It’s your birthday tapos nagsusungit ka? Even yun mga nagsurprise sa’yo sa office kanina mukhang natakot sa’yo.”
“And why would they be scared? I even thanked them.”
“You thanked them nga pero halata naman na aburido ka. Siyempre takot yun mga empleyado mo.”
He just smirked and shook his head.
“Bakit nga? May problema ba brod? Si Maya ba?” Atty. Ryan asked again.
He sighed. Sadness and disappointment evident on his face.
“Aha! So si Maya nga ang dahilan. LQ ba kayo brod?” Ryan pried some more
“LQ?”
“Lover’s quarrel! Don’t tell me hindi mo alam yan. Naku dapat aralin mo ang mga terms na yan brod at yun mga millennial terms na malamang kabisado ni Maya.”
“We’re not lovers! She’s not even my girlfriend yet.”
“Hindi ba? Hindi pa? Akala ko ba nililigawan mo siya? Hindi ka sinagot? Nabasted ka?” Atty. Ryan was surprised that Maya is not his friend’s girlfriend yet. He knows Richard’s been courting Maya for more than a year now.
“Ryan watch your term! Anong nabasted? Of course not!”
“Eh ang tagal mo nang nanliligaw hindi ka pa rin sinasagot? Aba bro ang hina natin ha! Baka naman ayaw lang ni Maya na masaktan ka kaya hindi ka nya magawang ibasted.” He teased again the already infuriated Richard who stared sharply at him. Galit na siya.
“Biro lang brod. Eto naman ang seryoso. Will you loosen up. Birthday mo pa naman.”
“Ikaw eh. Mainit na nga ulo ko sumasabay ka pa!”
“Oh so mainit nga ang ulo mo! And why is that?”
He shook his head. No sure whether to open up to his friend.”
“Brod promise hindi na kita aasarin. Now tell me bakit inis na inis ka sa mismong birthday mo? Did something happen?”
“Si Maya kasi. I was expecting her to be here today kaso ayun pa sa San Nicolas. I even celebrated with the kids yesterday and left them dun kina papa at mama so we could spend time by ourselves today pero I found out na hindi pala siya sumabay sa flight today.”
Richard was trying his best not to show his annoyance but he couldn’t control himself. He was very disappointed that everything he had planned for today was all for nothing.
What incensed him more is that she didn’t even call to greet him this morning.
He was expecting Maya to be the very first person to greet him knowing how thoughtful she was.
“Brod baka naman may dahilan kung bakit hindi siya nakabalik today. Tinanong mo sana.”
If he saw Richard upset awhile ago, Ryan could now see the sadness in his friend’s face.
“She didn’t even call.” Was all he could say.
Atty. Ryan couldn’t believe it as well. He knows Maya and it’s so unlike her to totally forget Richard’s birthday. “Brod baka naman may surprise. Baka pag-uwi mo eh nakahanda na sa bedroom mo yung…” Ryan tried to joke but was instead met by Richard’s angry stare again.
“That’s not funny at all Ryan! Maya is a decent woman.”
“Wait brod! That’s not what I meant. Ibig kong sabihin eh baka she’s preparing a surprise like a cake or handa dun sa bahay nyo. Of course mas surprise kung sa kwarto mo. Brod sorry, honestly hindi yun ang ibig kong sabihin. I really meant her decorating your room. Yun lang talaga kaso pinutol mo yun sinasabi ko. I know that Maya is a decent woman.”
“Mabuti na ang malinaw.”
“As I was saying, maybe she has a surprise. You better go home at baka naghihintay na siya dun.”
“You think so?” Richard was suddenly hopeful.
“Well oo. Pwede! Sentimental si Maya. Maybe she prepared something special. Pero if hindi naman, I’m sure may dahilan siya.”
Richard’s face suddenly lit up.
Maybe Ryan was right.
Maybe there was a surprise waiting for him at home.
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“Kumusta na siya?” Manang Fe was talking to someone on the phone when he arrived.
“Ayun Manang tulog pa rin. Nagpupumilit na bumiyahe kaso napagalitan na ni Nanay. Pinainom na namin ng gamot. Nataranta kami ng nahimatay eh.” It was Kute whom Manang Fe was talking to on the landline.
“Hesusmaryosep na bata yan! Ano raw ang dahilan bakit siya nahimatay? Sigurado nagpakapagod na naman yan si Maya.” Manang Fe sounded worried.
This was what Richard heard the moment he entered the house. He rushed to get the phone from Manang Fe when he heard Maya’s name. He got it even before Manang was able to inform Kute that she’ll be handing the phone over to Richard.
Kute was still talking at the other line “…okay naman siya kahapon. Sobra ngang excited makabalik dyan. Umaga pa lang nakahanda na. Tapos may pinuntahan sa palengke. Namili ata ng pasalubong. Ayun bigla kaming tinawagan ng suki ni nanay sa palengke. Nahimatay daw si bunso.”
“What? How is she now? Did you bring her to the hospital? What did the doctor say?” Richard blurted nonstop. He was so worried.
Kute who thought she was still talking to Manang Fe, was surprised to hear Richard Lim’s voice.
She was also touched by the sound of his voice which meant that he was very much concerned of Maya. Maya already told Kute of her dates with her Ser Chief and she already told her of how he takes care of her even after she stopped being Abby’s nanny. The daily trips to and from Time Airways, the food deliveries at Maya and Emman’s condo, how he took care of her when she got drunk from the Wine Tasting activity –Kute was aware of all these. She thought that Maya was just exaggerating it because of her ‘crush’ on Richard Lim. Hearing how worried he is confirmed what Maya had been telling her. She can’t help but smile.
“Ah eh Sir Richard kalma lang po. Okay na po si bunso. Medyo nahilo lang kahapon kasi nakipagsabayan sa maraming tao sa palengke eh hindi pa nag-almusal. Pinacheck-up namin eh sabi ng doctor over fatigue daw kaya ayun pinagpahinga na muna sya. Tumawag lang naman ako kasi alalang alala si bunso na hindi siya makabalik dyan eh birthday nyo daw po. Happy Birthday nga po pala.”
“Thank you Cris and just call me Richard. Please stop calling me Sir. How is Maya now? Kumakain ba siya? Does she drink her medicine? Sinong kasama niya.” He was frantic again.
“Sir este Richard okay na si bunso. Konting araw lang na pahinga siguradong babalik na yun sigla nya. Si nanay po ang nagbabantay sa kanya sa kwarto at pinapagalitan siya kapag hindi kumakain.”
He sighed, relieved to know that Maya is well-taken cared of. “I am just so worried. Alam ko naman that she is in good hands lalo na at kayo ang kasama nya. Thank you for informing me Cris. I was already worried when she didn’t reply to my messages and I couldn’t even reach her phone.”
“Yun nga po ang dahilan kung bakit ako tumawag. Sobrang alala kasi ni bunso na hindi ka man lang niya mabati ngayong kaarawan mo. Nung nahimatay kasi siya nawala yun cellphone nya sa palengke. Nahulog yata. Sana yun nakapulot eh ibalik pa sa kanya. Pero ayun hindi ka nya matawagan kasi hindi nya kabisado yun number mo. Ang saulo nya eh etong landline ng mansion.”
“Tell her not to worry about not being able to greet me. Pakisabi na magpagaling siya. I’ll see her in a few days. Please tell her too na wag pabayaan sarili nya at kumain ng mabuti. And please give her my number or kahit save mo na muna sa phone mo so I can talk to her there.”
“Ah sige Richard. Kunin ko na yun number mo at ipapaabot ko kay Maya lahat ng sinabi mo.”
“Thank you so much Cris. Pakisabi na rin kay Aling Teresita na salamat.”
“Salamat din Richard sa pagaalala mo kay Maya at sa lahat ng pagaasikaso mo at pagaalalay sa kanya dyan sa Manila.”
“Your sister is very important to me Cris. She is very special too.”
“Halata nga. Salamat at happy birthday ulit.”
The moment they ended the call, Richard still couldn’t seem to calm down. He was still worried of Maya and he felt helpless being far from her.
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“Nay bakit ka ganyan makatingin?” Maya woke up to see her Nanay Teresita adoringly staring at her.
“Wala lang. Ang bunso ko kasi dalaga na. May naiinlove na.” She teased.
“Nay naman eh. 25 na po ako hindi na dalaga. Atsaka kung si Simon na naman yan…” She gets upset every time her family teases her to her childhood friend Simon who had been very vocal of wanting to court her.
Nanay Teresita ignored her. “Kumusta na pakiramdam mo? Nakahanda na yun dinner mo sa labas or gusto mo dito na lang. Kaya mo na bang tumayo?”
“Nay hindi naman ako lumpo. Kaya ko na po atsaka buong araw na po akong tulog.” Then she suddenly remembered something. “Nay si Kute po tinawagan na po ba nya si Ser Chief? Binati na po ba nya? Naku sasama ang loob nun sa akin.” She was worried now.
“Maya natawagan na ni Kute. Wag ka nang magalala dyan. Atsaka alam kong maiintindihan naman yun ni Sir Richard mo.”
“Kasi naman nay nung birthday ko masyado nyang ginawang espesyal tapos ako ngayon…”
“Maya nagkasakit ka. Mas magagalit si Sir Richard kung nagpumilit kang bumalik sa Manila.”
“Kahit na nay. Ang dami namang araw na magkakasakit eh kung bakit sa kaarawan pa ni Ser Chief.”
She didn’t notice Kute joining them. She also had a teasing look. “Baka naman kasi bunso sobra kang excited sa kaarawan ni Ser Chief mo kaya hayun nagkalovenat ka tuloy.”
“Uy Kute hindi ah! Kaasar to!”
“Hindi pero namumula na. Naku Maya umayos ka nga. At mag-ayos ka ng buhok mo. Ayun binigay ni Ser Chief mo yun number nya. Tawagan mo na para masabihan mo na nang I love you, este Happy Birthday pala.”
“Kute ano ba!” Pikon na si Maya. “Pahiram na muna nga ng phone mo.”
Nanay Teresita enjoyed watching her daughters.
“Naku mag-ayos ka na muna Maya tapos lumabas ka na muna para kumain na tayo. Mamaya mo na tawagan si Sir Richard.” Her nanay said with finality then left the room.
“O bunso magpaganda ka na para naman magtunog kang maganda sa phone.” She teased some more.
“Excuse me Kute maganda talaga ako!”
“O siya sabi mo eh! Bilisan mo na para makakain na tayo at para makausap mo na si Ser Chief mo. Para na rin matanggal yang lovenat mo kapag nakausap mo si crushmate.”
“Kute!!!! Marinig ka naman ni Nanay! Tayong tatlo lang ni Ser Chief ang may alam dyan eh. Nakakainis ka!”
“Oo hindi na! Kaya mo na ba talaga ha? Hindi ka na nahihilo?”
“Hindi na Kute. Okay na ako. Sige na mauna ka na dun at wag mo akong bibiruin sa harap ni Nanay. Kahiya!”
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After fixing her hair and changing her clothes which she had been wearing since last night, Maya went out her room and proceeded to their dining table. She was surprised to see what her nanay and sister prepared. All her favorite dishes were on the table.
“So how are you feeling Maya?”
The gentle voice that she missed so much startled her and gave her goosebumps. Even Richard Lim’s voice never fails to make her feel giddy.
Maya turned around slowly. She thought her ears were playing tricks on her.
The moment her eyes met his, she was unable to control herself, he flung her arms around him for an embrace. “Nandito ka Ser Chief! Happy Birthday!”
She was beyond happy to see him.
Though a bit embarrassed that Maya hugged him in front of her parents, Richard hugged her tightly in return. He even kissed her forehead. “You overworked yourself again kaya ka nagkasakit. You made me worry. ” He tenderly told her in a voice that made her knees wobble with kilig.
Also in a whisper she replied. “Sorry na. Kala ko naman kasi kaya ko eh.” They were still in an embrace while talking to each other. They occasionally look into each other’s eyes while doing so.
“Ehem ehem… ang dami nang langgam… yun pagkain.”
The two suddenly broke the embrace, both blushing.
Richard sheepishly smiled. While Maya pouted and gave her pikon glare at Kute.
“Ano Maya? Bakit ganyan ka makatingin? Huy bunso may basbas naman na ni Nanay yan so okay lang. Go lang kayo.” She joked.
Nanay Teresita was just observing them but she was happy to witness Richard’s concern for her daughter.
“Anong basbas? Anong pinagsasabi mo Kute?”
Richard interjected, “Ah eh, Maya kanina I already made my intention clear to Aling Teresita and Cristina Rose. I asked their permission to court you and they gave me their blessings.”
If she was already blushing awhile ago, Maya even turned redder this time. She was shy all of a sudden especially as to where the conversation was leading to.
Richard was quick to notice how she became uncomfortable. “Hey what’s wrong?” He even tucked her errant hair in her ear.
She was really shy. “Ah eh wala! Wala naman.”
“Maya I asked permission so that your nanay and sister would know that my intentions are clean. I also promised them that I’ll take care of you and won’t give them any reason to worry. This is the right thing to do Maya and gusto ko na alam nila that I’m sincere when I say that you are very special to me. I also want them to know that I would always support you and never get in the way of your dreams kahit, hopefully, maging tayo na. I also want to assure them that I would always protect you, never give you a reason to be sad or upset or mad. And most of all I would take care of you and always be careful with your feelings, with your heart.”
“Sir Chief!”
“What?”
“Eeeehhhh! Nagpapakilig ka nang masyado baka himatayin ulit ako nyan.”
“Silly!” Then he hugged her again and kissed her forehead leaving both Nanay Teresita and Kute in awe of the man who flew all the way to San Nicolas just to make sure that their daughter is okay.
He even gave both the dela Rosa women flowers and asked the local restaurant to prepare food to celebrate his birthday with Maya and her family.
“Ehem ehem sabi ko nga di ba ang dami na pong langgam ng pagkain…”
“Yes let’s eat now.”
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After a hearty meal shared by the family and even their neighbors, Maya and Ricky were now seated at the small sofa in the dela Rosa living room. Kute and Nanay Teresita were at the Chibugan. They wanted to give Richard and Maya privacy so they left them alone.
“Ser Chief salamat ha!”
“For what?”
“Nagpunta ka pa talaga dito. Kawawa naman yung mga bata.”
“No. I already celebrated my birthday with them yesterday and nandun sila kina mama at papa. I cleared my schedule today kasi nga I have plans to celebrate my birthday with you. Kaso yun nga nagkasakit ka.”
“Nagalit ka ba nang hindi kita natawagan at nabati?”
“No. Of course not!”
“Hindi ka affected?” Sad sya to learn na wala naman kay Ser Chief na hindi siya nabati.
“Syempre affected. I was expecting to hear your voice the moment I woke up eh to greet me. Pero hindi ako galit. Tampo is more like it. But when I found out you got sick it’s more of worry. I had to ask Captain James to fly me here.”
“Si Ser James? Seryoso? Akala ko naiinis ka dun.”
“No hindi ako naiinis. Nagseselos ng konti siguro. But that was before. Now alam ko that there’s nothing to be jealous of.” Then he gave her his confident smile.
“Ang yabang!”
“Bakit do I need to be jealous of him?”
“Siyempre wala. Pero dapat hindi ka na nagpunta. Pwede naman na akong lumuwas bukas.”
“No. We’re staying here for three days. Ipinagpaalam na kita sa Time Airways and I already asked Liza and Atty Ryan to take care of LAS matters.”
“Ser Chief hindi naman kailangan eh. Mas kailangan ka sa LAS.”
“But I want it here. I want to take care of you. I also want to experience what it’s like to live here in the province kahit three days lang. I’ll make sure na magpapagaling ka.”
“Magaling na nga ako Ser Chief. Ang kulit.”
“Shhh stop arguing with the birthday celebrant.”
“Ay teka Ser Chief may surprise ako sa’yo.”
“A kiss?” he teased.
Namula si Maya and she lovingly slapped him. “Ano ka ba! Hindi! Ikaw talaga!”
He made a pout.
She just giggled at how cute he looked.
Then she stood up and got something from her room. “Regalo ko to na pinagawa ko sa palengke kahapon.”
It was a shirt with his face on it
In front it showed
At the back…
She gave the shirt to him and hid her face while giggling at what she had printed on it.
He chuckled, amused at her. Maya never fails to make him smile.
“Nagustuhan mo?” She asked him.
“Of course. What’s in this shirt is true. I only began to smile when I met you.”
“Pakilig ka na naman eh.”
“I love the shirt but of course it would be better to have a birthday kiss too.”
She was blushing again.
“Bakit bawal ba?”
“Ah eh… hindi naman pero…”
But before finishing what she was saying Richard already captured her lips with his and gave he a gentle kiss which made Maya close her eyes and hold on to Richard’s nape.
A/N: No hindi pa sila pero pwede naman ata yun kiss. Birthday naman ni Serchief Ricky eh.
dreamytimmy - thoughts i wanna share 