Kuwentong Maya & Ricky : Diary

A/N : Pantawid fanfic muna while tinatapos yun CWSOA.

Richard Lim was inside his car waiting for Maya.

Her flight will be arriving in an hour. He was early for he thought it was traffic going to the airport. Fortunately it wasn’t but unfortunately too, it meant he would be waiting for an hour or so.

He decided to work while waiting so he reached for his laptop at the backseat of his car.

His attention was caught by a cute notebook with a Mickey Mouse cover. He smiled for he knows that it was Maya’s. She has a certain fondness for the rodent Disney character.  It must be her Time Airways notebook where she writes her flight schedules.

Richard got curious so he got the notebook and opened it.

He smiled at her handwriting. Even by the way she writes, he knows that Maya is a very intelligent person.

He flipped the pages until he realized that it wasn’t just a notebook but a diary. Instead of using those expensive diaries/ journals/ planners sold at the bookstore, Maya used what appears to be a kiddie notebook and used it as a diary. She’s really practical and very resourceful.

He knows that he should stop reading it the moment he learned that it was a diary. He shouldn’t be reading something that’s supposed to be private and was just unintentionally left inside his car.

As hard as he tried to stop himself from continuing reading what’s in the diary, curiosity got the best of him and he succumbed to it. It was just a diary and nobody would know about it anyway. Besides he needs to know what his chances were on trying to get Maya’s elusive ‘yes’. It’s not like he’s committing a crime or something. He also saw the accidental encounter with her diary as a divine intervention so he could court her in the way she wanted. He only needs some ‘tips’ and he was sure that it would be found in her diary. Richard tried to make excuses for what he was about to do.

So yes he continued reading the entries in her diary.

“Buti naman at maraming turista sa bayan ngayon. Medyo lumakas kita namin ni Kute.”

“May paparating na bagyo sa San Nicolas. Sana naman wag masyadong malakas kasi baka bumigay yun bubong namin.”

“Diyos ko po sana wag naman malala yun pilay ni Kute atsaka sana ok yun resulta ng x-ray nya.” Richard remembered this story which became one of the reasons why Maya had to work harder. Her sister Cristina Rose, or Kute fell while fixing their roof during a typhoon. She needed to be hospitalized and their mother had to mortgage their house so they’ll have enough money to shoulder the medical expenses. He admired Maya and her family’s resilience here. Instead of sulking because of their misfortune, they helped each other to find a solution to their problem.

“Ang saya namin!!! Naka 100 si Cho sa test niya. Mana talaga sa akin ang inaanak ko, Hehehe!” Richard couldn’t help but be proud of Cho also.  He already met the boy and he instantly like him.

“Kahit ano man na kamalasan aba swerte pa rin kami. Kumita ng 1,050.00 yun Souvenir Shop. Pwede na kaming makabayad ng kuryente. Nakakaawa si Cho mag-aral sa dilim. Salamat po at dininig nyo panalangin namin.” His heart went out to Maya’s family.  He admired them all the more for their simple joys in life.

There were lots of entries about how hard life was for Maya’s family in San Nicolas. He admired her more. He didn’t know most of it. Maya didn’t use her life story to earn pity.

“Nakakatakot pala dito sa Manila. Mahirap magtiwala.  Sabagay kahit nga kababayan ko mahirap pagkatiwalaan.” She must be pertaining to her kababayan who scammed her. She was supposed to work in Dubai but eventually found out that her kababayan fled with her money.

“Salamat sa Jollibee CR. Nakapaghilamos at bihis ako. Salamat din sa Manong guard ng BDO kasi hinayaan nya akong magpalipas ng gabi sa may pintuan ng bangko. Binigyan pa nya ako ng karton at kape. Saan ka pa!” His heart went out to her. He never thought she went through this. She never mentioned it either. He just smiled at the way she wrote. She was still finding positivity even in a very difficult situation.

“Oh my God! Akala ko mamamatay na ako kanina! Muntik na akong mabangga! Tapos may lumitaw na anghel. Correction – gwapong anghel! Haaaayyyy!” Richard chuckled. Kinilig. She was pertaining to him. This was their first encounter. “Sa lahat ng pangit  na nangyari sa akin, siya yung pinakagwapo.” She even drew stars and hearts. He was enjoying it.

“Hala nakita ko ulit si gwapo kaso mukhang pumangit siya sa akin. Ang sungit! Pagbintangan ba naman ako na kikidnapin anak nya.  Ako na nga ang nagmagandang loob para iligtas yun bata. Aba at ako pa yun muntik makasuhan. Salamat na lang sa CCTV napawalang sala ako. Pero asar pa rin ako dun sa gwapo, este pangit na mamang yun.”  He felt guilty when he remembered how he shouted at her and even dragged her to the airport security.

“Peace na kami ni gwapo na naging pangit na gwapo na ulit. Inalok nya ako ng trabaho!!! Siguro guilty lang yun kasi nga napahiya siya ng pinagbintangan ako. Pero salamat pa rin. Aba okay na yun kahit yaya ako ng anak nya. Magaan ang loob ko dun sa bata. At nangako siya na papagaralin nya ako. Sana naman tuparin nya. Pero thank you sa biyaya na to.” He shook his head at how she described him. “Pangit pala ha.” He chuckled to himself.

“Ang laki ng bahay ni gwapong singkit. Parang mall! Mababait naman yun mga tao. Makulit si Doris at Sabel. Si Manang Fe parang nanay. Namiss ko tuloy si Mamang. Yun teacher ni Abby masungit. Mukhang hindi nagtratrabaho ng maayos. Aba babantayan ko siya para wag masayang yun bayad ni gwapo sa kanya. Si Kuya Joma may hitsura din. Mukhang latino.” He frowned at this. “Pero syempre walang tatalo sa pinakagwapong person in town, ang aking gwapong boss na si Mr. Richard Lim.” Ear to ear na ang smile ni Ricky while reading. If someone saw him, they would think that he’s crazy laughing by himself.

“Yun pala si Mrs. Lim? Bakit hindi sya nakatira sa bahay? Hiwalay kaya sila? Or baka sa ibang lugar nagtratrabaho. Pero mukhang hindi siya bagay kay Ser. Pula yun buhok kasing pula ng lipstick tapos kung manamit parang kinapos sa tela at masikip. Siguro payat pa siya ng binili yun damit tapos  tumaba na lang. Aba pwede ko syang bigyan ng sobrang tela sa super habang mga damit ko, hihihi! Pero hindi talaga sila bagay ni Ser. Mukha siyang bakla.” Richard was laughing so hard now. Maya was talking about Stephanie whom she mistook for Alex, his late wife.

“Nakakahiya kanina! Nahulog ako sa pool. Nagpanic ako kasi nakabalot yun mga paa ko. Dumating si Ser. Akala ko naman lulundag sya sa tubig para sagipin ako. Nahopia ako dun. Sayang!” He shook his head. He remembered this. He arrived from work and was in his default tiger mood when he saw Maya in the pool and Abby was crying while watching her yaya helplessly. He pulled Abby to safety while grabbing the pool cleaning pole for Maya to hold on to. He remembered smiling at her foolishness for the first time.

“Awww ang sweet ni Ser. Nag-alala din sya sa akin.  Pinabigyan nya ako kay Doris ng hot compress para sa napilay kong paa. Haaaaayyyy! Kilig!”

“Hihihi! Napilit namin ni Abby si Ser sumagot sa slumbook. Ang cute nya kanina kasi nagsusungit pero sumagot naman. Ay ako pala halos sumulat at si Ser Fred yun sumagot. Pero grabe si Ser. Misteryoso talaga.” He was again laughing while he remembered how silly he was to be forced to participate in the slumbook-answering session. He remembered how Abby hugged her after he participated in what she considers a game.

“Hmmm mukhang bumabait na si Daddy Pogi at Daddy Bango. Haaayy ang bango nya talaga. Nagsmile na sya ng binigyan ko siya ng kape.”

“Ang sarap dito sa Baguio. Ang sarap din gamitin etong jacket ni Ser. Ambait nya talaga. Pinahiram nya sa akin yun jacket. Buti na lang nakalimutan kong magdala ng jacket, hihihi!”

“Pangalawang araw namin dito sa Baguio. Sinamahan ako ni Ser bumili ng Bahay Kubo na kumot. Hihihi ang sarap siguro kung katabi ko si Ser sa ilalim ng kumot. Ay naku ano bang pinagsusulat ko! Di ko pa naman mabubura kasi dudumi etong diary ko. Sabagay ako lang naman nakakabasa, hihihi!” Richard swallowed hard. He felt guilty for reading the diary and he also felt hot all of a sudden at Maya’s comment of them being under the blanket. He continued reading, brushing off the feeling of guilt. “Grabe yun tibok ng puso ko kanina. Tinanong ko kasi si Ser kung ano yun gusto nya sa babae. Pagkatapos nya sabihin yun mga katangian, sabihan ba naman ako ng ‘ikaw’. Aba yun pala tinatanong rin nya ako. Jusko hopia ulit. Intsik talaga si Ser. Mahilig manghopia! Hihihi!”

“Sakit sa loob. Dumating yun kaibigan ni Ser. Aba akala ko naman lalaki kasi Raffy yun pangalan. Yun pala Rafi as in Rafaela. Maganda siya in fairness. Bagay sila ni Ser. Ay erase erase Maya! Wag sasaktan ang sarili! Okay bagay silang magbestfriends ni Ser. Ayun!” He remembered Maya’s sour face when she found out who Rafi was. He could even remember the fleeting expression of sadness and hurt in Maya when he hugged Rafi. “So nagseselos na siya noon pa.” He thought to himself and smiled.

“First day of classes ko. Hinatid ako ni Ser! Ay hindi pala, hihihi! Isinabay lang nya ako. Pero grabe yun kilig nang inayos nya yun seatbelt ko. Buti hindi ako hinimatay!”

“Pasado ako! Magtraraining na ako sa Time Airways! Ang saya-saya ko! May bonus pang yakap galing kay Ser!”He remembered how he was unable to control himself then that he hugged her. He was so proud of her. He also chuckled as he remembered himself being edgy that time. Maya’s closeness affected him as well.

“Nakakatampo. Akala ko isasama ako sa mall. Yun pala hindi. Balak ko pa naman sana silang bilhan ng regalo.” This was the time he didn’t bring her because he actually bought her a gift. She got hurt that she even avoided him at home.

“Oh my God kaya pala hindi ako isinama kasi binilhan ako ng regalo. The best boss in the world talaga to si Ser.”

“Lagot nakita nya yun picture nya sa phone! Nakita pa nya na hinahalikan ko to! Jusko naman Maya dela Rosa! Nakakahiya!”

“Akala ko panaginip. Totoo pala! Naamin ko na na crush ko siya. Diyos ko sana lamunin na ako ng lupa! Paano na ako haharap sa kanya nito?”

He was reading more entries and he was enjoying it so much when he was startled by a knock on his window.  He hurriedly opened his window thinking that it was the guard.

The moment he opened it “Hi Ser Chief! Kanina ka pa?” It was Maya giving him her sweet smile.

“Crap! Ah eh… Lipat ka na sa seat mo Maya.” Nataranta na! He was caught red-handed! Or not? Maya didn’t seem to notice that he was actually reading her diary. The moment Maya walked to go to her side of the car, he hurriedly hid the notebook. He actually sat on it but Maya saw it.

“Uy ano yan Ser Chief?” She didn’t have a close look buti na lang.

“Nothing,  just office papers.” Gosh he must lie or else Maya would hate him. He wouldn’t want that to happen.

“Ay akin na. Ayusin ko. Magugusot yan kasi inupuan mo.”

“No it’s okay. Dito lang to.” He’s beginning to sweat despite the cool  temperature in his car.

“Ser Chief akin na kasi.”

“Wag na Maya.”

She noticed that he’s hiding something and his eyes looked shifty. She knew he was lying.

“Ser Chief  hindi yan office papers eh.  Patingin!”

“No! This is for my eyes only. Hindi mo naman maiintindihan to.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say but he saw the hurt in her eyes. “Maya I meant….”

“Okay lang Ser Chief. Kuha ko naman na hindi ako dapat mangialam sa lahat ng bagay.” Her tone was sad. The jolly mood she has awhile ago suddenly changed.

He felt bad. He was guilty.

He carefully drove the car out of the airport. Maya was still quiet. He knows that he was to blame.

“Maya sorry…”

“Wala kang dapat ihingi ng sorry Ser Chief.” She said this with a voice without warmth. His aircon was cold but Maya was colder and he hated it.

He parked the car when he saw a gasoline station.

He started in a very careful manner and in a very soft voice.

“Ano kasi… nahihiya ako to show you what I was reading. Ano kasi…” He couldn’t find the right words to say to her. He’s not even sure if admitting that it was her diary he was reading would appease her or further infuriate her.

“Ano?” She faced him now but she didn’t bother to hide her annoyance anymore. Sharp na tumingin si Maya so scared na rin si Ricky.

“Kasi I was reading… Ano.. uhm…” He swallowed hard.

Maya raised an eyebrow at him. She even crossed her arms.

He swallowed again. “Ano I was reading… an FHM magazine.” God he’ll rot in hell for lying.

Nanlaki eyes ni Maya then she turned red. There was an awkward silence. She knows that her Ser Chief is sometimes playful and naughty but she never imagined him reading that kind of magazine where ladies posed for men to ogle on. She looked away. She even thought that if he was reading that kind of magazine then he must be comparing her to the ladies in it. She closed her eyes and shook her head, obviously disgusted at what she found out.

“Maya…”

“Sige na Ser Chief. Uwi na tayo. Ayoko rin makita yun binabasa mo.”

Lagot. Minus pogi points siya kay crushmate. He knows that Maya thinks of him differently now.

He knows grabe na ang atraso nya for lying.

He’ll indeed be punished up there for lying.

Oh well it’s better than suffering from the wrath of a woman whose diary he read without permission.