The story took place after their trip to San Nicolas so let’s suppose that Richard successfully did get her back.
On with the story! Kapit-bisig! ♥
“Richard, hindi mo mahal si Maya. Crush lang. Nothing wrong with that. Normal lang yun,” he convinced himself as he slowly stirred his coffee on the kitchen counter.
After taking a sip of his coffee, he heard a gasp. He almost choked as he realized someone might have heard him. Tongue-tied, he turned his head around in slow motion. His surprised eyes mirrored hers.
“Sir Chief?”
Her cheeks are rose-colored. How attractive, he thought as he watched her approach him. He couldn’t help the slight opening of his mouth. She looked like an angel in her white nightgown. How could an angel be so tempting?
He moved backward and bumped himself against the kitchen counter. He had no way out. This angel would definitely get him. Couldn’t she move faster? He couldn’t wait for her to take him to heaven.
Leaving only a few inches between them, she looked at him with hazed eyes.
“C-crush nyo po ako Sir Chief?” she asked, disbelief colored her tone.
He swallowed hard as he looked at her red, full lips. Warmth spread throughout his entire body.
“Kung…” he started as he lifted his right hand to the side of her neck.
The warmth was already pulsating in his veins. He suddenly became feverish upon the contact.
“…okay lang sa ‘yo?”
Her lack of response was agonizing. His breath quickened as he watched her bit her lip.
“Okay,” she answered breathlessly after a seemingly endless silence.
Yet agony was still not over for him. He felt an intense need to land his lips to the spot where she bit hers. Slowly, he closed the distance between their faces; his lips hovered over hers for a moment. He was deliberating if he would do it gently or hungrily and decided that he would do both.
But he was not able to do it because the alarm clock rang.
~~~~
He fluttered his eyes open, the image of the angel’s face still vividly etched in his mind. He rolled over to his side and turned the blasting thing off.
“A dream?” he asked himself as he lay flat on his back.
~~~~
He was still out of it when he went downstairs to join his kids for breakfast. The dream still bugged him to no end. He forced himself to not look at the subject of his dream when he sat down on his usual seat in the dining room.
“Good morning, dad,” Luke and Nikki greeted jovially.
“Good morning,” he replied, his tone less energetic.
Abby gave her dad an apprehensive look.
“Are you okay, daddy?” the little girl queried, concern evident in her innocent face.
Richard tried to lighten up.
“Of course, baby. Bakit naman hindi magiging okay si Daddy?” he answered, giving his youngest child a gentle smile.
He sneaked a glance on Maya, who seemed to not notice him. She was completely engrossed in assisting Abby in eating her breakfast. This irked him. But he tried his best to control his temper. He promised himself he would in no way upset her again. That was his new year’s resolution and his resolution for the next years he would be spending with her. How many more years she would stay with him, he didn’t know. He only hoped there was some way he could keep her forever, like an invisible thread that he could use to tie them with each other for an eternity.
“Good morning, Maya,” he greeted using a soft tone. He smiled at her softly.
She turned her eyes on him at last and smiled back at him politely.
“Good morning po, Sir Chief,” she replied then turned her attention on Abby again.
Richard sighed helplessly, knowing that their relationship had taken on a new turn. But he kept her after all and that was enough.
~~~~
All work was done and he could feel the muscles on his shoulders going stiff. He stayed perched in his seat in his home office, waiting for the cup of coffee she would prepare exclusively for him. Her coffee was the only remaining remnant of her affection. He could not afford to lose it as well.
Closing his eyes, he rested his back on the chair and tried to even his breaths. Work was a big bother. Being a busy man, he knew better than letting himself be addicted to dreaming—and daydreaming—of her. Aside from being a constant reminder of his dreams, she even occupied his every waking moment ever since she returned to the mansion with him. His every thought consisted of her.
He convinced himself it’s already enough that she came home with him. But he yearned for the cheerful and animated Maya. He missed her melodious, sweet voice. Even though she still radiated a positive and uplifting aura, she seemed holding it back from him.
He reeled his mind to that fateful night when she admitted her crush on him. An inexplicable feeling overwhelmed him upon learning that he was the lucky guy this amazing lady had her eyes on. He never felt that giddy ever since Alex died.
Maya was definitely one in a million. No other woman had been successful in resurrecting these long-buried feelings in the depths of his heart. All the feelings were surprisingly alive and kicking, as if it was his first time having those kinds of sensations.
She watched his forehead smoothed and his lips curved up into a small smile. He looked even more saintly with his eyes closed, his face adorned with satisfaction. She wondered what he was thinking.
Maya shook her head and silently berated herself for reverting back to her dreamy self. She promised herself she would be stronger—stronger than her feelings for him. That was her new year’s resolution and her resolution for the rest of her life. Sir Chief would be just another regular guy—if being someone’s first love could be counted as regular.
She took in a deep breath and called for him.
He flew his eyes open as the object of his every thought presented herself to him. She set down the coffee on his desk. She planned on heading back to her quarters immediately after serving him the coffee but the weary look on his face kept her from doing so.
She staggered to turn her back from him when she saw him patting his shoulders, his face scrunched. Worry dissolved her resolve, keeping her feet glued on his office.
“Sir Chief, okay lang po kayo?” she asked, wanting to slap herself for using a tone that screamed the over the top concern she had for him.
Richard smiled despite the growing pain on his muscles. She still cared about him.
“Yes, just a little muscle ache because of work,” he answered, his back straightened as he continued pressing on his shoulders.
Maya had to bit her tongue from offering to do what she was thinking a best possible remedy for the pain. If she suggested that, he would think that she’s flirting with her boss. No, not again.
He noticed the change in her expression and knew that she was going to say something. She had that certain look on her face whenever she was pondering whether to say what’s on her mind or not. “Ano yun, Maya?”
She was shocked about his question. It seemed to her that he knew she was going to say something. “Wala naman po, Sir Chief,” she replied, shaking her head.
He was unconvinced. Her expression told him otherwise.
“Maya, it’s okay. You know you can tell me anything,” he smiled encouragingly at her, thinking if what he said still applied on the current status of their relationship.
The sight of him turning his upper body from side to side, his face obviously stressed and pained, not to mention his display of gentleness towards her, made her irresolute.
Not thinking of the consequences of what she’s going to say, she opened her mouth and suggested a way to alleviate the pain he’s going through right now.
“Um,” she swallowed. “Masahe lang po ang katapat nyan, syempre po maliban sa pahinga.”
Richard just nodded, obviously not getting what Maya was trying to say.
Maya pressed her lips together before she continued. “Marunong po ako. Kung okay lang po sa inyo?” she asked, a blush creeping up her cheeks.
He raised his eyebrows, a habit he usually did when he was amused at something.
Maya, ano ba? Kung ano na ang iisipin nya sa iyo kahit wala ka namang malisya dun at concerned ka lang talaga sa kanya. Ikaw kasi—
“Will you really do that for me?” Richard asked weakly, cutting off her furious thoughts. The softness of his voice was turning her insides into jelly.
Hands balling up into fists in front of her, she collected herself and looked at him squarely. She put her nervousness at the back of her head. Natotorete at kinakabahan pa rin ako, she thought.
“Okay lang po Sir Chief. Kung… okay lang po sa inyo?” she asked, covering up her tone with indifference.
He tilted his head to the side to get a better view of her. He felt like he had just won an award. Lips spreading in a semi-smile, he nodded before standing up from his seat.
“Tara sa garden para mas relaxing. Thanks Maya,” he said, leading the way. Never say no to blessings, Richard, he told himself as he tried his best not to run towards the direction of the garden.
~~~~
He tried to memorize the feel of her fingers as they trailed on his back. She didn’t even need to press hard; just a slight brush of her skin was all he needed to feel better. He was thankful for the intensity nonetheless. The strength she put on her fingers and the pressure on her palms as her hands continued to travel from his shoulders down to his mid-back penetrated to his inner being, electrifying even his nerve endings. He suddenly felt terrified at the thought of being away from her touch.
Maya thought he was sleeping. His eyes were closed and his face held no trace of worry or anxiety. He looked like a baby being lulled into sleep. In her heart sprung the need to pamper him endless, to take care of him for as long as they both live. If only he would let her.
“Mmmm…” he purred.
She smiled at the peaceful look on his face. She was glad her massage was working wonders on making his pain go away. She wanted him to bear this happy and contented face forever, even after they parted ways.
“Thank you, Maya. This feels so nice. Dapat pala noon pa lang nagpamasahe na ko sa ‘yo,” his smooth, velvety voice chimed in the cool midnight air, tingling her skin as well as her heart. When he was like this, she momentarily forgot the harsh side of him that kicked in when he thought she did something inappropriate. The memory of his angered face halted her ministration on his back.
He turned his head sideways when he felt her hands rest atop his shoulders.
“Sir Chief, kaya ko lang po ito ginagawa dahil nakita ko po na nahihirapan po kayo sa muscle pain nyo. Yun lang po yun,” she mumbled dejectedly. She thought she needed to make this clear to him.
His eyebrows joined upon hearing that. “It sounded like you were explaining to me. Of course I know that, Maya.”
She suddenly felt uncomfortable with what she blurted out. Her eyes widened in surprise when she felt his hand on hers.
“Maya… please. Kalimutan mo na yun. I already explained to you that I didn’t mean that, di ba?” he said, using his right hand to squeeze her hand that rested on his left shoulder. It dawned on him that what prompted her to say that was the memory of the mean words he uttered during the summit.
When she didn’t answer, he continued and tried his best to reassure her.
“I appreciate everything that you’ve done for this family, especially for me. I am grateful for having you, Maya.”
Her heart’s pounding like crazy against her chest. The sincerity inflected on his musical voice was drowning her insecurities.
“Please don’t think any less of yourself, Maya. You are one—“
His phone went off just in time to cut the outpour of his feelings that were dangerously revealing itself in his words.
“Excuse me,” he muttered as he removed his hand from hers to get his phone from his pocket. Just as he was about to put the phone on his ear, he heard Maya shrieked.
“Ay palaka!”
He dropped off his phone in surprise.
“Asan?” he searched the ground frantically, carried away by Maya’s freaked out tone.
Maya bent down to get his phone on the ground. Richard yanked it away from her grasp. His face took on an alarmed expression.
She looked at him wide-eyed.
Richard pressed his lips on a thin line. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity.
“May nakita ka ba?” Richard asked in an urgent tone, referring to the picture on his cellphone.
“O-opo Sir Chief,” she answered, thinking he was asking if she really did see a frog.
He released a long sigh, blinking his eyes multiple times. He could not believe he was caught. Maya, on the other hand, just stared at his squirming figure in wonder.
“Ah… Ano eh…” he coughed.
Maya angled her head to the side, her eyebrows meeting up in confusion.
“Sa San Nicolas ‘to. Kinunan ko nung nagpapicture ang mga bata kasama mo…”
Maya opened her mouth to ask what he’s talking about then closed it again. The situation sounded very familiar.
“I-I took a solo picture of you instead,” he finished, looking at anywhere but her. He tightened his grip on his phone as he braced himself for her reaction.
Maya’s breath stuck on her throat. A picture of her in his phone? That’s why the situation sounded so familiar. This happened to them before, only their roles were reversed now.
“Yung palaka po,” she said, her head swimming in perplexity.
“What?” he asked pointedly.
“Yung palaka po yung nakita ko,” she answered, looking at his hands balled around his phone.
Richard’s jaw dropped as he gaped at her, a throng of butterflies rumbling in his stomach.
“…hindi po yung picture,” she finished, her voice unsure.
He felt all of his blood rushing towards his face. Heatedly, he marched out of her presence, not sparing her another glance.
~~~~
Maya was left alone in the garden, open-mouthed and dumbfounded. Her cheeks were not only red from blushing but from pinching. No matter how many times she pinched herself, she could never persuade herself that she was only dreaming. She wanted what happened to be real. She would give anything, do anything just for it to be real.
Why?
Because she knew what it meant to have a picture—a solo picture—of someone in your phone’s photo gallery. She knew what it meant to have that picture as your wallpaper. It was something for you to look at before you sleep and after you wake up, when you’re feeling lonely or happy or something to lay your eyes on anytime of the day. It was something you could kiss goodnight, look at when you feel lost or when you search for an inspiration, and talk to about anything that you feel.
It was a reminder of your heart beating. Because that heart of yours only beat for that person in the picture.
Tears were starting to pool in her eyes. She remembered all of his sweet gestures when he went to fetch her from San Nicolas. She recalled his pained face as he begged her to stay with his family, to stay with him. She shut down the possibility that he felt the same way as her. She did not realize that if she only read between the lines, she would realize that everything he did back there and everything he was doing for her up until now only spelled that he had special feelings for her too.
She was just too blinded by her own pain that she did not see that he was hurting too.
~~~~
She proceeded to the kitchen to get herself a glass of water. Just as she was about to round the corner, she heard a clinking sound. She hid herself behind the wall when she saw an angry man stirring his coffee brusquely.
“Stupid, stupid. Darn!” he whispered fiercely, though Maya could still hear him.
“And now you’re talking to your stupid self, stupid. How stupid can you get, stupid?”
Maya had to bit her lip to prevent herself from laughing. If there was one constant thing about her Sir Chief, aside from his constantly changing mood swings, it was his cuteness.
“You became stupid since you fell in love with her, stupid. Dahil lang sa mahal mo na si Maya, kaya kinakausap mo na yang sarili mo… Stupid!” The cup was now half-empty, half of its contents already spilled by his rough stirring.
The coffee was spared when he heard a gasp. The motion of his stirring hand abruptly put into a stop.
“Ma… mahal nyo po ako Sir Chief?” she asked fearfully as she made her presence known. She looked like she was about to cry.
He turned to look at her and raised his eyebrows. “Alam ko na ‘to, nananaginip ako,” he mumbled to himself, a tad smile on his face.
“Sir Chief?”
He flashed her a full smile. “I’m sure of this, Maya. This has happened to me before,” he said confidently.
Another crease was added to Maya’s forehead. “Déjà vu po?” she asked in awe, struck by the truth of her own question. This was the real déjà vu.
“Yup. So about your question, yes Maya. I’m in love with you. Mahal na mahal kita,” he said the last sentence slowly, coating every word with sweetness before they escaped his mouth.
He stared right through her eyes and let his confession hung in the air for a few seconds. He was a proud man, confessing his feelings bravely to the woman he loved. However, he was shaken by the sight of her eyes brimming with tears.
“Ano ka ba naman, Maya? Pati sa panaginip ko, iyakin ka pa rin?” he chuckled.
A sob escaped her lips. It sent him into panic.
“Maya!”
”Sir Chief… ako po ata yung nananaginip,” she continued between sobs.
Richard just shook his head at her, a smile on his face.
“Maya, hindi pwedeng sabay tayong nananaginip,” he told her. “Hay… Since this is only a dream, I can do whatever I want…” he told himself as he brought his eyes on her lips.
He caught the sides of her neck in his hands and gently pressed his lips on her soft ones. A jolt of electricity went through him upon the contact. He immediately withdrew; his small eyes suddenly went the biggest they could get. He could see his stunned expression in the pools of her bambi eyes.
“Sir Chief…” she called, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Time was seemed stretched as he gradually lifted his hands to wipe away the tears off her cheeks. Both of his thumbs stroked her face, one of them caressed the soft skin under her lips. Oh how he loved this woman.
“Maya?” he almost moaned, caressing her even with the way he mentioned her name.
“Mahal nyo talaga ko?” she asked, her voice breaking out.
Tucking stray strands of her hair behind her ear, he held her gaze and lost himself to the love and affection he found in her eyes. “I am not dreaming. You’re real,” he realized, his voice feather-like.
Maya giggled. It sounded like music to his ears. It blended perfectly with the rhythm of his heart.
“I love you, Maya. Very much. And I hope you never leave me again,” he whispered in a prayer-like way.
She slammed herself on his arms, her hands covering her face as she cried on his shoulder. Richard stroked her back, his hold on her firm and tender at the same time.
“I’m sorry if I hurt you before. I promise I will do everything in my power to make it up to you. Will you let me?”
She leaned her head back to look at him. She broke out into a giggle again.
Richard quirked a brow. He felt dread settle at the pit of his stomach. Would she turn him down? Please, someone tell him he was only dreaming. Rather, he should wake up from this nightmare if she did not love him back.
She tenderly cupped his face between her hands. “You’re turning red, Sir Chief,” she fibbed.
He laughed and she joined him. After the laughter died down, Maya put her hands on his shoulders again. She gazed at him endearingly.
“I love you, Maya,” he whispered yet again.
He was rewarded by the opportunity to witness her most beautiful smile.
“I love you too, Mr. Richard Lim,” she answered as she wrapped her arms around his neck in a tight embrace.
Comments
Post a Comment