Save the Best for Last 15

A/N Hi everyone!!!!! Naku patawarin niyo sana ako sa napakatagal na update… I almost lost the urge to push through with this fanfic….pero dahil nakaka inspire yung mga comment niyo…old and new readers… here it is… mag fast forward na tayo… Happy reading everyone!

After one year…

Happy birthday Abby!!!!

Yes, today is Abigail Ruth Lim’s first birthday. Gathered in the venue are the closest family members… Richard’s parents can not contain their happiness when they learned that he has given them a grand daughter. They got home from the States and never left the Philippines since then. The Dela Rosa’s are also present. Richard’s close friends.. Joma, Liza, Rafi, Eds, Ryan.. and Maya ofcourse. Stephanie’s parents are also present.

Richard and Maya are still the bestest of friends.. while loving each other so much of course… they can’t come back together just yet… ayaw ni Maya. Hindi pa raw nakaka pag babang luksa. Para naman daw natuwa pa sila sa pagkakamatay ni Steph kung right there and then eh nagkabalikan agad sila.

And today, as they celebrate the first birthday of Abby, marks the first anniversary of Steph’s death as well.

After the program of the party is the thank you remarks of the parents. Everyone were startled when Stephanie’s parents got near the mic and speak.

“Richard.. in behalf of my whole family, we’d like to thank you for honoring Stephanie. Salamat dahil sa kabila ng circumstances kung bakit kinailangan mo siyang pakasalan, hindi mo siya pinakitaan ng masama habang magkasama kayo…at kahit nung namatay siya, ikaw pa yung nagmulat sa mga mata namin para malaman yung mga kasalanan namin sa anak namin. Sayang lang at huli na nang marealize ko ang lahat. Salamat sa pagmamahal kay Abby. Alam ko na nasa mabuting kamay ang aming apo….Maya, sa lahat ng sakripisyo at pagintindi sa naging sitwasyon… maraming maraming salamat. Hindi niyo alam kung gano kataas yung paggalang namin sa inyo..salamat dahil iginalang niyo si Steph sa kanyang pagkamatay kahit na hindi naman talaga niyo kailangan gawin yun dahil alam naman natin na nagmamahalan talaga kayo. And today, as we mark Stephanie’s first death anniversary… I’d like to give my blessings to you, Richard and Maya, to continue what you had before my family get in the way. Alam namin na ito din ang gusto ni Steph.”

Naiiyak na si Maya sa mga narinig niya mula kay Don Fernando. That’s when Richard grabbed her arm, turned her around so she’s facing him and enveloped her in his arms. There, they cried together. But those are tears of joy.

“God knows how much I love you Maya. The past months have been so hard…I long to hold you in my arms like this.” Richard said with so much love in his voice.

“Ako din Ricky. I never stopped. I love you so much. Sobrang saya ko ngayon.. ” Maya hugged him tighter.

Umeksena na rin ang tropa…

“Oh my gee! We all waited for this. Finally! Group hug!!!!” Sigaw ni Rafi habang lumalapit silang magkakaibigan sa dalawa. Sumunod naman ang iba na sinadyang ipitin sina Richard at Maya habang nagtatawanan. Sumama na rin sina Teresita at Arturo na tjnapik sa balikat si Richard. “sabi ko naman sa inyo..may Awa ang Diyos.”

Hindi man malaman nina Esmeralda at Roberto kung bakit ganun ang drama ay nakiyakap na rin sila. Masaya sila dahil iba yung nakita nila sa ikinilos ni Richard towards Maya. Alam nilang ito na ang babaeng gusto niyang makasama forever.

“Aray! Di na ko makahinga!” Sigaw ni Maya habang natatawa sa hitsura nila. Imagine, nakapalibot sa kanila ni Richard sa isang malaking group hug ang kanilang mga kaibigan at pamilya. Nakaka touch na lahat affected sa mga pangyayari sa relasyin nila ni Richard. Mula pa noong bestfriend pa lang niya ito hnggang sa kung anu ano na nga ang nangyari.

“Hey guys, thank you so much, we love you but please… tama na. Nasasaktan na ang mahal ko.” Says Richard while holding Maya protectively.

“Yun yun eh!! Bumabanat si Lim” si Sonny na ikinatawa naman ng lahat. Bigla silang natahimik ng lumapit ang parents ni Stephanie..

“Ahm… Tito, Tita, salamat po sa pag intindi ha. Salamat po sa pagbigay niyo ng blessings sa min. Sobra niyo po kaming napasaya. Sabi ni Maya.

“Iha, kami ang dapat magpasalamat. Waka kayong obligasyon sa amin. Patawarin niyo kami for causing you both too much trouble and pain…sana wag niyo lang ipagkait samin si Abby… she’s the only memory of my daughter..” says Stephanie’s mother (a/n: ayan! Sa sobrang tagal ng update nakalimutan ko na pangalan nung nanay ni steph! Sensya na kayo. Hehe)

“We can’t do that Tita. We will never do that. You’re free to visit her anytime… you can even take her to the mall… I know you love her just as much as we do. Thank you very much for everything.. ” and with that, Richard hugged Olivia (a/n ulit: yun pala name ng mother ni Steph…san ko kaya nakuha yun? Kinailangan ko pang balikan previous chapter..anyway going back)

“Thanks for opening our minds Richard. You are such a great man. Maya is so lucky to have you. Steph would’ve been lucky to have you… ahm… we’ll go ahead Richard.. everybody, thank you so much. We won’t bother you anymore” and with that, they left.

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After the party, Richard insisted na ihahatid niya si Maya sa Laguna. Tutal naman daw ay nandun sina Dona Esmeralda at Don Roberto para bantayan si Abby. Habang nasa kotse ay hawak lang ni Richard ang kamay ni Maya habang nagmamaneho. “Ricky, para naman akong batang mawawala sa pagkakahawak mo. Baka mamaya niyan madisgrasya pa tayo.” Nangingiting sabi ni Maya. She missed him. So much. Yung mga gantong gestures niya, yung minsan parang bata..yung sweetness.. all of him. “Fine. I’ll let go of your hands.” Sabay ngiti kay Maya then he focused on the road. Both settled with the comfortable silence between them. They’re so happy with the turn of events today for them. Through out the drive, pinagusapan lang nila ang kung anu ano… yung mga bagong alam ni Abby, mga favorite niya kainin..mga ayaw.. mga expressions.. mga kalokohan as a baby.. and Maya finds it very cute. Si Richard, telling stories about Abby as a proud father. “I knew you’d be a great father Ricky” she suddenly said while smiling at him lovingly. Richard smiled and recalled how Maya interacts with Abby. The way she talks to her, the way she holds her, the way she takes care of her when they have out of town trips with the group..in his thoughts.. “and I know you’d be a great mom.”

After almost two hours of driving, he parked in front of Maya’s house in Laguna. He suddenly felt nervous. Maya on the other hand is also having an argument inside her head..”should I let him in? Wala pa sina Mommy…eh ano naman? Lagi naman siyang nagpupunta kahit wala sina Mommy..” pareho silang malalim ang iniisip at parehong nakakunot ang noo nang magtama ang mga mata nila… nagkatinginan sila.. tapos… parang nabasa nila ang iniisip ng isa’t isa.. then… sabay silang humagalpak ng tawa… “para tayong tanga Ricky!” “Oo nga! Teenager?” Tapos tumawa ulit sila… best friends… indeed. Then Ricky’s face turned serious. “But kidding aside Maya, I missed you so much.” Maya saw the desire in his eyes. At hindi siya komportable dun. Ayaw niyang makita din ni Richard sa kanyang mata kung ano yung nakita niya sa mata nito. So, to lighten the “hot” mood she said ” ang OA lang? Madalas naman tayo nagkikita ah?” Alam ni Richard kung ano ang ginagawa ni Maya. Pero di siya nagpatalo. Richard, as he always does, cupped her face and kissed her fully in her lips. Maya, missing him just as much, responded to his kisses following his lead…..

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They entered Maya’s room and resumed with their kissing. With their hands touching every part of each other’s body. Richard led her to her bed and gently, He laid her down. He take his polo shirt off, he kissed her again. Then his hands travelled from her face down to her shoulders then to her breast which made her grasp. All these things, all the sensation she’ s feeling are new to her. She’s confused, and scared, but she likes what she’s feeling. She loves the feel of Richard’s skin to her skin.. but this is wrong! Richard was about to unbutton her blouse when she found the courage to say.. ” Ricky, please don’t. Let’s not do this just yet” her eyes pleading. She’s almost crying. Richard, stilled. Para siyang nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig. Dali dali siyang umalis sa pagkakapatong kay Maya at sinuot ang polo shirt niya “Oh God! What have I done!?” Umupo si Maya at sumandal sa head board ng kama, niyakap niya ang kanyang tuhod. Nanlalambot siya, natatakot, naiiyak. Halo halong emosyon. “Maya, sweetheart, please forgive me. Sorry for being so agressive” habang lumalapit kay Maya. Hindi niya alam kung papayagan siya nitong hawakan pa siya ulit. Alam niya na siya lang ang lalaki sa buhay ni Maya. Never pa itong nagkaroon ng ibang boyfriend bukod sa kanya. Kaya marahil ay na shock ito sa mga nagawa niya. “Maya? Are you okay? Are you mad? I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. Please look at me baby, talk to me..” nakaupo na siya sa tabi ni Maya. Tumingin sa kanya ang dalaga na may luha sa mata.. niyakap niya ito at gumanti naman ito ng yakap. Nakahinga ng maluwag si Richard. Kala niya ay nagalit na ito sa kanya. “I’m sorry Ricky… I’m not yet ready. Hindi ko kaya. Natatakot ako. But it doesn’t mean that I love you any less” habang nakasubsob ang mukha sa dibdib ni Richard. (Oh my pink gosh!!! Nakita niyo ba trailer ng praybeyt benjamin? Ang hot lang ni ser chief! With those biceps..grrrrrr!!! Kagigil! Hahaha!) Natawa si Richard. “Ano ka ba? Ako nga dapat ang mag sorry. I’m sorry for acting that way. Sobra kasi kitang namiss. At dahil mahal na mahal kita, okay lang sakin na maghintay for the right time na gawin natin yun.” Tumingin si Maya sa kanya.. “weh?” “Oo nga! Ang kulit mo talaga!”sabay kurot sa ilong. “Lika na, baba na tayo. Baka madatnan pa tayo nina Mommy at Daddy dito mahabol pa ko ng itak.” Biro ni Ricky. “Hay nakoh sinabi mo! Baka yung jungle bolo pa dalin nun…” nagtawanan ang dalawa.

Sa kitchen ay nagprepare sila ng meryenda. Kape at cheesecake na galing sa coffeshop ni Maya. Then they settled themselves in front of the flat screen sa sala. Napagkasunduan nilang isalang yung Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2. Favorite nila yun eh. Nakasandal si Maya kay Ricky habang naka akbay ang kamay ni Ricky sa kanya. Nasa ganun silang pwesto ng dumating ang parents ni Maya. Hindi pa muna nagparamdam ang mag asawa dahil natutuwa silang makita na magkasama na ulit ang dalawa (kung naabutan kaya nila yung nangyari kanina, matutuwa pa rin kaya sila?!) Tahimik lang silang nakatingin kina Richard at Maya. Hinahaplos ni Richard ang buhok ni Maya tapos ay hinalikan ito sa noo. Then Maya looked at him in the eye. Richard leaned to kiss her on the lips. Then they smiled sweetly. Kinilig si Mommy Teresita sa nakita. Inawat siya ni Daddy Arturo dahil baka marinig siya ng dalawa. Kaya they decided to show up na. “Maya, nak? Nandito na kami…” sabay pasok ng pinto. “Mommy, Daddy, bakit parang ang tagal ng byahe niyo? May dinaanan po ba kayo?” Habang nag mamano sa mga magulang. “Good evening po Mommy, Daddy” bati ni Richard habang nag mamano din. ” Richard, buti at hindi mo iniwang magisa si Maya dito sa bahay.” Si Arturo. “Ay opo naman.” Sagot ni Richard. “Maya, nak, halika sa kusina. Tulungan mo muna ako maghanda ng hapunan natin. Richard, dito ka na mag dinner ha. Kung gusto mo, dito ka na rin magpalipas ng gabi. Mukhang uulan eh.” “Ah eh sige po kung papayag si Maya” “huh? Bakit ako?” “Sige na Tere at Maya. Dito na magpapalipas ng gabi yang si Richard” si Arturo. “Thank you po.” Pumunta na nga sa kusina ang mag-ina.

“Ahm, Daddy, pwede ko po ba kayo makausap?”
“Tungkol saan Richard? Wag mong sabihin na may nabuntis ka na naman aba eh tatamaan ka na sa akin!”
“What? Hindi po… this is about Maya.”
“Okay…anong tungkol kay Maya?”

tbc….