sasaluhin kita
nanlaki ang mata ni maine ng marinig ang tinig sa likod nya
bigla siyang lumingon at nakita ang binatang ninais nyang maging tamagotchi para ibulsa na lamang na nakasandal sa may pintuan ng kusina at nakangiti
o ngayon paano mo ito lulusutan?
uuuyyy rj nandyan ka pala medyo asiwa niyang ngiti di ba sabi ko matulog ka na?
ngumiting muli ang binata at humakbang palapit sa kanya
sumunod naman ako eh. kaya lang nakalimutan ko kasi yung celfone ko sa sofa
ahhhh... uhmmm... nakuha mo na?
yup! sabay pakita ng binata sa hawak na celfone
ok sige tulog ka na magliligpit lang ako sabay talikod ng dalaga
maine may narinig ako
hah? ano yun?
oh gahd... wag naman na rj... bakit di na lang ako kainin ng lupa???
sabi ko may narinig ako
ahmm... ha? ano yun? guni-guni mo lang un sabay iwas ng dalaga
hinawakan ni rj ang braso ni maine at pinaharap sa kanya ang tulirong dalaga
gusto mo ba talaga na ulitin ko yung narinig ko o pwede nating pag-usapan?
hindi makatingin ang dalaga
tingin ka sa kin... marahang hinawakan ni rj ang baba ni maine at itinaas bahagya ang kanyang ulo maine please? pagusapan natin?
uhmmm sumulyap naman ang dalaga sa mga mata ni rj w-wala kasi yun. sudden mental relapse lang.
yun ba talaga? so you're not trying to stop falling inlove with me? because i want you to... siguro hindi pa ngayon. pero gusto ko na mainlove ka sa kin. kasi dun na papunta yung nararamdaman ko. and i want us to be on the same page when we do.
uhhh— rj... kasi...
he saw her hesitation. and he needed to know why.
tell me maine. anong problema? pagusapan natin
mali kasi rj.
napakunot ang noo ng binata
bakit? saan may mali?
ahhmm... hindi naman tama na mang-agaw. you really look good together. this is all wr—
sandali hold that thought right there. is this about christine?
she did not say a word
ok. so this is about christine. pag-usapan natin. christine is a good friend. magkaibigan ang families namin. we live a few blocks away from each other in laguna. that explains the closeness. hindi ko siya girlfriend nor whatever term you can associate with being partners.
she still did not say a word. and this only means one thing. she has doubts about his answer.
sabihin mo naman sa kin anong problema. i want this to work. i want us to work.
she still did not say anything but she glanced at a direction which rj followed.
it's a post it reminder of him to buy christine's car air freshner.
he took the note and looked at maine
earlier last week my sister riza and tine went out for shopping. riza liked the smell of her car so she asked tine where did she bought it from. so tine gave it to my sister. nasabi sa akin ni riza so she asked me to buy one to replace it. yun lang.
y-you... you dont have to explain naman... i mean choice mo nam—
stop right there. let's get this to work. kasi ako sigurado ko the way i'm feeling right now... sigurado ako na mamahalin pa kita... at hindi ko pipigilan ang sarili ko
rj...
come here... he pulled her close and hugged her tight please give us chance.
she closed her eyes and inhaled his scent. somehow she felt right to be in his arms. she felt they were like puzzle pieces that fit together. like words arranged with melody that turned to a song.
sabi nga live for the moment. so even if it scares her to take a leap her heart is telling her to.
she nodded slowly while still being engulfed by his embrace
maine tell me it's a yes... he pleaded
she nodded again... yes rj...
he hugged her tighter then kissed her forehead
we'll take it slow. liligawan kita.
she suddenly glanced at him and pouted
maine marupok talaga ako
oh bakit?
di ba nag-usap lang tayo kanina. bawal akong ligawan?
he chuckled. oo nga naman
ako lang ang allowed
bata pa tayo.
eh di wag mo muna akong sagutin. ok ba yun?
maghihintay ka?
kahit gaano katagal
paano pag nainip ka?
hindi ako maiinip.
paano pag napagod ka
hindi nga.
rj...
hmmm?
if it helps... i want to fall inlove with you too...
then that's good enough for me... he kissed the side of her hair and hugged her tighter
after sometime maine tried to get off from their embrace
huuyy rj...
hhmmm?
awat na... magsleep na tayo
sabi ko nga. ang sarap mo kasi yakapin
sige na pahinga ka na
he broke off their embrace but intertwined their hands then led her to her room
good night maine
she smiled at him
good night rj
then she stepped inside her room.
just when rj was about to enter his. her door opened
rj... psstt
he came rushing back.
split second. it happened in a split second.
he rushed over when she called
then he felt her soft lips brushed on his cheeks.
then she smiled and closed her door
mula ng sinara ni maine ang pinto mga limang minuto na ang nakakalipas nandito pa rin siya at nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan ng dalaga.
nakangiti. nakahawak sa pisngi at mukhang tanga.
it took him another five minutes to have his feet walked out from maine's door.
maine closed the door abruptly after kissing his cheeks.
she just wanted to give him an assurance.
she's somewhat glad that they were able to talk things thru and that rj cleared out christine as a friend. his words are enough. she never doubted his sincerity
and that night both of them slept peacefully.
^^^^^^
it was half past six when he woke up.
sino ang excited magising at nauna pa sa alarm?
he grabbed his pillow and hugged it. good morning love...
then his lips quivered and formed a smile.
he is ready to start their day. wow dati he's ready to start his day lang ngayon their na.
he smiled at the thought. then he said a silent prayer.
thank you lord for today and for my new inspiration. please keep my family and loved ones safe and healthy. padagdag na po yung mahal ko na natutulog sa kabilang kwarto.
after his morning rituals he went out of his room. he stopped in front of her door and whispered good morning maine...
he smiled then went straight to the kitchen to prepare their breakfast.
while he is busy cooking his phone rang
after looking at whose calling he answered
hi baby
—
nope. i have things to do
—
wag ka ng magtampo.
—
next week i'll drop by
—
i know. i miss you too
—
hahaha you will always be my baby girl
—
don't forget your vitamins
—
i love you
—
bye.
now it's his turn not to notice the person who heard his phone call.
not after he heard the front door closed.
his forehead creased when he noticed maine's room was slightly ajar.
maine? he called while knocking at her door
no answer.
maine? he called again
maine? are you up?
when no one answered still, he opened the lights only to find out that her bed was neatly in placed
he tried calling her but her phone is out of reached
he turned off the stove and hurried to the lobby area.
kuya si... si maine po ba dumaan?
"ay sir rj, opo. kakadaan lang po. mga five minutes sir" their guard confirmed
kuya salamat ha
"ay sir sir... wait lang po may pinabibigay sa inyo si ms. beautiful"
bumalik naman si rj at inabot ang papel na inabot ng kanilang guard at binasa ng nakakunot ang noo
dear flatmate rj,
i should've listened to myself yesterday night...
thanks for making me realize my instinct serves me right
your flatmate (let's keep it at that)
maine
after reading her note. he mentally cursed at himself.
riza lagot ka kay kuya
******* itutuloy pa po 😇🙏
kahit waley 😩✌🏼