Patience and Affection

#1 - ❝Thread Of Fate❞

The university campus buzzed with excitement as Valentine's Day approached. Banners and decorations of love and friendship. Red and pink balloons floated above the head of students, and the scent of fresh flowers filled the air. Everywhere you looked, people were either preparing for the day's event or already deep in the spirit of the occasion.

Rhiannon Hong, the Student Government President and Maxwell's bestfriend, was at the center of it all. As she strode across the campus with Isabel and Andrea by her side, she surveyed the ongoing preparations with a critical eye. The event she had organized, ‟Hearts in Harmony", was the culmination of weeks of planning and she wasn't about to let anything go wrong. 

 Rhiannon said, her voice sharp and decisive. ‟Isabel, kamusta na 'yung stage setup?"

‟On track pa din, don't worry." Isabel replied, her tone confident. ‟Ang ganda ng mga backdrop na pinili natin. Perfect for photo ops."

‟Good. Andrea, food stalls?"

‟Lahat sila ready na," Andrea answered, checking her clipboard. ‟Ang daming nag-sign up, and I made sure na may variety para everyone's happy."

Rhiannon nodded in satisfaction. Everything was going according to plan, just as she had expected. ‟Great job, girls. We'll do one last walkthrough before the event starts. Maxwell should be here anytime now."

‟Hey, Rhian! Ready na ba lahat?" Maxwell asked, slightly out of breath.

‟Of course," Rhiannon replied, crossing her arms with a smug smile. ‟I'm the SSG President, remember? Hindi pwedeng may sablay."

Maxwell chuckled. ‟Alam kong kaya mo 'yan. Kaya nga nandito rin ako, di ba? Para sumuporta sa'yo."

Isabel rolled her eyes playfully. ‟OA ka talaga, Max."

‟Sabihin mo lang inggit ka." Maxwell shot back with a laugh. The banter between them was lighthearted, a reflection of their close friendship.

As the group continued their final checks, the anticipation for the evening's events grew. The main attraction was a matchmaking game where students could participate for fun, meeting new people or maybe even finding a potential romantic interest. Maxwell had eagerly volunteered to be part of it, not because he was looking for love, but because he knew it would be a blast.

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Meanwhile, Wayne was less than enthusiastic about the whole Valentine's Day affair. He appreciated the effort Rhiannon and the others had put into event, but the idea of celebrating love and romance in such a public way didn't appeal to him. Still, he had promised Maxwell he would attend, so he found himself walking towards the event grounds, his usual stoic expression in place.

‟Bro, buti naman pumunta ka," Maxwell greeted Wayne, clapping him on the back as as he spotted him.

‟Wala akong choice, 'di ba?" Wayne replied dryly. ‟Sinabi mong pumunta ako." 

Maxwell grinned. ‟Tama! And I'm glad you're here. This is going to be fun. Sino ang Valentine's date mo?"

Wayne gave him a deadpan look. ‟Wala. Sino bang magde-date sa'kin?"

‟Grabe ka naman," Maxwell teased, nudging him. ‟Malay mo, dito mo makilala 'yung the one."

‟Malabo 'yan," Wayne said, but a hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his lips.

Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Dean, one of Wayne's closest friends. Dean was in high spirits, clearly enjoying the festive atmosphere. ‟Uy, Wayne! Maxwell! Ready na ba kayo sa matchmaking? Baka naman may mahanap kayong ka-match dito."

Maxwell raised an eyebrow. ‟Ikaw? Sumali ka ba, Dean?"

‟Of course," Dean replied, puffing out his chest in mock pride. ‟Malay mo, swertehin ako. Valentine's Day naman, di ba?"

Wayne shook his head in amusement. ‟Good luck sa'yo. I'll be watching from the sidelines."

Maxwell and Dean exchanged knowing look, clearly plotting something. ‟Sigurado ka, Wayne? Baka naman pag nag-start na, magbago ang isip mo." Maxwell said, trying to supress a grin.

Wayne raised an eyebrow, sensing mischief. ‟Ano na naman 'yang iniisip niyo?"

‟Wala! Basta, enjoy lang tayo tonight." Maxwell said, leaving the topic hanging as they joined the rest of the crowd.

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As the event officially began, the matchmaking game quickly became the highlights of the evening. Students were matched based on personality quizzes they had taken earlier in the week, and each pair was given tasks to complete together, from answering fun questions to participating in light-hearted challenges.

Maxwell, of course, was fully immersed in the event, his natural charisma making him a favorite among the participants. He was paired with a bubbly sophomore named Mia, and they immediately hit it off, laughing their way through each task.

Wayne, true to his word, stayed on the sidelines, watching as his friends participated in the activities. He couldn't help but feel a slight pang of envy as he observed Maxwell effortlessly connecting with people. Maxwell had a way of making everyone feel at ease, something Wayne had always admired but never quite understood.

As the night went on, Maxwell noticed Wayne standing alone by one of the food stalls, looking out of place amid the lively crowd. He excused himself from Mia and made his way over to his friend.

"Wayne, ano ka ba? Nandito ka na rin lang, sumali ka na!" Maxwell urged, his eyes shining with excitement.

Wayne sighed, knowing Maxwell wouldn't let it go. "Sige na nga. Pero hindi ko 'to gagawin para sa akin, ha. Para lang hindi ka na mangulit."

Maxwell beamed. "Promise, hindi ka magsisisi! Tara, samahan kita kay Rhiannon para ma-match ka na."

Despite his reluctance, Wayne allowed himself to be pulled into the activity. As Rhiannon worked her magic, pairing him with a fellow engineering student named Lily, Wayne couldn't help but feel a strange mix of nerves and curiosity.

Lily was soft-spoken but kind, and as they completed the tasks together, Wayne found himself slowly relaxing. They shared stories about their classes, and Wayne was surprised at how easy it was to talk to her. It wasn't the typical Valentine's experience, but it wasn't as bad as he had imagined.

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Across the event grounds, Maxwell watched with a satisfied smile. He knew Wayne needed a little push to step out of his comfort zone, and he was glad to see his friend finally loosening up, even if just a little.

As the event drew to a close, the students gathered for the final activity—a lantern release. Each participant was given a lantern to release into the night sky, a symbol of their hopes and wishes for the future.

Wayne and Maxwell stood side by side, holding their lanterns. Wayne stared at his, the soft glow illuminating his face as he pondered what to wish for.

"Alam mo, Wayne," Maxwell began, his voice quieter than usual, "kahit minsan napaka-seryoso mo, I'm glad na friend kita. Hindi man ako kasing-galing mo sa academics, pero I hope maging ganun din ako ka-dedicated."

Wayne looked at Maxwell, a rare moment of vulnerability passing between them. "Hindi mo kailangang maging ako, Max. Sapat na 'yung ikaw. And, I'm glad na friend kita."

With that, they released their lanterns together, watching as they drifted up into the starry sky, carrying with them the silent promises of a friendship that had become an unbreakable bond.

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