Patience and Affection

#2 - ❝Morning After❞

Wayne woke up to the faint sound of birds chirping outside his window, the first light of dawn just beginning to filter through the curtains. He groaned softly as he turned over in bed, feeling the lingering effects of the late night. Despite his initial reluctance, the Valentine’s Day event had been more enjoyable than he’d expected. Maxwell’s persistence had paid off, and Wayne found himself thinking back to the moments of laughter and connection he’d shared with Lily.

He pushed the thoughts aside as he swung his legs over the edge of the bed, running a hand through his tousled hair. Wayne wasn’t one to dwell on such things, preferring to keep his focus on more practical matters. Today was a new day, and there was always work to be done.

After a quick shower, he dressed in his usual casual attire—a plain shirt and jeans—before grabbing his bag and heading out. The campus was still quiet, with most students likely sleeping in after the festivities. Wayne appreciated the peace and quiet as he made his way to the Engineering building, intent on getting some work done before the day’s classes began.

As he walked, his thoughts drifted back to Maxwell, who had undoubtedly enjoyed every second of the event. Wayne couldn’t help but smile at the memory of his friend’s infectious enthusiasm. Maxwell had a way of making everything more vibrant, more alive. It was something Wayne admired, even if he didn’t always show it.

When Wayne reached the Engineering building, he found the halls empty, save for a few early risers like himself. He headed straight to the study lounge, where he knew he could get some uninterrupted work done. As he settled into a corner table and pulled out his notes, his mind was already shifting gears, focusing on the project he needed to complete.

But before he could fully immerse himself, the door to the lounge creaked open, and Wayne looked up to see Hailey Alvarez, a Medicine student and one of his friends, walk in. She spotted Wayne immediately and flashed him a bright smile.

“Wayne! Early ka rin pala today,” Hailey greeted him as she walked over.

“Yeah, may kailangan akong tapusin,” Wayne replied, offering her a small smile in return. “Ikaw? Bakit ka nandito nang maaga?”

“May research ako na kailangang tapusin,” Hailey said, pulling out a chair and sitting across from him. “Pero baka matagal pa bago ko matapos. Sobrang daming readings.”

Wayne nodded in understanding. “Kaya mo ‘yan. As long as you manage your time well, matatapos mo rin lahat.”

Hailey chuckled softly. “Thanks, Wayne. Seryoso ka talaga kahit sa usapan, ano? Minsan naman, mag-relax ka rin. Wala namang masama doon.”

Wayne shrugged, his expression softening slightly. “Alam ko. Pero kailangan ko ring maging seryoso para sa mga goals ko.”

“True,” Hailey agreed, leaning back in her chair. “Pero parang iba ka ngayon. May nangyari ba kagabi?”

Wayne hesitated, unsure how to respond. He wasn’t used to sharing his thoughts and feelings with others, but there was something about Hailey’s genuine curiosity that made him open up, even just a little.

“Naisip ko lang ‘yung event kagabi,” Wayne finally admitted. “Masaya naman. Masaya pala sumali sa mga ganung bagay kahit minsan lang.”

Hailey’s eyes lit up. “Talaga? Nakita kita kasama si Lily kagabi, ah. Mukhang nag-enjoy ka rin doon.”

Wayne shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “Okay naman siya. Mabait.”

“Baka naman pwede mong i-explore ‘yan,” Hailey teased, her tone light. “Kung gusto mo, I can help. Kilala ko si Lily, mabait talaga siya.”

Wayne shook his head quickly, his cheeks tinged with a slight blush. “Wala ‘yun. Nagkataon lang na magka-vibe kami. But I’m not really looking for anything right now.”

Hailey smiled, understanding that Wayne wasn’t the type to jump into things hastily. “Okay, okay. Basta, kung kailangan mo ng kausap or advice, andito lang ako.”

“Salamat,” Wayne said, genuinely appreciating her offer. He wasn’t used to people offering help so openly, and it was a reminder that he didn’t always have to go through things alone.

They spent the next hour quietly working on their respective tasks, the comfortable silence only broken occasionally by the rustling of papers or the tapping of keys. Wayne found himself more focused than usual, perhaps because of the lingering energy from the previous night. He worked diligently, immersing himself in the intricacies of his project, until the clock on the wall indicated it was time to head to his first class.

As they packed up, Hailey glanced over at him. “Wayne, thanks for the company. Nakakatuwa palang mag-aral nang may kasama.”

Wayne nodded, slinging his bag over his shoulder. “Oo nga. Minsan kailangan din natin ng kaibigan para hindi masyadong mabigat ‘yung load.”

Hailey smiled warmly at that. “Tama ka diyan. Sige, kita na lang ulit tayo sa campus mamaya.”

“Sure,” Wayne replied, giving her a small wave as they parted ways.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

Later that morning, Maxwell was up and about, feeling surprisingly refreshed despite the late night. He had always been a morning person, someone who thrived on social interactions and the buzz of life around him. Today, however, his usual exuberance was tempered by a deep sense of contentment. The event had been a success, and seeing Wayne open up, even just a little, had made it all worth it.

Maxwell’s morning class was Cognitive Psychology, his favorite subject. He arrived at the lecture hall early, eager to catch up with his friends and discuss the previous night’s events. As he entered the room, he spotted Isabel and Andrea sitting near the front, engaged in a lively conversation. He made his way over to them, a broad smile on his face.

“Hey, girls! Ano na? How’s everyone feeling after last night?” Maxwell greeted them as he sat down.

“Super saya, Max!” Andrea exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Ang daming nag-enjoy sa event. And ang dami ring nag-match, ha! Success talaga.”

“Agree!” Isabel added, nodding enthusiastically. “And you were amazing, Max. You made everyone feel so comfortable and involved.”

Maxwell laughed, a bit sheepish at the praise. “Well, I couldn’t have done it without you guys. Rhiannon did most of the heavy lifting, pero salamat na rin sa support niyo.”

“Of course! Team effort ‘to,” Isabel said, playfully nudging him. “And nakita namin na nag-enjoy din si Wayne, ha. Sinong nag-magic para mapasali mo siya?”

Maxwell smirked, leaning back in his chair. “Simple lang—konting kulitan lang at konting pagpupush. Hindi naman mahirap ‘yun, ‘di ba?”

Andrea giggled. “Sana naman may mangyari sa kanila ni Lily. Ang cute kaya nila together!”

Maxwell’s expression softened. “Well, we’ll see. Ayoko namang i-pressure si Wayne, pero masaya akong makita siyang nag-eenjoy. Minsan kailangan mo lang ng kaibigan na mag-push sa’yo para makita mo ‘yung ibang side ng buhay.”

Isabel smiled at Maxwell’s words. “Tama ka, Max. Buti na lang andito ka para sa kanya.”

The conversation drifted into other topics as more students began to fill the lecture hall. Maxwell, however, couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. He knew that Wayne was still a work in progress—just like everyone else—but he was glad to be part of that journey, to be a friend who could help him see the brighter side of life.

As the lecture began, Maxwell’s thoughts returned to the day ahead, the challenges, and the small moments of connection that made everything worthwhile. With friends like Isabel, Andrea, and especially Wayne, he knew that whatever came their way, they would face it together.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃