Patience and Affection

#3 - ❝Unwanted Attention❞

The crisp morning air was refreshing as Maxwell and Wayne walked side by side across the campus. The sun had just begun to cast its golden light over the university, bathing everything in a warm glow. Maxwell was in high spirits, still riding the wave of success from the Valentine’s Day event. He appreciated the quiet start to the day and the chance to chat with Wayne, who had offered to walk him to the Psychology building.

“Salamat, Wayne,” Maxwell said cheerfully. “Hindi mo naman kailangan, pero I appreciate it. Malapit na lang naman ang Psychology building.”

Wayne shrugged, his expression as neutral as ever. “Wala ‘yon. Magkalapit building lang naman tayo. At least may kasama ka.”

“True,” Maxwell agreed. “Plus, it's nice to have some company before classes start.”

As they walked, their conversation shifted to their respective classes and upcoming assignments. Wayne, as usual, was focused and pragmatic, while Maxwell’s excitement about their various activities added a vibrant contrast.

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching from behind. Maxwell turned to see Lily, the girl Wayne had been paired with at the event, rushing toward them with a bright smile.

“Wayne! Hi!” Lily exclaimed, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.

Wayne turned to face her, his expression softening slightly. “Hi, Lily. Morning.”

Lily seemed oblivious to Maxwell’s presence, her attention solely on Wayne. “I didn’t expect to see you so early. How was your morning?”

“Okay naman,” Wayne replied, his tone polite but slightly reserved. “I’m just walking Maxwell to his class.”

“Oh, really?” Lily said, her gaze shifting to Maxwell for the first time. “Hi, Maxwell. Didn’t see you there.”

“Hi, Lily,” Maxwell said with a friendly smile, trying to include himself in the conversation. “I was just keeping Wayne company.”

Lily nodded absentmindedly, her attention quickly returning to Wayne. “So, how’s everything going? Did you enjoy the event last night?”

“Yeah, it was great,” Wayne replied. “Thanks for asking.”

Maxwell could sense the shift in Lily’s focus and noticed how she seemed to be clinging to Wayne, her body angled towards him as if trying to monopolize his attention. It was clear that she was more interested in Wayne than in engaging with him.

Lily continued, her voice filled with enthusiasm. “I was thinking, maybe we could grab coffee sometime? Just the two of us?”

Wayne hesitated, glancing at Maxwell briefly before replying. “Ah, I’m not sure. I’ve got a lot of work to do.”

Lily’s smile didn’t waver. “Come on, Wayne. It’ll be fun. We could talk more about the event and everything.”

Maxwell could sense Wayne’s discomfort. He stepped in, trying to defuse the situation. “Lily, I think Wayne’s really busy with his assignments. Maybe we can all hang out together sometime instead?”

Lily’s eyes flickered with a hint of irritation, but she quickly masked it with another smile. “Oh, I see. Well, if you change your mind, Wayne, just let me know.”

“Sure,” Wayne said, though his tone was non-committal. “I’ll think about it.”

As Lily walked away, Maxwell turned to Wayne, a concerned look on his face. “Are you okay? Mukhang na-aapreciate ka ni Lily masyado, ha.”

Wayne sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t realize she’d be so... persistent. I mean, she’s nice and all, but I didn’t expect her to act like that.”

“Yeah, medyo intense,” Maxwell agreed. “Pero wag kang mag-alala. If you’re not comfortable, just be honest with her.”

Wayne nodded, appreciating Maxwell’s advice. “Thanks. I’ll try to handle it. Anyway, we should get to our classes.”

As they continued their walk, Maxwell couldn’t help but wonder about Lily’s intentions. It was clear she had a strong interest in Wayne, but Maxwell also knew that Wayne wasn’t the type to get involved in complicated social dynamics. He hoped Lily would respect Wayne’s space and not make things awkward for him.

When they reached the Psychology building, Maxwell turned to Wayne with a smile. “Thanks again for walking me over. See you later, okay?”

“Sure,” Wayne replied, giving him a nod. “Good luck with your class.”

Maxwell headed inside, ready to tackle his first lecture of the day. Meanwhile, Wayne made his way back towards the Engineering building, his thoughts still lingering on the encounter with Lily. He wasn’t one to let things get to him easily, but it was clear that this situation would require some careful navigation.

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Later that day, while Wayne was deep in a study session at the library, he couldn’t shake off the feeling of being watched. As he glanced up from his notes, he spotted Lily sitting at a nearby table, her gaze fixed on him. She was trying to appear casual, but Wayne could sense the tension in her posture.

When their eyes met, Lily gave him a small, somewhat awkward wave. Wayne offered a polite nod in return before turning his attention back to his work. He wasn’t in the mood for more interactions, especially not ones that felt forced or uncomfortable.

Just as Wayne was about to refocus on his notes, his phone buzzed with a message from Maxwell. He checked it and saw a simple text: “Hey, how’s it going? Let’s grab lunch later?”

Wayne quickly replied, “Sure, sounds good. I’ll see you later.”

A few hours later, Wayne met up with Maxwell at their usual spot in the campus café. Maxwell was already seated at a table, his tray loaded with an assortment of food. He looked up with a grin as Wayne approached.

“Uy, Wayne! Nandito ka na pala,” Maxwell greeted him, gesturing for him to sit down. “Tara, kumain tayo.”

Wayne took a seat, grateful for the chance to relax and unwind. “Sana mabawasan ang stress ko dito. Ang dami kong kailangan gawin.”

Maxwell nodded sympathetically. “I understand. Minsan talaga, kailangan mo lang ng break. Plus, mukhang masaya ka naman kahapon.”

“Medyo,” Wayne admitted. “Pero naisip ko rin na kailangan ko nang i-clear ‘yung mga bagay na nagiging komplikado.”

Maxwell raised an eyebrow. “May problema ba? Kung kailangan mo ng advice or anything, andito ako.”

Wayne appreciated the offer. “Salamat, Max. Wala namang major issue. Just trying to figure things out.”

As they chatted and enjoyed their lunch, Wayne felt the weight of the morning’s awkward encounter lift slightly. He knew that he could count on Maxwell to be a supportive friend, and that made all the difference.

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