Patience and Affection

#10 - ❝Daily Companionship❞

The next morning, the campus was abuzz with activity. The SSG officers were in full swing, preparing for the upcoming event that had everyone on their toes. The air was thick with anticipation, and Rhiannon, Isabel, and Andrea were nowhere to be found, deeply entrenched in their duties as the school's top student leaders.

Scarlett, who usually lent a hand whenever she could, was preoccupied with her own responsibilities as a 4th-year student. With thesis deadlines looming and final projects piling up, she barely hadn't time for anything else.

Maxwell found himself in a peculiar situation. With his closest friends all occupied, he had little choice but to spend more time with Wayne. It wasn't that he minded—on the contrary, the more time he spent with Wayne, the more he enjoyed his company. But with each passing day, the tension within him grew, as his feelings for Wayne became harder to ignore.

This morning was no different. Maxwell spotted Wayne walking towards the Engineering Building as usual, his steps measured and purposeful. Maxwell quickened his pace to catch up, falling in beside him.

“Wayne, sabay na tayo?” Maxwell asked, a slight nervousness in his voice.

Wayne turned to him, offering a small smile. “Sure. Psych building ka ulit?”

“Yeah,” Maxwell replied, his heart skipping a beat. “Sabay na din ako sa ‘yo papunta sa Engineering. Wala kasi akong ibang kasama ngayon.”

Wayne nodded, his expression as composed as ever. “Okay lang. Masaya din akong may kasama.”

The two fell into step, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the campus as they made their way down the familiar path. The sounds of students chatting, the rustle of leaves in the trees, and the distant hum of traffic created a comforting backdrop to their walk.

“Busy lahat ng mga kaibigan mo dahil sa event?” Wayne asked after a few moments of silence.

“Oo,” Maxwell sighed. “Si Rhiannon, Isabel, at Andrea, sobrang busy sa SSG. Si Scarlett naman, halos hindi ko na nakikita dahil sa thesis at mga final projects niya. Kaya, eto ako—sabay sa ‘yo araw-araw.”

Wayne chuckled softly. “Wala namang problema sa akin. Gusto ko nga na may kasama ako papunta sa klase.”

Maxwell felt a warmth spread through him at Wayne’s words. Despite the casual tone, there was a sincerity in Wayne’s voice that made Maxwell feel at ease. He had always admired Wayne’s calm and steady demeanor, but now, spending so much time together, he found himself drawn to more than just Wayne’s composure.

As they walked, the conversation flowed naturally, touching on various topics—from their classes to upcoming exams, and even the event that had the whole campus buzzing.

“Nakaka-pressure din pala ‘yung pagiging SSG officer, ano?” Maxwell mused, glancing at Wayne. “Buti na lang wala ka sa position na ‘yon.”

Wayne nodded in agreement. “Oo, masaya na ako sa Engineering. Ang dami na ngang kailangan gawin, lalo na sa mga projects namin. Pero saludo ako kay Rhiannon at sa iba pa—kaya nila ‘yong responsibilities.”

“True,” Maxwell replied, his thoughts drifting to Rhiannon and the others. He knew how hard they worked, often sacrificing their own time to make sure everything ran smoothly for the student body. “Kaya minsan, gusto ko rin silang tulungan kahit papaano.”

“Gano’n ka talaga, Maxwell,” Wayne said, a hint of admiration in his voice. “Palaging iniisip ‘yung iba.”

Maxwell smiled sheepishly, slightly embarrassed by the compliment. “Salamat, Wayne. Ikaw din naman, mabait ka. Tahimik lang.”

Wayne merely shrugged, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. They walked in companionable silence for a while, both lost in their thoughts. As they approached the Engineering Building, Maxwell hesitated, not wanting the walk to end so soon.

“Wayne, ano nga pala ang gagawin mo mamaya pagkatapos ng klase?” Maxwell asked, hoping to prolong their time together.

“Wala naman masyadong plano,” Wayne replied, looking thoughtful. “Baka mag-review lang ako sa library. May exam kasi kami sa isang subject next week.”

“Gusto mo bang mag-review tayo ng sabay? May mga kailangan din akong aralin para sa Psych,” Maxwell suggested, trying to keep his tone casual.

Wayne considered the offer for a moment, then nodded. “Sige, mas okay nga siguro na may kasama. Mga anong oras ka libre?”

“After lunch siguro? Pwede tayo sa library,” Maxwell answered, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of spending more time with Wayne.

“Sounds good,” Wayne agreed, giving Maxwell a reassuring nod. “Kita na lang tayo mamaya.”

Maxwell couldn’t help but smile as they parted ways, feeling lighter than he had in days. The rest of his morning classes passed in a blur, his thoughts continually drifting back to Wayne and their upcoming study session.

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By the time lunch rolled around, Maxwell was practically buzzing with anticipation. He quickly grabbed a bite to eat, eager to meet up with Wayne again. True to his word, Wayne was waiting for him outside the library, his usual calm demeanor giving Maxwell a sense of reassurance.

“Ready?” Wayne asked as Maxwell approached.

“Ready na,” Maxwell replied with a grin.

They entered the library together, finding a quiet corner where they could study without distractions. As they settled in, Maxwell noticed how easily they fell into a rhythm, their work and conversation blending seamlessly.

For Maxwell, the afternoon passed too quickly. The more time he spent with Wayne, the more he realized just how deep his feelings ran. But for now, he was content with the companionship, grateful for the moments they shared, even if the words he longed to say remained unspoken.

As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the library windows, Maxwell found himself wishing the day didn’t have to end. But he knew that, for now, he would take things one step at a time, cherishing the moments he had with Wayne and hoping that, someday, he would find the courage to share how he truly felt.

For now, walking with Wayne every day was enough.

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