Patience and Affection

#14 - ❝Crossroads❞

The early morning sun cast a warm glow over the campus, the start of another day filled with classes and student life. Rhiannon stepped out of her dorm, the crisp morning air a welcome refreshment. As she adjusted the strap of her bag, she spotted a familiar figure leaning casually against a nearby tree—Sébastien.

Sébastien, with his usual laid-back posture and a hint of mischief in his eyes, gave her a nod as she approached. "Good morning, Hong. Ready for another round of tutoring?" he greeted, his tone teasing but with an undertone of sincerity.

Rhiannon rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at her lips. "Sébastien, if you actually paid attention in class, we wouldn't have to meet this often."

Sébastien chuckled, pushing off from the tree and falling into step beside her. “Where’s the fun in that? Besides, I like our sessions. I learn more from you than in any lecture.”

“Flattery won’t get you far,” Rhiannon replied, though she was used to his charming ways by now. As they walked, she mentally prepared herself for another morning of trying to keep him focused.

However, before they could get too far, Rhiannon heard her name being called. She turned to see Wayne jogging toward them, a determined look on his face.

“Rhiannon!” Wayne called out as he closed the distance. He slowed to a stop, slightly out of breath but clearly on a mission.

“Wayne, what’s up?” Rhiannon asked, curious about the urgency in his voice.

Wayne glanced briefly at Sébastien, who was watching the interaction with mild interest, before focusing back on Rhiannon. “I was wondering… Is it okay if I walk Maxwell to the Psychology building this morning?”

Rhiannon raised an eyebrow, surprised by the request. “You want to walk Maxwell? I mean, usually, I walk with him, but…”

Wayne quickly added, “I know, but I thought maybe I could do it today. Just to… keep him company.”

Sébastien, sensing an interesting dynamic at play, leaned in slightly, his expression amused. “You two seem close. Do you usually ask for permission to hang out with your friends, Wayne?”

Wayne ignored Sébastien’s teasing, his eyes remaining on Rhiannon. He knew that Maxwell often walked with her, and out of respect, he didn’t want to intrude without checking first. Plus, he valued Rhiannon’s opinion, knowing how protective she was of Maxwell.

Rhiannon considered Wayne’s request, reading between the lines. She knew Wayne was trying to be considerate, and she appreciated that. She also knew that Maxwell would probably enjoy the change, even if he wouldn’t admit it outright.

“Sure, Wayne,” Rhiannon finally replied with a knowing smile. “I’m okay with it. Just make sure you don’t let Lily cling onto you again.”

Wayne’s expression softened in relief, and he nodded. “Thanks, Rhiannon. I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Sébastien, watching the exchange with growing curiosity, couldn’t resist commenting. “So, what’s the deal with you and this Maxwell guy? Is there something I should know about?”

Rhiannon shot Sébastien a look that clearly said to mind his own business. “Don’t you have a lesson to get to?” she countered, changing the subject smoothly.

Sébastien grinned, not pushing any further. “Right, right. Lead the way, my brilliant tutor.”

Rhiannon glanced back at Wayne, giving him a brief nod before continuing on her way with Sébastien. As they walked away, Sébastien couldn’t help but throw a playful jab. “Looks like Wayne has a little crush, huh?”

Rhiannon rolled her eyes again, though she didn’t deny it. “Just focus on your studies, Sébastien. Leave Wayne and Maxwell alone.”

“Fine, fine,” Sébastien relented, though his grin didn’t fade. He was enjoying this far more than he should.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

Meanwhile, Wayne made his way to the dorm where Maxwell stayed. His mind was focused on how to approach the situation, knowing that Maxwell might find it unusual that he showed up instead of Rhiannon. But Wayne was determined to spend more time with Maxwell, and this was a good opportunity.

When he arrived, Maxwell was already outside, adjusting the straps of his backpack. He looked up in mild surprise when he saw Wayne approaching.

“Wayne? Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Maxwell asked, a bit puzzled but not displeased.

“Rhiannon asked me to walk you to your building today,” Wayne replied smoothly, sticking to the cover story. “Since she’s busy with Sébastien.”

Maxwell blinked, processing the information. “Ah, ganun ba? Okay, then. Tara na?”

Wayne nodded, falling into step beside him as they started walking. The campus was beginning to come alive with students heading to their classes, but for Wayne, the noise seemed distant. All he could focus on was the fact that he was walking with Maxwell, just the two of them.

As they walked, they talked about trivial things—assignments, upcoming events, random observations about their classmates. The conversation flowed easily, as it usually did between them, but there was a subtle undercurrent that hadn’t been there before. Wayne noticed how Maxwell seemed more at ease, more comfortable with him than he had been in the past. It made Wayne’s chest tighten in a way that was both confusing and exhilarating.

When they reached the Psychology building, Maxwell turned to Wayne with a small smile. “Salamat, Wayne. I didn’t expect na ikaw yung maghahatid sa’kin today.”

Wayne shrugged, trying to play it cool. “Wala ‘yon. Anytime, Maxwell.”

Maxwell hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to say something more, but he ended up just nodding. “Ingat ka sa class mo later.”

“You too,” Wayne replied, giving a small wave as Maxwell headed inside.

As Wayne walked back to the Engineering building, he couldn’t stop the smile that spread across his face. There was something about being with Maxwell that made the day seem a little brighter, a little easier to get through. And as much as he tried to push the thought away, a small voice in the back of his mind wondered if this was what it felt like to really care about someone—to want to be close to them, to look forward to every moment spent together.

Sébastien’s teasing words echoed in his head, and Wayne shook his head to clear them away. This was just friendship, he told himself. But deep down, he wasn’t so sure anymore.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

Back with Rhiannon, as she and Sébastien sat down to begin their tutoring session, Sébastien couldn’t help but sneak in one last question. “So, what do you think? You think Wayne’s got a shot?”

Rhiannon didn’t look up from the notes she was reviewing, but the slight twitch of her lips gave her away. “He might. But that’s for Maxwell to decide.”

“Interesting,” Sébastien mused, leaning back in his chair. “Very interesting.”

And with that, the morning continued, with everyone moving forward, each step bringing them closer to whatever the future had in store.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃