Patience and Affection

#22 - ❝Comfort In Silence❞

It was a quiet afternoon, the kind where time seemed to slow down. Maxwell and Wayne decided to spend the day watching movies in Maxwell's dorm room. The blinds were partially drawn, letting in just enough light to give the room a cozy ambiance. They had settled on a classic action film, one of Wayne’s favorites.

As the movie played, Maxwell found himself glancing more at Wayne than at the screen. There was something comforting about the way Wayne was sitting there, relaxed and content. Maxwell's heart felt lighter when they spent time like this, just the two of them.

“Nakakatuwa ka, alam mo ba 'yun?” Maxwell suddenly said, breaking the silence between them.

Wayne looked over, raising an eyebrow. “Bakit naman?”

“Di ko alam,” Maxwell replied with a soft chuckle. “Basta. I feel calm in your presence.”

Wayne didn't reply immediately, but a small smile on his lips. “Ganun din ako sa'yo.”

Maxwell’s heart skipped a beat at those words. He wasn't sure if Wayne understood how much those simple words meant to him, but he didn't need to dwell on it. Being with Wayne like this was enough for now.

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The movie continued, but Maxwell's attention was somewhere else. He found his thoughts drifting back to the  moments they shared over the past weeks—the late-night conversations, the quiet walks to class, the way Wayne would make sure Maxwell was comfortable before anything else.

“Max,” Wayne said suddenly, his voice low.

“Hmm?” Maxwell responded, turning to face him.

“Alam mo ba...na masaya ako na makilala kita?” Wayne's voice was steady, but there was an unspoken emotion behind his words that made Maxwell's chest tighten.

Maxwell didn't know how to respond at first. It wasn't like Wayne to be so direct with his feelings, but he appreciated it. “Ako din, Wayne. Sobra.”

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For a while, they just sat there, letting the movie play out as background noise. The comfort of each other's presence was more than enough. Eventually, Maxwell felt a weight against his shoulder. He looked over and realized that Wayne had dozed off, his head resting gently on Maxwell's arm.

Maxwell smiled to himself. “Wayne's always so serious, so strong. But even he needs that.”

Gently, Maxwell shifted slightly to make Wayne more comfortable without waking him. He could feel Wayne's steady breathing, and it brought him an unexpected sense of peace. He didn't want to move, didn't want to disrupt this rare moment of tranquility.

As the credits rolled, Maxwell reached for the remote, turning off the TV. He glanced down at Wayne, who was still fast asleep. “He must have been really tired.”  Maxwell thought, his heart swelling with affection.

Carefully, Maxwell reached for the blanket draped over the back of the couch and pulled it over Wayne, making sure he was warm. He knew  they would have to talk about their feelings eventually, but for now, this was enough. He would let Wayne rest, and maybe when he woke up, they could share this moment together again.

"Mahal kita," Maxwell whispered, his voice so soft that it barely reached his own ears. He knew Wayne wouldn’t hear it, but saying it out loud, even in a whisper, felt like a small step forward.

Maxwell leaned his head back again, closing his eyes as he allowed himself to drift off into a peaceful doze. Wayne's warmth against him offering a comfort that he had never known before.

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