The morning sun cast a warm glow over the campus as Maxwell walked alongside Rhiannon and Andrea. The trio strolled leisurely, enjoying the crisp air while Maxwell recounted his recent trip to Palawan.
“Ang saya ng trip namin sa Palawan,” Maxwell began, his voice tinged with a mix of nostalgia and excitement. “Sobrang welcoming ng mga magulang ni Wayne. Parang ang tagal ko na silang kilala, ganun yung pakiramdam.”
Rhiannon smiled, listening intently. “That’s good to hear, Maxwell. Hindi ko na tinatanong kung paano ka nila tinanggap kasi alam ko naman kung gaano ka ka-charming,” she teased.
Maxwell chuckled, shaking his head. “Naku, Rhiannon, hindi naman ako ganun ka-charming. Pero talagang ramdam ko yung sincerity nila. Nakakatuwa kasi they even invited me to visit again. Parang naging instant family na rin ako.”
Andrea nudged him playfully. “Well, that’s what happens when you’re practically part of the family na, di ba? Kung tutuusin, that’s a huge step, Max. Hindi lahat inaabot ng ganun.”
“True,” Maxwell agreed, a small smile playing on his lips. “Pero sa totoo lang, nakakatakot din. Alam mo yun, yung feeling na you have to live up to their expectations?”
Rhiannon gave him a reassuring pat on the back. “You’ll be fine, Maxwell. Kung paano ka tinanggap ng pamilya nila Wayne, it’s because they trust you. Huwag mong i-overthink.”
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As they walked, Maxwell’s gaze wandered, searching for Isabel. “Nasaan na kaya si Isabel?” he mused out loud. “Hindi ko pa siya nakikita ngayon ah.”
Rhiannon’s expression darkened slightly as she responded, “Ah, si Isabel… May nangyari kasi. Nag-away sila ni Jaxxon.”
Maxwell’s brows furrowed in concern. “Bakit? Ano na naman ginawa ni Jaxxon?”
“Typical Jaxxon stuff,” Rhiannon replied with a sigh. “One of his past flings showed up. You know how he was before, di ba? Kahit Law student siya, his past still haunts him. Hindi naman niya fault na lumitaw ulit yung mga flings, but Isabel got upset.”
Andrea couldn’t help but laugh at the situation. “Ayan na naman si Jaxxon, playboy pero nag-aaral ng batas. Parang ironic, ‘no? Ang galing sa rules and laws pero palaging may drama sa love life.”
Maxwell shook his head in disbelief. “That guy… Akala ko nagbago na siya. I mean, Isabel deserves better. Pero alam mo naman, love is blind.”
Andrea leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial tone. “Actually, I think Isabel likes red flags. I mean, come on, who dates a guy with that kind of history and expects na walang mangyayaring ganito?”
Rhiannon smirked, shaking her head. “You’re not wrong, Andrea. Pero iba kasi si Isabel, she sees the good in people. Maybe she believes Jaxxon can change, or maybe she just likes the thrill. Who knows?”
“Pero sa tingin ko,” Maxwell said thoughtfully, “kung gusto ni Jaxxon na magbago talaga, kailangan niyang i-prove kay Isabel na worth it siya. Hindi pwedeng puro salita lang. Dapat actions din.”
“Exactly,” Rhiannon agreed. “Isabel’s strong, but she also has her limits. Kung hindi magbago si Jaxxon, well, it’s his loss.”
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They continued walking, the conversation shifting to lighter topics as they made their way across the campus. But Maxwell couldn’t shake the worry for Isabel. Despite her tough exterior, he knew that she was deeply affected by Jaxxon’s actions.
“Basta, kapag nakita ko si Isabel mamaya, kakausapin ko siya,” Maxwell said firmly. “Gusto ko lang malaman niya na andito lang kami for her.”
Rhiannon nodded approvingly. “That’s what friends are for, Maxwell. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
As they reached the Psychology building, Maxwell paused. “Dito na ako. Salamat sa walk, Rhiannon, Andrea.”
“No problem,” Rhiannon replied with a warm smile. “Anytime, Maxwell.”
“Take care,” Andrea added, giving him a quick wave before they continued on their way.
Maxwell watched them go before heading inside the building. His thoughts were still on Isabel and Jaxxon, but there was also a sense of gratitude for the support system he had found in his friends. He knew that no matter what challenges they faced, they would always have each other’s backs.
As he walked through the familiar hallways, Maxwell couldn’t help but reflect on how much his life had changed since meeting Wayne and the rest of their friend group. It wasn’t always easy, but moments like these reminded him that it was all worth it.
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Patience and Affection
FanfictionWayne spends a day with his overly enthusiastic friend, Maxwell, testing the limits of his patience. As Wayne tries to endure Maxwell's over-the-top behavior, he begins to question whether their friendship is truly mutual or if Maxwell's feelings ru...
