Patience and Affection

#39 - ❝Steady Hands, Anxious Hearts❞

The day began with the anticipation of a bustling event hosted by the SSG, led by the ever-capable Rhiannon Hong. Classes had been suspended to allow everyone to partake in the activities, and the campus buzzed with excitement. Maxwell, Wayne, and Kaitlyn found themselves together, walking through the campus grounds, each absorbed in their own thoughts.

As they made their way toward the main event area, Kaitlyn smirked, casting a glance at Maxwell. "Sigurado ako na wala na namang magtatangkang lumapit sa inyo," she said, nudging him playfully. "Especially with me around."

Maxwell chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. "Yeah, si Lily nga naman," he replied, a bit of relief evident in his voice. The presence of a Hong was like an invisible shield against Lily's unwanted advances.

"Mas mabuti na rin," Wayne added, his voice serious as always. "Nakaka-distract siya."

Kaitlyn raised an eyebrow. "Distracting? Sino? Si Lily o si Maxwell?" she teased, earning a light nudge from Maxwell.

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As they approached Rhiannon's booth, they were greeted by the sight of students bustling about, preparing decorations and managing the different aspects of the event. The atmosphere was lively, with everyone seemingly focused on making sure everything went smoothly.

But then, something caught Wayne's attention—his eyes widening as he saw Rhiannon, perched precariously on a ladder, trying to attach a decor piece to the top of the booth. Maxwell noticed it too, his face reflecting a mix of concern and exasperation.

"Rhiannon!" Wayne called out, his voice sharp, but it was drowned out by the noise around them.

Kaitlyn, however, remained calm. "Relax, guys. Sanay na 'yan si Rhiannon. She knows what she's doing."

But even as she said that, her own gaze was glued to her sister, a flicker of anxiety passing through her eyes. It wasn’t every day that they saw Rhiannon doing something this risky, and while Kaitlyn trusted her sister’s skills, there was always a lingering worry.

The other SSG members, however, were not as composed. They stood around the ladder, visibly anxious, clearly unused to seeing their leader in such a precarious position.

"Naku, nakakakaba naman ito," one of the members murmured, biting her lip. "What if she falls?"

"Hindi 'yan mahuhulog," another member said, though his voice was laced with uncertainty. "Pero… baka pwedeng iba na lang umakyat?"

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Just then, Joshua, the eldest of the Hong siblings, arrived at the booth. He spotted Kaitlyn immediately, a smile on his face, but that smile quickly faded when his eyes landed on Rhiannon up on the ladder.

"Anong ginagawa niya?" Joshua exclaimed, his voice tight with anxiety as he hurried over to Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn sighed, her playful demeanor slipping away. "She's being herself, kuya," she replied, a hint of exasperation in her tone. "Alam mo naman si Rhiannon, she won't let anyone else do it if she thinks she can do it better."

Joshua shook his head, his worry clear. "Pero… ang taas niyan, and she's not even holding on properly!"

Wayne, feeling the tension rise, stepped forward. "Rhiannon, baba ka na. Let someone else do that," he called out, trying to keep his voice steady.

Rhiannon, halfway through securing the decor, glanced down and flashed them a quick smile. "Relax, guys. I'm almost done. Ang OA niyo," she called back, her tone light as if she wasn’t balancing several feet above the ground.

Maxwell frowned, stepping closer to the ladder, as if ready to catch her if something went wrong. "Pero Rhiannon…"

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Before he could finish, Rhiannon expertly tied off the decor, securing it in place. She then slowly began her descent, every eye in the booth watching her every move. It was only when her feet touched the ground that a collective sigh of relief passed through the group.

Rhiannon dusted off her hands, looking around at the anxious faces of her friends and siblings. "Ano ba, why is everyone so tense? Kaya ko naman ito."

Joshua was the first to respond, his voice still tinged with concern. "Rhiannon, alam naming kaya mo, pero hindi naman kailangan ikaw pa 'yung umakyat. What if something happened?"

Kaitlyn nodded in agreement. "He's right, Rhi. I know you're used to doing things yourself, pero sometimes it's okay to let others help."

Rhiannon rolled her eyes playfully, though there was a hint of warmth in her smile. "Okay, okay, next time I'll let one of you handle it," she conceded, though they all knew how unlikely that was.

Maxwell, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke up, his voice soft. "We just don’t want anything bad to happen to you, Rhiannon. We care about you."

For a moment, the usually unflappable Rhiannon seemed taken aback by the sincerity in Maxwell's voice. She softened, her usual playful demeanor replaced by something gentler. "I know, Max. And I appreciate it."

Wayne, who had been watching the exchange, finally relaxed, the tension in his shoulders easing. "Good. Now that we’re all in one piece, how about we help finish setting up?"

Kaitlyn laughed, the mood lightening. "Sounds like a plan. And Rhiannon, this time, we’ll handle the ladders, okay?"

Rhiannon raised her hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. No more ladders for me today."

With that, the group set to work, the earlier tension melting away as they focused on the tasks at hand. Joshua, still a bit anxious, hovered near Rhiannon, making sure she didn’t attempt anything risky again.

As the afternoon wore on, the event took shape, each decoration, each detail meticulously put in place. The campus transformed into a vibrant celebration, all thanks to the efforts of the SSG and their friends. And though the day had started with a few heart-pounding moments, it ended with laughter, camaraderie, and a sense of accomplishment that only grew stronger as the evening approached.

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