Patience and Affection

#40 - ❝Under The Fireworks❞

The UST Foundation Day was in full swing, the campus buzzing with excitement. Stalls lined the walkways, each one offering something unique—from food to games to souvenirs. Students moved in groups, their laughter filling the air as they celebrated their school’s rich history.

Rhiannon was at the center of it all, her authority as SSG President keeping everything running smoothly. But her overzealous dedication wasn’t going unnoticed by her older siblings.

“Rhiannon, tigilan mo nga ‘yan!” Kaitlyn called out, exasperation clear in her voice as she watched her sister scale yet another ladder to hang a banner. “Hindi mo naman kailangang gawin lahat ng trabaho.”

Joshua stood beside Kaitlyn, arms crossed, mirroring her concern. “You’re the president, not the whole SSG. Let your officers handle some of this. Wala ka bang tiwala sa kanila?”

Rhiannon paused at the top of the ladder, looking down at her siblings. “I trust them, pero may mga bagay lang talaga na ako dapat ang gumagawa. Besides, everything has to be perfect,” she insisted, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Kaitlyn shook her head, muttering something under her breath. “Ikaw talaga, unstoppable ka. Pero kailangan mo rin magpahinga, Rhiannon.”

The moment was almost comical. Here was the unstoppable SSG President, scolded by her own siblings for working too hard. But for Rhiannon, this was just another day, another challenge to overcome.

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On the other side of the campus, Maxwell and Wayne were enjoying a quieter moment together. They had wandered away from the main festivities, finding a spot near the gardens where the noise was a little more distant.

“Can you believe it? A few months na lang, 3rd Year na tayo,” Maxwell mused, his voice tinged with both excitement and disbelief. He glanced at Wayne, who was staring up at the sky, lost in thought.

“Yeah,” Wayne replied, a small smile playing on his lips. “Ang bilis ng panahon. Parang kailan lang...”

Maxwell nudged him playfully. “Parang kailan lang, magkasama na tayo.”

Wayne looked at Maxwell, his eyes softening. “Yeah, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Their conversation flowed naturally, as it always did. They talked about their plans for the future, their hopes, and their worries. But beneath the casual conversation, there was an unspoken tension—a feeling that tonight was different, that something was about to change.

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Elsewhere, Isabel, Andrea, and Scarlett were taking a break from the crowd, sitting on a bench near the main stage. The three friends had spent most of the day together, enjoying the festivities and catching up amidst their busy schedules.

“Rhiannon’s really outdoing herself this year,” Isabel remarked, her eyes scanning the well-organized event. “Parang hindi na siya napapagod.”

Andrea chuckled. “She’s always been like that. Pero tama nga ‘yung sinasabi ni Kaitlyn at Joshua. She needs to learn to delegate more.”

Scarlett, who had been quiet, finally spoke up. “She’s doing what she thinks is best. Pero sana nga, she remembers to take care of herself too.”

The three of them fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their thoughts. The sun had set, and the sky was beginning to darken. Soon, it would be time for the highlight of the evening—the fireworks display.

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As the first fireworks lit up the night sky, casting colorful lights across the campus, Rhiannon finally stepped back from her duties. She joined her siblings, Kaitlyn and Joshua, who had found a good spot to watch the show.

“Finally decided to take a break, huh?” Joshua teased, handing her a bottle of water.

Rhiannon accepted it with a grateful smile. “Okay na lahat. I can relax now.”

Kaitlyn wrapped an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Good. You deserve it.”

The three of them stood together, watching the fireworks in companionable silence, the bond between them stronger than any words could express.

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Meanwhile, Wayne and Maxwell had also found a spot to watch the fireworks. They were standing close to each other, the excitement and nervousness between them almost palpable.

As the fireworks exploded above, Wayne took a deep breath. He had been thinking about this moment for a while now, wondering when the right time would come. And now, with the sky lit up in brilliant colors and Maxwell by his side, he knew this was it.

“Maxwell,” Wayne started, his voice steady despite the nervous flutter in his chest.

Maxwell turned to him, his eyes reflecting the fireworks. “Hmm?”

Wayne hesitated for just a second before leaning in, closing the distance between them. “I think... this is the perfect moment.”

Before Maxwell could ask what he meant, Wayne gently cupped his face and kissed him. It was soft and tentative at first, but it quickly deepened as Maxwell responded, his arms wrapping around Wayne’s shoulders.

The world seemed to disappear around them, the fireworks fading into the background. For that moment, there was only the two of them, sharing something they had both wanted for so long.

When they finally pulled apart, both were breathless, their foreheads resting against each other’s.

“Perfect moment, indeed,” Maxwell whispered, a smile spreading across his face.

Wayne chuckled softly, his heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. “Yeah, it really is.”

As the last of the fireworks lit up the night, Wayne and Maxwell knew that this was only the beginning of a new chapter in their story. A chapter filled with possibilities, challenges, and most importantly, the love they had just begun to explore.

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