Maybe This Time

18

Aiah stretched her arms above her head, sighing contentedly as the morning sun filtered through the windows. It was a rare morning of peace. No little hands tugging at her shirt, no energetic Maxwell running around demanding her attention. For the first time in what felt like forever, she could enjoy a lazy morning, thanks to Gian and Sheena who had volunteered to take Maxwell for the day.

"Uy, ano? Naka-relax ka na ba?" Sheena had teased over the phone earlier that day. "*Maxie's having a blast dito sa bahay. I swear, parang minion namin ni Gian 'to!*"

"*Oo nga, guys! You deserve some time for yourselves!*" Gian added in his usual quiet but encouraging tone.

Aiah had laughed, hesitant at first to take them up on the offer. But after some convincing, she agreed. After all, Maxwell loved spending time with his Tito Gian and Tita Sheena, and MJ had been dropping hints about wanting to spend time with her.

"Alam mo," MJ had said over breakfast, as he sipped his coffee with a playful smile, "*baka it's time we go out on a date. Puro trabaho tayo lately, tapos, Maxwell din... hindi mo na naaalagaan sarili mo.*"

That earned him a playful eye roll from Aiah. "*Sinasabi mo bang losyang na ako, MJ?*" she quipped, raising an eyebrow at him.

MJ nearly choked on his coffee, wide-eyed as he hurried to shake his head. "*H-hindi, ano ka ba!*" he stammered, clearly flustered. "*Ikaw pa din pinakamaganda para sa akin, Aiah! Alam mo 'yan! Ikaw lang love ko! Gusto ko lang... gusto ko lang na alagaan ka. Magpahinga ka naman.*"

Aiah laughed softly at his reaction, the teasing tone in her voice fading as she reached across the table to squeeze his hand. "*Relax, MJ. I'm just teasing.*" She smiled, feeling warmth spread through her chest at how earnest he was. "*Pero sige, let's do it. Pamper day daw, sabi mo? Surprise me.*"

---

The day began in the heart of the city, where MJ had planned an entire itinerary to make sure Aiah felt like a queen. He picked her up at 10 a.m. sharp, wearing a casual button-down shirt and jeans, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. Aiah had to admit, seeing him in such a relaxed state—free from the usual office wear—made her stomach do little flips.

"*Saan mo ba ako dadalhin?*" Aiah asked, raising an eyebrow as they drove through the bustling streets.

MJ glanced at her, grinning as he navigated the traffic. "*Secret, basta trust me. Hindi kita papapagurin today. Ngayon, puro ikaw lang.*"

Aiah smirked, enjoying the mystery of it all. "*Ang saya naman. Okay, fine, I'll let you spoil me.*"

Their first stop was a well-known spa in the city, a place Aiah had only ever heard about from her friends who swore by it. The exterior alone looked calming, with sleek, minimalist architecture and an indoor waterfall trickling gently by the entrance.

"*MJ, grabe naman 'to,*" Aiah said, wide-eyed as they entered the spa's serene lobby. Soft music played in the background, and the scent of lavender filled the air.

"*Siyempre, gusto ko lang 'yung best para sa'yo,*" MJ said, his voice soft but sincere. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and led her to the front desk. "*Nagpa-book na ako ng full package para sa atin. Massage, facial, manicure, pedicure—lahat na.*"

Aiah couldn't help but giggle. "*Full package talaga? Feeling ko sinasabi mo talagang losyang na ako, MJ.*"

"*Hoy, hindi nga!*" MJ immediately denied, looking panicked as he grabbed her hand and squeezed it. "*Seryoso, gusto ko lang talagang ma-relax ka. You deserve this. Lahat ng stress sa work, tapos kay Maxwell—grabe ka mag-alaga sa kanya, and alam kong napapagod ka minsan. So, please, let me spoil you today, okay?*"

His words made her heart swell, and she looked up at him, eyes softening. "*MJ... thank you.*" She tiptoed and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, feeling a little giddy at how thoughtful he was. "*Okay, fine. I'll let you pamper me. Ikaw, ha? You're spoiling me too much.*"

---

Their pamper session was nothing short of blissful. Aiah couldn't remember the last time she felt so relaxed, so taken care of. They started with a couple's massage—an hour of pure heaven as their tired muscles were worked on by expert hands. She let out a contented sigh as the masseuse pressed down on her shoulders, feeling the knots of tension melt away.

MJ, who lay beside her on the massage table, let out a relaxed groan. "*Ang sarap pala nito, no? Bakit ngayon lang natin ginawa 'to?*"

"*Hay naku, MJ,*" Aiah murmured, her voice already laced with drowsiness. "*If this is what it feels like to be spoiled, I can get used to this.*"

"*You deserve it,*" MJ said quietly, his voice tender. "*Dapat mas madalas na ganito.*"

Next came their facials, and Aiah couldn't help but giggle as they were led into another serene room, where the aestheticians began to work on their skin.

"*MJ, parang tita ko 'yung ginagawa nito, ha?*" Aiah teased, as a mask was applied to her face. "*Kailangan ko bang mag-hello to my new baby face after this?*"

"*Baby face ka naman ever since,*" MJ quipped, his eyes twinkling with humor from the chair next to her. "*Yun nga lang, ang hirap nga lang kapag sobrang ganda mo—baka hindi kita mabantayan ng mabuti. Madaming magtangkang lumapit.*"

"*Ang kapal!*" Aiah snorted, but the compliment made her heart flutter.

After the facials, they had their hands and feet pampered, and Aiah couldn't help but feel giddy with how relaxed and taken care of she felt. MJ, on the other hand, looked slightly out of place while having his nails cleaned, but he remained a good sport, flashing her a playful grin every now and then.

"*Sana pala pinapa-pedicure ko si Maxwell kasama natin, no?*" MJ joked. "*Malamang magugustuhan ni Max 'to. Pa-foot spa siya habang nanonood ng cartoons.*"

Aiah laughed, shaking her head. "*Magiging mini-MJ 'yun! Spoiled sa spa days. Wala, nasanay na siya.*"

---

After hours at the spa, they decided to grab lunch at a nearby café MJ had scouted out beforehand. The small, cozy spot was tucked away from the bustling streets, surrounded by lush greenery and a quaint little garden. Aiah marveled at how thoughtful MJ had been in planning everything. It was the kind of peaceful day she never realized she needed.

As they sat across each other, sipping on fresh fruit smoothies while waiting for their food, Aiah felt a warmth bloom in her chest. She hadn't felt this light in a long time—no pressures of work, no rush of responsibilities. It was just her and MJ, enjoying each other's company like they used to.

"*Thank you for today,*" she said softly, reaching for his hand across the table. "*I don't think I've been this relaxed in years.*"

MJ smiled, rubbing his thumb gently across her knuckles. "*I'm glad. You deserve it, Aiah. You've been so strong for everyone—sa work, kay Max, even for me. So, today, it's all about you.*"

Aiah couldn't help but smile at his words, her heart feeling so full. "*You're really making me feel like a queen today, ha?*"

"*Ikaw naman talaga ang queen ko,*" MJ replied, his tone light but filled with sincerity. "*Dapat lang na mag-relax ka minsan.*"

---

As the day wound down, MJ suggested a final surprise—a sunset drive along the coastal road just outside the city. Aiah found herself leaning back in her seat, watching the golden-orange hues of the sun dip below the horizon, the sound of the waves crashing softly in the background as MJ drove with one hand on the wheel and the other resting on hers.

"*This has been the best day,*" she whispered, her heart full as she gazed at the beautiful sunset. "*I didn't realize how much I needed this until now.*"

MJ glanced over at her, his eyes soft and full of love. "*I'm glad you enjoyed it, Aiah. Anything for you. Alam mo naman, I'll do anything to make you happy.*"

Aiah smiled, feeling the warmth of his words wrap around her like a blanket. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly at peace. Being with MJ like this—just the two of them—felt like a beautiful reminder that despite all the chaos of life, they still had each other.

And that was enough.

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