Maybe This Time

27

The moonlight softly filtered through the curtains, casting a serene glow in MJ and Aiah's bedroom. Their breaths were heavy, both tangled in a passionate embrace as they kissed like they hadn't seen each other in years, their bodies moving with instinctive familiarity. MJ's hand gently caressed the side of Aiah's face, fingers brushing against her soft skin as he deepened the kiss, making her shiver in delight. Aiah's arms wrapped tighter around his neck, pulling him closer, her lips trailing down his jaw, leaving little kisses as MJ let out a soft groan.

"Love..." Aiah whispered between kisses, her voice muffled but laced with warmth. "Love, MJ..."

MJ hummed against her lips, too caught up in the moment to respond properly. Aiah tried again, giggling softly as she spoke, "MJ, check mo muna yung phone mo, baka emergency."

Kanina pa tumutunog ang phone ni MJ, and though they'd both been ignoring it for the last few minutes, the constant buzzing was hard to disregard now. With a frustrated groan, MJ pulled away from Aiah's neck, breathing heavily. "Ugh, sino ba 'to?"

He reached over to grab his phone from the bedside table, taking a quick glance at the screen. Aiah tilted her head slightly to see who was calling, her lips still tingling from their kisses. When she saw the name flashing on the screen, her heart dropped a little. **Denise.**

Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, a pang of jealousy hitting her chest. Just the mere mention of Denise's name earlier had started their whole argument, and now here she was again, interrupting their moment.

MJ glanced at Aiah, sensing the shift in her mood, but before she could say anything, he answered the call. "Deej, sorry ah," MJ said, his voice firm but casual, "Something came up. Hindi na ako makakasama tonight. Next time na lang."

Hearing those words, **next time na lang**, made Aiah's eyebrow shoot up in irritation. The tension was palpable as MJ hung up, and he couldn't help but notice how Aiah's eyes had narrowed at him. Her lips, swollen from their kisses, were pressed into a thin line.

"Anong meron sa inyo ni Denise?" Aiah asked, her voice calm but with an underlying sharpness that sent shivers down MJ's spine.

MJ knew that tone. It was the calm before the storm. Despite this, he found her jealousy incredibly cute, but he also knew better than to laugh. He turned toward her, raising his hands in surrender, trying to soften the mood. "Wala, Love. Friends lang."

Aiah wasn't buying it. She crossed her arms, squinting her eyes at him suspiciously. "Friends lang?" she repeated, her tone laced with disbelief. "Akala mo bang nakalimutan ko na? Naabutan ko kayo non sa condo mo. Nakatowel lang siya at ikaw, nakaboxers. That was the day na dapat sasabihin ko sayo yung totoo about Max."

MJ winced at the reminder, scratching the back of his head. "Love, hindi pa naman tayo okay non. Hindi pa tayo nun. Pero ngayon, I swear, wala. As in wala."

"Wala?" Aiah scoffed, her arms still crossed. "Kelan ba naging tayo, MJ? Di ba ikaw mismo nagsabi na wala namang tayo noon? Umamin ka nga. Nung hindi ka ba umuuwi dito at palagi kang nagiinom, si Denise ba lagi mong kasama? May nangyayari pa rin ba sa inyo?" Her voice wavered, the insecurity creeping in despite her efforts to stay composed.

MJ softened at the question, his heart sinking as he saw the doubt flicker in Aiah's eyes. He moved closer, reaching out to hold her hand, his thumb gently rubbing the back of it. "Wala, love. Wala nang nangyari sa amin after nung naabutan mo kami dati. Hindi na kami nagkita or nag-usap after nung tapos na yung project niya, lalo na nung nagkausap tayo sa beach house about Max. She's in the past. You and Max are my present, and my future."

Aiah looked at him, her eyes searching his for any trace of dishonesty, but all she saw was sincerity. Still, the sting of the past lingered. She looked down at their hands, her fingers fidgeting nervously with the comforter. "Do you... do you think you still want to marry me?" The question was soft, almost a whisper, as if she was scared of the answer.

MJ's heart clenched at her vulnerability. He hated that she even had to ask. He shifted closer, tilting her chin up gently so she could meet his eyes. "Ikaw lang pinangarap kong pakasalan, Aiah. Kahit nga walang kasal basta ikaw at si Max ang kasama, masaya ako. Mahal na mahal kita." His voice was firm, unwavering. "Kung ano magpapasaya sayo, dun ako. Kung ayaw mo nang kasal, and contented ka na na magkasama tayo, I'm fine with it. Hindi mo kailangan magpakasal sa akin dahil lang gusto ko."

Aiah quickly shook her head, cutting him off, her eyes wide with urgency. "But I want to," she blurted out, surprising even herself with the intensity in her voice. "Sayo lang naman gustong makasal, MJ. Hindi sa iba. Ikaw lang..."

MJ's heart swelled with emotion, and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. He gently pulled her into his arms, kissing her forehead. "Ikaw lang, Aiah. Ikaw lang ang gusto kong makasama habang buhay."

Aiah melted into his embrace, burying her face in his chest as she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice muffled against his skin. "I'm sorry for all the times I made you feel like you weren't enough. I'm sorry for making you doubt us. But I promise you, I'm all in now. I want this, MJ. I want us. I want to marry you."

MJ's chest tightened at her words, feeling like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders. He pulled back just enough to look at her, his hand cupping her cheek as his thumb brushed away the single tear that had slipped down her face. "Mahal na mahal kita, Aiah. And I love Max so much. We'll figure everything out together, okay? We're a family."

Aiah nodded, a small, tearful smile on her lips. "I love you, MJ. I love you more than anything."

MJ leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss. The tenderness in the moment made his heart swell with love and affection. As they pulled away, MJ rested his forehead against hers, whispering, "I love you, Aiah. Always."

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms, savoring the peace that had settled between them. MJ pulled Aiah closer, pressing a soft kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you for loving me," he murmured.

Aiah smiled against his chest, her fingers tracing lazy circles on his back. "Thank you for not giving up on me."

MJ chuckled, pulling back just enough to look at her again. "Never. I could never give up on you."

Aiah giggled softly, her heart light. "Teka, dapat may konting prize na ako for being so forgiving, di ba?"

MJ raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Ah ganun pala ha? Sige, ano ba prize mo?"

Aiah bit her lip, a playful glint in her eyes as she tugged him back down, whispering against his lips, "Kiss mo muna ulit ako."

MJ laughed softly before obliging, his lips meeting hers once again, their kisses deepening, full of promise and love. As their lips moved together, all the pain from the past seemed to melt away, leaving only the warmth of their future ahead.

Aiah's hands tangled in his hair as she whispered, "I love you, MJ. Mahal na mahal kita."

MJ smiled against her lips, his hands sliding up her back, pulling her impossibly closer. "I love you more, Aiah. Forever."

They kissed again, sealing the promise of their love with every touch, every whisper, and every kiss, until the night faded and they were left with nothing but each other.

The phone call from Denise was long forgotten, and in its place was a future that now seemed brighter than ever.