Pillow Talk

It was late in the evening. Everyone at the Mendoza residence have already settled for the night. Maine was sitting on her bed reading a book, making sure that her booklight was directed away from her ate Coleen who was already sound asleep. Eventhough Maine was tired herself, she just couldn't sleep yet. Her mind was elsewhere.

Her phone suddenly rang and was shocked to see Richard's code name on the screen. She answered after the third ring.

"Sorry...Did I wake you?" Richard asked on the other end.

"No," she answered. "I was trying to catch up on my reading."

"Good," he remarked. "Can I come in? I'm at your front door."

"What?!?"

Maine scrambled from her bed and hurriedly went downstairs to open the door for him. When she swung the door open, she was greeted with a bouquet of pink and yellow carnations and a very tired-looking Richard.

"Hi!"

Maine couldn't help but smile when she reached out and took the bouquet from him. She led Richard inside, opening the living room lights as they walked in the all too familiar room. They've talked about the days event when they weren't together. Her Subic trip, Mama Ten's birthday celebration, his manager house and car blessing, her date with her bed...

"Have I interrupted your date?" Richard teased as he took in the sight of Maine's back as she was already in her pajamas.

Maine laughed as she remembered what she wrote on her blog about her Valentine's date. She put the bouquet down on the center table of the living room and sat on the sofa. Richard followed and sat beside her. Maine immediately crawled on his lap and wrapped her arms around his waist. Richard placed his arm around her shoulder as she settled her head on his chest.

"He was getting boring," she finally answered once she was settled in his arms. "It was a good thing you showed up. I wouldn't know how to turn him down."

Richard laughed and he heard her laugh with him. His other arm went around her waist and he gave her a tight embrace. He sighed, contented. With his arms around her and he could feel her whole body leaning on him for support, it felt right. He felt like she belonged there, a piece that was missing on him was finally in its place completing him.

They were both silent for a time, each just enjoying the other's company. No words were needed. They were together. They were content. They were happy.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make it at SPS this afternoon," Maine said, breaking the silence.

"It's okay," he answered. "Although I have to admit, I had wanted you to be there."

"And I had wanted to be there," she remarked as she disentangled herself from their embrace and looked into his eyes. "I really wanted to surprise you of my visit but they sent me to Subic instead. I should have gone there. Then they wouldn't say anything bad about you again."

"Half," Richard said as his left hand reached out and touched her cheek. "You should be used to them by now. Nothing I do would make them satisfied. They would always find me lacking of something. So don't worry, okay? I hate it when you worry."

"But it's not fair," Maine said and a drop of tear fell. Richard immediate wipe away that single tear, but a second followed and another. Suddenly, Maine was crying and Richard held her in a tight embrace.

He felt her sobs. Her body was shaking with every frustrated tear that fell on her face and onto his shirt. But Richard kept his hold on her, his embrace even tighter as his heart broke for her. He kept silent as he just let her cry. Maine usually needed a good cry. She wasn't used to showbiz life and she was still overwhelmed with everything happening to her. Eventhough she kept saying in interviews that she didn't care what others think, deep down she kept it all. And then she needed a good cry to just let it all out. But what Richard was really pained about was the fact that she was worried about his bashers and not hers. It was his bashers that she was frustrated about and that really irked him. He can take the bashing. He'd done that for years. But now, he had her to think about. He didn't want her hurt in any way but here he is now, seeing her hurting and it was all because of him. He cursed under his breath. Maine doesn't deserve this pain.