Home

"DING"

The elevator doors opened on the 7th floor. The handsome man, about 5'10 in height with a muscular physique and a sinkhole for a dimple on his left cheek, exited the lift and walked, rather lazily, towards the room at the end of the hallway. To say he was exhausted would be an understatement. It was 25 minutes after 2am and all he wanted was a good night's sleep, with his lovely girlfriend in his arms.

RJ leaned on the door as he knocked, eyes half-open. After a minute, without anyone answering, he knocked again. It's already the wee hour of the morning, but something inside him knew his girl is still awake, after all, he hasn't gotten any good night call from her yet. That's when he was reminded he has a phone and he can call her. Blame his busy schedule for 5 straight days, and his frustration about wanting to be with his girl for his absent-mindedness. He pulled out his phone from the jacket he was wearing and dialed her number. After less than a minute, she picked up.

"Hello, Love!" Maine greeted. She was still cheerful even this late. He unconsciously smiled as he heard her sweet voice despite his exhaustion.

"Love, door please..." RJ sounded like he was about to pass out.

"Door? What door? And bakit ganyan boses mo? Ok ka lang?" From cheery, her voice sounded worried real quick.

"I'm fine, don't worry. Dito ko sa labas, paki bukas yung pinto." He assured her.

Without answering, she dashed to her front door and opened it immediately. There he was, her workaholic boyfriend, leaning on the door frame with his eyes now closed. He was still wearing the beige shirt and denim pants he had on EB that afternoon, but there's now a green jacket over his shirt. The dark circles under his eyes were too vivid for her to ignore and his hair was slightly disheveled. To say he looks haggard would be an understatement.

"Ba't ganyan itsura mo?" She asked, sounding like she was scolding him, but really, she was worried. "Come in."

She held him by the arm and led him inside her condo, but not before closing her front door.

"Thanks, Love." He leaned forward and kissed her temple. She smelled of grapefruit and vanilla, and her hair felt damp on his skin, causing him to open his tired eyes. No wonder, she just got out of the shower, and must be preparing for bed. He smiled as he admired her from behind. Her hair was tousled, she was wearing a familiar white T-shirt, that was obviously too big for her petite body, and a yellow boxer shorts. He always found her most stunning when she's like this.

Maine had him settle on her couch in the living room. "Kumain ka na ba? I'll make you some pasta. Or gusto mo mag-order na lang?"

"Kumain na ko." RJ shook his head, reaching for her and pulling her close. He leaned his head on her, his forehead on her stomach, as his arms circled themselves around her waist. He breathed in her scent.

"San ka ba galing? Sa shoot?" She inquired, a faint trace of concern still in her voice. Half consciously, she raised her hands, the left one rested on the nape of his neck, lightly massaging it, while the other ran through his dark locks.

"Hmm..." He mumbled and nodded lightly. He was too comfortable with what Maine was doing, he could barely speak. He swore he could sleep right then and there.

"Then what brings you here? You should've gone home and rest." She scolded, but not stopping her ministrations. "May EB pa bukas at maaga pa call time mo. You need to rest, and yet here you are. Were you planning to pass out on my front door? Ano ka ba naman."

When she finally stopped lecturing him like a little boy, he told her the reason he was there.

"I wanted to see you." RJ said, his voice was tired but nevertheless sincere. "I missed you. So much."

Maine fell silent after hearing those words, feeling his arms wrap tighter around her. The longing he's been feeling the past few days crept within her, going straight to her heart. They just saw each other that afternoon during EB, but as usual, it was only through a TV screen. She'd been busy too, but not as busy as him. They hadn't been together, on the same place, at the same time, for almost a week now. Sure, they've been calling, texting and facetiming, but she hasn't held him, hugged him, nor kissed him for some time. She's missing him too, but she always had this thought that he's doing all those work non-stop for his family, and of course, for their future, so she pushes the loneliness away and tries to understand him. Maine never knew that not being with her that long was driving him mad and he'd been struggling to keep himself sane. All the sadness she tried to ignore came rushing back, pouring down on her. She felt a pang of pain, and the fact the he was there, despite being exhausted to the bones, clinging onto her like a child who got lost and finally found his mother, almost broke her heart.

"I missed you too." Her hands cupped his face as she made him look at her, his eyes barely open. "So much."

Maine bent down and touched his lips with hers. They made each other feel just how much they missed each other, and how happy they are that they're together right now. They kissed with so much need like their life depended on it. After a few minutes, they pulled away for air.

"Let's go to sleep." She suggested as she gave him another peck on his lips and pulled him up from the couch. He nodded in agreement.

Maine held RJ's arm as she led him to her room, worried that he'll just faint in exhaustion because he was practically dragging his feet as he walked. They reached her room and she let go of him to turn on the table lamp.

"Do you wanna take a shower first? I'm done na, so, you can use---" She was cut in mid-sentence when she turned to see him stripping down to his boxers. "Hala sya..."

RJ left his clothes littering around her room as he collapsed on her bed. The soft mattress bathe with her scent was like a lullaby, slowly sending him to dreamland.

Maine snorted in amusement, a gentle smile appearing on her face as she looks at her man. The room was dimly lit, but she could still see his angelic face as he sleeps. She then picked his discarded clothes, soaked in sweat, and placed them in the laundry basket, planning to wash them the next day. Since he has a few clothes in her condo, she'll just prepare some for him to wear when he leaves in the morning. She returned to her room to see him already under the comforter. She wasted no time and joined him in bed. She laid beside him, pulling the covers up to her neck, but not before turning the light off.

"Good night, Love." She softly whispered after placing a kiss on his forehead.

As she settled, laying on her side, her back facing him, one muscular arm snaked around her waist and pulled her close. His bare chest on her clothed back, his face nuzzling her soft locks.

"Much better." He said in satisfaction. "Good night. I love you, Maine."

Maine smiled to herself. The sadness they felt all those days they were apart had disappeared. No amount of words could explain how happy she is in that exact moment. She has the love of her life snuggled close to her, declaring his love for her, and that's all that matters. It's moments like this that keep them strong. The fact that no matter how far they are apart, how long they are separated, at the end of the day, they are still going to share moments like this. A few hours of pure, uninterrupted bliss.

"I love you too, RJ." She replied as she intertwined her hand with his. She closed her eyes, her smile never leaving her face. At that point, she finally decided she's ready. Ready to be the person he goes home to every day, ready have moments like this with him, for the rest of her life.