They arrived at Baguio at 4 in the morning. They didn't expect the terminal to be swarmed by a sea of people, but they didn't really mind. RJ was just happy they arrived safetly.
Maine started roaming around in the area, stretching her sleeping legs while RJ following her close behind. RJ suggested they go buy something to eat. In the of 8 hours of knowing Maine, he was sure her stomach was growling by now.
RJ found a canteen and went towards it. He realized Maine hasn't spoken in a while so he turns to check on her only to see that she hasn't left his spot. RJ was confused, so he went back to her.
"Are you okay?" He asked. She didn't match his excitement, instead she had this guilty look on her face.
"I have to go."
"Then go." He was puzzled. If she wants to pee, then go pee. It's not like he would get mad or something.
"No, like. I have to go." She said, looking straight into his eyes then suddenly he knew what exactly she meant.
"What?"
"This has been the best—"
"Wait, but why?" He looked sad. Maine tried not to look directly at his eyes anymore, her lips were pressed in a thin line. She isn't gonna cry, is she? Not over some boy she barely knew. No, she's not. Pull yourself together, Nicomaine.
"Is it because you're still wary about me? Look, I promise you I'm not up to no good."
"No, it's not that. There are some things I need to do. Alone." He winced at the last word. Well, that didn't hurt at all.
"Please don't get me wrong. This has been the most wonderful trip of my life. Seriously." She walked towards him until there were only a few inches of space left between. She held both of his hands, giving it a tight squeeze while she looked at him. "Thank you for bringing color to my life even if it's just for a couple of hours. Thank you for listening to my stories and sharing yours. Thank you for coming up to my table and offered me your shirt, even though I didn't really need it."
"But I like you."
Maine smiled at him before looking down. She can feel RJ smiling, too. She looked up and they just stared at each other for a few seconds when Maine stood on her toes to place a kiss on RJ's cheek.
"Ditto." And then she walked away, leaving RJ there while he held his hand on his cheek, where she had kissed him. He just watched her go.
But then something inside of him click. Without a warning, he jogged his way towards her. "Wait, I—"
He saw her stop in her tracks as she slowly turn to him, with a faint smile on her face.
"Nicomaine."
"What?"
"My name is Nicomaine. Maine for short."
"Nicomaine." He breathed out and she nodded. Beautiful name, he thought. He kept repeating it in his head. Pretty name for a pretty girl.
"You know I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you, too, coffee shop stranger." She laughed softly and RJ couldn't help but to smile.
"It's Richard. Wait, no. RJ. Richard's my dad." He blurted out. Maine always find it cute whenever he got nervous, it reminded her of the first time he ever spoke to her.
"RJ." She offered her hand to him and he shook it with a firm grip. They officially know each other's names.
Realizing that they were both thinking the same thing, they laughed.
"So, I guess you're really going now, huh?" He asked, trying so hard to come off as nonchalant but you could sense the sadness in his voice.
"Yeah. A journey to self discovery, if you will. You?"
"Keep moving, I guess." He shrugged. He actually didn't know what his next step was. It was like all of a sudden, he was lost again. And all because of this little brunette standing infront of him.
He tried to push away the thoughts, thinking that if she could read his mind right now, she would reprimand him. It's funny how one person could change so much in you in so little time. Despite only being with her for a few hours, RJ felt like he has known her his whole life.
Good thing he were at the right place at the right time, huh?
"I wish you all the best, RJ."
"This isn't goodbye, right?" He said, a little hopeful. He didn't care how desperate he must've sounded because he knows he'll hate himself if he just let her go like that.
Maine smiled at him, sensing the worry on his face. She inched closer to him, so close that she could already smell his cologne, and whispered, "I'll see you soon."
RJ got chills when he felt her breathe against the nape of his neck. He didn't even got the chance to react because she already gone.
He looked around, hoping that maybe she was just kidding around and she's just hiding behind the chairs. He's hoping she'd come back with a change of heart and decided she would let him join her, but no.
She was really gone.
RJ sighed. He sat on the edge of the sidewalk when sadness and regret overtook his being. He wanted to scream, throw a tantrum, but how childish is that?
So he closed his eyes, muttered a little mantra. You're gonna be okay. You're gonna be okay. She's gonna be okay. You're going to be okay without her. Someday. Someday.
He smiled at the possibilities of running into her again. Of seeing her face again, hearing her laugh. He thought about the feeling of having her soft lips pressed against his cheek and wondered how different it would feel it it were on his lips instead.
He longed for the day that he would catch a glimpse of her again. In the right time, RJ. In the right time.
His hand went rummaging in his bag's back pocket, hoping for something to eat when he was only met with empty wrappers of gummy bears. He had to laugh, oh Maine.
Then he felt his hand touch something unfamiliar. Surely, it wasn't an empty wrapper, it felt like...paper?
Curious, RJ pulled it out of the pocket and what do you know, it's a folded piece of paper. Not remembering what it was, or how it got there, RJ slowly opened it and at the same time his heart began thumping wildly, almost as if wanting to get out of its ribcage.
A huge grin was painted on his face as he shook his head, folding the paper neatly and placing it on his back pocket.
Feeling much better now, he got up and went to the counter, asking where he could find a cheap hotel nearby.
RJ has all plans of moving forward, like what he told Maine, but maybe after a good night's sleep and some proper dinner.
F i n
On the paper:
If your adventures seemed a little lonely, 0935-xxxx-xxx
—Maine
