Dei didn't come back today. She wasn't here yesterday and the day before either. He was starting to become weary. He wondered constantly if she was okay, if she was eating right, if she was coping okay with it all especially after that Mark incident.
He sat in the very same corner where she would always hang out with Moshu, both of them wearing the same mopey faces and their eyes glued to the door, watching with hope that the next time it rings, it would be her who steps in. But each time it did, she was nowhere to be seen, and each time both of them exhaled sighs of disappointment.
"I know buddy, me too." RJ said as he heard the pooch moan just a little in yearning for his master.
He missed her, missed teasing her and just watching her be. There was something about her that kept him tossing and turning at night. She was beautiful, no doubt about that. But there was something more to it than just that. It was something within that was masked by her skepticism. An effervescent mystery about her ways that captured his attention. From the simple acts of tucking her hair behind her ears, or the way she would light up when she's with Moshu. The way she'd laugh or curse at a book she was reading. The way she felt Moshu's fur as if it gave her the utmost happiness.
He looked past the facade she tried too hard to show. He knew for a fact that the girl who wrote about all those beautiful places was still in there somewhere. He took it upon himself to try and bring that out.
There were days he would just stare at her while she was in her little nook, wondering what went on inside her beautiful mind as he pretended to read. He would silently study her features as if he were painting a picture. Her pursed lips when she was in deep thought. Her big doe eyes that failed to hide her emotions. Her soft giggles that sounded like cherubs floating about in the air in sing-song melody. The way her hands softly glided through each page, making him wonder how it might feel if those hands touched his. He wondered too, if he ever crossed her mind. If she'd been haunted day in and day out just as much as he was. But then again he thought, why would she? She had a much bigger burden to bear.
Another week passed, there was still no sign of Dei. He was starting to think now that she might never come back. As much sadness this caused RJ, whatever reasons she may have, he understood. He sat up, feeling as if the world has all of a sudden turn to shit. Moshu stood up with him, feeling exactly the same way. He promised himself this would be the last time he would wait, after all, he had the rest of his life to live. The door chimed once more as he stood on the counter to check out another book for his dad, he no longer looked to spare himself from another disappointment.
He turned around, noticing an eager smile on Leya's face, and there she was, in all her glory, wearing a striped pullover and a denim jumpsuit. Her hair in a messy bun and rose gold beats clung on her head, music on full blast.
"Dei?"
He muttered, swallowing hard at her unexpected appearance.
"Yeah?"
He didn't know what hit him. Perhaps it had been his longing. But without a second thought, he pulled her in for a loving embrace.
"Akala ko hindi ka na babalik."
She blushed at the sudden act of intimacy. She could feel RJ's chest heaving in delight and his heart pulsating vigorously. He had strong arms and yet there was a gentleness she could not explain.
"OA ha? Nawala lang ng dalawang linggo feeling mo may karapatan ka ng yakapin ako?"
"Oh sorry. Uhm akala ko kasi." he let go, gushing at what he realized he had just done.
