uncolored (completed)

desert safari (Morocco day 3)

Everyone on the team is up really early. They were travelling to Marrakesh, over 2 hours away from Casablanca. Maine and Rj have readied their things and are just waiting for final instructions before moving.

Maine is munching on some cookies which she shares and feeds Rj with.. They're actually all hungry but it was still a little too early for breakfast.

To shake the sleepiness away, Rj stood up and pulled Maine outside the hotel. Suddenly, he adjusts his hold of her hand to her forearm and starts spinning around together with her.

"....Rj! Ano ba!?"

"Wheeeeeee!"

"Rj! Tama na!!"

"......"

"Ano ka ba! STOP NA!"

They stop turning when Rj spots the rest of the team exit the hotel doors.

"Kainis to!"

"Tatalsik ka na?"

"......"

"...kayo talaga! Is that your way to wake up?" Ms. Sari giggles at their playfulness.

"......" Rj just smiles while Maine shakes her head and slaps Rj's arm.

"Tara na nga." Maine says as she makes her way to the waiting bus.

Nanay Maryann along with some of the team had already taken their seats inside the bus. Maine sat by the window with Rj beside her.

They enjoyed the view of the changing landscape as they made their way to Marrakesh. The sun was just peeping through the horizon, making the desert a sight to behold. The noisy chatter of the people in the bus woke the two from their slumber. They were still sleepy and exhausted from their 20+ hour flight so whatever down time they had, they spent napping.

"....Love....look o...ang ganda....." Rj shook his shoulder a little to rouse Maine who had her head on it.

"......" she slowly opened her eyes and saw the sunlight outlining the desert hills.

Rj kissed Maine's head. "I wish that we could wake up to more sunrises like this....." he said gently.

She smiled and kissed his shoulder.

The team finally arrived in Marrakesh. Maine whipped out her own camera and took some shots of the surroundings while waiting for further instructions. They were going to a different location for their photo shoot. They were just at a quaint Moroccan restaurant for breakfast.

After breakfast, the team was driven to a desert where they were going to take most of the shots. This part of Africa has a long daylight time so the sun was shining practically the whole day. Maine would playfully run oin the desert sand while Rj watched with amusement. He would wipe away her sweat and offer her water when she approached or when she was called back to their standby area.

During other times, the team witnessed how Rj and Maine would play and interact with each other. They enjoyed their time together, being carefree and away from the crowd. They were sweet and caring of each other.

"Rj....we're going to shoot on camels...."

"....yes? camels?"

"....I mean, sasakay kayo ng camel....one at a time muna then together...."

"...uhmm....Maine's in a dress...." Rj is a bit hesitant at the idea of camel riding as he glances at Maine who is being prepped by Ms. Celeste and Sir Juan.

"....okay lang...I'm in shorts..." Maine answers and smiles

Rj is still uncomfortable with the idea but doesn't say much. He assists Maine as she gets up on the camel.

"....sure ka dito, Love?" he asks.

"....sus! parang kabayo lang....." she assures him. "pero...."

"Pero ano?"

"Hmm...malapad tong likod nung camel...."

"....." he looks at her, with a raised eyebrow

"Ah okay...ganito...." she adjusts herself and folds her legs on her side. She raises her arms and poses.

"Hahahahaha! Loka ka talaga!" the team, who has been watching from the sidelines just laugh at the crazy antics Maine pulls off.

"Okay...good....look here.....good.....now look to the distance....great!.....okay, next set up....Rj, ride the camel behind Maine....." MN calls out.

Rj tries to get on the camel and is having a little difficulty because of the width of the camel's back and the saddle they're sitting on. Maine helps him a little and he's finally settled in.

"Okay....good....now, Rj, wrap your arms around Maine's waist....good....look here.....okay, now, rest your chin on her shoulder.....good....look there.....okay......tilt your head this way....a little more....there.....okay, perfect!....."

"...uhmm...can we ride this camel for a while?" Rj asks.

"Yeah sure! "Mohammed....can they ride for about 15 minutes?"

"Yes...15 minutes...."

Maine and Rj rode the camel around the area. They were both giggling and chuckling most of the time as it wasn't a very smooth ride.

"Hahahahaha! Parang....."

"Parang ano?....what have you in mind my Menggay?"

".....parang what happens sa gabi....."

"....baliw ka talaga....."

"Well....it's rather bumpy and wiggly...."

"Aba! At may nalalaman ka pang bumpy and wiggly dyan...."

"Well....what do you think?"

"We'll see.....tonight....." he wiggles his eyebrows as she looks back at him. She elbows him.

"Hahahahahaha!"

A few more hours were spent on the desert and a nearby town. As they wound down the evening, their guide lead them to their accommodations for the night.

"Wow!"

An elegant campsite was set up in the middle of the desert. Several mattresses and pillows were laid out on carpets in front of a row of tents.

"You can relax here on the mattresses but it is advised that you sleep inside the tents as the temperatures drop at night and possible sandstorms may occur...." their guide told them.

Members of the team were assigned different parts and rooms of the tents. Maine and Rj were assigned adjoining beds. They went out and gathered on the outdoor mattresses to have dinner, talk about the shoot and enjoy each others' company.

After dinner and chitchat, some of the team retired into the tents leaving Rj and Maine outdoors. While the camel handlers and guides were on watch at the far end, Rj and Maine cuddle up and enjoyed the vastness of the desert and stars above them.

"This is amazing...." Maine gasped as she saw the millions of twinkling stars in the sky.

"Kasing amazing ba nung night-out natin sa Como?"

"......"

"I'm so happy that I get to spend time with you like this....." Rj said as he stood up. He offered a hand out to Maine and she stood up as well.

They kissed. Under the stars. Under the hood of Rj's jacket.