Next To Me

7. Hallway

2 weeks has passed since Maine moved to her apartment. She's been busy with her work lately she barely get up in front of her laptop. There's an article that she needs to finish for the magazine and an upcoming meeting later in the day with her publisher for the next subject given to her.

That morning she finished her article and prepared to go to the publisher's office while locking her door, RJ was also getting out of his room.

"Hey" he greeted.

"Hey. Morning.."

"Ngayon lang ata kita nakita na aalis. May lakad ka?"

"Yeah. May meeting akong pupuntahan."

He was looking all over at her. She's in a white smart casual blouse paired with slacks shorts ending just right at her lower leg and peach killer heels. She has make up on but still looks fresh and not overly done. Pink lips ang small pearls as her earrings. Her hair in a high ponytail.

"Maganda ka naman pala pag nakaayos."

"Apparently, nasaktohan mo lang ako sa most haggard na itsura ko nung una mo kong nakita kaya naninibago ka." She said raising an eyebrow.

RJ couldn't hide the smile on his face as he looks at her. She's actually very pretty today.
Maine is getting conscious at him. His eyes is so fixated at her he didn't notice he was rotating his door knob restlessly.

"Uhm, mauna  na ko?" She said awkwardly and started making small steps towards the stairscase.

"Ah! Yeah, sorry. Uhm, well, wait!"
He said when he saw Maine already a few feet away from him.

"Maine!" He called out.

"Yes?"

"Gusto mo sumabay ka na sakin? I have a car. I can drop you off sa pupuntahan mo."

"Naku, hindi na. Mapapalayo ka lang. I'm headed at the other direction so tatawid ako sa daan." She said while pointing at the way of her location. "But thanks for offering." She said with a smile.

That smile! RJ suddenly felt a tug in his heart upon seeing her smile. For the first time since they met, this is the first time he saw her smileand he felt different about it. He couldn't explain exactly what it was but something's change with the way he sees her. It started since he saw her all dolled up at her doorstep, and not throwing snared glares and banters at him. He doesn't want to admit this but he thinks he's starting to have a crush on her. His thoughts of her haggard face and the balcony incident is almost erased from his memory. He didn't notice Maine had already left. Nevertheless, his day started really good.