Next To Me

8. RJ's Room

The meeting has finished later than she thought. It's already dark outside and Maine's waiting in line at the jeepney terminal to get home when she suddenly heard the sky rumble, then it started pouring heavily.

"Shit nakalimutan ko ata payong ko!" She was fumbling inside her bag looking for the non-existent umbrella. Good grief the line moved and she finally got in. She rubbed the top of her head and shoulder trying to whisk away droplets of water that caught her a while ago.

It was still pouring heavily when she got off at the corner of their street, running to the convinient store to take shade from the heavy rain while covering her head with her small bag, but it is no use. Half of her body is now totally soaked. Her hair dripping wet and her blouse is sticking to her skin. She hugged herself for warmth but she still feel the cold wind rushing past her giving her chills. She started to sneeze quite a few times while waiting for the rain to stop.

The rain doesn't look like it's gonna stop any time soon, so she decided to run the few blocks away from her apartment. She's already drenched anyway.

When she finally got to her room, she went for a warm bath. She was feeling the comfort of warm water and soapy bubbles on her body when the lights went out.

"Ay pucha naman talaga o! Ngayon pa nawalan ng kuryente!"

She rushed on rinsing her body and immediately got out of the bathroom. It dawned to her that she haven't prepared emergency lights or spare candles for emergencies like this. She changed in her house clothes as she uses her phone as a flashlight. She knew her phone won't last all night. She doesn't even have a flashligt in her room. Her phone beeped, signaling the battery is nearing its end and then, after a while, it went out.

"Oh crap! Paano ba'ang gagawin ko nito?" She was pacing around her room looking for her power bank. But it was too dark to see. She always trip on anything that was on the floor, making her predicament even worse. "Aaarrrggghhh! Nakakainis na to!" She said furiously.

She stormed outside and decided to seek help from her neighbor.

"Uhm.. RJ?" She knocked lightly on his door. Just when she was about to knock again the door opened.

"Hey Maine." He caught a whiff of her scent from his door. She smelled of body wash and luscious shampoo. She just got a bath. But worry is evident on her face. "Ok ka lang?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Actually not exactly."

"Why what's wrong? Gusto mong pumasok muna?" He asked as he motioned for her to get inside.

"Baka may extra emergency light ka? Hahanapin ko lang ung power bank ko. Wala kasi akong ilaw sa room e, ang dilim." Then her stomach growled. Too loud for her to be embarassed. RJ was trying to stifle his laugh. Maine shot a glare at him.

"And kailangan ko din pala magprepare ng dinner ko." She added.

"Isa lang tong ilaw ko e."

They both went silent.

"Achoo! Achoo! ... Excuse me." Maine's face has redenned as she covered her face and sniffed.

"Nabasa ka ba sa ulan? Mukang sisipunin ka. You know what, dito ka na lang. Gamitin mo na lang tong power bank ko." He offered and motioned for her to sit by the table.