Next To Me

13. Grocery pt. 2

He let go of Maine as they neared the counter. She decided to pay for their items(he gave her a thousand pesos and will calculate the bill for his items later). As they wait in line while RJ was standing behind Maine, there was a couple behind him who were scanning the items on the counter.

The guy looked a bit in his late 30's , big built and has a tattoo all over his left arm, something that looked like a dragon. The girl is in full make up, red lipstick(magmumurang pula), blonde hair and skimpy tank top and short shorts. They were tangled to each other as if someone would snatch the other away. An exact example of PDA. When the guy noticed RJ looking at them, RJ looked away immediately. He almost feared for his life as the guy looked like he just got out of a wrestling match and could smash you in split seconds with his bulging biceps. RJ's biceps obviously could do no good to defend him. Apparently, the guy was reaching for his hands, handling him something.

"P're. Ito gamitin mo. Sigurado akong mapapaligaya mo yang syota mo." He said pointing to Maine. And then the couple giggled to each other.

RJ was surprised at the moment and involuntarily clenched at the item the scary guy gave him. It was a box of condoms. He was totally flustered upon seeing the small box in his hand, almost crumpled.

"Ah sir, kukunin nyo po ba yan?" The cashier clerk said. Maine's attention is  also now onto him, giving a quizzical look.

"Ha?... Ah.. Eh.." He looked at the cashier girl, then at the box in front of him, then at the cashier again, confused and rendering him speechless. But he couldn't look at Maine due to too much embarassment. He thought that she might think dirty of him if she sees RJ planning to get something lewd like a box of condom. Beads of sweat started forming on his forehead as he doesn't know what to do.

"Eh sir, Nasira nyo na po kasi yung box. Considered sold na po yan. Nasa policy po namin yun eh. Kailangan nyo po bayaran." The cashier explained.

"Ha? E teka. Hindi ko naman..."

"Miss, sige babayaran na lang namin. Pa-scan na lang." Maine butted in. She took the box and put it with the items inside the Eco bag after the clerk scanned it.

RJ was surprised with Maine's actions. It seemed that it was nothing to her. So, he shrugged it off. Relieved of what transpired.

On their way home, none of them mentioned nor asked about the incident earlier.

They went back to their place with nobody speaking. RJ made sure there's a safe distance between them, but not too much that it would feel more awkward than it already is. As Maine seperated her items from his, RJ immediately grabbed the box of condom and rushed to his room.

"Huy! San ka..." He was gone in split seconds. It dawned to her that he was totally embarassed by the incident and started laughing at his predicament. No matter what the story behind that box, she just couldn't stop herself from laughing. She remembered his reddened face at the grocery store.

RJ totally got irritated over his situation. He doesn't know how he would face her. He was pacing around his room trying to resolve his situation.

Shit shit shit! Bwisit kasing lalaki yun! Argh! Paano ko ngayon haharapin si Maine?! Baka iniisip nun may balak akong di maganda. Hindi din n'ya ko kinakausap kanina sa daan. Hay Nakakahiya! Yung ibang gamit ko nasa kwarto pa nya, pati  sukli ko.

----

He's a guy after all.

There was a time that RJ mentioned to her that on Fridays, his officemates would invite him to go bar hopping. They meet some girls at the bar and get wasted until morning.

That's probably the condoms are for.

She shrugged at the thought and started preparing her lunch. But still, RJ's reddened face at the grocery always makes her laugh whenever she remembers it.