Next To Me

11. Maine's Room

And so, RJ didn't made it to work that day. He had an accident and his lower back is in pain. He was typing on his phone to text his boss about his excuse when Maine knocked on the balcony's glass door.

"RJ..."

RJ stood up and felt the pain on his back. He was limping as he walked to the door.

"Masakit pa din likod mo?"

"Di ba obvious? Naabsent na nga ako e.."

"Sungit naman. Nagtatanong lang e."

"E ano bang kailangan mo?"

"'To naman, pupunta lang ba ko dito pag may kailangan?"

"ano nga yun?" He said more calmly.

"Pinagluto kasi kita ng breakfast! Kung ayaw mo dahil masama pa loob mo sakin dahil naaksidente ka kahit na kasalanan mo din naman kasi ang kulit mo, wag na lang. Ako na lang uubos ng bacon, eggs and pancakes and sausages. Tapos hot chocolate.. Tapos..." Maine trailed off as she looked for any reaction from him. He is glaring at her.

"May sinabi ba kong ayaw ko? Wala naman a!"

"E ba't galit ka pa rin?"

RJ put up a fake grin.

"Ano yan? Ngiting aso? Ni di ko nga nakita ung dimples mo."

"Hay, ano ba? papakainin mo ba ko?"

"Smile ka muna kasi. Whop! Yung totoong smile ha!"

He smiled. Something that is more sincere than the previous one, knowing she did an effort for him.

"Yan, ganyan nga. Tara, Baka lumamig pa yung pagkain. Ang sarap pa naman ng niluto ko."

"Talaga lang ha?" He hooked his arm on her as they head to the door.

"Ay clingy agad?"

"To naman, pakapit lang. Di nga ako makalakad diba?"

Hay naku! Kung di ka lang cute! Ay o, nag-pout pa! Nakakagigil!

"Baka naman malusaw ako nyan? Mejo nakakaconscious ha."

She realized she was staring at him for too long.
"Ang yabang mo talaga!" She said, slapping his arm as they entered her room.

"Upo ka na d'yan." She said as she prepared the table for them.

When RJ saw the food on the table, "Asan yung pancake? Tsaka bacon? Tsaka sausage?"
Instead he saw Tocino, fried eggs and fried rice. Maine pouring him a cup of coffee. "Yung hot chocolate naging kape?"

"Wag ka na magreklamo! Di ko afford yung bacon and sausages. Breakfast pa rin naman yan. Ang sarap kanya nyan." She said as she sat across him.

"Di naman sa nagrereklamo. Pinaasa mo kasi ako e. Kala ko naman totoong bacon and sausages ang breakfast natin. Pero di ko din naman tatanggihan to noh." He said while forking pieces of Tocino on his plate.

"So anong meron? Bakit may pa-breakfast ka?"

"Bumabawi lang. Dami ko nang utang sa'yo di ba? Nung walang kuryente, tapos kahapon nung nagkasakit ako. Ayun, na appreciate ko lang yung tulong mo." She said meekly. "Tsaka yan nga yung reason bakit kita sinisilip kanina. Breakfast treat."

"Hehe. Cute mo. Thank you sa breakfast. Masarap luto mo." He said then pinched her cheek.

"Ikaw ha! Nakakailan ka na.." She blushed upon his touch but moved his hand away.

"Ilang ano?"

"Hay! Wala!" Akala yata nito di ko napansin yung pag-akap n'ya sakin kanina, pati yung pagkapit n'ya. Actually ok lang naman. Medyo nakakapanibago lang na familial kaagad sya sakin. Her introvert self kicking in.

"Huy Maine!"

"Ha?"

"Tulala ka dyan?"

"Ah.. Wala. May naiisip lang. So, Hindi ka pala nakapasok today?"

"Oo. Blessing in disguise na rin ung pagkakasaldak ko kanina, kahit masakit. Medyo Nakapahinga rin from work. Buti nalang Wala na masyadong work load sa project namin ngayon kaya ok lang na maabsent ako. Ikaw? Anong Plano mo today?"

"Wala din masyado. Kakasubmit ko lang ng mga write-ups ko so waiting for editing and approval nalang. Grocery tayo mamaya, gusto mo?"