Next To Me

20. EK

Weekend came and it was one of the most perfect weather to come to an amusement park. The sun is bright and the breeze is quite cold as it is in the middle of November.

RJ is pacing around his room. He is getting nervous as the day starts, knowing he had to tell Maine later about his feelings for her. He just put on his light blue short sleeved polo shirt unbuttoned with a white inner shirt which is starting to get wet as he is sweating profusely.

RJ, calm down. Nothing bad will happen. We'll just tell her.

There's actually nothing wrong with RJ telling her his feelings. It's the rejection that he doesn't know if he can take. Add to it the friendship they just started to build that will be wasted. Everything will be awkward once they became aware of the differences in their feelings. She's too precious to lose if things get worse.

Now, he is having second thoughts about telling her. He really really like her but sometimes, she withdraws back whenever he shows too much intimacy towards her. Like the shy leaves of Makahiya, whenever touched would fold itself to get away from people. He doesn't know if he already gained enough of her trust for him to step up his game and level up their relationship.

*knock knock*

"RJ, matagal ka pa?" Her voice from the other side of the door startled him.

Shit, Andito na siya. "Wait lang Maine, saglit na lang." He picked up his bag and checked on his room before leaving.

"Tagal mo naman. Tanghali na tayo."

"Anong matagal? Ang aga pa kaya. 6:30 am pa lang Maine. Excited ka lang dyan e."

"Hehe. Syempre mainam na din maaga para madami tayong masakyan na rides." Maine hooked her arm on his as they started to go down the apartment staircase. With this, all of RJ's inhibitions and worries flew away.

They rode a van that head straight to EK. Maine became alarmed when it dawned to her that this is their first time to go outside of their apartment and its vicinity. Too much excitement took her the past days since she knew they will be having a trip to enchanted kingdom. This will also be their first trip together. She was thinking if it is a date they're having.

She remembered she told him in one of their conversations that a date at an amusement park is one of her dreams. Much to her surprise when he showed her the tickets and it was just for the two of them. But RJ never mentioned anything about it being a date. For now she is happy she is granted a time with him alone in a happy and exciting place. RJ has been really good and caring to her lately that she can't help but to feel warm towards him. She's starting to be fond of him that sometimes she already miss him when he goes to work and she couldn't wait for him to come home and hang out with him at night. She realized his presence gives life to the confines of her room and warmth to her heart.

She thought that she can get by her everyday alone. She was almost comfortable with her self and her job as of the moment but since RJ came, she haven't felt what it was like to be cared for. To have someone to confide to when problems come and celebrate with when blessed. All her life, she had been avoiding getting too attached with people because she's afraid to be left or hurt in the end. She made sure all she'll need is herself and the structure in her bones as her home. But RJ is an exception, somehow he worked his way to her heart and broke down her walls with his charm and care for her. With him, everything seems will be fine and he will always be there to save the day.

As she slipped out of her thoughts, her eyes fell on RJ's sleeping baby face just a few inches away from her. His head is turned up as he leaned on the head rest and swayed from time to time as the vehicle moves.