Next To Me

19. Maine's Room

RJ: Maine, are you busy? Can I come over?

M: yeah, sure. What's up?

A few seconds after, she heard him knocking and immediately let him in.

"I have something for you." He is grinning with his hands behind him hiding something.

"Should I guess?" She looked curious already so she tried to peek on his sides. RJ moved to avoid her from seeing what he was holding.

"RJ, ano ba yan? Pakita mo na kasi..."

"Tadaaa!!!"

He was holding a white envelope in front of her.

"Ano yan? Kahit naman pala itago mo sa likod mo yan di ko naman mahuhulaan. Ano, magsosolicit ka ba? May pa-ticket ba sa office nyo?"

"Sira. Tickets to." He fished what's inside and showed her two Enchanted Kingdom tickets. Her eyes widened upon seeing the tickets and snatched it from him almost ripping it.

"Huy! Ingat naman! Bawal malukot yan. Mafoforfeit yan, sige ka. Baka di pa natin mapakinabangan yan."

"Ay sorry." She straightened the tickets and held it carefully as if their life depended on it.

"Teka, isasama mo ko?" Her grin were already from ear to ear as she said that.

"Oo. Papakita ko ba sayo kung di ikaw isasama ko? This weekend na yan. Ano, pwede ka ba?"

"Oo naman! Di ko palalampasin to noh. Teka, san mo ba to nakuha?"

"Sa office. Napanalunan ko sa raffle, may event kasi kanina."

"Oh. Swerte naman. Thank you, ako napili mong isama dito." She said sweetly.

"Syempre naman. Lakas mo sakin e." He hung his arm over her shoulder and smiled back.

She didn't know what he had to go through just to save those tickets for her. There are girls(and guys) who volunteered to come with him. Some asked to just buy the tickets from him since they knew he is single and they assumed it is of no use for him. Others asked what he's going to do with those. He had to tell excuses and even used his sister's name just to save the tickets. He didn't want to bring up Maine's name at the moment for they might stick their noses at his private life. Gossips easily run at their office. He's already wary that other people from different departments had won the same tickets with the same date.

The instant he won the tickets, he already knew Maine should have them. With him. This is his chance to tell Maine about his feelings and he wouldn't let this pass up. What with making his girl happy especially if she told you that a date at an amusement park was one of her dreams.

-----

That night, Maine couldn't wait for the weekend. She's really excited. They talked about what rides should they try on, what are the scary ones and boring ones. RJ sharing his stories about his days at EK when his parents would bring them since it is near his home. Maine thought he is almost an expert at rides at EK as he told his stories. As they cap the night, Maine said another thank you to RJ. RJ is just as happy she is grateful for his gift.