MaiChard AU: Never The Strangers [Completed]

Huling Hirit

RJ stood beside one of the cameras to be used for Maine's segment, his eyes trained on her, as they wait for the commercial break to end. The director, just a few feet from him, signaled by silently counting down his fingers before pointing to Susie Entrata as cue that they were on air. At this, Maine took a deep breath before smiling for the camera as Susie welcomed her to the "Hirit sa Kusina" segment. She went through the segment quite fluidly (in RJ’s opinion), as if she took on a different persona, smiling and laughing naturally with the host.

He stood with his arms crossed over his chest, his hands under his armpits, restraining himself from clapping while he beamed with pride of her girlfriend.  She stood out in the studio as if it was her own show, as if she hadn't been freaking out about messing up for the past 2 weeks. He watched her keenly when he suddenly felt a shadowstood beside him. It took him a while to peel his eyes off Maine and acknowledge the figure until it lightly patted his arm. He looked over his shoulder and found that it was James, standing the same way he was.

"Richard."

"James."

Maine, on the other hand, was she tasting the pasta sauce she was cooking when her eyes visibly widened on camera while she brought the teaspoon of sauce to her lips. She distractedly tipped the spoon into her mouth and choked, alarmed at the sight of RJ and James standing right next to each other that she forgot to blow on the sauce a little before tasting it. What could they be talking about? Please don't fight. Not here.

RJ saw this and almost ran to her but Maine was able to regain her composure and croaked that her tongue got burned, at Susie’s amusement, so he remained where he was. James observed him, trying to find the tiniest chink in his perfect boyfriend armor then finally realized that it was futile. He wasn't wearing an armor or a mask. This is RJ, this is just how he is. He cares for her, he loves her. Anyone could see it and really that was all he needed to know. If this man loves Maine as much as she loves him, James is willing to accept his defeat. There was no point is hoping.  He took deep breath and summon all the courage he could muster so he could swallow his pride and accept his fate. Maine belonged to RJ, with RJ. No one else.

"Pare?” He paused to find any signs that RJ heard him. “I'm sure nasabi na naman sayo ni Meng what we talked about when you guysvisited Na Abeng in the hospital. And that I hugged her. I'd like to apologize for that. Andun ka e.. I shouldn't have done that. Namiss ko lang talaga sya."

“Last mo na yun, pre.” RJ looked at him poker-faced, waiting for his next words.

James continued. "Ok. I just want to congratulate you. Yu are a very lucky man to be loved by her. Binigyan nya ako ng chance pero binalewala ko e. And I know you have no plans of letting her go. I'm sorry if you felt that I was trying to take her away from you. That was my plan, to be honest. But then I saw how much Maine loves you, how much you love and care for her. I saw how happy she is. Wala. Wala akong kapaga-pagasa." He chuckled. "Thank you din for being understanding and letting her talk to me the last time. I really appreciate it."

RJ smiled at him sincerely and pat James's shoulder. "Wala yun, Pre. Salamat. I am indeed a lucky man. Minsan tinatanong ko ang sarili kung anong nagawa ko para maging deserving ako for Maine and I may never know but that’s okay." He shrugged his shoulders. "Di ko na naman sya pakakawalan e." He said with conviction and a triumphant smile.