Next To Me

22. Grocery Again

Early night of Sunday  and they had been in bed (separately) all day. It was a slow kind of day because of the cold weather and it has been raining lightly the whole afternoon.

Suddenly out of unknown reasons, Maine is craving for ice cream once again. And as annoyingly cute as she is, she decided to pull RJ out of bed too to get ice cream with her. But as we all know RJ, no matter how annoying Maine can get, he just couldn't resist her. Malakas sa'kin to e.

"Maine, ano bang naisipan mo at naghahanap ka ng ice cream? Ang lamig kaya ngayon tapos yun pa gusto mong kainin?"

"Wala lang. Gusto ko lang ng ice cream. Siguro kasi, maalat yung lunch natin kanina kaya parang naghahanap ako ng matamis?" she said nonchalantly while scanning the contents of a large freezer at the grocery store they always go to.

"Matamis? Sana nagcandy ka na lang para di na tayo lumabas. O Eto, meron ata ako dito sa bulsa." he pulled out a few pieces of candies from his pocket and offered it to her.

"Iiih... Ayoko ng candy, masakit sa ipin yan. Gusto ko nga ice cream."

"Ok payn. Ice cream. Ano, wala ka pa bang napipiling flavor?"

"Teka lang. Ano bang masarap, coffee crumble, vanilla o avocado?"

"Di ba favorite mo yung avocado?"

"Hmm,.. Gusto ko din yun pero parang gusto ko din yung coffee e. Tsaka mukhang masarap din yung bagong mix ng vanilla. Ano?"

"Hay, ang indecisive mo naman. Bilhin nalang kaya natin yang tatlong flavors?"

"Ano?! Hahaha! Bilhin talaga natin tong tatlong flavors? Hahahaha! Ang kulit din ng suggestion mo noh? Hahahaha!"

"Tuwang tuwa ka naman." a grin has started to form on his face. He's surely enjoying Maine's laugh. Something he could listen to for the rest of his life.

"Ang cute mo eh." She smiled sweetly at him and pinched his cheeks. RJ instantly grabbed her hand that reached him and pressed his face on her palm and felt it cold. He stared lovingly at her. She's in a messy bun and a ratty shirt two sizes too big for her and her nose crinkling with wide smile reaching from ear to ear. Cheeks blushing either from the cold weather or his recent gesture. Whichever it is, it surely suits her small pretty face. Just at that simple moment of her, makes him head over heels for her.

She looked down out of embarassment when she felt him staring too long at her but her hand remained on his cheek as he held it tightly.

"Maine, look at me." He tipped her chin upwards to make her face him. Her heart beat racing inside her chest.

"Maine, I like you."

"What?" Her eyes widened upon hearing those words.

"No. Wait..."

"No?" She asked confused from what he is saying. She looked straighter at him seeking answers from his eyes.

Rj held both of her hands and kissed each and his gaze went back to her face. "I love you."

Before Maine could say anything else, he had already enveloped her in his arms and held her tightly, making sure she would feel how his heart beats for her. And he could feel hers too. Their heart beats racing at almost the same rythm.

Maine was held speechless from the sudden confession of RJ. She knew she already had a hint of what he was feeling for her but hearing it straight from him sends her to a different heights of feelings. It was strangely blissful. Scary and confusing but she couldn't resist her curious heart. She found herself hugging back RJ and her lips, curled upwards.

"Menggay?!"