Firsts

VIII. Next

Rj was grinning the entire day even if he barely got any sleep. His team noticed but didn't ask, knowing the man's penchant for being intensely private about personal matters. Only Mama Ten was able to say, "Yung kilig mo ha. Kayo na ba ulit?"

"Basta."

He sustained that energy until Tuesday, even though he was itching to see Maine again. During a break, he called her. "Hi! Nasaan ka?"

"Dito sa set mo."

"Ha?"

"I called Mama Ten, ready na yung suit mo so hinatid ko na. Nandito na ako sa parking. Why?"

"Hindi ako makakalabas but I'll wait for you dito sa holding area ha?"

Mama Ten arrived with Maine in tow, a few minutes later. "Hi!" she greeted him.

He cupped her face and was about to kiss her on the lips, when he realized there were a lot of people around them, so he shifted and kissed the side again. Maine flashed him an annoyed look. He looked apologetic and whispered, "Daming tao eh. Sorry."

She nodded. "Ito na yung suit. Fit mo nalang later pag mas free ka na. Sabihan mo nalang ako kung may problem pa."

"I can fit now. Stay na muna? Please?"

"I can't. I - uh - I'm supposed to meet someone kasi."

Rj frowned. "Who?"

"Si, uh, Mico. The guy I told you about?"

"Bakit pa?" He said, annoyed. "Fine. You know my condition about exclusivity. I'm done."

"No, Rj, wait. Hear me out." He stopped walking away but didn't look at her.  "Can we go somewhere a little more private?"

Rj lead her to a corner away from the others.

"I'm going to cut ties with him, okay? Tama ka, I shouldn't keep on stringing him along. But, I don't want to do it through text or a phone call. He's been good to me. Please? Rj, please understand?"

He seemed to be at a loss as to what to reply. He understood her but wasn't happy with knowing that she would be seeing another guy.

"Wag ka na magalit." She pleaded.

"Alam mo naman siguro why I'm mad."

"I know. I'm meeting him for coffee. Thirty minutes. Tops."

He looked at her and sighed. "Fine. I guess wala naman akong right pigilan ka."

"Uy, hindi ganun. We have an agreement, I'm sticking to it. Inaayos ko lang 'to."

"Sige na nga."

"Hindi ka na nagtatampo?"

"Konti nalang. Thirty minutes lang ha?"

"Yes, promise."

---

Rj saw them at the coffee shop.

He was supposed to meet Maine here and he was an hour late because the magazine shoot ran long. When he arrived, he saw Maine, through the window, talking to a guy seated across her and they were laughing at something.

He walked in and approached slowly. "Hi." He bent to give her a buss on the cheek. "Sorry, I'm late." Then, he proceeded to give the guy a once over.

"Hi, Rj! Tapos na yung pictorial?" She asked.

"Yes. Sorry talaga ma-late ako."

"No problem. Buti din dumating 'tong si Joel, nakipagkwentuhan. Oh, by the way, Rj, this is Joel. Classmate ko siya in Philippine History, pero Engineering yung course niya. Ang gulo din mag-enroll nitong si Joel eh. Joel, this is my boyfriend, Rj."