13

Start of something new

After a lot of cuddling, another bottle of wine and a movie that was halfway finished (i.e. making out), Maine & Richard ended up falling asleep on the Roscini's couch. It was well around 1am when Aunt Agnes & Uncle Massimo walked in from their dinner party and found the young couple asleep, with their arms wrapped around each other. Uncle Massimo chuckled and told Auntie Agnes to leave them. "What else can they do, it's a small couch and they just got together. You know how young love is. They just need to be next to each other. Besides, they only have a day or so left until Richard flies home..." Auntie Agnes had to agree, and ended up leaving the young ones, after carefully laying over a throw blanket on them.

Maine ended up waking at 6am to find herself buried in Richard's chest. She groggily looked up and realized that they were in the family room and she slowly tried to get up, only to be pulled back on the couch. Maine falls on the empty space, and her hand goes up to his chest for support.

"Saan ka naman pupunta, stay here..."

"Babe, it's 6am, nakakahiya kila Auntie Agnes at bababa na sila soon..."

"Ayaw..." Richard all but pulls her in and buries his face on the crook of her neck. "So babe na ba, tawagan natin? I kind of like it, I guess we can try yung mga endearment na ganyan..."

Maine sighs, and pushes him a bit just so she can see his face.

"Richard, umayos ka...I think we should go sa rooms natin so we can get ready, have a nice long breakfast at 10am ang misa sa Vatican. I wouldn't want us to miss that. And some of my close friends want to meet you, so maybe an early dinner thing?"

"I will do whatever you want, love. Basta tomorrow akin ka lang, ok?"

"Uy love daw. I kind of like that. Can we toggle with babe and love, never ako natawag na ganyan eh. Kinikilig ako." They both laugh.

Maine pulls herself up and Richard, who plants his lips on her forehead.

"Let's go na nga, nakakahiya nga naman na naabutan na nila tayo na tulog dito last night. Gawan natin ng breakfast sila Auntie...."

//

So they spent of the morning at the Vatican and was able to hear the Papal mass ("So our relationship is blessed..." Richard mused to Maine's delight), strolled the gareden afterwards , and met with Maine's friends for a quick lunch. Her friends loved Richard, amused that he flew all the way to see her, and doted on him. Richard even met some of her guy friends and found out they were dating other people . "Maine is the only who didn't really go out, unless it was a group date" Thomas told Richard, to which Fab agreed. "She's like our little sister!"

They arrived home in the afternoon, exhausted but with happy hearts and full stomachs. As they were chatting with Auntie Agnes and Uncle Massimo over tea, Richard asked them if it's okay to spend the whole day with Maine since it was his last day. The elderly couple laughed , gave their whole hearted permission and patted Richard on the back, as they left for bed. Maine was quiet as she put away the dishes.

"Maine... you ok?"

"Well, kind of. It's just sad kasi it is your last night here. Then siguro sa pasko pa ako makakauwi...."

"Babe, clingy...I like this."

"Nakakainis ka, yan pinapansin mo. Baka mamaya magsawa ka sa ganitong set up ha."

"San naman nangaling yan? Ako pa? I've waited for this, for us. Sasayangin ko ba pa to? I will wait for you."

"Don't get me wrong. I've waited for this too. But please, you have to tell me kung nahihirapan ka ha, wag kang magtulad sa iba na bigla na lang palang me hinanakit tapos iiwanan ako."