Clocks and Pens

Running pens

Maxine's POV

I wonder why Valentine's Day isn't a holiday. Hassle kaya!

I just came from a tedious 3-hour meeting, and I could've concentrated on it kung hindi February 14 ngayon. Today should be about playing-hooky-and-corny with Andrew, pero kinailangan kong pumunta sa office para sa lecheng meeting.

And so now, one hour na 'kong late sa lunch date namin ng knight-in-tux-and-Porsche ko. Actually, dapat kanina pa 'ko nakarating sa Mediterranean restaurant na kakainan namin, kaso dumaan pa 'ko sa mall para i-pick up yung regalo ko sa kanya. I know he's not expecting anything, pero after all the sacrifices, understanding and adjustments na ginawa niya para sa'kin for the past six years, a simple gift is all I could give back.

Okay. Just get here safely. Love you more. Text sa'kin ni Andrew.

I know he's upset. Kahit naman hindi niya sabihin, alam kong minsan napapagod na siya sa setup namin. Sa totoo lang, I feel bad kapag kailangan niya mag-adjust sa schedule ng trabaho ko. Lahat ng lakad namin, nakadepende kung kailan ako available. Dahil mas flexible ang oras n'ya, s'ya lagi ang nagbibigay. And I'd be damned kung hindi ako nagi-guilty.

Andrew might be able to flex his schedule in accordance to mine, dahil na rin sa sariling kompanya ng pamilya ang hawak nya, pero marami rin siyang responsibilities. Ayoko naman na magipit siya sa oras dahil sa'kin.

Pagpasok ko sa Uno Restaurant (Drew loves this place), I went straight to the table where he's seated, then gave him a peck on the cheek.

"I know I have terribly abused this line, but I'm really sorry I'm late. Again." I smiled apologetically at him habang pinaghihila niya ako ng upuan.

Taking a break from his usual expensive coat-and-tie getup, suot nya ngayon yung red polo shirt na binili namin two weeks ago. Black maong jeans and sneakers completed the outfit.

He kissed me on the forehead before replying: "And I told you countless times that I understand." Tapos umupo na siya.

"But it's not always fine with you, right? Kahit hindi mo sabihin, I know," I can't help saying.

He smiled gently, looking tired yet heartbreakingly handsome. "That's what couples do: compromise."

"But this isn't a compromise, Drew. Ikaw na lang lagi ang nagbibigay. Ayoko naman na --" he cut me in mid-sentence.

"I don't mind, okay? I understand your work. I respect that you love what you're doing. I love you, and if being with you means endless patience and adjustments, so be it," he said sincerely. Muntik na 'ko maiyak. He held my hand and gripped it lovingly. "Now stop moping, okay? This is a date, so dapat kinikilig ka."

I have to laugh at that. Then I remembered my gift. "Oh, nga pala. I bought you something." I fetched the box from my bag.

He just looked at it for a while. "A watch?"

"That's an hour late, para kahit late ako dumating sa mga dates natin, you'll think otherwise," I said jokingly.

He didn't smile. "You don't have to do this."

"But I want to. Bakit, don't you like it?" I feigned sadness.

Finally, he laughed. "Of course I like it. Isusuot ko na nga, baka bawiin mo pa eh."

That earned him a kiss on the lips. "I'm starving. Let's eat?"