Next To Me

31. Maine's Room

Friday night and Maine has been restless all day. She got out of work early because she couldn't really focus and she just might cause more damage to the article she was writing. She wouldn't want to be doing her job half-heartedly. She couldn't focus. She's been worried all day long.

"Today is Friday
Tomorrow
I'll be freezing"

A short poem popped in her head. She wrote it down on her planner and plopped down her head on her table. She was trying to calm herself. She had been anxious about tomorrow's event and RJ is not helping.

He kept telling her it will be alright but when she asks questions about his family especially her Lola, he would just say she don't need to worry much.

She wanted to be prepared. She bought a new dress and already prepared her bag for tomorrow's trip. She also reserved a cake from a fine patisserie that she hoped the family  would like. She made a mental note of each family member, including RJ's dog named Globie that he said is like a family to him. She bought it dog toys and treats.

She already asked her ate Nikki about preparations when visiting a boyfriend's family. She gave her tips about being polite and being herself, have confidence but not too much that they might think you're feeling too close to the family. It would be her first time to meet them and she hopes everything would actually be alright. Just like RJ said.

She huffed and sighed. Then looked at the screen of her phone where a picture of her and RJ was displayed as a wallpaper. He hasn't come home yet and having no one to talk to just made her more worked up. She wanted to think of anything but meeting his family but it kept on bugging her mind.

Until she fell asleep.

-----

He saw her with head down on the table. He went nearer and was about to wake her up but her phone's screen was on as it typed random letters where the skin of her cheeks was touching. He heaved a sigh. Maybe she was about to send him a text message but sleepiness pulled her.

He slowly pulled the phone away from her face and brushed some stray hair from her cheeks, his fingers lingered as he took in the suppleness of her skin. He went closer and carefully placed a soft kiss on her cheek which made Maine open up her eyes.

Even before she opened her eyes, she knew it was him. His familiar musky scent filled the air. His touches so gentle and caring. And those soft pink lips that landed on her cheek left a lingering feeling.

A megawatt smile welcomed him when she opened her eyes.

"Finally, andito ka na."

She nuzzled in between his neck and shoulder and gave him a side hug. His arms instantly went around her.

"Ba't diyan ka natutulog sa table? Lipat ka na sa bed mo para makapagpahinga ka na."

"Hinihintay kita e." she pulled him closer and inhaled his scent, burying her face at the crook of his neck even more, engraving to memory his form, his scent, and everything about him.

"Want me to sleep with you?" He asked.

"Will you?"

"Tinatanong pa ba yan?" He wiggled his eyebrows and a playful smirk formed on his lips.

"Naku! Harot!" She slapped his chest playfully. "E teka, kumain ka na ba? Paghahanda kita ng dinner, wait lang." She released from his embrace and aimed to go to the kitchen.

A genuine smile replaced that playful smirk on his face upon realizing how lucky he was for having a sweet and thoughtful girlfriend like her. He knew he wouldn't go wrong upon introducing her to his family.

He pulled her back and held her face on both palms.

"I'm fine. May food kanina sa office kaya busog pa ako. Ikaw? Kumain ka ba? Baka mamaya nagpapalipas ka nanaman ng gutom ha."

"Nagdinner na din po ako. Ayun yung pinagkainan ko o." She pointed at the dirty dishes at the sink.

"Very good at hindi take out or fast food ang dinner mo. Alam mo namang ayokong nagkakasakit ka." he kissed her forehead which made her face blush a little bit. Patting herself on the back inwardly upon that little achievement.

"Nga pala, I have something for you."

Maine raised a brow when he let go of her and watched him go to his bag on the floor, fished something from it and hid it behind him as he made way back to her.

"Ano nanaman yan? May paandar ka pang surprise, gabi na."

"Walang pinipiling oras ang pagmamahal, Maine." He chuckled to himself.

They both laughed at their cheesiness then RJ faced her with a serious look on his face.

Slowly he lifted in front of her face a golden necklace with a pendant dangling on it's end. The pendant has a small diamond on it's center and has two circular rings around it.

"This is for you. This is the sun. Kasi you are the light of my life. And ever since you came, everything has been clearer for me. You make me want to face every day with a smile and look forward to each day and get to be with you." He looked earnestly at her at let out a breath. Maine was trying very hard not to let out a sob as she keep gazing back and forth at RJ and the pendant in front of her.

"Dati, parang pinapalipas ko lang  yung araw. Gigising sa umaga para magtrabaho. Uuwi. Matutulog. Maghihintay nanaman ng bukas para magtrabaho ulit. Hanggang sa naging routine ko na yun. Pero nung dumating ka, nag-iba lahat. Mas excited ako to face each day. Iniisip ko noon kung makikita ba ulit kita either sa balcony o kaya diyan sa hallway. Kung kelan ka ulit lalabas ng kwarto mo, kasi you always brought smile to my day. And then we get to know each other and I fell in love with you. Ang saya ko nung sinagot mo ako. And now everything I do, it involves you."

Maine finally let the tears fall down her cheeks. "RJ naman eh. Pinapaiyak mo ako."

"I assume that's happy tears. " he said as he wiped the tears on her face and pulled her to an embrace.

"Oo naman. Sasapakin kita kung pinaiyak mo ako ng hindi happy tears to noh."

"Hahaha! Takot ko lang. Tsaka alam mo namang di kita papaiyakin ng ganun. Wait, let me put this on you."

He went around her and clasped the necklace around her neck then fixed her hair back. Maine reached for the small pendant on her neck and faced him.

"Thank you. Ang ganda nito. I didn't know I mean that much to you. I'll treasure this forever." She said as she fiddled with the pendant and looked sincerely at RJ.

RJ pulled her again to an embrace. "Maine, you mean so much to me. I don't know how I would get by everyday if I'm without you." He said sincerely as he held her tighly, making her feel his love from deep within his very being. "I love you Maine."

"I love you too, RJ. You mean the same to me."

She found herself in trouble. She's a writer yet she couldn't catch enough words to express herself right now. Her overwhelming feelings for him holding her tounge back rendering her speechless. She just hopes that RJ knows and feels it from her. That same level of love inside her that she's willing to give to this man in front of her. Promising herself to do everything to make him feel it, even if she lacks ability to show it through words.

She held him tightly as much as her strength allow.

When they parted, he asked "So, ready ka na for tomorrow?"

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Pasensya na po sa update last night. Di ko agad napansin putol pala. Sira ata wattpad? 😂