Neighbors | Maichard

XXIV. - Here For You -

Maine woke up early the next day. She got out of bed, stretched her arms and legs, opened the windows and smiled at the birds chirping merrily outside. Her phone then started ringing. She picked it up and looked at the screen. Her lips curved into a smile and she moved closer to her side window to see her very attractive caller.

"Good morning." Richard greeted through the phone and smiled. Maine tried not to, but she blushed at the sight of him. He was shirtless and the way the morning sunlight hit his white skin made him look even more glorious.

She shifted her eyes upward and noticed his messy hair. Maine felt her heart beating fast. He still looked sleepy, like he just woke up. He rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand.

"Good morning." She finally replied and he grinned.

"You look pretty." He said.

"Bolero."

"Nope. I really think you are pretty." He answered and flashed his trademark lopsided grin at her.

Maine rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. The two talked for a few more minutes. After that, she ended the call and went downstairs to get some breakfast.

"Look ... she's finally awake." Gabbi said the minute she joined them. Maine decided not to say anything. She just sat next to her and they started eating.

"Maine ..." her Mom whispered.

"Po?"

"I was thinking ... maybe pwede tayong mag-outing? Tayong apat? Habang nandito tatay mo."

"No." Maine replied coldly.

"But ..."

She glanced at her Dad for a moment and took a bite off the sandwich on her plate. She forked a hotdog off from the serving platter and started eating it silently.

"Maine ..." her Dad started.

"Dad .... No ... I'm not gonna spend time with you." She said with such finality in her voice that no one dared to speak afterwards. She took another piece of sandwich and went back to her room. Her phone was ringing when she got in. Maine raced towards her bed and answered it.

"Hello?" she asked.

"Hi, is this Ms. Maine Mendoza?" an unfamiliar voice from the other line asked.

"Yes, who's this?"

"This is Ms. Jenny Robles from Stardom Mag. We would like to invite you for a photo shoot. We saw your spread sa YM magazine and we have a cool concept right now and we think ikaw at si Richard yung magiging perfect para dito."

"Me and Richard?" she asked.

"Yes, we would like to hire the two of you para maging photographer and model for the new issue about up and coming power couples in the industry." Ms. Robles answered. Maine blushed at the thought of them being together. After getting lost in her own thoughts, she finally responded.

"Cool ... siya yung model and I'm the photographer?"

"Not exactly ..."

"What do you mean?"

"You will be the photographer ... and you will also pose with him."

"Oh ..."

--

Richard was about to go into the shower when his phone started ringing. He then spent the next couple of minutes listening to his manager. He learned that another photo shoot was set up for him and Maine.