"What time is it?" Maine heard Ivan ask as soon as they entered the road that will lead them back to the subdivision. She looked at her watch and announced the time.
"11:57 ... may 3 minutes pa." she answered. Maine made him aware that RJ had set a midnight curfew time for her. However, she also told him that there was no actual need to follow it. But much to Maine surprise, Ivan insisted on doing it for he wanted to leave a good impression on everyone, not just to her. That answer solidified Maine's belief that Ivan was a kindhearted man, and it made her like him even more.
After a few more minutes, Ivan pulled up in front of Richard's place. Maine smiled and unbuckled her seatbelt. Ivan got out of the car, opened the door to her side and helped Maine get out.
"Thank you." She told him and he grinned.
"What time is it?"
"12:00am ..."
"Right on the dot ... so, did you have fun?" Ivan questioned her. Maine smiled and nodded at him.
"Great ... Goodnight then?" Ivan asked before reaching for hand. Maine watched as he brought it closer to his face and planted a soft kiss at the back of her palm.
"I know this is old-fashioned ... but I hope you can see this as me willing to wait for you."
"Wait for me ... bakit? Aalis ba tayo?" Maine asked nervously.
"You're so cute when you're clueless. Maine, I wanna court you."
"Oh ..."
--
RJ stepped out of his room the second he heard a car pull up in front of the house. He checked the time and saw that it was already past midnight. He folded his arms over his chest and glued his eyes on the door. A few moments later, it opened and Maine came into her view.
"Ay Sir, gising pa po pala kayo." She said, dodging his eyes.
"You're late." He told her. Maine stopped walking and finally faced him.
"Uh ... nasa labas na po ako ng 12:00 am ... hinintay ko lang pong maka-alis si Ivan." She replied.
"Is that so? Maine ... mahigit 2 hours na nung nagsara yung restaurant na pinuntahan niyo. Where did you go after that?"
"Sa park lang po ... ah, sir. Okay naman po akong naka-balik. No need to worry."
"I think I have every right to worry about you." RJ answered before taking a few steps forward. He spent the entire day distracted. Though he and his family were in Laguna for a short trip, his mind was stuck at the house thinking about Maine and waiting for her to come back. For the first time in his life, RJ was totally clueless about what was happening to him. All he knew was that it all started with her, that Maine's arrival in his life ruined the dynamics of his universe.
"Bakit po? Bakit po kayo masyadong concerned?"
"Because .... Because you're my employee, it's part of my duty to look after your welfare as well." He said, leaving the part about her being inexplicably important.
"Pasensiya na po ... hindi na mauulit." She told him. Maine then started walking towards the kitchen. Halfway there, Richard asked something that made her stop on her track.
"Did you enjoy it though?"
"Opo naman," she replied. RJ just nodded and let her walk away.
"I wish you didn't," he whispered before returning to his room.
