Song for this chapter:
1. ... Ready For It? - Taylor Swift
--
I wanna court you as well ...
Those six words echoed inside her head over and over again, it placed Maine under a trance-like state while her mind tried to process what just happened. Standing right in front of her were two good-looking guys vying for her love and affection. Maine was already having a hard time trying to resist Ivan's charm. And with RJ's sudden revelation regarding his feelings for her, Maine knew things just got extra complicated.
"HOMAYGAHD ...." That was all she was able to say. Maine placed a hand on her chest and took a step backward from the two guys. But Ivan advanced anyway and gave her his bouquet of flowers. Maine took it and graciously thanked him. RJ moved forward as well and handed her the flowers that he bought.
"Thank you po ..." she told him and he smiled.
"Maine, are you okay? You seem pale." Ivan asked her.
"Oo naman ... um ... shooketh lang ako." She replied awkwardly.
"Shooketh?" RJ questioned her in a confused tone.
"Shooketh ... as in gulat ... kinuha ng liwanag ... ganon." Maine explained. Richard and Ivan looked at each other before they both smiled at her.
"You can't believe we like you, huh?" Ivan asked and she nodded right away.
"Well ... you better catch up. Anyway, I'm going to leave you two for now. I'll talk to you later ... Good morning, Maine." RJ greeted her. Maine smiled and greeted him back.
"Good morning din po, Sir." She replied.
"Maine ... stop saying po and don't call me Sir ... just call me by my name, okay?"
"Okay, Sir .... Ay este, okay RJ." Maine uttered, feeling weird that she was addressing her boss by his first name. RJ grinned, moved his head from side to side, and walked away.
--
RJ meant every single word he told Maine the night before. And he already started proving that by waking up early the next morning and finishing half of Maine's everyday tasks before she wakes up and leaves her room. After leaving her with Ivan, RJ walked back to the house and joined Kirby in the kitchen.
"Where's Mommy Maine?" the little boy asked.
"She's busy outside. Tayo muna mag-eat ngayon okay? You know how to eat alone naman, di ba?"
"Yes!" Kirby yelled. RJ smiled and they started eating. A few minutes later, he asked his son a question that immediately made the little kid smile.
"Do you like Mommy Maine?"
"I do."
"Then can you please hug her for me tonight? Tell her how much we like her, okay?" RJ told Kirby and he nodded.
"Good boy."
"Daddy?"
"What?"
"Can I give her flowers too?" Kirby asked and RJ smiled widely.
"Yes, Bud. Do whatever you want."
--
"How are you?" Ivan questioned Maine as soon as they settled in the garden. She placed the flowers on the bench and looked at him.
