"Sorry, I can't accept this." Maine saw a sad face emoticon next to an 'R' hastily written on the tiny gift card.
"Ma'am, but you must sign the delivery invoice please?"
"Let me do it for her. Meng, relax, ako na dito. Sir, after this, can you bring it to the reception?"
From the corner of his eye, Dean was observing Rafa, now with a sullen face like he was holding his breath and trying not to make his presence felt.
"Ate, hindi na ako sasama, kayo na lang ni Dean lumabas. I'll take a dip in the pool na lang mamaya."
"Sayang naman, Menggay, ilang days lang tayo dito. Chill muna, Sis. Sorry na ulit ha, kinausap ko pa kasi kagabi ang tarantadong yun. Sige na, bukas buong araw tayo babad sa beach."
"Samahan na kita sa room, kailangan ko rin magcheck sa Pinas kasi nagkaproblema daw sa purchase orders. Dean, join the tour na lang, sayang ang reservation. Otherwise, you can start shopping around for pasalubong. "
As soon as Maine reached the suite, she took her phone from the bedside table and opened it. After browsing her IG last night, minabuti nyang i-off ang phone at magbukas ulit ng laptop, which she did not connect to the hotel wifi. She barely had three hours of sleep thinking, writing, worrying.
14 missed calls from RJ.
7 viber messages from RJ.
Non-stop DM/PM notifs from Twitter, FB and IG.
She bought a new SIM for this trip and only very few people know her number. The family would always check on her through Niki' or Dean's phones.
Viber messages
Still awake and waiting. Facetime na ta. :)
Maine, love, Ma. Huy, gising ka na ba?
Masyado ka nagpapamiss ah. Laters uli, work muna. Mahal kita lamuyan.
Just finished with the taping. Bukas photoshoot out of town. Mornight, mi amore!
Babe, I miss you! Halos 6 hours na tayo walang contact. CONTACT! (evil laugh) I miss that so badly, too.
Maine, ano tong kumakalat sa IG na photo mo? Ba't di mo sinabi sa akin?
Paksyet naman, sagutin mo tawag ko! Nababaliw nako ano ba nangyari? CALLL ME!
She dialed RJ's number several times and was about the turn it off when someone picked up the line.
"Hello, Menggay, may binili lang si Den saglit sa store. Pauwi na kami ng Laguna."
"Mama Ten, matatagalan pa ba sya? Pakisabi call back na lang."
"Sige, 'nak. Kamusta ka na dyan? Sulitin ang pahinga ha?"
"Medyo di pa okay, Ma. Ingat na lang kayo pauwi. Antayin ko tawag ni RJ."
"Hello, Love, are you okay? Ba't naka-off ang phone mo kanina?"
"Nakita mo na? Hindi ko alam kinunan ako ng pic nung tour kahapon. Nakipagkilala yun sa akin but I shooed him away naman. Hindi na ulit ako nagbukas ng phone since last night."
"Humanda sa akin ang gagong yun. Stop lurking sa socmed muna, ramdam ko ang stress levels mo. Take some meds, okay? Puta lang talaga, ba't kasi nagpost yun?"
"Stolen shot nga malay ko ba! Sabi ni Dean deleted na rin naman. Sige na, I need to sleep it off muna."
"Maine, I'm flying out tonight. Excited to see you again. Love you."
YOU ARE READING
Just Friends
FanfictieIt started with her spur-of-the-moment replies to a random interview that ended with an intense, all too personal journal. After she clicked the send button, her fandom went on a frenzy causing virtual traffic congestion in her blog. The emotionall...
