Just Friends

9 - Embrace

After he emailed the producers about his plans and suggested concepts, Rafa called his old-time friend and agent in Asia, Marco, to ask a favor. First, the friend needs to clandestinely research on Maine's public life and scan the goings on in all the media that she's associated with. Marco has heard about the phenomenal star from colleagues since 2015 being a consistent trending topic in social media but because it's the least of his concerns, he never bothered to check on her. Hearing Rafa's overly excited voice and firm resolve to know more about the girl instantly piqued his curiosity. His next move would be to make an appointment with her management to fish for career plans at stake and eventually, present them a very tempting offer.

Meanwhile, after two of hours of soaking in the sea, Maine went back to the hotel for another hour of pampering at the spa. By the time she's done with her well-deserved indulgence, Alden's plane will have landed.  She doesn't want to get excited at the same time scared for what's about the happen when she sees him again. Needing some distraction, she opened her laptop and connected to the hotel wifi instead. She's breaking another promise-- that is to cut down on internet time while on extended holiday.  A business card on top of the desk caught her attention so she searched Rafael Fortier on Google. Not that she's interested, far from it actually. She only needed some distraction and couldn't think of any.

As soon as RJ settled in his suite he went straight to the phone and dialed Maine's room number. Dean picked it up on the forth ring, uncertain if he should answer or not.

"Hello."

"Uy, Dean? Si Alden to. Kararating ko lang sa hotel." RJ is familiar with Dean's voice.

"Andito ka talaga? Musta byahe?"

"Konting turbulence, jetlagged pero okay naman na. Si Meng?'

"Sa banyo tumatae ata hahaha joke lang."

"Kamo bilisin nya."

"Ay ito na pala. Meng si RJ nasa labas inaantay ka!"

"Heh, umayos ka nga, Dean!"

"Hello, Meng!!! Dito na ko! Love, gusto ko sumigaw, ilang floors lang layo ko sa yo."

"Miss mo ko?" Habang si Dean naman sumisenyas sa may pintuan na lalabas daw say muna.

"Tangena tinatanong pa ba yan? Sobrang miss na miss kita. Eh ikaw?"

"Opo."

"Opo lang sagot mo? Pabebe haha. Shower lang ako tas punta nako dyan. May dala akong pastimallows."

"Hala, salamat! Wait, kita na lang tayo sa café sa may mezzanine. Medyo private dun."

"Sige baba na ako in 20 minutes. See you, baby."

So ito na nga. Yung kaba at ngiti ni Maine hindi mawari. Hindi naman kailangang mag-make up so konting lip tint lang nilagay. Naka off-white sleeveless mini-dress na medyo hapit at may pasilip ng skin mula middle back hangang balikat. Hindi sa nananadya, pero yun talaga ang unang damit na nadampot nya. Naka flats lang sya kasi wala syang tyaga mag tali-tali ng gladiators shoes o magstrap ng sandals. Naka high bun, just to emphasize her perfect tan. And of course, a spritz of RJ's favorite floral scent.

May isang mokong na hindi mapakali sa may two-seater table sa corner ng cafe. Binabaliktad ang phone, inaayos ang tupi ng table napkin, pinaflatten ang edge ng table cloth. Clad in Hawaiian-inspired maroon floral shirt, black ripped jeans and Gucci sneakers, halos walang kurap na nakatutok ang mata ni RJ sa may pintuan. Since siesta time ng hapon, kokonti lang ang tao sa loob.

And here comes Maine. Pagkakita kay RJ na medyo pumayat at di maitatago ang eye bags, napangiti lang sya na sinundan ng pout at may pagtakip sa mukha para itago ang pag-iyak. May pagpatak ng luha magkabilaan na mabilis nyang pinahid.

Si RJ nag space out mga 12 seconds pagkabukas ni Maine ng pintuan, tsaka na lang sya tumayo at pinuntahan ang isa. Dahan-dahan ang paglakad pero long strides naman, parang slow mo na hindi. Napakarefreshing ng mukha ni Maine, namumula ang matambok na pisngi pati ang ilong nito, halatang nagbabad sa dagat. Napapamura si RJ sa ganda ng girlfriend nya. Oopps, ang label undefined pa. Hindi na nya natiiis at dagliang niyakap nya ito sabay may paghagulhol ng very light.

Mahigpit ang yakapan ng dalawa, halos isang minute na sinabayan ng palitang pagsinghot at pagpahid ng luha ni Maine sa shirt ni RJ, at si RJ sa buhok ni Maine. Nang magsubside na ang pabebeng iyakan, tiningnan ni RJ si Maine, isa-isang ininventory ang bawat hugis at contour ng mukha nito gamit ang kamay at mata at saka nya iniangat ang ulo ng isa para magpang-abot ang mata nila. "I miss you so much. Halos mamatay ako sa kaiisip sa yo araw-araw, kung kumusta ka na, kung ano ginagawa mo. Ayoko nang mangyari ulit to, ansakit pala na hindi ka makita at mahawakan ng ilang araw, tapos madalang pa tayo mag-usap."

Tinadtad ni RJ ng halik ang ulo, mata, ilong, pisngi ni Maine.  At dahan-dahang inilapat ang kanyang labi sa labi ng isa. Mariin, may pagbuka, may pagkagat hanggang sa diniinan pa nito nang tuluyan. Hawak ng isang kamay nya ang ulo ni Maine na sya namang sumasabay sa pagsayaw ng kanilang mga labi at palitan ng malumanay na halinghing. 

May pagtulak si Maine sa dibdib ni RJ, tsaka nya nilayo ang mukha nito sa isa.

"Pag may CCTV dito kakasuhan kita ng harassment. Ni hindi mo man lang ako kinamusta muna? Saan na ang pastimallows ko?" Maine being Maine, she always has a way na magbasag ng moment.  RJ was laughing and crying at the same time, hugging her even much tighter.

All eyes inside the café, with nary a blink, witnessed how these young lovers let go of raw emotions in the sweetest, most passionate way. They held on to the scene with bated breaths and palpitating hearts, as if they were watching a romantic flick. Hindi nila alam, artista ang dalawa sa totoong buhay.