Just Friends

10 - Territorial

Nagpalakpakan ang mga taong nakapaligid sa dalawa, may nagpapahid ng luha, may nagyayakapan. Kahit iilang tables lang ang okupado, malakas pa sa kulog ang hiyawan at tuksuhan sa loob ng café. May mga nakakuha ng video at photo. But who cares? Sa isip ni RJ hindi na nya maitatago ang lahat at ang importante ay magkasama na sila ulit ni Maine. Isang malapad na ngiti at malusog na tawa ang sukli ni RJ sa mga taong hanggang ngayon ay nakaantabay pa rin sa kanila. Sa sobrang hiya, napasiksik na lang ng mukha si Maine sa kilikili na RJ habang naglalakad sila pabalik sa table.

"Would you like to leave na? Kumain ka na ba?"

"I want to eat, hindi ako naglunch kanina."

"Sige sasabayan kita. Ang payat mo, Ma." Sabay hawi sa buhok ni Maine at halik sa tenga nya. Hindi na nya binitawan ang kamay at bewang ng dalaga. Si Maine naman, despite voluntarily responding to RJ's sensual advances, was having an internal battle. May pagdadalawang-isip sya kung dapat bang iwasan ang pagiging clingy at bigyan ng distansya ang isa't isa or just let the moment take its course. Sumasagi sa isip nya ang huling usapan nila bago sya lumulan ng eroplano papuntang Hawaii. Walang nagtaas ng boses sa kanila kundi puro lang iyakan at palitan ng take care, ingat ka, see you soon, pahinga muna, miss na kita. Pero nanaig pa rin ang sobrang pagkamiss nya sa binata kaya hinayaan nya munang bugso ng damdamin ang pairalin sa ngayon.

"Tawagan ko muna sila Ate, baka nag-aalala na yon."

"Whatever you want, love, hindi kita iiwan."

After they placed their orders, Maine looked around the room and it was only then that she realized the serious implications of their public display of affection. Some Filipino fans in Hawaii have already seen her there, even trailed her whenever she's at the beach or in public places. A few have asked for selfie photos, which she granted with a promise that they don't post it on socmed.

Nikki and Dean joined them later. There was awkward silence but Dean made the first move to break the ice. They talked about Hawaii, Matti, and plans to do in the next two days while RJ is around. Of course, everyone avoided the issues at hand. After settling their bills the two decided to take a siesta while Nikki and Dean went out for shopping. On their way to the lift, RJ excused himself to take a call, leaving Maine at the hallway. She saw Rafa and two other guys towards her direction. She immediately ran to RJ and told him that she'll just go to the washroom. After spending several minutes hiding inside the powder room, she decided to come out and lo and behold, RJ was already waiting for her near the elevator. As soon as she's beside him, RJ snaked his arms on her waist and gave her a lingering kiss on the side of her temple, obviously to publicly claim that this girl is solely his. Rafa saw all that.

A/N: Sabaw muna. Malapot na malapot ang next chapter.