Drum Beats

Seventeenth Beat

"I'm okay," Maine smiled genuinely. "He just wanted something that I couldn't give."

She started playing with the hair behind his head, twirling them between her fingers.

"Let's get out of here," Richard whispered in her ear.

"Hmm.." Maine smirked.

"We can't, baby," Maine whispered. "We still have to play for the crowd," she said and stood up, heading to the stage.

"Such a tease," Richard mumbled.

He drank his juice, waiting for the band to start when he heard a whisper: "She's a liar," he turned an saw no one near him.

Was that for me? No, it's probably my imagination, Richard thought.

He turned to the stage when he heard J call his name.

"Richard, Maine's dedicating this one to you," J smirked.

He looked at Maine and saw a smirk on her face.

"Strip that down for me," Maine mouthed.

Richard gulped. He wants to drag Maine out and make love to her all night.

Make love? Richard thought. Do you love her now, self?

After her gig, they went to his condo. Surprisingly, Maine didn't want to have sex. She said she wanted to talk to him about something.

"Do you want to eat?" He asked when she settled on his couch.

"Chips would help me a lot right now," she replied.

Richard took a pack of chips and 2 cans of sodas from his pantry and sat beside Maine. Together, they feasted on the food.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

Maine stopped eating and faced him. "Remember the night we first met?"

Richard nodded. "Then we had sex...you told me it was your first time..." he listened.

"Then you came back to ask me out, I said no.."

"Are you gonna turn me down now?"

"What? No, no," Maine replied. "I'm gonna tell you the truth."

"What's the truth?"

"The second time you asked me, I said yes. You know why? Because I was guilty," she said.

"Guilty about what?"

"About...taking your virginity."

"Why would you be guilty?" He took her hand in his.

"Don't be guilty, Maine. I'm glad I lost it to you. I could never think of losing it to anyone besides you."

"...I just dated you because of that.." Maine mumbled.

"You...what?"

"I knew you were gonna come back again and ask me for a date. --Since I felt guilty and nakukulitan na rin ako sayo, I figured why not just date him and...leave?"

"So you were gonna break my heart too?"

"No, not like that," Maine answered.  "I was gonna break up with you and make sure that we were in good terms."

He looked hurt. Why would she do this to her?

"Well, if you're gonna break up with me--even if we're not actually together yet, do it now," he was close to crying.

So this is what a heartbreak feels like, Richard thought.

"Hey, please don't cry," she said and wiped the tears on his cheeks. "And fyi, I'm not gonna do it anymore," Maine said.

"You're...you're not?" He pooked upto her and saw a smile on her face. Maine shook her head.

"But...why?"

"You're kind, a gentleman, honest, smart.."

He was smiling all throughout. "Tigilan ko na nga ang pagpuri sayo. Mukhang lumalapad na atay mo sa sobrang saya eh," Maine poked his dimple. Richard laughed.

"And one more thing," she leaned in and kissed him on the lips.

"You're a crazy good kisser considering you're a freaking virgin," she smirked. She kissed him again and he reciprocated.

Richard too her in his arms and carried her to his bedroom.

There's a 99.9% chance that she would not be going home tonight.