James got in the van, next to a sleeping Nadine. They were on their way to the airport as they had a flight to catch for the US, where they were doing a concert in Sacramento, California. He just saw Nadine at taping yesterday and he couldn't believe how much he missed her already. Good thing they had a 16-hour long flight ahead of them where they could spend some quality time together.

He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead, careful not to wake her up. He woke up late and had just enough time to pack and get ready before the van picked him up. He took out his phone and saw Nadine's good morning message, which made him smile. Good morning, too, love, he thought, stealing a glance at the girl beside him.

As per usual, he opened Instagram, and browsed through his feed and notifications. He sat up with a start. What the fuck... he barely remembered the girl, but it damn looked like they were kissing in the picture, even though he was sure that he didn't touch anybody last night. He wasn't even drunk, for Christ's sake. "What the fuck is this?" he muttered to himself as he scanned through the comments -- bashing both him and Nadine. Telling him how careless he was. How Nadine wasn't good enough for him which was why he took to other girls. Dammit, has Nadine seen any of this?

The comments never affected him before. In fact, he used to just laugh them off, since, regardless if there was truth to them or not, nobody really got affected. Not him, not Nadine. Because they weren't together anyway. They would usually discuss the issues, and he was always honest with her. Which was why they stayed strong as a loveteam despite all the girls that were linked his way. She had his back, he had hers.

But this time... This time, it was different. Oh sure, Nadine would believe him if he tells her that they didn't kiss, because she knows he's always been honest with her. What he was scared of was how this will affect them and the current status of their relationship, whatever that status was. They were just starting and everything was still so fragile, that he was afraid this might drive her to take a step back and rethink whatever was going on between them.

He wasn't wrong. Nadine suddenly stirred from her seat and opened her eyes.

"James, we need to talk." were the first words out of her mouth. Which is never good. Nothing that starts with that sentence is ever good.

"Nadine, that wasn't really a kiss. She was just a fan who asked for a picture and attempted to ki---" James started, but Nadine interrupted him.

"It's okay," she said taking his hand. James sighed with relief, happy that it seemed she wasn't going to make this bigger than it is. "But..." she continued, and his heart stopped.

"But what?"

She bit her lip. "Parang di pa ko ready, James."

"What?" James half-yelled, half-whined.

The van reached the the airport and they both got down to get their stuff. They got in line for the entrance with the luggage x-ray check. Ate Ca and Ate Barbie took an earlier flight so they could check out the location and make preparations ahead of them, so it will just be James and Nadine on this flight. James arm automatically went around Nadine's shoulders while they were standing in line.

Nadine's resolve was weakening, and it didn't help when James started tickling her, making her laugh. He can always make her laugh, whether it was when he was making faces, or cracking corny jokes or trying to speak Tagalog. He was like a kid, in the sense that he's so easy to please and it doesn't take much to make him smile. And she enjoyed every moment with him, she loved him as a her partner and they've been through so much together right from the start. She was so scared to completely open up her heart to him because he can so easily break it, like it broke this morning. To think they weren't even officially together yet. She didn't know if she could take it if she lost him as a friend.

Nadine intertwined her hand with James', the one that was around her shoulder and turned her face to look at him. "I don't know if I'm ready to love you yet," she said simply.

James sighed. "Dammit. I thought you forgot what you were gonna say. But why?"

"Kasi nung gumising ako kanina, and saw the picture of you with the girl, and the comments... I realized how hard it was. My heart broke a little you know, and kahit naniniwala naman ako sayo na it was innocent, parang hindi ko pa kaya..."

James was silent as they passed inspection at the front entrance and got to the check in counter. People around them realized who they were and asked for pictures, and they didn't get the chance to talk again until they finally boarded the plane.

James helped Nadine settle into her seat. "Are you okay, James?" Nadine asked. He shrugged.

"You understand naman diba? It's like you've said before. What we have works, so why ruin it?"

Damn. Who would've thought that the words I said would now come and bite me in the ass? James thought, but he kept silent, because he respected Nadine. And also because they had a long flight ahead of them, as well as a concert to perform. If anything, he was a professional, and nothing, not even love problems, would make him turn his back on the career he had worked so hard to build for himself. The career that Nadine helped build with him.

"Don't worry Nadz, I completely understand." He says, and he really does understand, but that doesn't mean he agrees. I'll make you want me, he thought. They will be in a foreign place together, so it shouldn't be too hard to catch Nadine alone. I'm not gonna let you go that easily.

He took out his iPhone and put it on airplane mode, then chose a playlist. He plugged in his earphones and offered Nadine one of the earbuds, as well as his shoulder, where she slept for most of the duration of the flight.

A/N: I'm trying to time this right, I believe they'll be in Sacramento on January 10th? Para feeling natin totoo. Haha! Feel free to comment. And thank you, as always, for reading and bearing with me! :)