Can't Go Back Now

Can't Go Back Now 2

To a lot of people, their success came as a shock. In all sorts, it was unexpected. Actually, "unexpected" in itself may very well prove to be an understatement. They literally took the boob tube by storm.

A few months back, she was just like any other fresh graduate whose been trying to have everything figured out. She wanted to step out of her family's shadow, she wanted it so bad that she was more than willing to take risks, even if it meant having to carve out a name for herself in a world which was light years far from what she was accustomed to growing up.

He, on the other hand is being dubbed as one of the network's most promising ward. He however knew all too well that potential alone won't be enough. With only a year and a half left on his contract, he needed to go the extra mile to prove himself worthy of each and every opportunity that lands his way.

But there was no stopping destiny. He made it and so did she.

Together, they made it.

☺☺☺

"So I'll see you tomorrow?" he whispered, offering to open the door of her van for her.

"Yeah, I'll see you then..." she smilingly answered.

It had been a long day. Sure, she's tired. Sure, there's been some scenes that they had to shoot over and over but there was no amount of exhaustion that could equate to the happiness that she was feeling. And why not? She just found for herself a new "partner-in-crime". An ever enthusiastic partner-in-crime at that. A game and ever enthusiastic partner-in-crime at that.

"Maine..." he shyly called out.

"Okay lang naman...if I call, I mean...", Alden hesitantly continued.

"Yup, partners in crime nga 'di ba? She winked not allowing him to finish his sentence.

He smiled, reluctantly breathing a sigh of relief thereafter.

"Ingat and Good night."

And once more, smiles and waves were exchanged by the two.

☺☺☺

"Ate Ruby, okay lang ba daw talaga si Alden?" she inquired with qualms written all over her face.

He had not been reporting to work for a couple of days now. Earlier, she was told that Alden had been hit with flu and that his management asked for some days off to allow him to rest and recuperate.

Ruby and all the other female hosts was silenced by Maine's question. All but one gave her an inquiring look.

"Uyy ate Ruby, nagtatanong lang po ako ahhh." she responded visibly putting her walls up.

"Iba na yan huh..." Ruby quipped not wanting to take her imploring eyes off her.

Julia and Pauleen laughed as they noticed how her cheeks are turning pinkish red all of a sudden.

"Ay, may baon nga po pala ako na baked mac, gusto niyo po?" she reassuringly offered in a dire effort to change the topic.

"Hayaan mo, papasok na din si Tisoy, huwag mo masyado ma-miss." Ruby relentlessly teased.

"Ayaw ni Lola ng ganyan..." Julia naughtily added, seemingly loving the situation to its fullest.

She consciously looked elsewhere pretending not to hear a word they said.

Instictively, she stole a momentary gaze on her phone to try to check if there were unread texts or any calls she might have missed in the process.

There were none.

She then covered her face not wanting anyone to see the growing frustration hovering over her at the moment.

*Sigh*

☺☺☺

Unknown to Maine, a pair of ears have been eavesdropping the whole time. His smile? Well, it could rival that of Ronald McDonald's. Some guys have all of the world's luck, mind you.

☺☺☺

"Na mahal, mahal na mahal kita hindi ako magbabago, asahan mo ito..."

Something or better yet someone managed to snatch every bit of concentration she has then poured.

A familiar tune started playing in to the delight of an anticipating crowd. The entire studio erupted into deafening roars the moment his face surfaced.

"God gave me you, to show me what's real..."

Maine was left stunned, not knowing how to react at this unlikely surprise.

"Ohh, bumalik na pala eh..." Allan K readily beamed, igniting the crowd's agitation all the more.

"Smile ka na", Alden wrote as the other half of the screen was reduced to blushes and controlled laughter.

"Okay ka na, Tisoy?" she wrote back, wiling herself to stay composed despite the now flustering situation.

"Yaya, yan ang sinasabi ko sa'yo...kinikilig ka na naman" Lola Nidora willingly chastised.

It took him sometime to answer. His dimples were the ones that did the talking.

"Okay na kasi, nakita na kita...miss you Meng."

And just like that, everyone else seemed to have disappeared from her sight.

☺☺☺

Later that afternoon, she was the last to leave the dressing room. Her driver informed her that he has been sruck at EDSA for an hour now.

Walking through the hallways, she bumped into someone.

Someone she least expected to meet at that particular hour.

"Alden..."

"Ikaw, napaka-unpredictable mo...pero buti naman okay ka na." she stopped mid-sentence, wary all of a sudden that she might say something she should not have.

Alden, for his part was quick to notice Maine's hesitation.

"Bakit?"

"Nope, wala may naalala lang ako." she uttered brushing off his concern.

"Ikaw kasi, trabaho ka ng trabaho...yan tuloy..." she gamely remarked.

"Sige na po boss, mag-iingat na next time, ikaw naman po sige na, baka nandiyan na po driver niyo..." he gently reminded.

"Pero, seryoso ako dun ahh." he happily winked before letting her go.

"Anong seryoso? Saan seryoso?" she curiously pleaded to the man casually walking away from her.

☺☺☺

Her mobile phone suddenly vibrated.

"Dun sa na-miss kita."