Back to You || Maiden/Aldub

e l e v e n

"Have you made your decision?" She asked, finally breaking the silence that filled the air between them two.

She watched him carefully as he tore his gaze that had been locked on the fingers the fiddled on his lap, now staring into her hazel orbs. He licked his lips, taking in a deep breath and before he could he even utter a word, she already knew what his answer was going to be.

"No." He sighed.

"Then, I'll make it for you." She replied with ease. "We're done."

"Ra-Rachel, no." He stuttered, shaking his head.

"Alden," She briefly closed her eyes, trying her best to find the words to say without fully hurting him. "You can't have both of us. And I know damn well it won't be me. It will never be me."

He looked at her, blinking back the tears the welled in his eyes - guilty of all the things she had just said. He couldn't believe that he had let it get this far, to a point where he is no longer in control of who he's hurting in his life.

There was no doubt that he loved and cared about Rachel, because if he didn't he wouldn't have spent so much time trying to court her and win her over. But it was just never going to match up to the deep feeling he had for the girl that brought out the humorous side of him. The girl that showed him the fun side of the career path he had chosen. The girl that brought out the real him.

The girl that completed him.

"You love her, at naiintindihan ko yun." Rachel said slowly, reaching out to hold his hand - which he gladly accepted, giving it a light squeeze. "I'd rather have us end this now while it's still early, than have you and I drag this on longer, knowing that you can never return the love I feel for you."

She was right and it hurt so much to hear it. There she was, a beautiful girl, the whole package, and yet he couldn't find the ability to see her the way she saw him. It was just like when Maine had told him what she felt for him all over again.

He felt so disgusted with himself, for not only hurting one innocent girl but two.

They did nothing to deserve this. Heartache was no fun experience, and he knew that. And yet, he's managed to bring it upon two women.

Am I really this oblivious? He thought to himself.

"Don't hate me." Alden whispered, looking down as his tears began to fall.

"Hey, hey..." Rachel shushed, reaching over to bring his face up to look at her and wipe away the stray tears that had made it's way down his cheeks. "I could never. Hindi lang ikaw ang may sala dito, okay? It takes two to tango. I knew from the beginning na si Maine ang tinitibok ng puso mo, pero sumakay parin ako. Kasi, I thought that maybe, I could be that girl that could change the course and beat of your heart."

By now, the two were in tears - once again letting the silence engulf them.

"Do me a favor?" She sniffled.

"Hm?" Alden nodded.

"Wag mo na sha pakawalan, ha?" She lightly laughed, trying to get a smile from him. "Don't give up on her. She spent three years waiting for you, the least you can do is show her that those three years weren't a waste."

---------

"Ugh, I don't want to drive home tonight." She groaned, slumping in her seat.

Justin looked over to the couch next to him, giving the girl a strange look.

"Bakit hindi ka na lang kasi mag move dito sa Manila? It will make your life so much easier." He chuckled, pausing the movie that they were engrossed in watching before she had made a sudden outburst.