Can't Go Back Now

Can't Go Back Now 6

He was in a room flocked by network's executives, drum beaters and producers,everyone obviously elated at the rate things are going. All of them upbeat as to how they are going to make the most out of every opportunity that will come knocking his way. There was no question that his time has definitely come.

It was then that Maine's name was mentioned. It was an inevitability after all since their tandem was being tipped to banner the network and most of its shows for a good amount of time.

Everyone seemed to have their own say with one executive popping out the idea of him courting her citing it would be something that would "excite" the fans all the more. He felt a hinge of discomfort all of a sudden.

It all felt like he needed to speak up.

And so he did.

"May ipapakiusap lang po sana ako, let's leave Maine out of this, let's leave her out of this, kung liligawan ko man po siya, it's because mahal ko siya and that my intentions are real, nothing more...nothing less. Handa naman po ako gawin lahat ng pagagawa niyo, I know I am not even in a position to complain or to question dahil bago pa lang ako...kami, bago pa lang kami but Maine...masyado po siya totoo to be dragged sa mga ka-showbizan, sorry for the term pero di ko po talaga gagawin, mahalaga po si Meng sa akin, I would rather na magsimula po uli, kahit sa pinakamababa pa kaysa po ganito, she's too real, too fragile for all these."

The whole room froze in silence. From where he was seated, he could tell that not everyone took it well, but then he felt like he needed to protect her regardless of whether or not he is going to offend anyone. For him, her feelings were all that mattered.

"So you're telling us, you're not going to fall for her, tama ba?" An obviously discontented producer dared to ask.

He was reduced to silence for a minute, thinking if he'd even respond or not.

"What if I told you that I already did, ano pong gagawin niyo," he challenged.

Mr. Tuviera gave Alden this stern look as if telling the latter not to answer anymore.

But he refused to.

The room was again silenced when he uttered:

"I already did, mahal ko na siya so I'll do everything to protect Meng," he maintained with seriousness brimming all over his face.
☺☺☺

No one can second guess why he opted to miss the next kalyeserye episodes. There was even a clamor from fans for the people behind the show to explain his absence but none was given. The rest just assumed that he had other commitments to attend to. Maine for her part just waited for a call from him despite being likewise clueless on what was really going on.

☺☺☺

The next day, he showed up to everyone's surprise. This time, it was Meng who was not around.

"Parang may usapan naman kayo ni Menggay niyan! Nandito ka tapos siya namam wala," Ryan remarked adding how he was sorely missed by the whole bunch.

"May mga inayos lang, kuya Ry...now well rested na, makakatrabaho na ng mas mabuti," Alden quickly retaliated.

☺☺☺

The entire studio erupted from their seats the moment he appeared. He placed a large placard next to Meng's life-size standee and it read:

"Miss na kita, partner!"

☺☺☺

The next day, they had an important shoot. Their shoot location---the beautiful Batanes.

The hours they took to get there became a chance for the two to rest. A lot of people accompanied them in the trip warranting no chance for the two to talk.

☺☺☺

"Meng, are you avoiding me?" he bluntly asked.

Needless to say, this was the first time that they saw each other after the party. This is also their very first conversation since then.

It took a while for the two to brush off the tension, it likewise took her sometime to answer, allowing everyone else to leave before resuming the conversation.

The venue's name was coincidentally perfect too---Honesty Cafe, a typical sari-sari store converted into a makeshift coffee shop. The said coffee shop prides itself of one virtue and it is quite obvious at that- honesty.

"Ano ba, ba't naman kita iiwasan, ikaw nga'tong ang tagal di nagpakita..."

Alden smiled.

"Ano na naman yan, Mr. Faulkerson?", Meng hinted back.

"Wala, wala...wala," he defensively repeated.

"Ohh, bawal magsinungaling dito sige ka," Meng cautiously warned.

Alden remained mum, instead he just kept his pair of eyes on her.

"Bakit ba ang tagal tagal mong nagpakita, lahat sila tinatanong ka sa akin," she squeezed.

"Bawal magsinungaling dito di ba, so better yet sa akin na lang muna," he softly answered.

Unknown to many after last week's meeting, Alden approached Mr. Tuviera to personally ask for a week's off. He wanted to think. He wanted to process his feelings towards her. No, he isn't complicating things. For one, he was never someone who would act on his impulse. Late last night, he had a note saved on his phone:

The more you have to wait for something, the more you will appreciate it when it finally arrives.
The harder you have to fight for something, the more priceless it will become when you finally achieved it.
And the more pain you endure on your journey,
The sweeter the arrival at your destination.
All good things are worth waiting for and worth fighting for.

You. You are worth it.

☺☺☺

"Ang galing 'no, I mean itong lugar na 'to, in a time and in a world na parang ang hirap hirap maging totoo, may ganito pa palang lugar, wow as in wow lang," he casually continued.

Maine smiled, wary all of a sudden on why he kept changing from one topic to another, but then something in itself is comforting. From the time they started speaking, he never took his gazes off her.

"Richard, okay lang..."

"Okay lang na?" he asked surprisingly.

This was the first time that she called him by his real first name and that alone startled him.

"Okay lang kung may gusto kang sabihin sa'kin, I mean makikinig ako," Maine assured.

"Kasi Meng..."

One of the film staff surface in front of them all the sudden.

Although reluctant, he continued.

"Ahmm, Ms. Maine, Sir Alden, mag-tatake na daw po sabi ni Direk."

☺☺☺

Alden casually looked down on the cup of Joe Black that he was holding.

The coffee did save him. Yes, it did.

☺☺☺

The quote used earlier was by Susan Gale.☺