Maybe This Time

Prologue

She was ready to walk away from him, but he held onto her arm before she could even step out of his room.

"Please.. don't make this any more difficult for me." She thought, trying to avoid his gaze.

"Ano ba.. Ano ba talaga ang problema?" He felt his eyes water. He didn't think that this day would come; that he would fight for her to stay, to make this relationship work.

"Pwede naman nating pag-usapan 'to, di ba?" His eyes were pleading. She could not find it in herself to look at him, because she knew that she would've lost it.

"Hindi mo ko maiintidihan." She said, trying to get away from his grip. He continued to frown.

"Oo, hindi kita maiintindihan dahil hindi mo naman sinasabi sa akin kung ano ang prob-"

"HINDI NA KITA MAHAL!"

He was taken aback by she had just said. He felt a certain sting in his heart. A sting so familiar that he found himself speechless in front of her.

"Alden, hindi na kita mahal. Kaya please.. huwag mo nang ipagpilitan pa ang sarili mo sa akin dahil masasaktan ka lang."

As she said these words, she felt her eyes water, as well. She knew in her heart that she loved him very much, but she had to do this. She had to protect him from.. herself.

"Hindi totoo 'yan.." He said weakly, shaking his head.

"Yun ang totoo, Alden. Lahat ng ginawa ko para sa'yo, lahat ng mga sinabi ko, pakitang tao lang ang lahat ng yun." She said. "Hindi kita gusto. Pinipilit ko lang talaga ang sarili ko sa relasyong to. Pinipilit ko lang talaga ang sarili ko na mahalin ka."

He felt as if his world was shattering right in front of him as she said all of this. He couldn't believe that the love he believed to be true was just a lie. A lie he couldn't see, because he was completely blinded by his love for her.

"Kilala kita, Maine. Alam kong naging totoo ka sa akin.." He managed to say, though he was so broken inside. "Pwede naman nating pag-usapan kung ano man yang pinagdadaanan mo. Please, Maine. Huwag mo naman akong iwan." He started shedding tears as he held both her hands. She found herself crying, as well. This was a lot difficult than she had imagined.

"I'm sorry.." She replied. "Siguro ngayon, hindi mo pa ako maiintindihan, pero balang araw, dadating din ang panahon na maiintindihan mo kung bakit kinailangan kong gawin to."

"Alden.. just please let me go.."

"But I don't want to let you go."

He hugged her tight.

"Alden please.. huwag mo na akong pahirapan pa."

"Ayoko.."

She fought her way to escape his grip, but when he finally loosened it so she could move away, she couldn't understand the feelings that came rushing into her. She wanted him to let her go, but when he finally did, she was shattered.

"Siguro hindi lang talaga tayo para sa isa't isa." She said, wiping the tears flowing from her eyes. "Basta sana, pagdating ng panahon, maintindihan mo rin ako."

And just like that, she walked away. She walked away and she never looked back.