Back to You || Maiden/Aldub

s e v e n t e e n

"You told him you loved me?" He repeated for the third time, trying to wrap his head around what she had just said. He wanted to make sure he had heard her right and it wasn't his head making up things.

Ever since she showed up at his door, tears streaming down her face, Justin's mind was in full alert. But there was no guessing that when she told that one certain part of earlier's events, he was taken back by surprise.

Despite being one of Philippine's eligible bachelor, not to mention the countless of rumors of being linked with many A-list celebrities since the spike of his popularity, he never really had been this close to a girl.

His life revolved around basketball since he could remember, not a single time did being involve with a girl, like he was now, slipped his mind.

Never had someone of the opposite sex come running into his arms as a source of comfort. Yes, he had been in a relationship back when he still lived in the UK but it was puppy love - something he didn't take too seriously. And although what he and Maine had wasn't definite, there was no guessing it was more than friendship.

After he had let her settle down, Justin asked her to explain what it was that brought her to his apartment - even though he had somewhat of an idea to why she was in tears. The only reason to why she's ever cried in front of him.

Maine nodded, chewing on her nails.

"Do you feel that way?" Justin asked slowly, locking eyes with her.

She licked her lips, pulling her fingers from her lips. But before she could say anything, he sucked in a deep breath - already knowing her answer. "I'm sorry. I panicked. Lumuhod siya and I just- "

"Don't even bother." He mumbled, shaking his head.

"Jay-" She began, guilt written all over her face.

"I'm not mad that you don't love me. Because I have no right to be. We've only known each other for a short amount of time." Justin interrupted her, his eyes now fixated on the coffee table in front of them. "I'm mad because you said it. You said you love me because you can't be honest with him, and more importantly yourself."

Maine tried to find the words to say to him. But a part of her mind was still left at the rooftop, earlier's scenes still playing in her head.

The two sat in silence, trying to figure out how to say what it was that was running through their heads - knowing that one slip of word could make or break what they had.

"Look," He breathed, reaching out to touch her knee. "I want to be with you, so bad. And I know you said that you do too, pero Maine your actions beg to differ. You don't want to be with me. You never had."

"Yan ka nanaman eh, trying to be a mind reader." Maine nervously tried to laugh off. She couldn't bear anymore of the serious talk.

She hated confrontation and the fact that she was now going through a second one all in one night was sending her brain into a full panic - not knowing how else to register all the words that were flooding into her ears.

"Maine, please." He sighed.

All he wanted was to get his point across, to get her to realize what it was that was taking place between the two of them.

"Justin, I don't want to hear it, okay?" Maine exasperated, looking at him with pleading eyes. "Not right now. I just- I can't okay? I feel like I know what you're going to say and-- No. Just no."

She was tired and broken. And once she heard what he had to say, she knew it would make her heart feel heavier than it already does.

She wasn't stupid, Maine had a small guess to what it was that was running through his head - she knew. And just like the man that held her heart for so long, she couldn't bring herself to admit it.