Back to You || Maiden/Aldub

e i g h t e e n

The smell of fresh floor varnish wafted in the air as the stadium slowly began to fill with men carrying cameras and fans that were lucky enough to snag a ticket before it sold out in nearly twenty-four hours. All of them awaiting the annual GMA charity basketball game to start; in which pitted the network's talent against one of the best players of each PBA team.

As the each of them walked on to the court and to their respectful sides, matching jersey and all, the crowd cheered louder and louder. Of course, it was no match to when the very infamous and GMA's pride and glory, Alden Richards walked on court.

With a tight-lipped smile and small wave to the screaming girls, Alden made his way over to his team's bench - taking a seat by his co-star and friend, Jerald Napoles. He took in a deep breath, glancing around to see who it was he was going to be playing with and against. It was no surprise that once his eyes shifted across the court, it was met with the gaze of hazel ones.

Alden gave the guy a nod of hello, Justin doing the same, before looking down at his shoes. He really did not want to be here, he simply wanted to get the whole game over with - silently praying that he was benched for a majority of it. He had other things to worry about and being under the roof of a sports arena for a game which God-knows-how-long will take is not helping at all.

His mind was in all sort of places, basketball was the last of it all.

"Okay ka lang, paps?" Jerald tapped his shoulder, grabbing his attention.

Alden gave him a thumbs up, still a bit preoccupied by his thoughts.

"Nervous?" He asked again but his friend shook his head 'no'.

"Dami lang iniisip." Alden replied simply, fiddling with his phone.

Since the events that took place, in was once his and her happy place, his mind was at a constant debate of whether he should reach out to her or not. Yes, he had promised her that he wouldn't give up but with the amount of emotions that poured out that fateful night, he also knew that she needed space. How much of it was the question that kept him up at night.

"Nabasa ko pala yung interview mo, grabe ka." Jerald chuckled lightly, trying to shift the conversation over. But to no avail, Alden's facial emotions stayed the same - earning a sigh from him.

"Whatever it is, or who ever, you need to talk about it." He said seriously. "You can't keep it all bottled in."

"I messed up." Alden mumbled. "I don't even know where to start."

Without even a single name being dropped, Jerald knew.

She was the subject of most of their conversation.

"Sana pwede kita matulongan, pero masyado na complikado eh." Jerald gave him an apologetic look. "I think, for now, this is a hopeless cause."

Alden grimaced at the thought of what Jerald had just said - even though deep down, apart of him believed it too. She didn't want him around, not with Justin there waiting to catch her if she fell. That is, if she hasn't already.

He knew that he had hurt her too much for her to even see him like she once did. His nightmares unfolded before him and once he had woken up to realize this, it was too late. She wasn't there anymore and he couldn't help but feel a gaping hole in his chest.

But Alden wasn't going to give up. With every nightmare, there is a dream to cancel it all. And his plan was to make this come to life, even it takes him months - or even years.

As he opened his mouth to talk, the announcer's voice boomed throughout the speakers - calling each player one by one onto the court. As each of his teammates got up off of the bench and to either one of the sides, Alden drummed his fingers on to the plastic seat - silently praying that he wouldn't be called to play just yet. He was not in the best mental state at the moment and would take him a few minutes or so to fully gather himself and not be so distracted.