Can't Go Back Now

Can't Go Back Now 8

"Kanina ka pa d'yan?" Maine asked, her face devoid of any emotion.

"You looked ahmmmm scared," Alden remarked wondering what could have caused that guarded look on Maine's face.

"May narinig ka sa sinasabi ko kanina?" she inquired, heaving a sigh of relief when he did appeared clueless to a point of scratching his head trying to comprehend for himself what indeed was going on.

"Kinakausap mo na yun sarili mo?" he inadvertently asked trying to poke his head to where she came from, concealing his disbelief into soft chuckles.

"Wala naman tao ahh, so kinakausap mo nga sarili mo?" he added.

"So, may narinig ka nga?" she again squeezed, feeling a sudden discomfort in her chest thereafter.

"Wala, as in promise! Pero teka bakit ba?"

It was then that she took his hand, dragging him to where the press conference prepared for them will be held.

☺☺☺

As exasperated as she still was, she could not at all remember what transpired with the said press con. Well, except for one thing---one local entertainment writer implored on the very possibility of them being a "real" item. She remembers feeling a bit disappointed when he gave what for her was a fairly safe response.

He told them he wanted to get to know her more-which for her was completely okay, it is just that her thoughts were still consumed with their playfully upfront exchange of text messages earlier that she somehow expected to hear more. No one could have blamed her for wanting to, in the first place.

The next day, he brought a couple of catered dishes with him---buttered shrimps and paella.

As Meng entered the dressing room, she heard utterly agitated voices, with one praising Alden's gesture of bringing food for everyone.

"Oh Menggay, ang sweet ni RJ oh, may dalang food!" Ruby exclaimed excitedly.

May paella, di ba gusto mo yan? Ryan interjected offering her a paper plate not long after.

"Suggestion ni Kuya Ry yan," Alden proudly beamed.

"Huh, ako?" Ryan uttered looking rather confused.

"Kuya Ry, di ba may ano ka pa..." Meng interjected in an effort to change the topic altogether.

Seeing the overly nervous look on Maine's face, Ryan decided to engage with it a little more.

"Andami ko spiels kahapon," he playfully hinted noticing how Maine's face is starting to turn red.

Alden, who was inches away from where Ryan was began feeling uneasy, remembering how yesterday's text messages unfolded.

He whispered to Ryan's ear:

"Kuya, di ba tayo naman talaga magka-text kahapon?"

"Ahh, ba't di mo itanong si Menggay? Di ko naman favorite ang paella..."

Meng and Alden's eyes met.

His heart then felt heavy. It was as if everyone in the room disappeared.

Maine for her part, decided to join the rest who were seated in the long table. It was an escape she badly needed. Avoiding Alden's eyes, she kept her head bowed down the whole time they were seated on the table.

☺☺☺

It was a quarter past three in the afternoon, the atmosphere in the dressing room was a world different from how it was earlier. Needless to say, all of them were all tired from the show earlier. Energies were down and except for a few murmurs every now and then, the entire room echoed nothing but silence.