FLIPSIDE: A series of AD | MD one-shots

20 Seconds of Courage

This is the story I submitted for the contest, which won me a Garage magazine. Thank you again to the titas for the opportunity.  :)

Photo credit: Eat Bulaga Facebook page

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"So, ano Maine?"

Alden went all out this time. This was to be his last ditch effort, the last time he'll pull off something of this magnitude for one person.

This was his "twenty seconds of insane courage". After all, it only takes 20 seconds to make a difference, which he heard from We Bought a Zoo, a movie he watched just last night.

They were in the middle of Eat Bulaga's Kalyeserye and it was the Sugod Bahay segment, which meant that they can have a semi-private moment albeit still being surrounded by the staff and crew at the Broadway studio. That was better than the millions of eyes watching their every move whenever the cameras were rolling.

Today was their weeksary and he had set up part of the backstage area to mimic a dinner date, even if it was in the middle of the afternoon. The creative team left him to take care of preparations today, and he made sure he wouldn't disappoint them, especially Maine.

He purposely put up bright fairy lights in the background, which were nothing compared to Maine's eyes after he saw her again just a few minutes ago.

Alden was never the type to lay all his cards out. He keeps a few to himself, something that he's learned to do after a few failed relationships in the past. An act of self-preservation, he tells himself each time he finds himself slipping and breaking his own rule, which is happening more frequently with each new Kalyeserye episode.

Sure, he knows that he's attracted to Maine – really, really attracted to her. He's probably shown this quite a few times on air too, whenever he forgets he's Alden Richards.

Today he's Richard Faulkerson Jr., and he wants to make sure that Maine knew that as well.

Their faces were barely inches apart as he moved towards her. She was still holding the bouquet of flowers he surprised her with, although she has constantly told him not to keep spending money on these weeksary gifts.

"We're not live Alden, you don't have to stand so close to me," Maine says as she slowly puts her microphone away.

"But I want you to listen to what I have to say." He made sure that she was the only one who can hear him, despite having about 10 people just a few feet away.

He takes a few steps forward, closing the space between them even more.

"Ano nanamang paandar 'to Alden? You don't have to act. The cameras aren't on us right now." It was supposed to be a happy celebration day, but Maine wasn't having any of it.

She poured her heart out to him this morning, a few hours before Eat Bulaga started. It was one of those days, she says, when she thinks that this is all a dream, an act in a well-written play. Despite the numerous text messages and phone calls that last until the wee hours of the morning, the many times he would go on that butt-numbing drive to Bulacan just to see her after a long day at work, she still had those moments when her overwhelm would turn into doubt.

He puts down his microphone and holds her.

"Maine, pakinggan mo ang lahat ng sasabihin ko ngayon. Wag mo muna isipin yung mga naisip mo kanina. Ako muna ang pakinggan mo."

Maine doesn't budge and looks him straight in the eye.

"Ready na ako."

Maine looks away. "Sinabi mo na yan noon, Alden. Ang hirap lang kasi. Hindi mo ako masisisi."

"Sasabihin ko nang paulit-ulit sayo hangga't sa maniwala ka sakin." He lets go of her left arm and placed his right hand on his chest. "Hangga't sa maramdaman mo ang lahat ng nararamdaman nito."

Before Maine could even open her mouth to respond, Ms. Jenny approached the two. Standing in between them, she held up her hand and said, "Two minutes Meng, Den. Tapos kayo na okay?"

Both nodded as Ms. Jenny walked away. Alden let go of Maine's arm and looked at the monitor above her shoulder. The three lolas just gave the last prize of the day and they were now looking for the two.

"Alden? Yaya? Kamusta kayo diyan?" Lola Nidora's voice echoed in the backstage area.

"Lola, okay naman po!" Maine flashes a toothy grin, which still makes Alden smile despite their conversation a few seconds ago. "Pero wait lang po, may sasabihin lang po ako kay Alden."

Maine put down the bouquet of flowers on the table and tiptoed to reach Alden's ear. Alden tried to act surprised and excited as he bent down so she could reach him. She cupped her hand, covered her mouth as she moved even closer, her breath warm against his neck.

"Sige na nga, RJ."