Smitten

AU: Best Friends Forever (Part 2/Finale)

"Pati ba naman dito, Gab?"

Maine's forehead creased. She couldn't help but roll her eyes at this young man's timing.

"Bakit? I didn't think I was interrupting something." Gab said, flashing his puppy dog eyes to her. He always thought Maine liked the sight of those eyes, but, truth be told, she actually despised them.

"Well, you are." Maine replied. "Pwede ba? Umalis ka na. Alden and I are in the middle of something."

At the mention of his name, Alden continued to stare at Gab. This man has interrupted way too many of his moments with Maine, and he wasn't going to just sit around and watch his ruin this night for the both of them. Most especially when he was thinking about finally admitting his true feelings to her.

"Pare, narinig mo naman ang sinabi ni Maine, di ba?" Alden said, eyeing Gab as if he was the Joker to his Batman. "Umalis ka na. May pinag-uusapan pa kami eh."

Gab stared right back at Alden. He wasn't backing down on the latter, as well.

"Well, what if I don't want to? What are you going to do about it?"

Alden could feel his blood boil. He didn't want to stoop down to Gab's level, but if he had to, he absolutely did not mind.

Maine could feel droplets of sweat trickle down the back of her neck as people in the cafe started looking at the three of them.

"Umalis ka nalang, Gab. Ayokong mag-away kayo." She said, finally getting up from her seat. Almost instantly, Alden stood up as well.

"Hindi naman ako pumunta dito para makipag-away eh. It's your best friend here," Gab continued to eye Alden. "Who clearly wants to fight. And I'm not backing down. I fight for what's mine."

"Mine?" Alden laughed bitterly. "Kailan pa naging sa'yo si Maine?"

"Well, she's still going to be mine. Right, baby?"

Maine had goosebumps all over her body as she heard that term of endearment. She felt very uncomfortable as she felt Gab's hand on her lower back.

Of course, Alden, being the knight in shining armor that he was, tried to be calm, as he noticed the gesture made by Gab. He already knew that the three of them were making a scene, and though he wanted to burst and punch Gab right then and there, he choose to remain as calm as possible. It was a lot of work for him, knowing how emotional he can get.

"Pare, hanggang kalmado pa 'ko, sinasabi ko sa'yo.. bitawan mo si Maine." Alden said.

Gab smirked in reply, pulling Maine closer to him.

"At kung ayaw ko, anung gagawin mo?" He replied. "It's not my fault that you're not man enough to admit to her that you like her.. as a matter of fact, love her. Nauna ako sa kanya, kaya wala kang karapatang umasta na parang boyfriend ka niya. You're just her best friend. Nothing more, nothing less."

Alden was taken aback at what Gab had just said. He felt as if a million daggers had been thrown right at his heart. He felt his eyes water, but he couldn't allow Gab to suck the best out of him.

"I may just be her best friend, but I've seen her at her best, and I've seen her at her worst. Eh ikaw? After weeks of seeing her in school, do you honestly think na madadala siya sa mga pa-flowers, pa-chocolates, at pa-cute mo?" Alden said.

"I've known Maine long enough to distinguish when she likes someone back and when she's just forced into something she never even wanted to be a part of in the first place. And let me tell you this, she never wanted to be a part of your life. She never was, and she never will be."

"Bawiin mo ang sinabi mo." Gab said, his hands shaking in anger.

"Bakit ko babawiin ang isang bagay na alam kong totoo?" Alden said. "You may be rich, you may have hundreds of girls knocking on your door, begging for you to love them, but Maine is definitely not one of them." He added. "Kaya pabayaan mo na siya. Let her love whoever she wants to love. Oo, matagal ko na siyang gusto, matagal ko na siyang mahal, pero handa naman akong magskripisyo at magparaya kung alam kong sa gagawin kong 'yun, dun siya magiging masaya."

Maine couldn't believe her ears. Though Alden was speaking to Gab, she knew that Alden was indirectly revealing his true feelings to her. She felt overjoyed upon hearing this, so excited to talk to Alden, and tell him that after all these years, his best friend had felt the exact, same way.

"Bahala kayo sa buhay niyo. Magsama kayo!" Gab stormed off, but both Maine and Alden couldn't care less.

"Alden.." Maine uttered. "Alden.. yung sinabi mong matagal mo na kong mahal.. yun ba ang gusto mong sabihin sa 'kin kanina pa?"

Alden nodded and smiled a little in reply.

"Oo, Maine. 'Yun ang gusto kong sabihin sa'yo, hindi lang kanina pa, but years and years ago pa." He admitted. "I know medyo awkward na ang lahat ngayon, kung kaya't aalis nalang siguro ako."

"Wait." She held his hand. Both Maine and Alden felt a shock of electricity as their hands touched, their cheeks turning into a faint shade of red.

"Wag ka munang umalis please." Maine said. "Hindi ko pa nasasabi sa'yo ang side ko. Kung.. ano din ang nararamdaman ko."

Alden wanted to pinch himself. Was he dreaming? Was this moment actually happening? As he stood there, his eyes focused on Maine's beautiful face. He hoped that what she was going to say wasn't going to break his heart. He hoped that Maine could reciprocate his feelings for her. But if she didn't, he prepared himself for the worst. The only thought that repeated in his mind was, "Walang magbabago. Magiging best friends pa rin kami."

"Alden, kasi.." Maine felt a bit hesitant, but there was no turning back. It was now or never. "Kasi all these years, akala ko.. ako lang. Akala ko, ako lang ang may gusto sa'yo." She added.

"Mulang nung grade school pa lang tayo, crush na kita eh. Pero hindi ko lang sinabi sa'yo kasi baka lumayo ka sa 'kin. Alam mo naman ako nung grade school tayo, di ba? Walang ibang kasama sa school kundi ikaw lang. Walang nang iba." Maine laughed gently.

"Mas lalong lumalim ang feelings ko sa'yo nung high school tayo. Nung.. yung sinabi mo nga.. you saw me at my best and at my worst, pero you chose to stay by my side." She said. "You were there for me, Tisoy. You were there for me, when no one else was. You were my hero, when I needed saving. You were my constant, when everything in my life was changing and I couldn't help but fall for you. I couldn't help but love you. Minahal kita higit pa sa kaibigan.. and after all these years.. pinagdasal ko na sana, si Richard Faulkerson Jr., ang best friend ko.. makakaramdam din ng ganitong klaseng pag-ibig para sa akin, dahil kung hindi.. masasaktan talaga ako ng bonggang bongga."

Alden couldn't help but laugh. Even during her admission, Maine was still fond of joking around just to make the situation a lot lighter, and he appreciated it. He appreciated that she tried to be herself, despite having just shown that vulnerable side of her. Not a lot of people were lucky enough to see her in that light, and Alden was among the very few that she trusted enough with the real her.

"Well, dinig dinig siguro ni Lord ang mga dasal mo." He smiled, pulling her closer to him. "Dahil after all these years, si Richard Faulkerson Jr., ang best friend mo, ay mahal na mahal ka na rin pala." He added. "Medyo torpe nga lang kaya it took this long."

Maine smiled back, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Ano ka ba." She said. "Even if it took this long, the wait was worth it. Just like you.. you're worth it."

Alden gently caressed her face, and planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I love you, Maine."

"I love you too, Alden."

"Walang magbabago. I promise."