In Between Takes

take 9

Hashtag Japan pa more.

Maine was enjoying herself too much - too much, in fact, kaya hindi na nya namalayan that her Twitter's being bombarded and guess what? Direct messages from aldenrichards02.

Mag-eenjoy ka doon, panigurado!

Ingat sa flight!

Reply ka naman kapag nandyan ka na.

Kahit touchdown Japan, wala?

Sige, masyado ka yatang busy. 'Wag kang masyadong macute-an kay Matti, baka hindi na ako pogi pagbalik mo.

Wala talagang reply?

Grabe sya, oh.

Goodnight, Meng. Enjoy your stay.

Natawa naman sya, because lately, Alden had been getting... how would she put it into words? Ah, clingy.

Her suspicions proved her right. Walang tigil ang dating ng text, at hindi pumapalyang tumawag ng binata tuwing gabi. Akala nga nya, kapag naka-close na nya si Alden, sya ang magiging clingy sa kanilang dalawa.

Well, she was damn wrong.

Nagreply naman sya agad noong mabasa nya ang DM nito, because she wouldn't want him to worry. After the Julie issue, and the silent treatment she purposely gave him, parang ayaw na syang paalisin ng binata, at doon na nga nagsimula ang pagiging clingy ni Alden.

Not that she's complaining.

In fact, she liked it. A lot.

Sorry, ngayon lang ako nagbukas. Sabi ko sayo gumawa ka na ng snapchat! Mas active ako doon!

Sent. Naghilamos na sya at naghanda na rin sa pagtulog, because their tour for the next day was completely - and fully - scheduled. Better get the rest she needed.

Pero kahit naman nakakapagod, sobrang sulit pa rin, because she get to spend the trip with the whole extended Mendoza family. Plus Matti. Plus Baeyaw. Plus Pe. Everyone she enjoyed spending time with was here, ano pa bang hihilingin nya?

Si Alden?

She shook her head. Grabe, kagagaling lang noong tao dito.

Maybe someday, if they have the time, or if they can squeeze a break in between dozens of endorsements, baka pwede silang pumunta dito na sila lang -

Ano ka ba, Menggay?! Why are you thinking about spending time with Alden - with just Alden?!

She must be really, really, insane to think about that.

Saan ka nagpunta? :)

Himala. Gising pa 'to?

Kung saan-saan. Nag-rosary ka na ba? :P

She liked to tease him about being religious at times. Don't get her wrong, she had her faith strong, but Alden's was ten times stronger than anyone she knew. Akala nga nya dating madre ang Nanay nya sa sobrang pagkadeboto nito, but when she met Alden, akala mo nakatira sa seminaryo.

Oo.

The tease didn't work, because Alden answered seriously. Minsan talaga KJ 'to.

She typed her reply. Bakit 'di ka pa natutulog? Late na ah.

His reply came after a few seconds. Iniintay ko reply mo.

Maine unconsciously smiled.

Bawal kiligin. Bawal kiligin! Seriously, Menggay?! It took Alden four words just to make you smile?!

She hesitated for a while kung anong irereply nya. That was Alden's charm; he was just being his usual self, pero nakakalaglag panty na talaga. Sabi nga ni Miss Jenny, ang swerte ng babaeng mamahalin ni Alden.

But I won't be that woman.

And she remembered, again and again, how Julie's name fell out of his lips.

Nope, I certainly won't be that woman he loves.

Bigla na lang syang nawalan ng gana (she kept on denying what the reason was, and told herself she was just tired from all the walking they've done for the day plus endless posing for the camera and snapchat posts with Coleen) na magreply. Naisip na nga nyang magpanggap na lang na nakatulog na lang while using Twitter.

Nope. Alden won't believe that, knowing how addicted you are to social media.

She groaned. Sometimes, she hated the fact he almost knew everything about her, and she knew nothing about him.

Meng, tulog ka na ba?

Sorry, just zoned out. Pagod eh.

Ahh.. sorry, naistorbo pa kita. Bakit ka pa nagt-Twitter? Matulog ka na.

Tay...

Maine.

Eto na, eto na! Matutulog na po, okay?

Okay 'yan, para may energy ka bukas.

Lagi naman akong may energy. Hindi nga ako napapagod sayo, 'di ba?

She meant it as a joke... pero nakalimutan nyang he was much of a thinker off-screen.

Bakit? Nagsasawa ka na ba sa akin? :(

She typed furiously. Maisip pa naman 'to! Joke lang 'yon! 'Yung humor mo talaga, nawawala minsan! 'Wag kang laging funny-walain! Ganoin!

His next reply almost kept her awake the whole night.

But I'm always serious with you.