Is It Fate? (An AlDub Fanfic)

Prologue

8 years ago...

"Sigurado ka na ba sa kanya?" Alden asked me from the other line.  I couldn't answer.  I held the phone away from me and cried silent tears.  I wanted to say 'yes, I love Jake kaya ko nga siya pakakasalan' but I couldn't.  What is hindering me from answering him?

"Maine?" Alden said my name. I could tell he is trying so hard not to cry but his voice sounded otherwise.  "Please..."

"Alden - kaya ko nga pakakasalan si Jake, diba?"

"I'm asking if you're sure.  I'm asking if you're marrying for love.  At hindi dahil kailangan mo lang ng papel," Alden pleaded with me.  "Please, Maine..."

I sighed.  Truth was, I was not really marrying for love.  Don't get me wrong.  Jake was a wonderful guy.  He was everything a woman would want.  Furthermore - he offered me something I could not refuse.  The opportunity to stay in the US for good. 

My status in the US was coming to a close since I was about to graduate from UCLA for my masters in Business Administration.  My student visa was about to expire and I had no choice but to go back home to the Philippines. 

But then I met Jake. We became friends. And he knew about my situation, how I didn't want to go home yet.  How I wanted to make a name for myself here in the States.  How I wanted my career to grow first.  And being the good friend that he was - he offered to marry me since he was a US citizen which meant I would get to have a permanent resident status. 

Although I knew that for him - this marriage was more than that.  You see, Jake loved me.  He told me so himself.  He also knew that for me - this was just a means to an end.  But he said he would do everything in his power to make me love him back.  Eventually. 

Right now though - it was a different story.

"Sabi mo sa akin, babalik ka din dito sa Pilipinas," Alden whispered at the other end of the line.  "Sabi mo, tatapusin mo lang ang masters mo diyan and then you'll come back.  To me.  Naghintay ako Maine.  Hanggang ngayon - hinihintay kita."

"Things change, Alden.  4 years is a long time.  Marami ng nagbago."

"Pagmamahal ko sa iyo, hindi nagbago.  Mahal na mahal pa rin kita."

I sobbed.  I wasn't sure if Alden heard me but at that point, I didn't care.  "I want to stay here, Alden.  I grew to love the US.  I want to make a life here."

"Without me..."

"Yes," I whispered back.  My voice started to shake.  I wanted the conversation to end.  But I couldn't do that to him.  It was the least I could do for him, speak to him even though he was hurting.  "Without you."

"Kung hindi rin lang naman ikaw ang mapapangasawa ko, Maine - hindi na lang ako mag-aasawa," said Alden with conviction. 

"Don't Alden.  Huwag kang magsalita ng ganyan.  Alam mo namang..."

"Ano, Maine?  Alam kong ano?"

I couldn't speak.  I couldn't answer him back.  I loved him.  I still loved him.  But my life was about to start differently.  With Jake. 

"Just tell me that you love me still.  Just tell me that all these are for show.  Just tell me that you're not really marrying him because you love him," he pleaded once more with me.  I couldn't stop crying at this point. 

I had to tell him.  Not to hurt him, but for him to let me go.  For him to be able to move on.

I mustered all the courage.  I straightened myself.  I tried so hard for my voice not to shake and to tell him with conviction.  For him to hear that I was serious.  For him to realize that it was time to let me go.

I had to do it. I needed to do it. Even though I would hurt him, hurt me...

I had to lie.

"I'm sorry, Alden.  But I do love Jake..."

I heard his sharp intake of breath at the other end of the line.  I heard him try to stifle a sob.  And then finally - when I knew he couldn't take it anymore, I heard him cry. 

When he finally stopped, I heard some rustling and I knew he was trying to strengthen his resolve. 

"All right.  Ok," he sighed.  And then finally, he told me, "Goodbye, Maine."

Then all I heard was a busy signal telling me that he put the phone down on me. 

"Goodbye, Alden..."

And then - I finally wept.

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Present Day...

"Mommy, why are you crying?"

I wiped the tears from my cheeks that I didn't know fell while I was reading my journal.  It was early afternoon on a weekend. I was in our backyard, drinking orange juice and had every intention of writing in my journal.  Although I didn't know why I decided to read that day instead. I took my 6-year old little girl and placed her on my lap. 

"It's nothing, baby.  Don't worry," I answered her.  "Is your brother still asleep?"

"Nope! He's with daddy, playing in the bathtub," she answered while giggling. 

I smiled.  My kids were my light.  The reason I wake up every morning. 

"All right.  Go to daddy, I'll follow you.  I'll be the one giving you a bath."

"Ok, mommy," she answered.  She started to run back to the house but turned towards me at the last minute.  "Are you still sad?" she asked curiously.

"No, love - I'm not sad," I answered while I got up and started to walk towards her.

"Is it because of daddy?"

I stopped and looked at my baby girl.  It was funny how kids could sometimes feel more than adults do.

"No, of course not! Daddy and I are ok.  Plus, daddy loves you very much," I picked her up when I got to her and tickled her tummy.

She giggled and wrapped her arms around me.  Together, we walked back towards the house. 

And thanks to my journal - I'm now wondering 'what if...'