In Between Takes

take 34

Maine wished she hadn't played hard-to-get these past few days. Ever since kasing harapan nyang sinabihan si Alden na... iyon nga, busy sya, hindi na ulit ito nangulit. 

She was the same, though. Hindi naman sa ayaw nyang magcelebrate ng Valentine's and it's not like she's short of people to celebrate it with. Let's see. Nicoleen's probably going out with her suitor. Nicolas' been secretive, Nicolette was - well, married, and Nicodeim... let's not talk about Dean. Medyo may tampuhan kasi sila, because she'd been sulking around him (he wouldn't tell her who he likes). Malay ba nya kung inaagaw na pala nu'ng babaeng 'yon ang kapatid nya mula sa kanya (she's been possessive and clingy of Dean like he's the older one).

She groaned in frustration. So... siblings are off the list so yeah, natuloy nga ang date nya with her bed. Tinext naman nya si Alden ng good morning kaya nagtataka sya na hindi ito nagreply.

Nag-celebrate na naman kasi si Alden at si Divina. Well, the usual shower of flowers, chocolates, throwback videos of what they already went through, at syempre, ang walang kamatayang God Gave Me You. Pwede rin Superman.

But that was Divina... so Maine was left alone. She laughed to herself and realized that even her fictional self left her forever alone on Valentine's. Grabe ka sa akin, Divina.

She took a short nap, again, which wasn't actually short because she woke up around eleven in the evening. Nap pa ba 'yun, Meng? Ayun... may spicy chicken na naman daw sya sa baba. Dean. Napangiti naman sya doon, as her younger brother does not forget kahit hindi sila nagtatampuhan.

Pupungas-pungas pa syang bumaba in her white cotton shorts and blue loose shirt. Her body clock's messed up again, and Pe handed her meal. Naalala nyang may event nga pala ngayon si Alden (seriously kailan ba mawawalan iyong taong 'yon ng gagawin) kaya hindi ito nakareply kaninang umaga. He replied, though, and greeted her a long message for Valentine's.

May gagawin sana ako, kaso ayaw mo naman. :) Happy Valentine's, Maine!

Napangiti na sya doon, at tinapos ang pagkain. Maya-maya, nag-ring ang phone nya.

"Hello?"

"Uy, shokoy. Happy Valentine's din."

"Kamusta ang date mo with your bed?"

"Ayun, boring," she laughed. "Hindi sumasagot, eh."

"Sabi ko sa 'yo dapat ako na lang ang dinate mo."

"Oo nga, eh." Nakisakay naman sya sa trip nito. "Pero okay lang, nag-enjoy naman ako."

"Weh?"

"Oo nga. Masaya kaya matulog kasi ang lambot-lambot nya."

"Labas ka nga."

Napasimangot naman sya. Bakit sya lalabas? "Nandyan ka ba?"

"Oo. Labas na!"

"Eto na!" Bakit ba hindi nagpapasabi ng mas maaga 'yung isang 'yon? "Trip na trip mo bang pinapahiya ako sa pantulog ko -"

Natigil sya sa paglalakad at pagsasalita dahil nakita nyang nakasandal si Alden sa kotse nito na may talukbong na... kobrekama?

"Ayan na, Maine," ngingiti-ngiti nitong sabi. "You can now date your bed."

Sobrang lakas ng tawa nya at hindi matanggal ang ngiti sa mga labi nya. "Oh my g... Alden, anong nangyari sa 'yo?" Inikutan nya pa ito and true enough, parang espasol na nakabalot ang binata sa kobrekama.

"Mukha na ba akong kobrekama?"

She roared. "Mukha kang espasol or burito or sariwang lumpia!" Hindi pa rin nya mapigil na hindi tumawa. "Bakit kasi puting kobrekama pa pinili mo?"

He frowned. "Umiitim na ba ako para tawagin mo akong espasol?"

"Joke lang, joke lang," she patted his shoulder lightly. "Seriously, Alden, this is so... out of character. Parang never mo 'tong magagawa sa buong buhay mo!"

"Ako rin eh," he replied. "Hindi ko rin alam na magagawa ko 'to sa buong buhay ko."

He pulled her now into his arms, and gave her a tight hug. "Happy Valentine's, Nicomaine. Congratulations. You're dating your bed."

She hugged him back. "Happy Valentine's, Alden. Yes, I'm dating my bed."

"Maine?"

"Oh?"

"Okay lang na gawing unan 'yung biceps ko."

"Alden?"

"Yes?"

"I bite my pillows."

"Okay lang di - Aray!"

"Told you."

Humiwalay na sya sa pagkakayakap at tinulungan ang binata na tanggalin at tiklupin ang kobrekama. After stuffing it all inside his car, he pulled out a poorly wrapped box and base sa amoy.. chocolate 'yon. 

"S-sorry," hindi makatingin ng maayos ang binata sa kanya. "Cadbury 'yan. Tinunaw ko lang tapos... iniba ko ng shape."

She gladly accepted his gift while smiling. "Okay lang. Thank you, still! Ako nga, walang gift, 'di ba?"

"Meron kaya," he insinuated, and poked his cheek. Napailing naman sya, but still tiptoed and planted a soft kiss. "Dito pa," he poked his other cheek. Valentine's naman, eh, she reasoned out, and gave him another kiss. Ngingiti-ngiti naman ang binata, while she mentally rolled her eyes.

Oh, how many should faint if ever they see this scenario.

"Maine," Alden started. "You know I'm not a sweet person, and I might still be clueless about some things." Sus, 'di daw sweet. "But I'm really, really hoping for a good relationship between the two of us in the years that will follow. Sana hindi ito ang una at huli nating... Valentine's."

"'Wag kang mag-aalala," she assured him. "Hindi ito."

"And if ever we wanted to go separate ways in the future... if ever we didn't work out..." I don't want to imagine, Alden. "I still hope we're gonna be good friends."

She nodded in acknowledgement, because she knows that what he's speaking is true. Walang kasiguraduhan. She can wake up the next morning feeling nothing for him and vice versa. "Pero sa ngayon," Alden continued. "I'm hoping that whatever we had today would last and if not, be strengthened."

She smiled, absorbing the sincerity of his words, and let it be reflected on hers. "Alden, hindi ko alam kung may sasabihin pa ako kasi nasabi mo na lahat," she replied. "But if it makes you... uh, feel better, please do know that I'm hoping us to last. Kahit wala na 'yung loveteam. 'Yung mga fans... Sana... ganito pa rin tayo." 

Maine could feel herself blushing. "Special?"

Alden smiled.

"Special."