One Step at a Time (ALDUB/MAIDEN One-shots)

When He Chooses

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. Alden Richards" Mr. Arnold Clavio announces and from behind the wall emerges the quite dashing 24 year old Pambansang Bae. The scream of the audience did not falter to welcome the young man with such enthusiasm.

"Good evening po sa lahat, Tay, magandang gabi sa'yo. Thank you po for having me here."

"Para simulan ang usapan nating ito Alden gusto kong kumustahin ka kasi alam nating lahat kung gaano ka ka-busy ngayon. Kaliwa't kanan and shoot and mall show mo hindi lng dito sa loob ng bansa kundi pati na rin sa labas ng bansa. How are you? How is your life right now?" 

"Ayy, syempre po una sa lahat masaya. Nakaka-overwhelm po ang mga bagay na dumarating sa akin ngayon. Thankful and so grateful sa mga opportunites at tiwala na ibinibigay ng mga sumusuporta. And if you're asking po how's my life right now, I can say na I'm stable and contented and somewhat at peace po." 

"That's great Alden pero can you give us a little glimpse of where you are now in terms of your career, your relationship to your family, to your fans and kung mapagbibigyan mo where are you now sa usaping puso." As if on cue, the audience, hearing the word "puso" belt out their piercing screams making Alden laugh a little.

"Sa totoo po niyan Tay as far as my career is concerned, I think I'm at the point na masasabi kong successful, not to boast or anything po pero di ba alam naman po natin na hindi naman po sukatan ng pagiging artista ang mga acting awards na nakukuha nila. Nasusukat yun kung gaano mo napapasaya ang mga taong sumusuporta sa iyo. Sa family ko naman po, ganun din po, stable at mas closer kami ngayon especially now po talaga na hindi maiwasan ang mga controvercies, so talagang I have their backs, palagi silang naka-alalay. To my fans, I am trying po talaga to accommodate each and everyone of them sa paraang alam ko po kasi they were instances and situations po na hindi ko na sila naa-accommodate lahat dahil na rin po sa time constraints." Alden sighed after his long answer but the audience was clamoring about his answer sa "usaping puso" and to acknowledge that he's going to answer it, he smiled his trademark bedimpled smile.

"O ehh, on your personal life. We all know that Maine Mendoza is your love interest as of the moment pero hindi naman siguro ibig sabihin nun na siya na ang nililigawan mo, kung, may nililigawan ka na nga. O kung siya man, do you want it to be public?"

"Unang-una Tay, palagi ko pong sinasabi na if I'm courting someone or if I'm with someone as much as possible po I want to keep it private but I will never make it a secret." Alden said seriously.

"Ohh yes, I've read certain issues about you saying na sinisekreto mo raw ang relasyon mo. Enlighten us Alden about that."

"There's nothing to tell Tay kasi wala naman po talaga. From the very start, I've been vocal po of my relationship status and from there palagi kong sinasabi na wala pa talaga. But I choose the woman I want to love, hindi dahil naimpluwensyahan ng nakararami, hindi dahil tinukso kami o dahil sa pressure ng ibang tao. If I'm going to pursue a girl, its because she qualify in my standards po."

"And what will be your standards, Alden Richards?"

"Well, I choose a girl with a balance character, she can be serious and she can be funny pero dapat po mas lamang ang funny para masaya." Again for the third time the audience blow the roof of the studio because of their screams. "Gusto ko rin po yung may practical talents, like cooking and baking. I'm also fascinated by girls who can escape reality just by writing." "Si Maine yan ehh!!" One fan screamed and Alden just laugh. "I also love girls with definite intelligence na maiitindihan ang mundong ginagalawan ko and syempre po may consideration. Yun pong kaya i-consider ang flaws and faults ko na hindi ko kailangan mag try-hard na ipakita kung sino ako talaga because she understands the real me."

The interview ended after 2 or 3 questions that came from the fans. As he was bidding Mr. Arnold Clavio and the audience goodbye, his phone vibrated signalling an incoming call and to his great surprise his better half as he called her is on the other line.

"Hello, gising ka pa? What is it now?" Alden asked.

"Di ko alam may standards ka na pala ngayon ha, Oa mo Tisoy na-nosebleed ako sa mga standards mo." she said making Alden chuckle from the other line.

"Bakit affected ka? May plano kang i-achieve yung mga standards ko?" Alden said smiling while teasing the girl. 

"In your dreams Shokoy. Sige na nga, good night na. Uwi ng diretso and drive safely, okay?" but before she can hung up the phone, the man on the other line whispered three words that makes her heart frantically beating.

"I choose you."

(A/N: Is it okay? Sorry for the errors and thanks for dropping by)