In Between Takes

take 42

"Alam mo, 'yang Alden na 'yan, ha," Janeeva said as she focused on slicing the apple. "Nakakarami na 'yan. I knew I said last month that it was still love nonetheless kahit gaano pa katahimik 'yan but why isn't he contacting you?"

"Busy," Maine replied, bilang dakilang taga-kain ng mga mansanas na hinihiwa ni Janeeva. "Artista 'yung tao, 'no."

"Artista o hindi, may kanya-kanya tayong obligations sa buhay and you're one of his, Maine," she reminded her. Sa nakikita ko kasi, nate-taken for granted ka, eh."

"Wow, big word," Maine just laughed. "Taken for granted."

"Maine, I'm serious here."

"J, choice kong tumigil sa pag-aartista. Choice kong bigyan ng oras ang sarili ko at 'yung ibang bagay na 'di ko magawa because I have signed a contract with APT Entertainment. It all boils down to my choices, at hindi naman nya ako inutusan na tumigil sa pag-aartista. It's not his fault na marami akong free time ngayon tapos sya, wala."

"Maine," Janeeva patiently explained. "You're his choice as well. Sa mga kinukuwento mo, I'm starting to doubt if you're still his choice."

"Of course I'm still his choice," Maine defended Alden, kahit wala sya doon. "We're each other's choice, J. That was settled like, years ago pa."

"But choices change," she insisted. "And so do people, Maine."

Maine didn't know how true her words are. Kaya nga hindi na sya nagoopen-up kay Coleen dahil natatakot syang masupalpal na naman ng katotohanan tapos ngayon, si Janeeva naman ang nangungulit sa kanya. Palibhasa, both were already happy and contented, kaya sya naman ang kinukulit. Pakialam ba nila kung mas bet nya na magkaroon ng complicated na buhay na pag-ibig na walang kasiguraduhan kung meron ba talagang pag-ibig o wala?

O may pag-ibig talaga pero ayaw lang aminin? Ano ba talaga?

Minsan iniisip naman nyang magpakababaw. There are all kinds of love in this world at malay ba nya kung kanila 'yung pinakasimple tapos pinapakomplikado lang nila.

Maybe that's what they're afraid of; natatakot sila na if... if they tried answering those questions and boiling down choices... wala ang pangalan ng isa't-isa sa mga matitirang kasagutan.

Alden showed up that afternoon, though, with his usual bouquet of flowers also known as suhol.

Noong nakita nya ang mukha nito, akmang sasaraduhan nya ito nang inipit nito ang paa sa maliit na siwang ng pinto. "Aray!"

"Bakit ba kasi inipit mo!?" Singhal nya rito. He just gave a boyish grin, like it would free him of all his sins. "Bakit ka kasi nandito?!"

"Masama bang umuwi?"

"Umuwi? Sa pagkakaalam ko, Alden, taga-Sta.Rosa ka!"

"Tagarito rin ako," he pouted, and finally, she let him in. Agad naman itong pumasok sa sala... na sinundan nyang nakapamewang. Nahiga naman ito sa couch at naiwan syang parang ewan na nakatayo, right hand on her waist.

"Talk," she ordered. "Talk or you're out."

Napaupo ito. "Ang taray mo naman," he whined, at hinila sya pababa sanhi para mapaupo sya sa kandungan nito. He buried his face on her nape. "I missed you, Maine."

She can't believe her ears. Ano, hindi magpapakita ng isang buwan, hindi magtetext ng ilang linggo, and he - does he honestly think everything's gonna be fixed sa isang sabihan lang ng I miss you? Padabog nyang tinanggal ang pagkakapulupot ng mga braso nito sa baywang nya at dumiretso sya sa kusina. She poured herself a glass of cold water. She needed time to think and space to breathe; she can't do that when he's hugging her.

Para kasing ganoon lang kadali magpatawad.

"Maine," hindi na nya namalayan na nasa likuran na pala nya ito. He had his arms wrapped around her middle again. Ipinatong ng binata ang ulo nya sa balikat ni Maine. "Sorry."

"Don't say sorry when you don't know what you're sorry for," she spat out.

He made her turn around and face him. "Sorry," he said, more sincere this time. "Sorry for causing you pain and worry. Sorry for not talking to you. Sorry kung ngayon lang ako nakapunta. Sorry kung palagi na lang naiiwan sa ere ang texts mo. I've received them all, Maine. Oo, kumakain ako ng tama. Oo, ginagawa ko pa rin 'yung exercise ko kahit wala ako sa gym. Oo, hindi ako nagpupuyat and I sleep, kahit sa set, whenever possible. Oo, I'm not exhausting myself too much. Oo," he smiled and paused. "You're still my choice."

Ito ang problema sa kanya, eh. Kaunting sulsol lang nu'ng isa, nagpapatawad na sya. Kaunting pa-cute lang, okay na sila. If they were really in love, she knew who loves the other more. "Alden," she tried to explain. "Hindi naman kasi ako robot. I need constant confirmation."

"At hindi ka rin robot," pinitik nya ang noo nito. "Kaya 'wag kang magpapagod. Hay nako," she puffed. "Mabuti pa ang robot. I-program mo na reply-an ka lagi, gagawin. Bakit hindi na lang kaya robot ang i-date ko - eep! Alden! Ibaba mo ako!"

Alden had now carried her like a sack of rice, with her tummy on his broad shoulders. "Alden!"

"Madam, masyado kang nagtataray," he said playfully, then gently placed her on the couch, trapping her with those strong arms of him. "Soften up."

"This is your fault, bini-beast mode mo ako," she told him, but Maine was already smiling.

"Gusto kong pagbayaran ang mga kasalanan ko," Alden said, kneeling in front of her.

"Kapag may singsing kang dala ngayon, Alden, ha, sinasabi ko sa'yo. This will be the last day of your life."

"Ikaw na talaga ang pinakanakakatakot na babaeng tanungin ng will you marry me, Maine," Alden said fondly. "But I'd be willing to wait. Anyway, do you have plans on Friday?"

"Ako ba 'yung artista? Why are you asking me? Check your schedule."

He frowned. "Wala nga akong plano nu'n kaya ikaw ang chinecheck ko kung okay ka."

"Oh, bakit?"

"Dinner?" 

"Bakit 'di na lang dito sa bahay?"

"For a change?" He shrugged. "Formal dinner, ah. Wear something nice."

"You don't have to remind me. It's not like I'll show up in my pajamas there."

"So that's a yes," Alden said, grinning. He kissed her forehead. "Thank you."

"For?"

"Always understanding things I don't get to do to you," he confessed. "I honestly don't know kung anong gagawin ko if you weren't here."

She just smiled back, wondering what would she do if he's not there, too.