Take Two

Part 2

"Alden, are you OK?" Maine asked with growing concern. "I'm sorry, akala ko alam mo."

He ran a hand through his hair in unconcealed frustration. 'Meng...kissing scene talaga? Kissing scene?" He asked helplessly.

"Well, yun ang script," Maine pointed out, unable to hide her nervousness. "They just added it this morning after clearing with management."

Alden continued to pace up and down the narrow alley strewn with shirts hung over the clothesline.

"Alden, please don't make it personal," Maine pleaded.

"Well, what do you expect me to feel, Meng?" His voice rose so sharply that it took both of them by surprise. He instantly regretted it when he saw Maine take a step back. "Sh*t Meng, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's just that...of all people...of all people to get that scene...."

"It's a job, Alden," Maine replied softly.

"It was a job for me before you came into the picture," Alden muttered under his breath.

"Alden, wala na tayong magawa. We have three days to shoot, we might as well go with the flow. We have to be professional about this. And besides, masmatindi pa nga yung mga kissing scenes ninyo ni Miss Marian sa Carmela noon," she reminded, trying to contain her frustration. "I can't mess this up, Alden. This is important to me. This episode is important to us."

Alden placed his hands on his hips, tilting his head back. He had always insisted on professionalism on the sets he worked on but now, it was difficult to take his own medicine. He turned around to see Maine on the verge of tears.

"Alden, if you really want this episode to work," she began, "You have to help me," she pleaded shakily. "The last thing I need is you being jealous. Ito na ata ang sinasabi nilang Ma'am Jenny, eh. "

Alden eyes narrowed into slits. "Bakit? Ano sabi nila?" His tone was menacing, almost accusatory.

Maine lifted her chin to meet his gaze calmly. "Ito ang sinasabi nila na mahirap kung maging tayo sa totoong buhay, Alden. I mean, I know seloso ka, but this is...this is just unfair to me. If you can't handle me doing scenes like this while nanliligaw ka pa lang, paano na kaya pag sinagot kita? Paano kung tayo na, tapos...tapos hindi lang kissing scene ang ipapagawa sa atin? What if may bed scene ako with someone else?"

Alden swallowed hard, pushing the image out from his mind.

"Yang selos mo, if it hurts this episode, I swear Alden, I will not speak to you for a month and alam mo kaya ko 'yan," she threatened, her jaw clenched.

She was right, of course. She had just begun to learn her craft and he was already damaging her chances. In his mind, he understood her point completely, but he couldn't control the jealousy that had already spread through his system like venom.

"Alam ko lahat ng sinasabi mo. I know it here, " pointing to his head. "But with you, I have a hard time here," he said, pointing to his chest. "I just need a little time. I've never done anything like this with anyone I really cared about, so just bear with me, Meng. It's not easy for me right now."

Maine took a tentative step towards him and placed a hand on his arm. "Alden, I'm so sorry. If I could change the script, I would. Look," She tilted his head downwards so he could see that she meant every word. "If it makes any difference, I would rather kiss you than Jake or anyone else."

He continued to look at her sullenly, like a child forced to face the wall.

"Fine, if you're going to be like this the whole day Alden, then gamitin mo nalang tong selos mo mamaya sa mga eksena ninyo ni Jake," she huffed, taking a step back. "We have 15 minutes left before mag-shoot tayo. Do you want to rehearse or not?"