Broken Vows (AlDub/MaiChard Fan Fiction)

BEFORE: Five

BEFORE

Maine's

"It's an honor to have you here, Maine," Ashley, the host of the morning show, sweetly greeted. "Do you remember the last time you were here?"

"Yes!" I excitedly said and let out a giggle. "It was the week after I was officially engaged to Alden! Grabe, it's been so long!"

"Right," Ashley nodded. "Well, we are very much pleased that you are able to pay a visit despite your busy schedule."

I smiled as she went on with the interview, asking me about my upcoming projects. Following exactly what my manager had instructed, I mentioned that I landed a role for a new movie which was yet to be announced in the public. Ashley also asked about the gossips going around the industry, one of which is a teleserye with Alden. I denied the rumor and told her that teleseryes were something that I couldn't live through.

"But you had a teleserye with Alden before, right?" Ashley asked.

"Yes, it lasted for eight months yata, almost nine," I confirmed.

"How come you only had one teleserye? Do you not enjoy acting as much as you enjoy hosting?" she asked.

"I enjoy acting, you all know that. It's just that, well, teleserye is a different thing for me. I mean, yung first teleserye ko, it lasted for eight months. It was stressful, to say the least. The setting wasn't even here in the metro, and we also had scenes in abroad. So I was barely home for almost a year," I explained. "I love the experience, believe me. But between Alden and I, si Alden yung nakakatiis ng ganun. God, that man can endure anything."

"Ahh, so you don't like the idea of going from one place to another?"

"Hindi naman sa ganun," I laughed. "Pero, you know, wife duties. Alden is a busy man, at hindi niya kailangan ng partner na mas busy pa sa kanya. Not that he doesn't make time for me—he does, with all his might."

"Oh, I get it," Ashley nodded. "Gusto mong iprioritize yung pagiging wife mo, now that you're Mrs. Faulkerson?"

"Exactly," I laughed. "Pero I still host at Eat Bulaga, I don't think I'll ever leave my home. I still go to photo shoots, television commercials and of course, occasional movies na lang."

"How many years have you and Alden been married? One?"

"Fourteen months," I proudly stated.

"Wala ba kayong planong magkababy? I mean, you are married, don't you think it's time to reproduce your beautiful genes?"

I blushed at her question.

"Well, uhm..." I scratched my forehead. "We, uhm... Alden and I... We really ha—"

"Oh my gosh, you're pregnant, aren't you?" she gasped.

I laughed, "No! I'm not pregnant, Ash. It's just that.... I... Sa tamang panahon."

"Six years," Ashley chuckled. "Six years and that's still your line whenever we ask you about your future plans with Alden."

The interview went on smoothly and ended with Ashley handing me a bouquet of beautiful flowers and a commercial break. Ashley thanked me again for being on the show before I left the stage. Dragging (literally) me backstage, my manager, Kim, blabbered about today's schedule.

To be honest, my schedule is no longer as hectic as it was several years ago. When I was twenty, I barely made it home to Bulacan every week. When I turned twenty-one, the Sundays at home were lessened due to more projects, more blessings, more travels. It was when I was twenty-three when I had mastered the art of power napping because I literally only had two hours of the day for myself.

The hectic and fully-loaded schedules cooled down when Richard proposed. I figured that I had given enough of me to the industry, so I took a break during the process of the preparation for the wedding. (Richard didn't, but he never failed to fulfill his duties as fiancé.)

Being back after the wedding didn't bother me much. Basta hindi muna ako tanggap nang tanggap ng projects. My team made sure that all projects that I did were on my approval (and Richard's, of course.) Kaya masasabi kong hindi na talaga ako gaanong kabusy, kahit madalas akong umuwing late.

"By four in the afternoon, you're done," Kim announced, making me hug her tightly.

"Thanks, Kim! I longed for this," I smiled widely.

"Luh," she laughed. "For one week siguro na Bulaga lang ang trabaho mo. Di mo kasi tinanggap yung renewal ng contract mo sa Modess, sayang yun."

"Hayaan mo na," I said. "Hindi naman ako mamumulubi dahil dun."

"Sus, ikaw pa ba ang mamumulubi? Kahit siguro tumigil ka sa pag-aartista, di ka pa rin kukulangin ng pera."

"Ay, grabe ka sa'kin."

On the way to the location for Juan for All, All for Juan, Kim talked to me about her baby going to pre-school.

Mas matanda ng isang taon si Kim sa akin ngunit mas nauna siyang nagpakasal. She's twenty-seven while I'm twenty-six. (She refused to be called ate.)

"Ang aga naman?" I asked.

"Naku, he's three and a half but he's smart and he really wants to learn," Kim answered.

"Paano mo napag-sasabay?" I asked. "I mean you work, tapos halos 24/7 yung trabaho mo; answering calls, dealing with people, organizing my schedule, accompanying me to everything. Tapos you're a wife and a mother, paano yun?"

"I guess it's always a matter of time management," she answered. "Tsaka, grabe ka naman sa 24/7 na trabaho. Hindi lang naman ako yung manager mo, hindi lang naman ako yung nag-aayos ng sched mo. Road manager mo lang ako, uy."

"Seryoso nga," I whined.

"Bakit ba? Gusto mo na bang magka-baby?" she asked.

"Ikaw yung pinag-uusapan dito. Dali na kasi! Sagot!"

"Well, my husband works at home, since he's his own boss kaya siya yung nag-aalaga sa baby. Well, not entirely. Kapag umuuwi naman ako, ako pa rin mas gusto ni Clark," she laughed. "I don't know how I do it, but I do. Kasi mahal ko si Julius at Clark."

"Naiinggit ako," I confessed. "I have this... insecurity that I'm not the best when it comes to being a wife to RJ."

"Anong pinagsasabi mo?" she asked, confused of what I was trying to imply. "Artista ka, artista sya. I'm pretty sure both of you are doing everything just to be the best for each other."

"I know," I rubbed my forehead. "Pero, diba? Alam ko naman na kahit hindi hinhingi ni RJ, gusto niya ring gabi-gabing umuwi na may handa ng dinner sa table."

"Eh kahit naman magluto ka ng dinner gabi-gabi, madaling araw naman lagging nakakauwi si Alden," Kim pointed out. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Meng. I can see how much of a great wife you are."

I nodded and smiled at her.

"Pero, question, isa lang?" Kim asked.

"Shoot."

"Wala ba talaga kayong balak magka-baby?"

"Hindi naming napag-uusapan ni RJ," I answered truthfully. "Noong first weeks after the wedding, we decided to wait for a little while—to enjoy a few months of being husband and wife only—so I continued taking birth control. I didn't want to make the decision alone naman no, that's why I did. Tapos these past few months, parang 'di naman naming naaalala or napag-uusapan. Masaya naman kami, tsaka ayun nga, nahihirapan nga si RJ na isingit sa sched niya ang isang gabing free ako para lang makipagdate sa'kin. Kaya, I think it's for the best for now."

"For now," Kim mumbled. "Pero in the future? I mean, you're twenty-seven, Meng. Alden's already twenty-nine. Don't you think it's about time?"

I shrugged, "I'll have to talk about that to Alden."

"Kailan?"

"I don't know, tonight? Kung maabutan niya akong gising."

Kim nodded, not exactly believing that I would actually speak to RJ about this. But I will. Perhaps not tonight but eventually, I will.