Beauty and The Beast

Chapter 1

MAINE

"The-time-is-ten-thirty-three-p-m." Her talking clock has done it again, reminding her that she's got only a few hours left to sleep. It's one of those nights when she sits by the window, cold and alone. The quiet softness of the evening breeze haunts her a bit but she stays there, waiting.

She watches the full moon, a cookie in a sea of twinkling and shining stars. Oh, the stars! How she loved gazing at them. Their beauty is far beyond what she can imagine. She stretches her arms, reaching, cupping the stars with her bare hands. But...she couldn't. She is playing with her braided hair again - twisting and stroking its locks as she marveled on the sky.

People describe Maine as a lurker, the shy type, and "may sariling mundo", an introvert wrapped in a world that only she can enter. But she is also said to be a 'beast' in her craft: WRITING. She can easily blow your mind with her words.

While still in awe of the scenery, they came. She didn't know exactly what she was waiting for until they came. One by one, the words started popping, flowing, in her pretty head. And then that thought. That lingering memory of someone close to her heart. Her heart races. Another poem is being birthed!She jumps up and rushes to her laptop. She starts to write her poem for him. Yes, for him.

It's been five years since she started stalking him: followed him in all of his social media accounts, and read every article, every post, written about him. She watched every "Teleserye" that he is into. She bought every magazine wherehe was featured. She's been into most of his Meet and Greets, yet she never managed to come near him. She prefers to simply watch him from afar.

Maine tweeted her poem for Alden. As always, she is not expecting that he can read it. Right after writing it, she went to a certain place in her room: "Alden's Corner". It's a wall painted with black and silver; she knows those are his favorite colors. Alden's pictures are on that wall. Every endorsement poster, magazine cover, and many other things about him. It is her favorite part of the room where she can dream of him - and her - freely. In one corner are the magazines which she bought from the very beginning of his showbiz career. Sadly, not one of them has his autograph. She is too shy to ask him for one. She lightly touches every piece of memorabilia with her fingertips. She does this almost everyday, since that day when she saw him on 'Candy Fair' five years ago. Five years ago, she became a fan of his, and still is even to this very moment.

While Maine is basking in her thoughts, her sister Nicoleen enters the room almost unnoticed.

"Meng! Meng! Meng!" Nicoleen calls.

Startled, Maine answers back. "Ano ka ba, hindi ka man lang kumakatok. Pambihira ka naman."

"Eh kasi bukas 'yung door mo eh. Kaya, pumasok na ako. At saka heller! Hindi kaya ako ibang tao noh? Kapatid mo kaya ako. Why are you so mean to me?"

"Hala, inaano ba kita? Hindi naman sa ganun." Maine replies, guiding her towards "Alden's Corner".

"Hmm... Ewan ko sa'yo Menggay! At saka wait lang ha. Kailan mo ba balak magpakita at magpakilala kay Alden Richards? Meng naman, it's been 5 years oh. Limang taon ka nang nagtatago bilang si @BinibiningMarikit sa Twitter. Mata mo lang 'yung laman ng DP mo. Pag ako hindi nakapagpigil ha, naku alam mo na!" Nicoleen muttered.

"Uy, wag naman. Basta, magpapakilala naman ako sa kanya. Hindi pa lang ako handa sa ngayon."

"Ewan ko sa'yo, Meng! Wait lang, andito na pala si Tatay. Tawag daw tayo. May sasabihin yata."

"Talaga? Sige, sunod lang ako 'dun. I'll just log off."

She had to make sure that her tweet was sent. Then, off she went. Upon reaching the living room, she sees her siblings having a conversation, and her Nanay carrying Baby Matti. She sits beside her Ate Nikki. Then, Tatay Teodoro starts to speak.