Lights, Camera and Alden Richards ➣ AlDub/MaiChard

five

(This chapter is dedicated to @minions3026 for voting for all the previous chapters! Thank you!! xx)

MAY 2016 

Maine was nowhere near calm.

"Maine, umayos ka nga," Jade said for the third time since Maine arrived at their recording studio's lounge. "I'm trying to make you look presentable tapos galaw ka nang galaw."

"Jade," Maine breathed out. "Paano ako kakalma kung paputa na dito si Alden Richards?"

Jade sighed. "I know this is difficult for you, but the least you can right now is to sit properly. Hindi pa kita nalalagyan ng lipstick." 

Maine sighed back in defeat and sat properly on the stool she occupied. "Paano kung ayaw niya ako?"

"Who said he needs to like you?" Jade asked as she patted a little blush on Maine's cheeks. "He doesn't need to like you. And likewise, you don't need to like him. So calm down, Meng."

"I'm just worried," Maine admitted. "I don't know how to pretend to... like someone."

Jade breathed out, obviously exasperated by Maine's worries. "Si Kim ang bahala sa'yo. Just... calm down, let me get this done for you." 

Maine nodded and let Jade do her make-up.

Today, she was meeting her fake boyfriend along with his manager. Kim had set up a lunch meeting with them to talk about the publicity stunt they will be doing. Despite all of Faye's words saying she has nothing to worry about this morning, she was immensely nervous. Even if she had just done an ultimate research about Alden Richards yesterday, she felt as though she didn't know what to do. 

Maine always knew what to do, no matter how difficult a situation may seem. She always had a solution to anything, probably because she had already thought of the best and worst things that could happen to her. But somehow she forgot every single word she had rehearsed while she washed her face this morning. All of the protests and justifications she had memorized suddenly disappeared, like she didn't see any of this coming.

Kim had a huge, stupid grin on her face when she walked in with a couple of people who seem to be nowhere near her insanity about the situation.

"Maine," Kim called out. Maine stood with shaking knees and thumping heart and tried to muster up the best smile she could. "This is Alden."

Maine wanted to laugh and tell Kim she didn't need to introduce the Alden Richards. Everyone in the country—and perhaps in the whole world—knew who Alden Richards was.

Alden Richards. Ahhh, the name that made every woman's eyes pop with hearts and legs wobble like they're made of noodles; the person that could charm his way up to any girl—guys, even—he wants at any time of the day; the star that shined so bright, it literally hurt to look at him. Who doesn't know Alden Richards? They might have been living in another universe if they didn't, because even people who lived under rocks knew him.

He looked dashing; he always did. His hair was fixed up perfectly like it does everyday, as if it had stayed like that to show how perfect he really is. He had a simple button down on and a pair of skinny jeans and chucks. He wasn't even trying but he looked dashing—perfect, even.

Maine turned to Alden, wishing that she wouldn't embarrass herself to the nation's sweetheart. She extended her shaking, sweating hand towards the star's direction.

Where in the world did all of Maine's complaints go?

"Good morning, Mr. Richards," she politely greeted, still with her arms extended.