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Game Changer Part 1

Maine is tired of waiting.

Everyday, she wakes up and either calls or sends a text message to Alden. She waits for his reply. When she goes to the baranggay for work, Maine has to wait for his reply on how his day will be before they can plan anything , may it be a very late ( and quick) lunch, or a dinner. Nothing can ever be spontaneous , her time with him as to be filled in to his calendar. Sometimes she is happy that he can make it, but recently, no , a lot of times , she is forced to accept that he is late or has work work and she just needs to be more understanding.

Until one day, she decides to not do anything. It was a Sunday, a day where she is most hopeful and relaxed. But the sad part is, Alden did not notice he has not communicated with her until it was almost 1pm. 

Alden immediately calls. "Meng, I am so sorry , it's been a busy day..." , and gets cut off.

" It's always a busy day, a busy week, a busy month." Her voice is hard.

"I am really sorry, Meng. Please let me make it up to you. I am walking out right now and can be ...."

"No." And then silence. She has hung up on him.

Alden tries to call her but she turns off her phone. He is now restless , scrambling out of the staircase to the parking lot. He tries again and again. Nothing.

He calls Dean, to see if  he is with her, and perhaps know how to find her. Dean picks up, and immediately says, " Kuya, wag na muna. At masama na tingin ni Ate, kaya bye!"

Alden is nervous. He drives to her condo and no one answers. He texts Coleen and he is told that they are all not home , but meeting later for dinner. It's one of the rules - he cannot come to this because its a family dinner. The Mendoza clan do not allow significant others to the family dinner, unless you are married to one.

So he sits in his car,  parked at her building parking lot, waiting for her.

He doesn't realize that he has fallen asleep. When he wakes up, he finds a box on his hood, and an envelope on his windshield wiper. He looks at his watch,  it was 7:16pm.

Alden gets out of his car to see what the box is, and unfolds the letter:

Alden,

You looked like you needed the rest, so I did not wake you. You don't need to come up , I am not in the condo. I also will not be at work for the next few days. I took time off and management allowed it.

I don't think we are on the same page on where our relationship stands. I can't force you to spend time with me. Time has to be given freely. You've said love is time.  I know you love me, but I am not your priority , and as much as it hurts, this is true. You need to work, but you need to balance your time too. This is why I think we need time apart. I need time apart.

You are important to me. I had to take a step back and think hard about this all day.

This is also why I am returning your gift. I don't think you are ready for this. Not right now. It baffles me that you want eternity with me, yet I cannot even be with you for more than 2 hours.

I will see you in a week - at Botega Marina for dinner, if you can come . 

I am just tired of waiting.

 Maine

Alden swallows and tears fall freely. He screwed up badly. He picks up the box , which has the eternity ring inside, and he gets back in his car.

There is nothing else in the world he wants, than her. All of this is not worth it, without her. He immediately calls Pat, who tells him anxiously that Maine is leaving for Hong Kong with Ate Niki and does not know where they will be staying. He sends a text to Leysam and Mama Ten , and his management, he will be away too.

Alden calls his Dad. "Dad, I screwed up. Maine is not talking to me, and left for Hong Kong. I need to see and talk to her, at baka wala na akong girlfriend. Sorry po, pero me dala naman akong clothes and I'll fly na tonight."

"Do what you need to do. Win her back, and good luck. Balitaan mo na lang ako."

Alden also calls Coleen, who kept on saying sorry I can't, until he tells her he is flying out too, just to talk to her. She must have heard the desperation , as Coleen starts to falter and tells him to go take the next flight to Hong Kong,  and would he like that she help him get a room to the Hyatt where they will be booked? He exclaims his love to her for that, promises to send his credit card information.

He then drives himself to the airport, praying and hoping he will be given his chance to win her back.

Because it took him a short time of waiting to fully realize that he will not let her slip away. Even if he begs and grovels and sleeps by her door, Alden will not take her for granted any much longer.

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A/N:  Kelangan ko lang maglabas ng konting tinik today and di ko alam bakit ganito nangyari. Basta kelangan ko daw isulat eh. Lol! Pasensya na po! 😁✌🏽️

This wasn't proof read. Any errors are purely mine. :)