Moment That I Met U

Chapter 42: 2nd Time Around

Bakit andito 'tong si Jake, hindi naman 'to kasama sa plano...

An hour before this all happen...

"Ma," tawag ko kay ma na nasa banyo, "ma, nakuha mo na yung plano diba?" malakas na tanong ko sa kanya.

"Ulitin mo nga ulit kung bakit natin 'to ginagawa?" pabalik na tanong nya sa akin, "so kapag dumating si Alden, kunwaring umiiyak ako at tatakutin ko sya para makapag usap na kayo, e tapos?"

I brushed her off, "basta ako na bahala sa mga susunod na mangyayari" I confidently said.

Pumayag si ma sa pinaplano ko at nung tinext ako ni Lolang paalis na si Alden a bahay, sinabihan ko na si ma na maghintay sa labasan ng kwarto para gawin ang kanyang misyon.

Which brought us in this situation, nakuha ko na rin na makipag usap kay Alden but of course my unluckiness never fails to be brought upon me.

I was so staggered seeing Jake come inside, "Jake, kamusta na?" I slowly and unsurely said.

Asaan ba si ma, bakit nya pinapasok dito si Jake?

"Jake, si ma ba nasa labas?" tanong ko sa kanya using the same tone of voice as my earlier statement.

Puzzled, "yung mama mo?" He turns back around, "hindi ko naman sya nakita sa labas, baka umuwi or baka naman nasa cafeteria." Jake holding a bouquet of flowers, "ay, sha nga pala, flowers pampa dagdag kulay sa boring mong kwarto." Noticing the paleness of my room.

Jake kept on doing what he's doing, trying to replace Alden's old flowers with his. I see Alden's face plain with the exception of his eyebrows that's sending pissiness towards Jake.

Slowly, Alden walks up to Jake just a feet away from his back "Mhm..." clearing his throat, "Hi, I'm Alden. Maine's boyfriend." He announces.

Hearing him say that, although I was turning red from him calling me his girlfriend, ng iinit rin ako sa kaba dahil hindi ko alam kung ano na ang mangyayari susunod.

"Jake, nice to meet you..." Jake turns around and shakes Alden's hand. When they released grip I didn't expect Alden to say what he was going to say, "so ikaw ba ang manliligaw ni Maine?"

Napalunok ako, "Alden..."

I noticed Jake's eyes staring at me asking me for answers, Oo, sabihin mo oo... I mouthed at him.

Doin what I told him to do, he tells Alden that he is in fact been courting me, "pero tinigilan ko na." Jake said, "matagal ko na tinigilan ang panliligaw kay Maine, friends lang kami."

"Best friends!" I added.

"Yeah, best friends, roommates pa nga eh." he continued on.

Yikes, kailangan pa ba nya sabihin iyon? A was greeted by an eyebrow raise by Alden.

"Oi, grabe naman maka assume," napatango nalang sya sa akin, "pero I promise, there was never a thing between us, talagang close lang kami ni Jake, diba?"

"Oo pre, friends lang kami." both of us clarifying to him.

"Maine, ok na ba kayo ni Alden?" Pumasok sa kwarto si ma, kaming tatlong nasa kwarto napatingin sa kanya. "O, ba't si Jake andito rin?"

A few minutes later, umalis na si Jake may pupuntahan daw sya si Alden naman nag decide na magstay pa a little but longer. Pero mamaya-maya napansin namin ni ma na nakatulog na pala sya.

"O ma saan ka?" I asked her while she was putting her things in her handbag.

"Dadaan ko lang si pa sa bahay, at para makapagluto na rin ako," paliwanag nya, "saglit lang ako, ta's andyan naman si Alden, pag may kailangan ka tawagan mo ako or ring mo yung nurse. Sige una na ako"

When she left, I was left alone technically; Alden was asleep and I had nobody to talk to, there was nothing to do on my phone or to watch on t.v.

I took a deep sigh, hanggang kailan kaya ako andito sa hospital, yung contest event malapit na...

I looked over at Alden who was sleeping hushly, I gently stroked his cheeks and comb his hair with my hands.

"Maine?" He mumbles.

"Hmm?" I answered back.

He awakes, "Anong oras?" I told him it was around 5 pm, "talaga, antagal kong nakatulog, ba't hindi mo ako ginising?"

I shook my head, "you looked like you needed the extra sleep."

"You're probably right," he stretches his arms, "Maine alis na ako, si Tita?" sinabi ko sa kanyang umalis si ma at babalik sya after an hour or so, "hmmm... in that case, am I babysitting you then?" figuring out where he stands in my explanation.

"I never said you had to stay, sabi lang ni mama, and I quote; ta's andyan naman si Alden. Yun lang, I mean kung may plans ka or may gagawin ka pa it's best you do it, I'll be fine here." I continued, "all by myself, just me all alone, nobody else..."

Hindi ko talaga in-expect na gagana yung sinabi ko pero it did, and Alden decided to stay.

We tried watching t.v. but there was nothing good on, so we went on just having regular conversation.

"Antagal na natin hindi nakakapag usap, parang forever ago na tayong nagka one on one chat na ganitong katagal." expressing my enjoyment of the moment.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that, kasalanan ko ang lahat." he started whispering under his breathe, "kung nakinig lang ako, sana hindi ka mapupunta sa ganitong kalagayan..."

I grabbed his chin and faced him to me, "It's not your fault, I never should've lied to you." I held his hand, "pero what's past is past. Let's move on na." Trying to cheer him up. "H'wag ka nang mag worry I'll be fine."

"Pero, kung hindi kita iniwasan hindi ka ganito ngayon.

Shh... I put my fingers on his lips, "diba sabi ko, what's past is past, hayaan mo na yun." He grabs both my hands and holds them tightly.

"I never want you to be in a position like that ever again, I promise I'll protect you for as long as I am breathing."

"You think I don't know that, kahit ilang beses ko nang sabihin sa'yo, paulit ulit nalang." I smiled, "Whenever I'm with you I feel safe." Within the next second, a sudden rush of feeling pours into me, our eyes locking on each other. "Alden you are my knight in shining armor."

"And you are my one and only princess."

Our faces coming near each other, my heart pounding, my eyes slowly closing saying goodbye to the sight of Alden's eyes. My lips await for his lips.

Inches away, I could feel the warmth of his skin on my own skin.

Knock, knock, knock! "Ms. Mendoza?"

Our moment getting cut off once again for the second time. Both of us backing away from each other. "Yes, andito po!" I yelled out, combing my hair with my fingers.

My doctor entering the room, "How are you this evening Maine?" smiling at both of us, "Hi, Doc Tan." introducing himself to Alden. Alden introduced himself back shaking his hand.

Doc asked if Alden was okay to be inside the room when they talk about my medical information and I said it was fine, after that he went on and told me that I was cleared and I was safe.

"Talaga po," and he nodded, I was so happy to hear that there was no further complications with my injury. I gave Alden a big hug, "sabi ko sa'yo eh, kaya ko to eh."

Releasing from the embrace, me and the doctor continued on talking, although my hand is now holding Alden's.

"You'll be fine, but we still need you to rest for a few more days..."

"Wait, rest pa?" I interrupt, "paanong rest?"

"Well you need some bed rest, little to no physical activity parin, pero at least you get to go home diba?"

I nodded but then suddenly, "eh doc paano yung contest namin para sa bakery, will I be able to attend that?"

"You may attend pero as I said little to no physical activity, and since I'm assuming lots of moving will happen, I recommend that you use a wheelchair during the event."

"Paano ako magtuturo mag bake kung naka wheel chair ako?!"