Once and Again

Chapter Five

"San siya uupo? Maganda yung view diyan ha? Hindi ba masyadong masisiksik?"

Patty and Sam were observing Rj bug the Floor Director. Maine was going to watch the show today.

"Paps, relax. Kulang nalang lagyan mo ng flower decorations yung chair niya."

"Huy. Hindi naman. I want her comfortable lang kasi, kasama pa niya mom niya today."

Patty chimed in. "Sam is right. Relax, okay? Ang dami mong sasayawin sa opening, baka madapa ka niyan sa pagka-distracted mo."

But Rj couldn't calm down. This was very good news that a month after extending the invite, Maine finally agreed to catch a show. He was at an endorsement shoot when she called, "Hi, Rj. I need a favor."

"Hey, ano yun?"

"Si Nanay kasi gustong manood ng show niyo. Hindi lang kasi ako marunong kumuha ng tickets or how to get in. Can you refer me to someone who can help?"

"Huy ano ka ba. Ako na mag-aayos. Ilan ba kayo?"

"No, wag ganun. I can arrange it by myself naman, refer me nalang."

"Please let me do this for you?" She still sounded hesitant, so he added, "I promise I won't use this in exchange for a date, okay?"

She eventually agreed and now here Rj was, panicking because they were due here any minute. When they arrived, he escorted them to their seats. This caused fans to wonder and tweets started circulating:

 Who's that? Bakit siya ina-assist ni Alden?

Alden's mystery girl? Pano na si Patty?

She looks familiar... Wait, let me SOCO.

Kalma guys, hindi pa natin alam baka pinsan niya yan.

Grabe si Alden kay Patty!

For right now, Rj was only focused on Maine and her mom's comfort. Once they were settled, Rj whispered to Maine, "Pwede ba tayo mag-coffee after? Pinayagan ako ng mommy mo to take you out, pero I have to ask you daw."

"Wag sana today, maraming work that I took home because I'm here today eh."

Rj looked a bit disappointed but he shrugged it off. "Ah ganun ba? Sige. Some other time."

Once backstage, "Ganda ni Maine today," Rj whispered to Sam, who agreed. She was definitely fetching in her dark blue off-shoulder top, ripped jeans, and flats with her long brown hair let loose.

"Uy, Pare! Alden! Yan yung si Maine di ba? Ganda pala lalo in person." Derrick came up behind them.

Rj frowned. "Guest ka ba today?!"

Derrick chuckled. "Oo, nagkaron ng conflict sa schedule nung isa, so ako tinawagan para maging judge sa segment."

Truth is, Rj and Derrick had been friends because they had started out together and worked on a few projects. However, lately, the latter's apparent interest in Maine did not sit well with Rj.

Rj already dropped not-so-subtle hints that he was interested in her, but Derrick had not backed off. Rj had since been skeptic of the guy, especially since Maine mentioned that some of Derrick's people were trying to get a hold of her.

He had no right to stop anyone from approaching her or even courting her, but he couldn't help but be annoyed at the competition. He also couldn't help if he felt more pissed off that a supposed 'friend' was vying for Maine's attention even after he has made his intentions clear.

Rj kept an eye on Maine the whole show – for everything he did, he looked to her. He almost forgot Derrick.

Almost.

Because when it was the segment Derrick was judging, they were asked to head to the elevated portion near the audience area. As he passed, he chatted her up. "Hi, you're Maine right?"

"Yes po."

"You know me naman siguro?"

"I heard sa intro kanina."

"My team has been trying to get a hold of you – been wanting to meet you."

"Ganun ba?"

"Yes. Balikan kita later after the segment."

Maine's mom, Mary Ann, teased her daughter. "Wow, babalikan ka pa daw after ng segment! Gusto ka yata nung artistang yun! Sino nga yun ulit?"

Maine told her mom his name. "Bakit siya babalik? Hindi ko naman hinihingi yun."

"Ito naman. Hayaan mo na."

True enough, he headed their way during commercial gap, but Rj saw and joined the conversation as well. "Pare, nakikipagkilala lang ako kay Maine. Maine, friends pala kayo ni Alden 'no?"

"Hmm oo." She was uncomfortable, which Rj picked up on so he told Derrick perhaps it was time to head backstage.

"Sige pero kunin ng handler ko number mo ha?"

"Bakit?" Maine asked.

"Para I can contact you."

"Kasi?"

"Anong kasi?"

"Bakit mo ako kailangan i-contact?"

"Wala naman. Friends?"

"Okay. Thanks, pero hindi kasi ako ganun. Thank you nalang talaga."

Rj had a difficult time suppressing his smile, while he all but dragged the guest backstage.

"I love her. I really love her!" Patty squealed when Rj told her and Sam about what had transpired. "I'm an even bigger fan now!"

"Are you taking her out after the show?" Sam asked.

"Hindi eh, may work pa kasi siya pero sabi ko I'll bring her food sa condo niya. Pumayag naman."

"Yun eh!" Patty and Sam teased. Patty piped up, "Uy remind mo siya dun sa guesting ko sa vlog niya ha?"

Sam then said, "Paps, maraming tweets today ha, asking yung identity ni Mystery Girl mo. Bakit daw asikasong-asikaso niyo ni-"

"I know. I read them. Yung iba identified her na. Kausapin ko nga siya tonight about it to make sure she's okay with it."

"Pano yung love team niyo ni Patring ko?"

Rj looked at Patty. "Sorry kung hindi magprogress 'to, Pat ha? But you know naman where I stand when Maine is concerned."

Patty rolled her eyes. "Ano ba, Alden. Oo, I know, and sa totoo lang, wala din akong masyadong pakialam if I lose you as a love team, basta maging close friends kami ni Maine Mendoza!"