Once and Again

Chapter Six

mainedcm: Posted a new video! Pls check it out in YT. Thanks guys!

Maine's face comes up on screen. "Hi everyone! For today's episode, I decided to make a video on make-up!"

"I've received a lot of requests from you guys to have a tutorial for day-time to date night make up. I have some help today! I'm so lucky she agreed to do this for us, so guys, let's welcome beauty queen – actress- host, Ms. Patty Tumulak!"

For the next half hour, Patty and Maine goof it up for the camera while handing out tips to viewers.

"Thank you for doing this, Patty! Good luck sa shows and projects mo ha?"

"Thanks for having me, Maine! This was so much fun. I want to come back!"

"Oh, thanks pala to Alden Richards for introducing me to Patty!"

Once the camera was off, Patty teased, "Uy, hinabol pa talaga yung thank you kay Alden."

"Wala yun 'no! Eh siya naman talaga nag-introduce sa 'tin. Uy, ang dami agad views ng video!" Maine informed.

"Hmm, basted ba si Alden sayo?"

"Ano? San naman galing yan?"

"Ito kasing past few days sa studio, malungkot, gusot parati yung mukha. I was wondering kung binasted mo na."

Maine looked away. "Hindi naman sa ganun. I know naman bakit yun sad."

"I won't interfere kasi business niyo yan plus hindi naman tayo super close friends, but as Alden's friend, I just want you to know love ka niya. He's been really happy since you came back. Sam also noticed hindi na binibitawan ni Alden yung phone niya kasi gusto makakareply agad when you message him. At wala nang ibang kwento si Alden kundi about you. Pakwento ka kay Sam, marami alam yun. Mas love nun si Alden kesa sa akin."

Maine didn't respond because though she was liked Patty a lot, she still was from the world that Alden chose. The world he left her for. And though she had learned from and moved on from that past heartache, it was understandably difficult for her to trust again.

***

Rj asks and asks and asks. Maine rejects and rejects and rejects.

He has made so many plans to take her out – high end hotels, out-of-town, by the beach... She has said no to all of these. She only agreed to have dinner with him when it was Thursday and at the store.

Rj is losing hope. Perhaps this was her way of slowly turning him down. He wasn't ready to give up - as long as she would allow him, he would pursue her.

He arrives at the store close to midnight because the shoot ended late. Katrina told her that Maine was already at their table with their food. "Hi."

"Hello! O, you look tired?" Maine said.

"Yeah, we had a long shoot today and ang daming re-takes. Sorry I'm late," Rj apologized.

"Okay lang, here o, yung food mo. Water?"

He took it. "Maine, I have to ask something but don't get mad ha? And don't take it as me giving up... I'm just... I just want to know lang."

"What?"

"For the past few months, I think naman we've rebuilt our friendship and we've kept our Thursdates, which I'm very thankful for. Pero para kasing you don't want to take it further and parang wala naman akong pag-asa sayo. I just... I just want to know kung gusto mo na ba ako i-basted, hindi mo lang magawa?"

She chuckled. "Ang self-pity nito! Tigilan mo nga yan."

"Ano ba, seryoso yung tanong ko."

"Eto nga sasagutin ko naman, pero nakakatawa yung paawa face mo eh."

"Taong 'to talaga." He looks away.

Maine leaned forward. "Sa tingin mo ite-text kita at magrereply sayo parati kung hindi tayo important sa 'kin?"

A hint of a smile from Rj, but he still wasn't looking at her.

"Sa tingin mo titiisin ko 'tong every Thursday meet up kung wala kang chance?"

He looks at her now, dimple starting to show.

"Hindi ka basted. Pero, hindi ko pa din sure if nanliligaw ka lang out of guilt."

"HINDI HA!" He protested, looking at her now. "Nanliligaw ako kasi mahal kita. Mahal na mahal."

She grinned. "Ayan. Eh bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi?"

"I love you. Sorry, akala ko kasi alam mo na." He paused. "So, tayo na ba?"

"Hoy! Sandali. Wala akong sinabing ganyan. Assumero 'to." She pinched his cheeks. "Give me some more time, okay? Hindi ko pa alam. Plus, I'm still trying to work out whether I'm ready to trust you again."

"I'll wait. Alam mo yan. I'll wait, Maine. " Rj promised. "Pero pwede bang favor?"

"Ano?"

"Date naman tayo sa labas? As much as I love contributing to this store's income, may umay factor na eh. Halos five years na din akong pabalik balik dito, so please naman. You can bring a chaperone if you want. Please, Meng? Labas naman tayo."

She let out a big laugh. "Gusto ko naman kasi! Kaso yung mga suggestion mo lagi yung bongga. Masyadong pa-impress. Hotel pa. By the beach. Sus. Hindi ko kelangan ng ganung bagay, Rj."

Rj smiled. "Alam ko na. Sige. Next Thursday then?"

"Rj, minsan ang bagal mo din. Free ako sa Saturday."