Perfect For You

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Upon arriving at the loft they shared, Alden and Maine decided to call it a night. Alden had to attend a three day convention, while Maine was planning on visiting her Aunt Irma at the Lower East Side of Manhattan. 

Before getting inside their respective rooms, Alden thanked Maine one last time for her treat tonight, and the latter responded with a smile. 

"Sige na, pahinga ka na." She said. 

"Ikaw din." He said. 

As soon as Maine was inside her room, the first thing she could think about was to call her boyfriend, Jake, via Facetime. This was the only way she could avoid pondering about her brewing feelings for Alden, and she wasn't going to pass this up for anything else. Besides, she did miss Jake. It had been a pretty long time she they had last talked to each other. 

After a few rings, Jake picked up. 

"Hi, babe." Maine said as she comfortably rested against her bed's headboard. "Kamusta ka-"

"Babe, not now." Jake replied, looking a bit haggard. "I mean, I can't really have a lengthy conversation with you right now. Marami kasi akong meetings for today and I still have to go to Tagaytay later this afternoon para sa site visit namin kasama yung mga foreign investors."

"Oh." Maine said, feeling both hurt and saddened. It wasn't as if she wasn't expecting Jake to be this way. Ever since his father made him the president of their company, he had been so busy that Maine became more of just someone he could spend time with during his "free time". 

Maine wanted to understand his situation, she had to, but what happened to him wanting to make it up to her? Did that become another one of his empty promises again?

"It's okay. I just wanted to see how you're doing." She replied. "Alam mo,"

"Babe." Jake shot her a look full of annoyance. "Hindi ba sinabi ko sa'yo na I can't have a lengthy conversation with you right now? Nakikita mo ba tong mga papeles na hinahawakan ko? This is more important than you. Kapag mawala to, mawawala na rin ako sa kumpanyang 'to."

Maine felt her eyes water. So much for him "wanting to make it up to her". What a jerk. 

"Babe, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Wala naman akong intensyong patagalin tong pag-uusap natin. Gusto ko lang sanang kamustahin yung boyfriend ko." Maine responded, emphasizing boyfriend in a sour tone. "Kung hindi mo man lang ako kayang kausapin, eh ba't sinagot mo pa yung Facetime call ko? May decline naman di ba?" She added. 

"Sasagot sagot ka tapos hindi mo man lang ako kayang kamustahin? Kahit how are you lang diyan o I miss you? Nako, kung ganito lang naman pala ang pag-trato mo sa 'kin, tigilan na natin 'to." Maine said bravely. "Pagod na kong umasa sa wala. Pakasalan mo yang trabaho mo."

And then, she ended the call just like that. If Jake wasn't planning on talking to her because of his work, neither did she. 

"Bahala ka diyan." Maine told her cellphone that continuously vibrated on her bed. She already knew who it was that was trying to reach her, and she clearly wasn't in the mood to talk to him at all. 

"Ayan, Maine. Ganyan ba ang klase ng lalaki na deserving na bigyan ng second chance? HINDI!" She uttered in frustration. 

Maine decided to lie down on her bed and think. Think as to whether Jake did deserve that second chance. If he was planning on returning to his "jerk self", Maine should've never thought that he was capable of becoming a better man. 

That was the problem with Maine. She loved Jake to a point that even if he wasn't treating her right, she would still give him chances, thinking that maybe, just maybe, he'd wake up one day and realize what a great catch she is. 

But after five years of being in a relationship, she knew that wasn't going to happen. Jake will always be a jerk who was only nice and sweet to her whenever he was free, or whenever he felt like it. He was never going to be the kind of man who valued his woman, like his entire life depended on it. 

Maine knew that the best thing to do was to break up with him, but she had to be honest with herself, as well. That she wasn't ready to break up with him just yet. She couldn't understand why, but she decided to just give it some time. 

"Hay nako, matutulog nalang ako." Maine said, shutting her eyes and hoping that her dreams would be far better than the reality she was facing. 

&&&

On her way to her Aunt Irma's apartment, Maine couldn't stop thinking about Alden. He had made a special appearance in her dream again last night, rescuing her after being pushed off a tall building by Jake. It felt so weird and scary at the same time, but when her eyes met his, she felt safe.. that in his arms, nothing and no one could hurt her. 

When Maine felt herself swooning over Alden again, she lightly pinched her arm to pull her back to reality. Alden is just her loftmate. Just her loftmate. And it had to remain that way. 

"Um, excuse me?" Maine said to the blonde girl who served as the receptionist of the building. "May I know the apartment number of Mrs. Irma Adlawan? I'm supposed to visit her today, but unfortunately, I forgot her apartment number." She added.

"Oh I see. I'm sorry, but we're not supposed to give these kind of details to visitors unless they're related to our tenants. It's for security purposes, I hope you understand." The receptionist replied. 

"It's okay. I'm Maine Mendoza, her niece from the Philippines. You can call her about it. I'll just wait here." Maine smiled. 

The receptionist nodded and dialed her aunt's number on the telephone. After a few seconds, she had finally confirmed Maine's identity and allowed her to go up the elevator. 

"Ms. Mendoza?" The receptionist called out to her. "Please tell your aunt to inform us at least 3 days before if she's going to have a relative come over. She has had way too many nieces and nephews of different nationalities in her apartment and we find it, somewhat, disturbing."

"Oh." Maine said. "Alright, I will. Thanks for the information." She added, getting inside an elevator. 

"Hay nako, Tita Irma talaga oh."

&&&

"Talaga? Sinabi niya 'yun?" Aunt Irma said as she lay a plate of pork adobo and a bowl of hot rice in front of Maine. 

"Alam mo kasi, yang mga nieces and nephews ko of different nationalities ang mga customers ko for my online business." She explained. "Tinuruan kasi ako ng ka-trabaho ko kung paano gumamit ng Instagram for business, kaya ayun, nagluluto ako ng mga Filipino dishes, pino-post ko sa Instagram tapos may mga nag-oorder."

"Ayun na pala, tita, eh." Maine said, putting some adobo and rice on her plate. "Eh bakit hindi mo nalang sabihin sa staff na 'yan ang pinupunta ng mga nieces and nephews mo?"

"Alam mo kasi, nak," Aunt Irma started, grabbing a seat beside Maine. "Napaka-strikto ng mga staff dito sa building. Hindi sila nagpapahihintulot ng mga ganyang business business. Gusto ko na sanang lumipat, kaso ito yung pinakamalapit sa pinagtratrabuhan kong NGO at saka ang hassle maghanap ng apartment dito sa Manhattan kaya magtitiis nalang ako."

"Sabagay." Maine nodded. 

"Eh ikaw?" Aunt Irma asked, her eyes glittering in excitement. "Kamusta na yung internship mo sa The Ritz Carlton? At saka kamusta naman yung loft na tinitirhan mo? Maayos ba? Tell me all about it!"

Maine laughed. 

"Okay naman po yung internship ko. Marami po akong natutunan." She said. "At saka ang ganda din po ng loft ko at mabait din yung loftmate ko, si Richard Faulkerson Jr.?"

Aunt Irma's eyes widened. 

"Richard Faulkerson Jr.? Si Alden ba 'to?" She asked. 

"Opo," Maine nodded. "Kilala niyo ho ba siya?" 

"Oo," Aunt Irma smiled. "Kilalang kilala."