My Heart Is Yours

Chapter 4

Maine led Alden to her room. When she opened the door, the first thing that Alden noticed was the floor to ceiling bookshelf that covered half a wall on one side of her room.

"Wow!" He exclaimed. "Have you read all of these?"

"Not all," Maine answered as she sat down on the edge of her bed. She was observing Alden as he browsed through her book collection. "I still haven't finished reading all my Star Wars books."

"I'm assuming you're not a Trekkie?" Alden inquired as he turned to look at her.

"I did read a couple of Next Gen books," she answered. "And a lot of Voyager ones. But no, I don't own any books. My nurse, Ate Jenny, has a couple of Trekkie books she lent me."

"Have you watched the shows?"

She shook her head and replied, "Are you a Trekkie?"

"I'm more of a Star Wars fan actually," he answered as he sat beside her on the bed. Alden pushed his glasses on the ridge of his nose before he continued, "But I was able to watch Voyager and Next Gen. Still, Star Wars will forever be number one in my heart. I haven't really read all the books though. Is your collection up to date? Our school library has a ton of Star Trek books but no Star Wars."

"Last I checked," she replied. "I was. Feel free to borrow them if you like."

"Thanks."

Alden continued to browse through her collection as he sat next to Maine. He asked about some of the series she had that he wasn't familiar with and Maine was all to eager to give him some background.

"You have Twilight?" Alden asked as he shake his head in disbelief.

"I'm still a typical teenager last I checked," she answered. "It's a typical teen romance. It just had the vampire element in it."

Alden just laughed at her statement. Maine looked at him and suddenly reached out to poke his left cheek, embedding her finger in his dimple.

"Wow!" She exclaimed. "Your dimple is pretty deep."

"Uh...thanks I guess?" Alden replied unsure. "You do know that a dimple is a birth defect, right?"

"I'd rather have that as a birth defect," Maine stated as she stood up and walked towards her bookshelf. She reached out and grabbed a random book before she continued, "at least I get to go places and experience things."

"Hey," Alden regretted what he said, stood as well and approached her. He took the book from her hand and placed it back on the shelf. He took her hand and led her back on the bed. He continued, "sorry. That was insensitive of me."

"No," she replied. "Don't say sorry. There's nothing to be sorry about."

"So, you never really went out?"

"Not really," Maine answered. She looked down at their hands. Alden's hands covered both her hands. She found comfort there, and a small smile formed on her lips.

"I haven't really left our house," she continued. "The only time was when we moved here. Otherwise, the farthest I've been outside was our front yard."

"Your condition really prevents you from going out?" Alden inquired.

Maine nodded and said, "I guess the stress of traveling takes a toll on my heart. The travel from Bulacan to here was a kind of test for me if I can really take it but when we arrived, I really couldn't catch my breath. They have put that awful mask on me.

"I saw you that day. You were coming home from school, I think. And I thought, 'he looks intriguing. I hope he can be my friend.'"

Upon hearing this, Alden couldn't help but let out a short chuckle. Maine was taken aback and tried to free her hands from his hold but he held on tighter. A frown formed on her lips and she bowed her head.

'So much for thinking that we could be friends,' she thought miserably as she sighed out loud.

Alden felt the change in her demeanor. He squeezed her hands tightly between his to get her attention.

"I saw you too," he quietly said. "You were sitting on your wheelchair and you've got that oxygen hose on your face. But what got to me were your eyes. I saw determination and strength there that I told myself that I really wanted to get to know you. You have no idea how much I pestered my mom to welcome your family eversince you've got here. It's a selfish reason on my part because I really want to be friends with you. It took a lot of coaxing and dishwashing duties too."

"You're not pulling my leg are you?"

"Why would I do that?"

"To play a prank on the new girl?"

"And lose out on borrowing your Star Wars books?" He replied in fake shock and disbelief. "I would never!"

"Ah," Maine replied as she crossed her arms and played along. "So you only want me for my books."

Alden snorted and smiled showing his dimple, "well, you have to be good for something."

"And what would you offer me, Alden?" Maine asked, one eyebrow raised in question and a smirk forming on her lips. "You would also need to be good for something too."

"Fair question," he answered as he pretended to think of an answer. "My good looks aren't good enough for you?"

She giggled but shook her head as an answer.

"Hmm..." Alden continued to pretend to be thinking. "What would you want from me in return?"

Maine looked at Alden. All playfulness leaving her face as she faced him.

"I want you to promise me that you will show me the world someday," she stated as her eyes stared directly at Alden.

"Maine -"

"Promise me, Alden!"

It was Maine's turn to hold both of Alden's hands tightly, emphasizing the desperation she was feeling. She didn't know why she said it but Maine felt that if anyone would be able to grant her wish, it was Alden. For the short time that they've met, she felt at ease with him. Alden was so easy to talk to and was fun to be around that her brief apprehension disappeared the moment Alden said that he wanted to be friends too.

Alden looked at Maine's eyes then looked down on their hands. Her small hands were holding both his hands tightly, as if never wanting to let go. He looked up once more, eased one hand off from her hold to push his glasses on the ridge of his nose and smiled at her. His heart reached out to her when he heard her wish. He couldn't imagine what she must be feeling, being kept indoors all the time. With much resolve he decided that he would find a way to grant her wish. It would not be an empty promise that he will make just so that he would see Maine smile. Alden was determined to make that promise and keep it.

"I promise, Maine," he finally answered. "You will be able to see the world."