They're on their 3rd movie and by some miracle that is their phenomenal loveteam, network wars were dissolved and one of the most articulate celebrity hosts is interviewing them for the first time. He cannot deny the unmistakeable chemistry between the two, and he can't help but feel only warmth and affection for them, making the interview one of the most fun and authentic that he has ever had.
"Let's cut to the chase, because from what I have heard and seen before in your other interviews, the two of you are very straightforward and candid."
Maine laughed and Alden smiled. After exchanging a look, they both replied.
"Yes, po."
"Not to mention having the same wavelength, ha! Wow! Mga kaibigan, I really can't explain it, but these two in front of me...well, I'm pretty sure alam na ng sambayanan ang ibig kong sabihin. Believe me, I may be from another network, but the magic that you have even after 3 years, it's just amazing."
"Thank you po, Sir"
"Coming from you po, that is very flattering."
"You're both welcome. Ok, my first question. The whole nation knows how the two of you became this phenomenon, and you've consistently said that it still amazes you until now. Both on-cam and off-cam. Beyond what the camera has seen, even before the two of you even met, how did you feel about love?"
Alden looked at Maine, as always letting her go in answering first.
"Ako po kasi, alam ng lahat that I am introvert. I have always expressed what I feel, how my mind and emotions work, through my blog, through my social media accounts. But even with my insecurities, I've always been a hopeless romantic. I love romantic films and novels, even when those stories end in heartbreak. Those stories speak to me po kasi, para bang wishful thinking that someday, that will happen to me. Minus the heartbreak nga lang po ha! Pero, ayun nga po, the introvert that I am, I used to feel that love will save me, that when the right time and the right person comes along, I will feel safe and secure, and embrace all my insecurities and make me brave to face anything."
"Very well said Maine. And I read your blog, by the way, very impressive and ang hirap makapasok, sa totoo lang!"
"Ay naku, maski nga po ako, hanggang ngayon, minsan nag-e-error sa pagload, hahaha, site ko na yun! Pasensya na po!"
"No worries. And what about you Alden? How did you feel about love before all this?"
Maine held Alden's hand and gave it a squeeze. He looked down before answering.
"I considered love before as something that will just distract me from achieving the dreams that I have set for myself. Of course I had relationships before pero kumbaga, hindi ko naman po itinuring na bahagi na yun ng pangarap ko. Iba po eh. Kumbaga, looking back on how a 20-year old Alden Richards felt about love, it was never meant to be a long-term thing for me then. Yung love as in romantic love po ha. My love for family, of course, was and will always remain on top of my list, because they are a large part of why I wanted to achieve a lot, it's all for them."
"Young man, you truly are more than just a handsome face. You have depth, I can understand why those who have worked with you are all praises for you."
"Naku, thank you po Sir. Sobrang salamat po."
"Ok, so you two, that was love for you before all of this happened. My next question now is...."
"Ilalabas nyo na po ba ang salamin?"
"Hahahaha! Masyado nang over-used ang salamin na yan! But, ok, if I were to bring out that mirror right now, my question to both of you, how do you feel about love these days? Alden? Maine?"
Alden and Maine, now holding each other's hands, faced each other. The silence in the studio was deafening. Maine spoke first.
"Love for me now, is this person in front of me."
Alden smiled lovingly at Maine, touched her face and answered.
"To borrow a line from one of her favorite songs 'it's like she's my mirror, staring back at me, I'm looking right at the other half of me..."
The host, in awe of what he witnessed in front of him, had to compose himself before speaking.
"Mga kaibigan, no other words needed. Even I felt the love emanating from these two. Wow. We have to pause for a commercial, and when we come back, Alden and Maine, and their new movie."
***
AMACon 3 Prompt 29
"How do you feel about love before us? How do you feel about love these days?"
16 September 2016
