Perfect For You

Evil

Even if Jake wanted to protest on Maine's condition, he knew he had no choice but to go with it. It was either he had Maine for the weekend or not, and even if it meant having her loftmate trail behind them wherever they went, Jake was willing to just take it all in. 

The 20 minute car ride going to Coney Island was excruciatingly awkward for the three of them. Neither of them wanted to initiate a conversation, not even Maine whose idea was to bring Alden along with them. She just wasn't in the mood to spend an entire weekend with Jake, but she pitied him, so she had to think of a way to make this whole trip bearable for her, and the only way for that to happen is to have Alden there.. with them.

Maine knew that it was a bit selfish of her to put Alden in this situation, but it wasn't as if she planning on getting back together with Jake anymore. This weekend, she was finally ending things with him and she just wanted Alden to be there to assure her, that yes, she was indeed making the right decision.

"Mr. Ejercito, we're finally here." Jake's personal, Filipino-American driver said, as they stopped in front of the busy boardwalk at Coney Island. 

Had Maine been in a good mood, she probably would have taken a lot of pictures and snaps, but as soon as they had all gotten out of the car, she just stood there and watched some people pass her by. 

"It's really hot out today, huh." Jake said, wearing his signature, reflective Aviators. The mere gesture used to make Maine's heart beat really fast, but now, it all just seemed so normal to her.

"Yeah, it is." Alden said, wearing his own pair of Aviators, as well.

Maine couldn't help but smile as Alden did this. She knew how competitive he was, and it amused her a lot.

"Where are we staying here, anyway?" Maine asked, feeling thankful that the white cap she was wearing was shielding her from the heat of the New York sun. "Alangan namang tatayo lang tayo dito hanggang mamaya gabi." She added.

"Babe, relax." Jake said, instantly making Alden flinch. 

Hearing someone call Maine "babe" was just too uncomfortable and awkward for him, but.. Jake was still "the boyfriend" and there was nothing that he could do about it. Though punching him in his mind seemed like a pretty good idea. 

"We'll be staying at a family friend's newly-built bungalow by the beach." Jake continued. "Actually, we'll be meeting her for dinner tonight." 

"Do I know this family friend of yours?" Maine asked. "And stop calling me 'babe'."

"Thank you, Maine. Thank you." Alden responded in his mind.

"I'm not sure." Jake answered. "She hasn't been to the Philippines in a really long time. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll like her. She's a very nice girl."

Maine shrugged in reply.

"So, ano na ang gagawin natin ngayon?" She asked, crossing her arms. 

Both Jake and Alden looked around the busy boardwalk, and started thinking of their first activity at Coney Island. 

"I was thinking.. maybe we could get ourselves some gelato to beat the heat? I heard that their gelato here is pretty good, especially the ones that are coffee-based." Jake suggested.

"Well I was thinking," Alden cleared his throat. "Maybe we could try out the Wonder Wheel. Yung ferris wheel nila dito? I mean, it's Maine's first time to be here, so why not start it with something fun?" He added. 

Jake instantly felt Alden's competitiveness as he countered his first suggestion. This weekend was surely going to be a challenge for him, what with Alden's presence, but Jake was going to make sure that Maine would be running back to him in no time. 

"That seems like a good idea, pero takot si Maine sa heights." Jake said. "Gusto mo ba siyang ma-trauma sa first day natin dito sa Coney Island?" He added sarcastically. 

"At bakit ko naman gugustuhing ma-trauma si Maine?" Alden retorted. "Nagsu-suggest lang ako. Depende naman sa inyong dalawa kung anung gagawin ninyo." He added. "Kung gusto niyong mag-gelato, eh di mag-gelato kayo. It's as simple as that."

Jake glared at Alden. 

"Pare, wag ka namang mambabastos ng ganyan. Plus one ka lang dito." He said. 

"Jake, Alden, ano ba." Maine said, coming between the two boys. "Kakadating lang natin dito, tapos nag-aaway na kayo." She added. "Kumalma nga kayo."

"Oo, Alden. Takot ako sa heights, pero sasakay tayong lahat ng Wonder Wheel." Maine said, turning to Alden. "Pero bago 'yun, magge-gelato tayo. Feel ko rin kasing kumain ng gelato eh." She now turned to Jake. 

"Okay ba ang plano ko? Okay ba?"

Like two boys who had no choice but to make up because their mom wanted them to, both Alden and Jake nodded. This is going to be one, very interesting weekend. That's for sure. 

"I just have to settle things with my driver." Jake said. "Maiwan ko muna kayo." He walked away, but continued glaring at Alden. He just had this feeling that he wasn't just Maine's loftmate. He was definitely acting like he was more than that. 

"Maine, ano bang ginagawa ko dito." Alden finally said. "Bakit mo ba ako isinama dito?"

Maine sighed. 

"Look, I'm sorry. Alam ko namang nahihirapan ka eh, pero eto lang talaga ang naisip kong paraan para.."

"Para?" Alden said. "Maine, when Jake arrived at our loft yesterday, you could've made a decision right then and there to break up with him." He added. "Ano bang nangyari? Bakit pa tayo nandito.. kasama siya? Shouldn't he be the third wheel? The plus one?" 

"Ganun nalang ba kadali 'yun para sa'yo, Alden?" Maine replied. "Hindi ba pwedeng, naghahanap ako ng tamang tiyempo para sabihin sa kanyang ayoko na? Kahit na gago si Jake, minahal ko pa rin siya, at 'yun ang isa sa mga dahilan kung bakit di ko rin kayang makipag-break sa kanya ng ganun ganun nalang."

Maine sighed once more as she touched Alden's arm. She knew that he was having a hard time and it was all her fault, but she just had to assure him that everything is going to be okay.

"Konting tiis nalang, okay? Konting tiis nalang." Maine said in assurance. "Kaya natin 'to."

Alden looked into Maine's eyes and nodded. 

"Sabi ko na nga ba eh." Jake thought, as he watched the entire scene unraveling before him from a distance. "Hindi lang sila loftmates. There clearly is something going on between the both of them." He added. 

"Kung ano mang namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa, humanda sila, because before this weekend ends, I am going to break them apart. If I'm not going to get my happy ending, neither of them will."