Perfect For You

A Very Special Friend

After breaking up with Jake, Maine knew that she was finally free. It may have been bittersweet at first, but she was glad that, from now on, she could finally be herself.

After five, long years, Maine could do whatever it was that she wanted to do with her life, and most importantly, love the one she knew had her heart.. which was why she was surprised to see no trace of Alden in his hotel room, upon her arrival that night.

Maine tried calling him, but his phone kept ringing. She searched his room, hoping that his luggage was in one of the cabinets, to assure her that he hadn't gone anywhere, but unfortunately, it was as if Alden had never been there in the first place.

Suddenly, Maine found what seemed to be a letter placed neatly on the side table. She didn't have such a nice feeling about it, but she decided to upon in anyway, thinking that the letter might be addressed to her.. and she was right.

To my dearest Nicomaine,

By the time you read this, I would've left Coney Island already. I'm sorry for leaving so abruptly, but I knew that I just had to.

After having witnessed everything at the bungalow this evening, I had come to a conclusion that maybe, you need to give your heart a break.

Even if we had longed for the day that we can finally be together without having to feel burdened over the fact that Jake is still your boyfriend, I don't think it would be right for you to get into a relationship so soon.

The five years you spent being in a relationship with Jake had scarred you emotionally, and I feel as if maybe you need to give yourself some time to heal first, before finally giving your heart to me again.

I hope you don't get me wrong, Maine. I love you. I love you so much, which is why I'm doing this.

Hindi kita pinapakawalan. I'm just giving you some time to love yourself like you've never did before. I'm just giving you some time to thoroughly think things through. If being in a relationship with me is what you really need right now.

Maine, I don't want your happiness to revolve around me. I want you to be happy because of the smallest of things like having your name spelled right on your Starbucks frappucino or crossing out an item off your bucket list.

I feel as if this will only be possible if you spend some time reconnecting with yourself again.

Nicomaine Mendoza, while you're in the process of finding yourself, I will be waiting for you. I will be waiting for you, until you finally realise that you are whole again, that you are ready to love again.

Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. I will try my best to be fine.

Alden

Buckets of tears fell off of Maine's eyes as she read Alden's letter. She knew that he was right, that she needed to find herself in the midst of all this, but she didn't think that it would be at his expense.

Maine loved Alden so much. She knew that he was the man of dreams, that he was indeed perfect for her, but before she could completely surrender herself to him, she needed to know who she was as Maine, so she wouldn't lose her identity while falling for him.

That's what happened in her relationship with Jake after all. Before entering the relationship, Maine didn't quite know who she was, what she wanted in life, which was why she had been easily swayed by Jake to do this and that, until eventually, she had realised that she was losing herself in the process of pleasing him and making him happy because he was her boyfriend.

Alden was being more than understanding and selfless in this gesture of his, and if only Maine could hug him, she would. But here she was, sitting on the bed in his hotel room, sobbing because he was nowhere in sight.

"This is probably for the best." Maine uttered as she folded the letter and placed it back on the side table.

"Magkikita tayong muli, Alden." She said. "And when we do, I promise.. I will be whole again."

AFTER ONE YEAR

After Maine had wrapped up her internship at The Ritz Carlton, the hotel decided to absorb her as one of its chefs.

Maine had performed so well that in just two months, she was offered the position of head chef at the hotel, but the latter declined, stating that she wanted to go back to the Philippines to start a restaurant of her own.

The Ritz Carlton decided not to hold unto her anymore, but wished her well in her endeavour.

Upon arriving in the Philippines, Maine kept herself busy with all the preparations for Cafe 716. She was a very hands on owner and chef, that even in the smallest of details like the colour of the toilet to how soft the cushions were, she wanted everything to be perfect.

In her spare time, Maine would try out new things she had longed to do in the past, like go on a whole day food trip at Maginhawa, hold an impromptu cooking class at a mall (yes, she did that) and travel alone.

Maine had done all of this in happiness, and slowly by slowly, she felt whole again.

"Maine, congratulations on Cafe 716." a reporter said, during the mini press con at the opening of the cafe. "Ever since you became one of the chefs at the prestigious Ritz Carlton hotel in New York, you've made the entire country proud. I just wanted to ask why you decided to come back, when there's no denying na, mas malaki yung kita dun at mas marami kang opportunities to shine as a chef."

"Actually po, I had no intentions of working in the States. Nandun lang po talaga ako for my 5 month internship, kaya lang sinwerte, so my stay at The Ritz Carlton was extended." Maine smiled. "I decided to come back to the Philippines dahil aside from the fact na nandito yung mga mahal ko sa buhay, kahit na sino namang chef ay mag-aagree sa akin pag sinabi kong iba talaga pag may restaurant o cafe ka of your own." She added.

"And it's always been a dream of mine to own a cafe, and I'm glad that it has finally come true."

"Maine," another reporter said. "As I was going through your menu, I noticed that the food, as well as the drinks that you serve, have a very New York feel to it. May nag-influence ba sayong magkaroon ng ganitong mga food choices?"

Maine couldn't help but smile as this question was asked. Suddenly, the memories started flooding in again. Cafe lattes, hot churros, pizza night.. all drank, eaten and spent with none other than Alden.

"Yes." Maine nodded. "He was my loftmate and.. a very special friend. Let's just leave it at that." She added, blushing slightly.

The reporters looked at each other, intrigued by Maine's answer. One of them was about to ask about the loftmate slash very special friend's identity, when suddenly, someone had decided to swoop in.

"Miss Nicomaine, sa lahat ng tinatamasan mong success ngayon, may kulang pa ba?"

Maine almost dropped her mic upon seeing the owner of the voice in the small crowd of reporters. She felt as if she had run out of words to say and just sat there, dumbfounded.

After a year, he still had that same effect on her; heartbeat racing, sweat trickling down her nape and clammy hands. None of it has changed, and none of it ever will.

"Excuse me, member of the press ka rin ba?" A reporter asked. "I don't remember seeing you arrive this afternoon."

He flashed the reporter his signature bedimpled smile.

"My name's Richard Faulkerson Jr., sir. But you can also call me Alden. And no, I'm not a member of the press," He said, looking at Maine, who still looked as dumbfounded as ever.

"I'm Maine's loftmate and very special friend."