Perfect For You

Seven Sixteen

After the mini press con had ended, Maine hurriedly walked towards the kitchen, closed the door behind her, and took several, deep breaths. 

She wasn't ready to talk to Alden just yet, and the fact that he was in the cafe, waiting for her to come out so they can finally "catch up", was putting her in a very awkward and uncomfortable situation. 

"Maine? Andiyan ka ba sa loob? Hoy, buksan mo nga ang pinto." She heard her best friend, Valeen, say. 

Maine instantly opened the door, pulled Valeen inside,  then shut it as fast as she could. 

"Okay ka lang ba?" Valeen asked, upon noticing how stressed her best friend looked. 

"Ano sa tingin mo?" Maine responded sarcastically. "Hindi ako pwedeng lumabas. Nandiyan siya." 

"Eh ano naman ngayon?" Valeen retorted. "Akala ko ba, matagal mo na siyang gustong makita and makausap. Ayan na oh, andiyan na siya. All you have to do is get your butt out of here and approach him!" 

"Hindi naman ganun kadali 'yun." Maine replied, remembering how Alden had chosen to leave her that night she broke things off with Jake to finally be with him. 

Even if Maine knew that Alden had done that because it was the right thing to do, given the situation they were in, it still hurt her a lot.

"Val, iniwan niya pa rin ako. Just when I was so sure of him, iniwan niya 'ko." Maine said. "I mean, naiintindihan ko naman yung rason niya.. it was all stated in that letter.. but I'm just not ready. Kaya please, just go out there and talk to him. Just tell him I'm okay." She added, her eyes pleading.

Valeen sighed, knowing that she didn't have any choice but to give in to her best friend's request.

"Okay, fine." She said. "Pero Meng, you're gonna have to talk to him sooner or later. I know that he left you hanging, but.. it was still for your own good, hindi ba? And I can feel that he's a good guy and that he really does love you." She added. 

"Tandaan mo, sa panahon ngayon, bihira ka nalang makakakita ng lalaking handang magsakripisyo para sa babaeng mahal niya. Kaya, when you're ready.. you know what to do." And then Valeen was off. 

Maine didn't question the love Alden had for her. She knew that he had always thought about what would make her happy and what was best for her, but in that moment, the hurt that she felt that night he had decided to leave her felt so fresh which was why she couldn't find it in her to talk to him just yet.

As Valeen walked towards the table Alden was in, she flashed him an apologetic smile. She was the one who had invited him to the cafe's soft opening in the first place, hoping that Alden and Maine could finally patch things up, but things weren't exactly going the way as planned.

"Uy, thank you pala sa pagpunta mo dito ha." Valeen said, trying to lighten the mood as she sat beside Alden. "Kumuha ka na ba ng pagkain sa buffet table?" She asked. "I highly suggest our chicken sandwich, potato salad, churros at saka yung cafe latte namin."

Alden smiled in reply.

"Nakailang rounds na 'ko, don't worry." He said. "Si Maine pala, asan? Shouldn't she be out here, interacting with everyone?"

Valeen smiled awkwardly. 

"Well, about that.. um.. may inaasikaso lang siya sa kitchen. Pero maya maya, lalabas na rin 'yun." She replied.

Suddenly, Alden let out a sigh, his facial expression turning glum. 

"Ayaw niyang lumabas dahil nandito ako, no." He guessed. "It's alright, naiintindihan ko naman siya. I mean, what right do I have to show up so suddenly after leaving her, hindi ba?"

Valeen looked at him with sad eyes. 

"Well, I can't really say anything on Maine's behalf kasi.. iba talaga kapag siya ang kinausap mo eh." She said. "But as her best friend, I've seen her at her happiest and at her saddest, and with you, alam kong naging masaya siya. It's just that..  she had a lot going on in her life nung dumating ka. Especially with Jake." She added.

"But if it makes you feel any better, magmula nung makauwi si Maine from the States, ikaw lang talaga ang bukambibig niya." Valeen smiled. "Kapag magkasama kami, parati siyang nagkwekwento tungkol sa mga adventures niyo sa New York, pati nga yung first kiss niyo, di niya pinalampas." She added. "And she decided to name this cafe, Cafe 716, dahil 'yun yung araw na nagkakilala kayo. July 16, 2015." 

Alden felt his heart drop as Valeen had said this. He couldn't believe that after what he had done to Maine that night in Coney Island, she still thought of him a lot.

He knew that he didn't deserve to be loved by a woman like her but he was indeed lucky. So, so lucky. 

"I'm speechless right now." Alden admitted, to which Valeen smiled. 

"My best friend loves you very much, Alden. She's okay, it's just that she probably needs more time to get over the hurt she's feeling. Jake broke her heart na eh.. I guess she was expecting more from you. But, don't worry kasi, when she comes into her senses, I'm pretty sure that you guys can fall in love again and get back to how you used to be." She said.

"Thanks, Val." Alden smiled gently in reply. "I guess I'll just get going for now. But please tell Maine that the cafe looks amazing and that I really wish her well. Also, please tell her that I'm willing to wait for her kahit ganun pa katagal, dahil mahal na mahal ko siya."

Valeen felt like a fangirl getting all kilig upon hearing what Alden had just said, but she had to stop herself. She was a woman in her mid-20's, surrounded by the media and professional food critics, and she could not afford to look goofy.

"Will do, Alden." She nodded, and then the latter took one, last look at the cafe and walked out of its yellow door. 

Suddenly, Alden's phone had buzzed to life inside his pocket.

 Intrigued as to who it was that had decided to text him at this time of the day, Alden opened the message which had apparently been from an unregistered number. 

"Are you free tonight? Maybe you can give me an honest opinion on the food and drinks that we have on the menu before our opening tomorrow. You're the only one I can trust on this. I hope you don't let me down like you did the last time. - M"

Alden couldn't help but smile as he started typing his reply. 

"Just give me the time and place. I'll be there :) And don't worry, I won't let you down. - A"

Alden was tempted to send another text message, one that was comprised of three words and eight letters, but he knew that he had to save that for later. 

"Thanks. It felt nice seeing you after a year. And sorry for not answering your question at the press con a while ago."

"It's alright. You can give me your answer later, Maine :) See you!"