Melodious

Verse 12

Alden didn't mean to scare her on their first (well, technically, second if you count last night) meeting.

But when he saw her reluctant on that other side of the door, obviously shocked and confused and tired yet beautiful, he couldn't help but pull her into a hug and wished his heart can just tell her how much he missed her instead. How sorry he was. And can he please please please get her back?

He pursed his lips as he waited for Tori to come. It was almost lunch time now, and Patricia texted him that Maine won't meet his manager inside their unit, so they arranged the meeting in the coffee shop across their building. Tori arrived soon after, and was talking about something that Alden wasn't really listening about.

Because he was still thinking about last night.

About what she told him.

The conversation he would never forget... And never dare share it to anyone else.

"Alden Richards are you even listening to me?"

The café bell rang and they both looked up, gaze locking upon the two ladies that walked towards them. Alden met Maine's gaze but she averted hers immediately, glancing at Patricia who just gave her a small smile.

Tori pulled Alden up as they welcomed the ladies. Tori held out her hand and shook Patricia's. "Victoria Aragon, Alden's manager."

"Patricia Tumulak," Patricia smiled. "And of course, my best friend, Nicomaine Mendoza."

Maine just flashed her a stiff smile and completely avoided Alden's gaze. The quad sat down, and Tori called a waiter for them to order, but the other two declined.

"Alright, since ayaw niyo namang may paligoy-ligoy pa," Tori smiled pleasantly—the kind she uses when talking to potential sponsors and endorsers. "Miss Mendoza, I believe this notebook is rightfully yours."

Alden would be lying if he said he wasn't watching Maine intently—watching how she stiffened and stared at the faded old yellow notebook that Tori presented in front of her. He wondered if she somehow thought about him, maybe thoughts like mabuti naman inalagaan niya, he kept it?, but she didn't seem so surprised. She just eyed the notebook, mostly with remorse, and then picked it up as she daintily shifted through the pages.

"Ang tagal na nito ah," Maine chuckled softly. "High school pa ko nito."

"I kept it in good condition," he couldn't help but blurt out. Tanga. Ano 'to, stating the obvious?

"Nakikita ko nga," she replied shortly, still not looking at him. She scanned the firt few pages, winced, and then placed it back on the table. "Kadiri 'yung mga sinusulat ko dati."

"Weh?" Patricia made a move to get the notebook but Maine swatted her hands away, glaring at her. "Wag mo na tignan! Nakakahiya, ano ka ba?"

Tori cleared her throat and the two of them looked back at her. "I saw potential in your way of writing. I also know you keep a blog and saw the poems you posted. Gusto sana namin makipag-partner sa'yo and turn your writing into songs."

Maine looked like she was slapped. Briefly, she looked at Alden, who merely shrugged at her to say he didn't have a clue but he wasn't necessarily bothered (if you ask him, he'd prefer they work together, actually), and then back at Tori. "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

Alden's manager leaned back with a smile, sure of herself, when—"No."

Napangisi ang binata sa nanlumo at gulat na mukha ni Tori. Tumayo si Maine at nakangangang tinignan siya ni Patricia, na pinandilatan lang nito ng mata. "Sorry, I'm not accepting those kind of offers right now. Ang dami dami niyong kilalang songwriters, bakit sa akin pa talaga? I don't get the logic."