SPIN

Five

It had just snowed earlier and it covered the city in white, giving it an almost magical feel. Though shivering, Alden and Maine decided to take a stroll in one of the city's parks. Soon enough, as he expected, Maine was asking if they could find a place to rest and keep warm. "Gusto ko yata ng hot chocolate."

He laughed. "Japan 'to, hindi Europe."

"Sige na, please?"

Unfortunately, there wasn't any close by. They did, however, find a quaint tea house where they could stay and have a good view of the park.

"Thanks for going here with me! Ang ganda nung place! Sakto yung dating natin after the snow." She gushed.

"Oo nga. Ang ganda pala pag ganito, parang ang tahimik din."

"May 'what if ' scenario pa ako."

"Hoy, ikaw na yung last ha. Turn ko na," Alden said.

Maine smirked, "Sinong nagsabing alternate tayo?"

"Dugas nito."

She laughed. "O sige na, ikaw na muna."

He was quiet, eyes darting all over the place.

"Wala kang maisip 'no!!! Kontrabida ka lang eh. O, ako na."

"Fine." He chuckled. "Naisip ko lang, ang tagal na nating hindi nagkukulitan na ganito 'no?"

"Oo nga eh." Maine agreed, smiling at him. "Namiss kita."

"Ako din." He said. "O game na. What's your scenario? Can I just say ang taba ng utak mo for thinking of all these.

"Heh. Anyway, one of the things we used to argue about was your schedule, remember?"

Alden nodded. "I keep telling you not to worry. Ginusto ko yung ganun ka-busy, and I make sure that we still have time together, di ba?"

"Yes, I know, and I keep telling you minsan kasi sobra na. I'm not complaining about the time you give me, but I worry about your back-to-back-to-back schedules sometimes." Alden was about to say something, but she stopped him. "Eto. What if ako yung ganun ka-busy?"

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They were cuddling while watching another movie on a random Saturday night.

Maine had finished her SPS rehearsals earlier that day and Alden had been waiting for her at her condo unit since he finished an endorsement shoot after Eat Bulaga.

It was the first time in five weeks that they had been able to spend a night together that was not work related. Maine had been flying in and out of the country for shows the network had arranged; if she was in the Philippines, she was often sent to the provincial shows as well. Alden joined her in some, but not all - as agreed with his handlers, he would have the final decision on his schedule which should allow enough time for rest, leisure and family time in Laguna and his Sundays were off-limits

Just then, their phones beeped. They knew it was their handlers sending their schedules for the next day and the next week as a reminder.

"What's your week like?" Maine asked.

"Bulaga, a few endorsement shoots on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, appearance on Saturday. Rest on Sunday. You?"

"I have SPS tomorrow, then a mall appearance in Pampanga. Then, endorsement shoot in Alabang Monday morning, then Bulaga, then fly to Zamboanga in the afternoon; back in Manila early morning Tuesday. Shoots on Tuesday and Thursday after Bulaga -"

"Maine."

"Yes?"

"We talked about this. You have to tell your handlers that that's too much."

"Gusto ko 'to, Rj. I like being busy. Nabo-bore ako kung hindi ganito yung schedule ko kasi. Wag ka na magalit. I'm okay, I promise. Hindi ako nagkakasakit, o! I'm taking care of myself."

This had been a standing argument between them. On any given day, it would be difficult for Alden to track where she is. When he calls her in the morning, she would be on her way to the South; by the time he is able to put in another call early evening, she had jetted off somewhere again.

"You're taking on too much."

"Hindi naman. These people kasi, the sponsors, they've been there for me nung wala pang nagtitiwala sa kin para mag-endorse ng damit nila or whatever else I signed on to endorse. I owe it to them. Plus, I like seeing the people who support us."

"Pano tayo?"

"I'm back for our anniversary! Free yung schedule ko that week if you plan to surprise me."

"Kapal mo."

She wrapped her arms around him. "Wag ka na magalit, please?"

"Basta you take care of yourself."

"Yes, Mahal. Ummm, Rj?"

"What?"

"The week before our anniversary, I'm flying to Canada for four days, kasama na yung travel dun. Tapos, when we land, derecho sa isang show sa Batangas. Then, by midnight we drive to Bataan for an appearance also for the network."

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"Huy, ang OA nung scenario mo ha. Hindi ganyan ka-tight ang schedule ko," Alden contested.

"Pustahan?" She took his phone, typed in the password which he hasn't changed (their anniversary). "Here, this was your schedule a few months before we broke up. Do you see any space for sleep there?"

"OA ka."

"I win. You owe me. Iisipin ko pa kung ano. Now, let me finish my kwento."

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Alden was in Broadway, rehearsing for one of his numbers for Challenge Accepted that weekend when he heard the news. One of the mall shows she attended was filled to the brim and chaos ensued as soon as Maine walked in. Though security was tight, the crowd clamoured to get near her and she was pushed to wall where she hit her head and fainted.

Alden rushed to the hospital. "Tita, nasaan po si Meng?"

"Nasa kwarto. Nagpapahinga. May bandage sa ulo kasi nagdugo nung tumama, pero buti hindi naman na daw kailangan tahiin. Sige na, puntahan mo na dun, pero baka tulog pa. Bibili lang kami ng pagkain ha?"

He entered her room and saw her with scratches, bruises and that bandage on her forehead. "Sabi ko naman kasi sayo, magiingat dapat eh. Ayan tuloy." He whispered, kissing her hand.

Maine slowly opened her eyes. "SINO KA????"

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"Amnesia?! Ano 'to? Teleserye?!" Alden said.

Maine laughed out loud. "Bagay naman sa kwento eh! Hindi complete yung mga scenario kapag walang kahit isang may amnesia."

"Bwiset." But he joined in her laughter. He took her hand. "Okay. I get it, I get it. Pero alam mo din naman bakit ako nagtatrabaho ng ganito, right?"

"Yes, and I told you, I admire how passionate you are and how loyal you are to the network and to your endorsements. But, your schedule needs to be improved. Pagtagal baka bumigay nalang yung katawan mo. Gusto mo ba magka-amnesia?"

He laughed.

"I worry about you, you know." She told him earnestly.

"Still?"

"Always, Rj. Always."