In the following weeks, they kept their communication limited to work and a few exchanges of text messages outside of that, but Maine kept their conversations short and Alden kept his distance to respect her previous decision.
Before they knew it, it was their last taping day for their teleserye and it had wrapped up all too quickly. As much as Alden wanted, he didn't ask Maine out for coffee or offer to bring her home. He simply brought her to her car and lingered a little bit longer.
"Are you sure wala ka ng nakalimutan dito?" He asked.
"Yes, dala ko na. I checked kanina. Ikaw? Kumain ka ba? Parang hindi ko napansin kung nag-dinner ka."
He nodded. "I did. I ate dinner."
"Anong schedule mo bukas?" She asked randomly.
"May story con for the new movie, the one you signed me up for. Tapos, I'm trying to get out of another meeting. Gusto ko sana i-date si Lola. Galit pa sa akin eh."
"Kasi?"
"Yung sa atin. Alam mo naman kung gano ka ka-mahal ng lola ko."
"Awwww. Miss ko na si Lola Linda. Okay lang ba kung dalawin ko siya minsan?"
He agreed. "She'd love that. Ikaw? Anong lakad mo tomorrow?"
"Wala naman, but soon siguro I'm going to my old school. May nakita kasi akong short courses on film and scriptwriting. I wanted to check them out if I can take them."
"Talaga? Wow. Good luck!"
"Thank you." They looked away. "I guess I should go."
"Oo nga. Sorry for keeping you. Ingat ka, Meng."
***
"No. This script needs to be revised."
Alden was debating with the director and the scriptwriter during the story con. "Ang daming love scenes - I'll bet marami din diyan won't make the final cut. I agreed to one scene because it's essential in establishing my character's personality, but that's it. No more. And please Direk, lahat ng daya gagawin natin, okay?"
After the story con, Alden and his team headed to the meeting for the press release of the movie. "Agad? Don't we have time to pass by sa mall? May gusto sana akong bilhin for Dad."
"Tight yung schedule mo today, Den. Tsaka nga pala, for next month, may free days ka pa and a few free weekends - alin dito sa offers yung gusto mong puntahan?"
Alden looked at the proposals - a mall show in Visayas, another in Mindanao, a charity event, three separate events to be held by fans, endorsement shoots, commitments for his endorsements, requests for his appearance to name a few. "Keep those weekends free, Sam. Tell Ms. Lites nalang. Yung charity event - confirmed; Yung mall shows, okay pero ayoko na same day as other commitments and let's make sure that the day after is free para dun nalang ako babalik ng Manila. Wait - walang ka-conflict na schedule ng pamilya ko, di ba?"
Mama Ten and Sam confirmed that there was no conflict.
"Okay. Yung sa fans, pag-isahin nalang kung pwede or spread it over a few months? Yung appearance, paki-padala sa akin ng details and I'll choose which ones ang go." He paused. "Please leave room for possible cancellation or postponement."
As they continued to travel, he took his iPad and started browsing through different websites he's bookmarked. He missed reading and promised himself to make more time for it, like when - when he was living Maine's life.
Kamusta kaya siya?
At the PR meeting, Alden again faced disapproval with his unwillingness to go with the plan for the movie promo. "Alden, we'll create an angle for you and your co-star okay?"
"It's not necessary. Mag-isip nalang po tayo ng ibang way to promote the movie. The story is good enough as it is."
"You'll have to answer questions about Maine."
"No, I won't. Hindi siya involved dito sa movie, I don't want her unnecessarily dragged into this."
The PR head agreed, seeing that he won't be able to get his way with Alden. "Alden, we're agreeing with you but lately ang tigas ng ulo mo ha."
"I'm not being stubborn, Sir. Pero hindi ko lang din pwedeng gawin yung mga bagay that I'm against. I'm honoring my commitments. Makakaasa kayong I will remain professional in my job, just don't force me to do things I'm not agreeable with."
***
Maine was heading out of the campus she had spent almost 4 years of her life in. Sobrang iba na ng school namin! She thought.
A number of people recognized her and started buzzing, but she just smiled and headed to inquire about the courses she found. A few hours later, she was already enrolling herself to go back to school. After consultations with college administration and her handlers, she was able to take the classes she wanted.
She was felt so happy about this and the first person she wanted to share it with was Alden, so she dialled his number. As it was connecting, she realized, Ay baka hindi ko na dapat 'to abalahin, so she quickly dropped the call.
Just seconds later, Alden was calling her back. "Uy, you dropped the call agad. Bakit ka tumawag?"
"Ah... Ummm, wala. Ike-kwento ko lang sana na naka-enroll na ako."
"Really? Anong schedule mo?"
"Tuesday and Thursday lang. Tapos a few hours lang din until mid-afternoon."
"When do you start?"
"Two weeks."
"Lapit na! You're excited?"
"Super. Umm, Rj? Breakfast tayo before I go to class that day? Medyo kinakabahan ako to go back to school."
"Kaya mo yan, Meng. But, really?" Alden's voice suddenly perked up. "Really? Maine? You want to see me?"
"Oo. I still want us to be friends. Ang dami na kasi nating pinagdaanan na tayo lang magkakaintindihan, so sana we can still be friends?"
"Yes. Okay. I'd love that. We could start there."
Maine chose to ignore what he said for now. "See you in a few weeks?"
"Okay. Will I pick you up?"
"No, baka busy ka. Let's meet somewhere close to my school. Text nalang."
"Alright. See you."
