Note: I laughed out loud that majority of the comments for the previous chapter was why Maine even left some of his printed shirts at dapat tinapon na lahat.
Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you! I haven't been able to reply to all the comments but I read them. Thank you, thank you, thank you again!
----
Alden and his team were out of town for three days because of the shows booked and other endorsement shoots on location in the province.
"Tapos na tayo bukas nang hapon, di ba Ma? Uwi na tayo sa gabi?"
"Hindi, Jay. Sa susunod na araw pa ang uwi. Yun ang bilin mo, di ba? Hindi na yung sagad sagad ang schedule ng shoots at travel?"
"Oo nga, pero kasi -"
"Gusto mo na makita si Meng?"
He pouted, nodding. Pwede ko kaya siyang tawagan? He thought as he lay in bed that night. After much internal debate, he finally gave in and called her. "Hi, Maine."
"Hey! You're still on location?"
"Yes. Uuwi na din ako the day after tomorrow. Meng, miss na kita. Sorry, bitin yung dinner natin the other time ha?"
"Ano ka ba, don't apologize. Mas gusto ko naman na makapag-pahinga ka kahit konti. And since dito ka na nakatira malapit sa kin, it would be easier to see each other, I hope?"
"Yes, please. That would be really nice."
"To have you in my life..." She sang.
"Would there be a chance... Bwiset ka talaga eh." He said.
"What time do you get in?" She asked, pertaining to his flight back to Manila.
"7pm pa, but wala na akong commitments after that."
"Do you want to have dinner? Here?"
"Sige!"
"I'll cook."
"Ummm.... pwedeng pa-deliver nalang tayo?"
"Bastos ka." She laughed. "Oo na, sige papadeliver ako."
***
His flight came in late but she insisted that it's okay if he drops by. "I came in late din. Tinapos namin yung script that we will pass next week."
And, at almost 10pm, they were now sharing a late night snack. "Sure ka ba enough na 'to? Nagdinner ka ba sa plane? Baka gutom na gutom ka na hindi ka lang nagsasabi?" She asked, worried about him.
"Oo kumain ako. Ikaw kaya?"
"I'm good, kumain naman ako while waiting for you."
"Patapos na yung school mo. Ano na balak mo?"
"I think I want to take more short courses, but management also took an afternoon soap for me. Pambansang best friend role. Kasama ko si Tuns!"
"Ayun, good. Pababantayan kita."
"Kasi?"
"To, uh, make sure na loyal na manliligaw ka sa akin?"
She chuckled. "Of course, loyal ako. Baka kurutin ako ni Lola sa singit pag hindi ko inayos 'to!"
He was quiet for a few moments. "Maine, question lang."
"O?"
"Pag nililigawan ka ba, uh, gaano kabilis mo pwede sagutin yun taong nanliligaw sayo?"
"Ha?" She smiled.
"Uy, nagtatanong lang ako ha... Para sa, uh, friend ko."
"Ahhhh..." She nodded, deciding to play along. "well, ako kasi kapag nakita ko na seryoso yung tao sa akin, okay siya sa pamilya ko, then bakit ko pa patatagalin?"
He frowned. "Huy, baka sinasabi mo lang yan para sagutin na kita ha."
"Grabe ka sa akin." Maine said.
"Pero kung mabilis lang na ligawan tapos sinagot na agad, hindi ba pangit tingnan?"
"Para kanino?"
"Sa iba. Baka marami silang sabihin."
"Bakit, kasali ba sila sa relationship?"
He grinned. "Meng?"
"Rj?"
"I've made a lot of adjustments sa buhay ko but honestly hindi ko kasi alam if that's enough to make it work out with us this time. So, kahit gustong-gustong-gusto na kitang sagutin, hindi muna ha?" He said with a great deal of difficulty.
"But..."
"I want you to see my life now and every effort that I'm doing for us. I want you to know na kung hindi mo gusto yun, you can still leave. Since nanliligaw ka palang, pwede mo naman gawin yung kagaya nung iba na hindi nalang nagpaparamdam? I'd understand. Ayoko lang na stuck ka na with me kahit hindi mo pala ako gusto and gusto mo ng bawiin yung decision mo na balikan ako this way."
Maine took his face in her hands. "Alam mo, pag narinig yan ni Lola, pagagalitan na naman tayo na ang dami nating arte sa buhay. Alam kong hindi ka perfect and I will probably still have issues with how you go about your business. BUT, now, I have a better understanding of you. I think, yung pag-switch natin taught us to appreciate each other... Not to make one's life or decisions seem better than the other. I have faith it will be different this time and you'll make better decisions, but I don't want you questioning everything out of insecurity or fear of losing me again. Look, mahal kita and I'm here for the long run.I won't pressure you and when you do decide that WE are worth it, I will cherish that day for the rest of my life."
He had no words, so he just smiled back.
"I'm going to get you back, Rj Faulkerson and when I ask you 'officially', you won't be able to say no."
He gulped. "Kingina, Meng. Ang hot mo na dati, mas hot pa na ganito ka ka-confident."
She smirked. "I know."
He gulped again.
"Rj?"
"Huh?
"Kamusta na si Junjun?"
"Hirap na hirap na, Meng." He looked at her lips and gulped again. "Meng?"
"Yes?"
"Tanungin mo na ako, para sasagutin na kita para pwede na kitang harutin."
She chuckled.
"Or payag ka ba sa friends with benefits muna?"
She laughed. "Baliw ka."
"Meng?"
"O?"
"Uuwi na ako. I need a shower."
