The First Daughter

20

Maine, I love you...

She froze for a second with her face still buried on his chest, just internalizing what he has said and just soaking the reality that he was physically back. It wasn't long until tiny hands tugged the hem of her shirt. "Tita, diba when someone says I love you, you say I love you too?" 

Alden laughed at Elisse's reaction, and immediately Maine wiped her tears and just looked at Elisse smiling. "Who told you that naman?"

"Papa! Kasi he gets mad when I don't answer back. Sige ka, you want palo?" Elisse answered nonchalantly, and Alden just looked guiltily at Elisse's confession.

"Ikaw talaga, Elisse! Look your papa is back na!" Maine tried to change the topic hoping the four-year old would eventually let go. "Diba you've been waiting for him?"

Elisse ran to Alden and peppered him with kisses. "I know you'll be back, Papa. I love you. You know Papa, I said I love you to Liam kasi diba loving is good and he shares naman his baon in school."

"I love you too, baby. I missed you. Talaga? Who's Liam baby?" He carried her while she hugged her neck. Maine was on the verge of walking away giving the two some time to catch up. Just as she turned her back, Alden grabbed her arm with his free hand. "Wait," he mouthed hoping she'd stay.

"I'll be back. I'll leave you two first to catch up," she mouthed back.

"Okay. I love you, Maine," he replied while he squeezed her hand.

Maine didn't respond, but she smiled and squeezed his hand back. With that, it earned him a sincere smile, and he let go of her hand. Elisse continued on with her story about school and her new friend Liam, but he can't help but watch Maine's every movement. No pressure, Maine.

***

Maine couldn't sleep that night still thinking about what had happened. Coleen chose to sleep beside Maine that night in order to free up some room. She fiddled with her phone doing nothing, and would turn it off. She would do it again several times restlessly waiting for something to happen.

"Maine, kung ayaw mo matulog can you just keep quiet and stop fiddling with your phone. The brightness is irritating me," Coleen begrudgingly said.

"Sorry. I need to talk to you."

A groggy Coleen was half awake, but of course she was always willing to listen to her younger sister. 4am thoughts filled Maine's brain so she obviously knew that she was bothered with something. She faced Maine while one eye was still shut. "Ano?"

"Alden said I love you."

Now this was enough to keep Coleen wide awake. She immediately sat up, and she already slapped Maine's arm in surprise. "Shit, weh? No way?"

"Aray!" Maine nodded and covered her face with her hands. "Kanina, we were talking and I was thanking him for bringing mom back safe and that he's back safe. Then he said it."

"I knew it! I knew it talaga! The guards talk you know? They love you two together parang may fans club kayo dito sa office." Coleen was feeling giddy. "This is like that Katie Holmes movie. Love it!"

"Ate!"

"What did you say to him?"

"I wasn't able to say it back. Elisse came na and she kept forcing me to answer back. I smiled lang, but Ate I think I'm in love with him." Maine said with a frown.

"What's wrong with that?"

"I don't know. I love him but I might love him too much that I might forget to breathe na parang something is gonna go wrong. Gets mo?"

"Nothing wrong with that, Maine. Wag mo naman pangunahan sarili mo. If anything, you should learn by today that time is short and you have to say what you feel."

Midway through their conversation, at 4:45 AM, Maine's phone beeps.

Alden: Good morning, Maine. Are you up?

Maine immediately checks her phone, and her smile was immediately automatic. Coleen noticed the change in her face. "Kadiri ka!"

Maine: Yes, couldn't sleep! Why?

Alden: Just wondering kasi medyo naka-illuminate yung room mo. Anyway, get some rest. Goodnight, I love you. 

Maine: Why are you up? Pahinga ka naman please. You must be tired.

Alden: Can't sleep rin plus nasanay na body ko, I guess.

Maine: Elisse?

Alden: Sleeping.

Maine: I'm hungry. :(

Alden: Wawa naman. I'll cook for you. Baba ka sa kitchen.

Maine: Okay, 5 minutes. :)

Maine sees Alden whipping up eggs and pouring it into a pan. Alden looks up and sees Maine in her pajamas. "Good morning, beautiful."

"Talaga ba?" She moves beside him and tries to see what he' cooking. "Is that?"

"Yes, diba favorite mo 'to?"

He plates the bacon and the pancakes and serves it at the breakfast counter right in front of the stove. "Extra fluffy with a side of crispy bacon."

"Paano mo alam?"

"I know." 

Maine takes a first bite, and immediately her eyes closed as she got to taste her pancake. "Mhmmmm. Alden, I love you."

"Ganon? Pagkain lang makakapagsagot sa'yo? Di man lang si Elisse?"

Maine opened her eyes as soon as she realized what she had said. "Oops. I meant, I love the pancakes. I. LOVE. THE. PANCAKES."

Alden was attempting to remove the plate in front of her, and she just frowned like a seven-year old. "Fine, I..."

"You what?"

"I love..."

"You love?" Alden took the plate completely and went around the kitchen stove just to go near her.

"I love you too, Alden Richards. Now give me my pancakes back please?"

"Ulitin mo." This time he was near her, as he put the plate between them.

"I love you, Alden Richards."

"Is it true?" And he approached her closer....

"Yes. I love you, Alden Richards."

"Weh. Parang hindi ata, Maine." And closer...

"I super duper love you, Alden Richards." He leaned in and she was staring at him, and she leaned closer as their lips touch. "I... love you... Alden Richards. Happy?"

"I love you too, Maine Mendoza."

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Na-miss niyo ba ako? HAHAHA joke. I hope this update satisfied you. Been super duper busy this month that I haven't found the time to update or write. So kilig with all the comments, and I am eternally thankful for the support and for reading The First Daughter. :) 

Just in case I don't get to update, it's because I'll be in Europe this whole April (as if naman kailangan niyo malaman) pero I will try to update at least once or twice. HEHE.