Pretensions

Chapter 5: Expressing Emotions

>>"hi ms maine. this is richard. just find it awkward pero, may i ask if u r ok na?" a message that Maine received the next Sunday morning after her fainting moment.

Astonished, she was going ask Madam Caridad about where did Alden got her number, when another message came.

>>"i hope you're ok, just learned that u fainted yesterday, please respond, this is my aunt's number. i can't dm u thru twitter."

Shet seriously? Her eyes broadened.

>"Where did you get my number?" she replied.

>>"this is my manager's phone, i'll ask her if where she got yours. hehe."

>"Ok."

The actor did not respond after her last message.

She went to her twitter and searched for Alden Richards' account.

>"Just fine." she left a message on his inbox.

☑ seen

>>"i'm sorry.. fine what?" Alden responded.

"Loko to ah. Sya memessage message sa kin tapos di naman makaalala..." she said, then realized something, "Ay, naku baka ibang tao yun ah. Hindi si Alden."

>"Sorry, RJ, I thought you sent me a message. Here's the screenshot. 📎" she attached a photo.

>>"oh u mean, you're fine now, right?"

>"Sort of."

>>"that was me, it's just that i didn't know you were talking about your health status pala when you said 'just fine' lol."

Maine smiled. He's cute, she thought.

She didn't respond. She just browsed his profile.

Grabe, di na sya nag reply. Alden waited.

>>"sorry for disturbing you. anyways, get well soon."

Wala talaga grabe. He was disappointed.

>>"good night. 🌃👋" his last message.

"Grabe!" he whispered, "ang arte. It's better if she didn't respond, than making me wait for it."

He dropped down his phone and lay down his bed. He breathed deeply.

"Sasagutin ko ba to? Para kong magkakasakit sa mga pagpapacute nya." Maine was talking to herself.

She put her phone on the side cabinet and went to the bathroom.

After a while, Alden received a message.

>"It's morning. You, too. Thanks."

>>"oops. my bad. 😅" he replied.

>"Just came home?"

>>"yup. rehearsals then photoshoot."

>"Nice. Gtg."

>>"oh, see you tomorrow."

She was surprised by his response. See you tomorrow? Was that something about his rehearsals, or was it through the same-day script of that noon time show? She was clueless.

"Mami, sa tingin mo ba, si Alden eh mabait?" Maine queried while eating fried rice and scrambled egg.

"Bakit mo naman natanong out of nowhere?"