Pretensions

Chapter 6: Falling for Flaws

Days have passed, everyone was looking forward to make the two meet. Unknowingly, Alden and Maine were already exchanging texts.

>>"hi. good morning. ready for today?"

>"Yes. Pero hindi ko sure if kaya ko to."

>>"kaya mo yan. matagal ka nang artista di ba."

>"Ok. I'll try my best."

>"Thank you, Richard."

Alden smiled after reading Maine's message.

The management decided to let Maine go to the studio and let them see each other on that day. It has been a very tough week for them. Fans are very eager to make them meet.

>"Kinakabahan pa rin ako."

A message he received. It was a message from a number named Coni he saw. He deleted Maine's name from his phonebook, but memorized it already. Then changed it into Coni, crafted from her real name Nicomaine.

>>"ikaw? magaling ka kaya. galingan mo sa thesis defense mo."

They even had their own codes. Thesis defense meant performance.

>"Thank you. Hindi ko sure if papasa ako sa jurors."

Jurors means audience and viewers.

"Alden..." a voice from his back was heard. It was Ms. A, "Sino yan, huh?".

"Ah-eh, wala po. Kaibigan ko po na magthesis defense ngayon."

"Sa September?"

"Ahm, Octoberian po sya hehe."

"Ah hehe. Nangeelam pa ako noh? Sorry, naeexcite lang kasi ako sa performance ninyo ni Maine mamaya, baka lang sakali na magkakitaan kayo, dah vah?!"

"Oo nga po eh, naeexcite na rin po ako."

"Naku gumagaling ka nang magtagalog."

He just smiled.

"Madali naman syang matuto," Ryan tap his shoulders, "teka, Alden, magkikita ba kayo ngayon?"

"Hahaha, di ko po alam, Sir Ryan."

"Ryan nalang. O kaya kuya Ryan. Ano ka ba, di ka pa nasanay. Basta pag nagkita kayo, magpapainom ako hahaha."

"Hoooy! Nak, magkita na kayoo!" Ms. Ruby, one of the hosts interrupted. "para manlibre tong si Ryan hahaha."

The group started chattering about what's going to happen that day.

>>"nagtatanong sila kung magmimeet daw ba tayo today. ano sabi sayo?" Alden sent.

>"Wala. Wala silang sinasabi. As in ang alam ko lang is magsasayaw ako. Tingin mo ba ano?"

>>"sabi sakin ni prof, sundin ko daw ang tingin ko na dapat kong gawin. i don't have any idea."

>"Delete previous messages please."

>>"yes i did, ms. maine"

>"Andito na kami sa room for thesis defense. Si prof sabi sundin nalang daw, magkita na daw tayo dapat . "

Shit. Alden was unable to react. He just felt his heart was pumping so hard. How could this be? He asked himself. He might be too attached to what their present status was, talking thru text messages, filling up codes. Figuring each day at a time. No pressures. I wasn't ready for this, he said.