Maine stared at the clear ziplock bag handed by Kaye, labeled "Shara". She threw her friend a questioning look. "Shara?"
"Yan yung name nung kababata ko," Kaye explained.
"Ah," Maine looked closely, and sure enough, there were a few strands of hair inside. She cringed. "Ugh. Fine." Grabbing the bag, she haphazardly dropped it in her tote, before she and Kaye boarded the elevators up to their area on the 16th floor of the building.
As the lift stopped at the 7th, both girls drew a sharp intake of breath when Alden Richards stepped in. He paused for a moment and didn't board immediately, "May problema ba?" He asked, noting the panicked look on their faces.
"Wala naman po," both girls replied.
The Finance executive glanced at Kaye then stared at Maine, shrugged, then went in. After he pushed the button for the 20th floor, he took one last look at Maine, then turned and studied the papers he was holding.
Kaye, with a slight hand movement and her eyes, was motioning from Maine to Alden's shoulder. Maine was initially confused, but when she followed Kaye's gaze, her eyes widened. A short strand of hair was on his polo shirt.
"Kunin mo na!" Kaye mouthed.
Maine shook her head, vehemently. "Ayoko nga!"
"Kunin mo!"
"Ayaw!"
Alden must've noted something because he turned and gave Maine a questioning look, which she just returned with a smile. He continued to look confused but remained smiling at her, so she smiled back.
"Ms. Mendoza?"
"Yes po?"
"I believe this is your floor?"
Her gaze shifted to the display lights above and to her horror, she realized that he has been holding the door open for her, and Kaye, the traitor, was already outside the lift, chuckling.
Maine scrambled to get out of the lift and managed a quick "thank you", tap on the shoulder and goodbye.
Kaye was still chuckling while they walked to their desk. "Ang cute niyo naman ni Sir Alden!"
"Anong cute?! Nakakahiya kaya? Akala niya siguro I'm some weirdo na nagpapacute sa kanya."
"Sanay naman yun na maraming nagpapacute sa kanya!"
"Wow! At hindi mo dineny na weird ako."
"Weird ka naman talaga and I love you like that, Bes!"
Maine rolled her eyes at Kaye. "Oo na. I am weird, but this weirdo ay hindi nagpapacute sa kanya. This weirdo just got the hair strands I needed."
With that, she showed them to Kaye triumphantly.
"Itago mo na yan, baka mawala pa."
That night, Maine was at her kitchen starting to brew the potion for Kaye's friend. While reading the black book of potion recipes that her grandmother gave her, she continued to stroke her hair absentmindedly, as she waited for the pot to boil. She had prepared the other ingredients beforehand and when the water was ready, she would stir everything in.
"Ang lambot ng buhok ko. Sulit yung hot oil ko kanina," she muttered. A few strands dropped onto her kitchen counter, "Oh shit. Mapapagalitan ako ni Abuela nito!"
She was about to cleanup the mess from her fallen hair strands when she saw something out of the corner of her eye.
The bag from Kaye, labeled with her friend's name, was already ripped open and mixed into the mess she was currently looking at.
"Shit."
*
The next Monday, Maine hesitantly handed Kaye a bottle of the potion at their office pantry.
After realizing her boo boo while preparing the mixture, she took Alden's lone hair strand, then tied it with a longer hair strand, which she hoped belonged to Kaye's friend. Then, on a wing and a prayer, dropped the entwined strands into the pot.
"Ayan na. Ready na yan. Painumin mo nalang kay Sir Alden," Maine said.
"Huy! Teka, bakit ako? Ikaw yung pinakiusapan ni Shara, di ba? Sige na. Ikaw nalang. At saka, ikaw naman yung kilala ni Sir Alden."
"Kaye! Anong gusto mong sabihin ko kay Sir Alden? Gusto niyo pong i-try ito? Bagong juice po na experiment ko?" Maine said.
"Sige."
Maine and Kaye froze.
"Sakto, pagod pa naman ako from running up seven flights of stairs. Nasira kasi yung elevator."
Finally turning toward the deep voice beside them, Maine confirmed it. "Hi po, Sir Alden."
"Hi," he smiled, flashing that bedimpled smile of his. "You look nice today."
Maine blushed at the compliment, while Kaye narrowed her eyes, watching the scene unfolding in front of her. "Yung juice, Maine. Mukhang uhaw ni si Sir."
"Ay, oo. Oo nga. Ito po," Maine handed him the tumbler where she placed the potion.
Looking at her, he chugged it down... with a lot of effort.
And a few coughs and gags right after.
Patting his back, Maine worriedly asked, "Sir! Sir! Okay lang po kayo?"
Still coughing, he asked, "Ano 'to? Luyang nilagyan ng tubig? Lason yata ito eh. San galing 'to?"
"Timpla ko po."
Alden looked contrite. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean... it's just that..."
"It tastes really horrible?"
Alden laughed with her. "Yes." Scratching his nape, he looked at her and apologized again. "Sorry talaga. No offense but hindi masarap, wag mo na uulitin ha?"
Maine nodded and laughed. "Hindi na."
"Because I drank almost half of that god-awful drink, I think you should make it up to me?"
"Ha? Po? How?"
"Mahilig ka sa iced coffee, di ba? I always see you sa coffee shop near here. How about we go there later? After lunch?"
He seemed to be holding his breath until the moment she said, "Sige."
"Oh my god!" Kaye squealed in delight, unable to hide her giddiness any longer.
"Uy, ah... sorry I don't know your name yet, but you could join us if you want?" Alden offered.
"Ay hindi na ho, Sir. Kayo nalang po ni Maine."
"Alright. So, I'll drop by your area later, Maine," Alden said. After getting Kaye's name, he bid them both goodbye. "I have a meeting in a few minutes. Una na ako."
"Wait po, Sir! Yung area ko is by -"
"By the window, near the big conference room," Alden finished, Maine nodded. "I know. I'll see you later."
When he was gone, Maine took a seat as she was suddenly feeling light-headed. Kaye was still squealing. "Oh my goodness! You have a coffee date with Sir Alden? Oh my! Shucks ang cute nung exchange kanina. Ang cute ng tinginan niyo! Ang cute ng lahat. Bakit ako lang nanonood? Magtatayo na ako ng fans club! Ship ko kayo!"
With that, Maine woke up from her reverie. "Huy. No. Ano ka ba. Anytime, magwowork na yung gayuma. Si Shara na maiisip niya. Si Shara. That gayuma will work. Yun ang dapat because I knotted his short strand with her long, brown one. Sila. Sila dapat. It will work."
Maine gathered her stuff and started to proceed to her area. When she got there, Kaye , who has been quiet, spoke up. "Did you say you knotted Alden's strand with a long brown one?"
"Yes!" Maine answered confidently.
Kaye looked at her friend's long, silky brown hair. "Shara's hair is jet black."
Maine's jaw dropped. "Shit."
