A few weeks later, Alden got news that Maine was out all night with someone.
"Yun?! Susmaryosep naman. Bakit yun pa? Anong mapapala mo dun, Maine?" He dropped by their place to confront her and accidentally raised his voice.
"Can you calm down? We were with a group. Hindi naman siya lang yung kasama ko!" She replied, defensively.
"Still! Do you know what our friends are saying? The names they're calling you? Alam mo naman yung reputation ng lalaking yan! You just made it seem like you're another one of his conquests! Maine, mag-ingat ka naman."
"Alden, you should know better! Alam mo na hindi ako ganun. We were having fun. That's it. Inumaga kami, nagbreakfast. That's all there is to it." She paused. "Besides, what's it to you? You broke up with me."
Impasse.
It waa Maine who broke the silence between them. "Who's Angeli?"
Alden looked at her stunned. "How did you know -?"
"Our friends posted some photos. I saw - Are you seeing her?"
"Yes. We... we have the same wants in life."
Maine nodded. "Marriage and children?"
"Yes." Alden paused, unsure how to proceed but he decided to be honest. "I enjoy her company, so... we've been seeing each other for just over a week, pero madami dami na din akong nadiscover about her that I like."
Another long pause.
"Why does it feel like we're breaking up again?" Maine said.
He stared at her and said nothing.
*
The following weeks were tough on both.
The holidays were coming up and it would be the first one they would be spending apart - and with new people they were seeing.
Their friends, relatives and co-workers continued to whisper stuff they never thought would reach them, but they knew.
Like,
Maine has multiple men that's why Alden left her. Still, she continues to sleep around.
Alden wasn't enough for her because he's boring.
She's a wildchild with no direction in life.
He was probably gay.
They coped with it different. More than once, Maine had answered back and fought to defend herself. Alden chose to keep silent and stay away.
The situation took its toll on them and they eventually decided to steer clear of each other.
*
Maine's birthday was fast approaching and Alden felt melancholy that he wouldn't be spending it with her anymore.
He met up with some common friends and casually asked what plans for her birthday were. "Alam mo naman yun, mahilig sa surprises. Sabihan niyo yung dinedate niya na plus pogi points kapag maganda yung surprise niya kay Maine ha?"
One of the friends chuckled. "Bahala na si Jack. Alam na siguro niya yun. Marami naman sigurong magandang romantic places sa States na pwede niyang dalhan kay Maine."
"States? Nasa States sila?" He asked.
"Oo. Pabalik balik si Jack dun. Si Maine, hindi na bumalik since Christmas."
Alden was stunned. In his effort to move on from their breakup, he had muted her social media accounts and refrained from getting news about her. Finding out that she was no longer here still hurt.
He didn't even stop to think why he told Angeli he wouldn't be able to pick her up. He just headed home and finally looked at Maine's updates.
*
Spring in New York.
One of Alden's favorite seasons. Sure, it was often green in Manila, but there was something about seeing these colors after it had been all white in winter.
Like it was a new beginning.
Lord knows his heart needed one. After dating around, he was sure of - He can't miss children he never had, but sure , there were days when he would wonder what if he had one with her? But, he was sure, that after everything is said and done, he still wanted to be with her.
On this afternoon, he decided to wander aimlessly in Central Park. Eventually, he finds himself standing at one end of Gapstow Bridge.
He sighs. He used to love walking here and crossing bridges with her.
Now, he was alone. Wondering if he could have a new beginning with her.
As he made his was across the bridge, he saw a familiar face emerge from the opposite end.
"Maine."
They stop when they are within hearing distance of each other.
Hands tucked in their light coats, her hair slightly messed by the gentle breeze, sunlight on their faces... she smiles a little wistfully.
"Hi."
"I've been looking for you," he says.
She smiles, a huge weight seems to have been lifted off her shoulders.
"I've been waiting."
To new beginnings.
THE END
— Note: I planned this to be more open-ended but, I guess these days, we all need a little hope. Not to hope that A&M will end up together because that is out of our hands, but to hope for a better day in whatever form it arrives.
Find your happiness guys. 👇🏼
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