Maybe This Time

A Year Later

Author's Note: Hi, guys! How are you all doing? :) So I assume that you've read the prologue of this fic since you're already in the first chapter. I know that some of you have questions after reading it, so here goes some of my explanations. Unlike in Adventures, where the stories seem to be true to life, the events in Maybe This Time are purely fictional. In this fic, Alden and Maine are normal people, not celebrities, and as the story unfolds, you will discover how they ended up in each others' lives. This fic is a little angst-y, so I hope you can bear with all the drama. Konting tiis lang, friends. Dadating din ang Tamang Panahon sa kwentong ito ;) For the mean time, just sit back, relax, and enjoy the story. Mwah!

- Annette

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"Grabe, Papi. Napaka-hands on mo naman dito. Imagine, ikaw na nga yung may-ari, tapos ikaw pa yung nag-seserve."

Sam YG, one of Alden's good friends said, as he patted the latter's back. Sam paid Alden's newly opened cafe, Rosario's, a visit on his way to work.

Though the cafe had only been opened 2 months ago, it's already been making headlines because of the quality coffee and sandwiches that it sells. Of course, it was a big bonus that the owner had good looks, which had the ladies coming back for more than their daily dose of caffeine.

Alden could only smile at his friend's compliment. "Ikaw talaga. Siyempre, hands on ako, kasi dito ako kumikita. At saka, di ito pang-sideline lang. Pinagpaguran ko to." He said.

"Oo na, oo na." Sam YG laughed, raising both his hands. "I won't be surprised if mas kumikita ka ng malaki because of the ladies who just keep coming back." He wiggled his eyebrows.

Alden hit his friend with a mini-towel. "Wala akong panahon para diyan ngayon." He smiled. "Work, work, work lang talaga ngayon. No play."

"Ah suuuuuuuus." Sam reacted before sipping from his hot cup of coffee. "Pero Papi.." He cleared his throat after drinking. "Kamusta na nga ba ang puso mo? Okay ka na nga ba?"

Alden's smile from earlier slowly faded away from his face. "Alam mo, Papi, hanggang ngayon.. iniisip ko pa rin talaga siya." He admitted. "Kahit ayaw ko, kahit nakakapagod na rin minsan kasi alam kong wala naman tong pupuntahan, umaasa pa rin talaga ako na magkakabalikan kami."

Sam felt sorry for his friend. He knew how much Alden loved Maine. He'd been a witness of their love story ever since the day they first exchanged shy glances and brief hello's.

"Pero, Paps, it's been over a year. At huling balita ko, umalis na rin siya papuntang States." Sam said, to which Alden nodded. The latter would still check Maine's social media accounts from time to time and true enough, Maine had left for the States. He wasn't so sure if that was the reason why she broke up with him, but seeing her smile in the pictures she posted was more than enough for him to conclude that he made the right decision of letting her go.

"Alam mo, Paps, huwag ka nang malungkot." Sam patted Alden's back. "Marami namang ibang babae diyan eh. I'm sure makakahanap ka rin ng babaeng para sa'yo."

"Pero si Maine lang talaga eh.. Siya lang talaga."

"Alden," Sam looked at his friend sternly. "Alam mo namang number one supporter ako ninyo ni Maine, pero Paps, kahit masakit, it's over. It's long over." He said. "Ayoko namang lumabas na kontrabida, but if Maine can move on, you should as well."

"Papi, give yourself a chance to be happy. I'm happy na yung Rosario's is doing well, especially na ito yung naging distraction mo sa lahat ng nangyari sa inyo ni Maine, but you need to focus on yourself naman." Sam added. "Naiintindihan mo ba ako?"

Alden appreciated his friend's concern. Yes, he was still very much in love with Maine, but until when will he be on the losing end? She's probably happy with her life now in the States, and it would be unfair for him to be secretly waiting on her when he wasn't even sure if she was thinking of him the same way he did.

"You're right, Paps. Dapat hindi na ako umaasang bumalik pa ang isang taong iniwan din naman ako sa ere." Alden didn't want to sound bitter, but he couldn't help it. She left him just like that, and what's worse is that in his eyes, she made it look so easy.

"Uy wag bitter, be better." Sam joked, and the both of them shared a light moment.

"Siya nga pala," Alden said. "Hindi mo pa ipinapakita sa akin yung bago mong sasakyan ha."

"Ay oo nga pala!" Sam remembered. That was one of the reasons why he came by to visit.

Before leaving the cafe to check on his friend's new car, Alden left a few instructions to Mari, one of his baristas. The latter nodded and then the two friends were off to the parking lot.

Cling cling cling

The door chime made a sound as Sam and Alden left and a female customer came in.

She had her hair in soft waves and was wearing a white, flowy dress that made her look like a complete angel.

Mari couldn't help but stare. She was just too beautiful for words.

"Good morning, ma'am. Welcome to Rosario's. What can I do for you today?" The female barista said her signature line as she fixed her red apron.

"Um.." The unidentified lady said as she stared at the menu. She was in deep thought as to what she should order. She was torn between a medium-sized iced Cafe Latte and a large Chocolate frappucino.

"Um.. one large Chocolate frappucino." The lady finally decided. Mari typed her order into the system and asked for the payment.

"May I have your name nalang po, ma'am?" Mari asked.

"Maine." The lady answered. "Maine Mendoza".