My Mischievous Acts

Act 2

 "Is something wrong, Alden?" tanong sa kanya ni Sam Pinto habang nagpapahinga sila sa gitna ng shooting para sa isang clothing commercial.

Umiling siya at tumingin sa malayo.

"I heard Maine's back. Her brother told me. He wants me to pass this message to you: maintain a 50 meter distance away from his sister."

Hindi siya umimik. His mind can't still get enough of the way she looks at him that day. The way she looks and the way she can still takes his breathe away.

"May nararamdaman ka pa rin sa kanya... Even though she left you-"

"You don't know the whole story, Sam. I was the one that let her down."

She scoffs at that. "She was fully aware of what she got herself into. Keeping that kind of relationship will be like laying in a bed of thorns. I guess... hanggang doon na lang talaga ang pagmamahal niya sa'yo. Or else, she would have stayed and worked you relationship out. Kung alam lang niya ang sakit na dinanas mo para sa kanya-"

"Sinubukan niya, Sam. She stayed with me for so long and yet I wasn't able to see right through. Ako ang nagkulang. Ako ang unang nakalimot..."

"Alden..." she looks at him with sympathy. "She was the one who said she doesn't love you anymore."

~o~o~o~o~o~

Patakbong pumasok si Sam Pinto sa club at doon, natagpuan niya si Alden na nakahandusay sa sahig sa kalasingan. Marami nang tao ang nakatutok dito and everyone was too concern at him that no one is actually taking a photo of his stupidity. Lumapit siya at mahinang sinipa ito sa balikat.

"Yah, Alden! Get up! You're ruining yourself!"

"Sam... Sam..." mabilis na nilagay nito ang braso sa mga mata para itago ang mga luha. Napaiwas na lang si Sam ng tingin dito dahil sa awa at tinignan na lang ang mga bote sa mesa. She can't count the empty bottles on there sa dami.

"There are still people who cares for you, Alden. If you keep hurting yourself like this, you are hurting them – us – in the process."

"Iniwan niya ako, Sam... Iniwan niya ako!!"

With a sigh, she kneels down and removes his arm from covering his eyes. "Isang linggo na ang lumipas nang maghiwalay kayo..."

~o~o~o~o~o~

"Tita... pakiusap, sabihin niyo na po sa'kin kung nasaan si Maine?" Nagulat si Mrs. Mendoza nang makita ang magulong itsura ni Alden sa harap ng pinto niya. Hindi na ito amoy alak ngayon pero mukha namang hindi ito naligo ng buong linggo.

"Hijo, hayaan mo na ang anak ko. Pareho kayong hindi na maligaya sa relasyon niyo... so give her space, please."

"Tita, si Maine ang nagbibigay saya sa buhay ko-"

"At iyang mga tao sa buhay mo ang nagbibigay pasakit sa anak ko. I know you are having a hard time but my daughter is also suffering as much as you. Kaya tigilan mo na ito, tama na iyang pity-party mo sa sarili and give my daughter some peace."

Nag-uunahang bumagsak ang mga luha ni Alden habang nakatingin sa maamong ina ni Maine. Hindi nito kayang iwan ang anak niya. Mahal na mahal talaga nito si Maine. Pero ano pa ba ang magagawa ng binata kung mismong nanay na ang nakikiusap dito?