"Hi Miss. Nawawala ka yata. Gusto mo samahan kita?"
"Kuya san ba dito yung-" Napalingon siya sa nagsalita at nagulat ng nakita niya kung sino ito. "Alden! Anong ginagawa mo dito?"
"Miss, di Alden ang pangalan ko. You must be mistaken. I'll just introduce myself. I'm Richard. Richard Faulkerson, Jr. Nice to meet you. You are?"
Inilahad ni Alden ang kamay niya kay Maine. Natatawa naman niyang inabot ito. "Mga pakulo mo Alden ha. Pero sige pagbibigyan kita. Hi. I'm Nicomaine. Nicomaine Dei Mendoza. Nice to meet you too."
"A beautiful name for a beautiful lady. Nicomaine. Parang bagay din sa Faulkerson. Nicomaine Faulkerson. Bagay oh."
"Bolero ka Richard. Sige, I'll gotta go now. May hinahanap pa kasi ako." She started walking away but Alden stopped her.
"Nasa harap mo na ko maghahanap ka pa ba ng iba? Tutal wala ka namang kasama, will you be my date tonight?"
"Hmmm, pag-iisipan ko."
"Bakit, may magagalit ba?"
"May date kasi dapat ako ngayon." Kumunot ang noo ni Alden at nagpatuloy na magsalita si Maine. "Si Alden Richards. Kaso masyadong busy eh, kaya dinate ko nalang yung kama ko."
"Iwanan mo na yun si Alden Richards. Ako nalang i-date mo. Mas gwapo naman ako dun."
"E si Alden artista yun e. Sayang."
"Si Alden artista, ako na si Richard totoo. Walang acting. Lahat ng makikita mo sakin ngayon, totoo. Gusto kong patunayan sayo na yung intensyon ko sayo e bilang si Richard Faulkerson, hindi si Alden Richards. Si Richard Faulkerson Jr. na ang nakikita lang ngayon ay si Nicomaine Mendoza. Hindi si Alden Richards na dinidiktahan para kay Divina."
"Hoy Faulkerson ano ba 'to! Pinapaiyak mo naman ako eh." Pinalo niya si Alden sa braso at natawa lang ito.
"Happy Valentine's day, love." Kinuha ni Alden yung panyo sa bulsa niya at tinakip sa mata ni Maine.
"Oy ano 'to bat may pa-blind fold! Wala kong makita pano ko maglalakad?"
"Syempre may surprise ako sayo. Trust me okay?"
Inalalayan niya si Maine sa hinanda niyang surpresa para dito. This was different from their date in EB. Tonight, there were no cameras. There were no staffs. Away from the blinding lights. No scripts, everything will just be about the two of them.
"Nandito na tayo." Alden removed her blindfold and it took her seconds to adjust from the light. Everything was beautifully set up. It was a candle light dinner at the center of the open garden. From there she could see the lighthouse and the breathtaking view of the place.
"Ang ganda dito. You made all of this?"
"Yup. You liked it?"
"It's perfect."
Inalalayan naman ni Alden si Maine sa upuan. Then a waiter came and served them food. Natuwa siya dahil at least, 'proper food' na ngayon ang kinakain nila sa date na ito.
"Kala ko isaw na naman papakain mo sakin e."
"Syempre ibahin naman natin no. Tsaka baka magka-hepa na tayo kakakain ng isaw."
The two talked over things while enjoying their food. Alden would occassionally throw jokes and pick-up lines while Maine laugh and enjoy his company. He also told her that he asked Nanay Dub to cover up for him for the surprise.
"Ikaw dami mo pang pakulo di mo nalang ako sinundo sa bahay. Ni hindi nga ko nakapag-ayos o kasi kala ko talaga may pinapautos lang si Nanay sakin."
Better Half
Start from the beginning
