Running with Scissors

Seventeen

©Eat Bulaga screen capture

"Hello? Ms Cess? Alden po."

"Uy, hello! I'm glad you called. Still chaotic here. Both sides want to sue. But your fans, gine-giyera ang GMA & Tape, for some reason they figured out this mess!"

"Umm, I really don't care if they sue, let them! I'm worried about Maine. She's bothered and she's not telling me about it. Please don't let her know about any of this. Not yet, at least."

"Ow-key.. but I want you to continue being active on Social Media. Engage your fans, no one would dare touch you if ADN is still strong and united."

"Let the management know that Maine & I will not talk to them until both parties come to an agreement that we won't separate. Not just because we don't want to but because the fans don't want us to."

"Alam nila, the fans have been very vocal since your disappearance. Daig pa ang People Power! So, of course nawindang sila. Basta, communicate with your fans. Show of power rin yan, so they'll know who they are up against."

"Thank you, Ms Cess, and I really don't know why ayaw nyo pabayad. To think you're a team of lawyers defending us."

"Hello, Alden, miyembro ako ng ADN since 2015, kakatayin ako ng mga ka-group chat ko kung magpapabayad ako no? But, seriously, I, we, are doing this out of love. Ok? Alam mo yung #pordalab? Yun yon! Ingat kayo dyan, call me in two days."

Haaay! Nakakalungkot na nakakataba ng puso ang mga fans. Grabe kulang na lang mag-alsa sila. Oh wait, Maine probably gets all the news from Soc Med, that's why she's affected. Hmmm, bawal muna Soc Med for now. I have to keep her busy. Hmm, sexy time is out for the meantime, ano pa ba pwedeng gawin? Pero konting tiis na lang, one and a half days na laaaaaaanngg!!! Yahoo!!!

"Love, you wanna go to the beach?"

Her eyes automatically lit up, she put the book she's reading aside and looked at him tentatively.

"Seryoso yan?"

"Oo naman! Pero, love, wag ka muna mag Soc Med. I know nasa sistema mo na ang pagbabasa ng Twitter but it upsets you. Tapos di mo pa sinasabi sa 'kin."

"Sorry, babe! Ayokong mag-worry ka. Alam ko andami mong iniisip and ikaw ang nagdadala ng lahat ng problema natin."

"Sinong may sabi namomroblema ako? I have you with me, I have all I need. I don't care anong nangyayari sa Manila. Basta andito ka with me, kebs!"

"But you can't just throw away your career, you've worked so hard for it! Di naman ako papayag na someone will take that from you na ganon ganon lang."

"Babe, I don't care about my career. If the choice is between you and my career, I will always choose you.   Nalampasan ko na lahat ng ambisyon ko, I couldn't ask for more. So, please stop worrying."

"Okay! Talaga ba? You'll choose me over everything?" She went over to where he's sitting and plopped herself on his lap, putting her arms around his shoulder, hugging him.

"Baby, easyhan mo lang sa lambing, I'm still broken."

"Hahaha drama king ka talaga! Humanda ka, I will break you again in no time."

"Wag naman, baby! Go easy on me."

/////

Alden woke up to an unusual sound. It's still dark out and everything is so quiet. No other aound can be heard even the crickets are unusually quiet. Then he heard it again. It's Maine! Umiiyak sya!!!

"Baby, what's wrong?" No response, but he still hears her sniffles.

He gathered her in his arms but she's pushing him away.