Requested. Enjoy!
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"Sige na babye na, shoot pa kami. Text kita later! Tsaka check your sc, I sent a snap. Bye!!!"
It's the third time this day that Maine had a call from someone. Not that Alden doesn't trust Maine but he can't help feeling a bit irritated with whoever she is talking to.
"Uy 'koy busangot ka na naman dyan. Bakit?"
"Kausap mo na naman kasi yan." He want to answer but he ended up saying, "Wala pagod lang."
Maine had a worried looked and sat beside him. "Hala maysakit ka ba?"
"Wala, inom muna ko dun. Ikaw ano gusto mo?" He said as he stood up and fixed his shirt.
"Wala. Sige na inom ka na dun."
When Alden left her, she came to Nate who is busy playing with his phone.
"Uy Nate, ano problema nun ni Alden? Kanina pa nakabusangot?"
"Si Alden? Teka." Nate paused his game and looked at Alden who is still wearing a smug. "Ay nako. Kausap mo na naman si ano no. Teka sino nga ba yung lagi mong kausap sa phone?"
"Kausap? Ano.. Friend lang."
"Yan tayo sa friend na yan eh. Mind you Meng, dalawang araw ng badtrip sa'yo yang si Tisoy mo dahil sa mystery caller na yan."
"Eh kasi.." Nag-isip si Maine kung sasabihin ba niya kay Nate kung sino yung kausap niya. But she ended up saying, "Basta wala 'to! Sige na balik na ko dun."
Pagkatapos ng shoot medyo nawala yung inis ni Alden. He even made dinner for them at Maine's condo. After dinner at pagkukulitan while washing the dishes, they settled to watch some movies.
The movie was playing and their eyes were glued to the screen. But Maine's phone kept on vibrating and she needed to check it time to time. Pag tumitingin naman si Alden sa phone nito iiniwas yun ni Maine at ibinabalik sa bulsa niya.
"You know what.. ayoko na. Naiinis na talaga ko." Alden snapped when Maine's phone vibrated again.
"Faulkerson.."
"Kahapon pa ko naiirita sa phone mong 'yan. Nung nagla-lunch tayo dun sa broadway text ka ng text. Kasama mo naman ako! Tapos pati dinner natin ganun din. Pag may tumatawag lumalayo ka pa bago mo sagutin e di ka naman ganun dati! Tapos kaninang umaga nung tinanong ka daw ni Nate kung sino yan sabi mo friend lang. Tangina, ako kaya magka-friend din ng ganyan tapos magtext din kami ng magtext ng magkasama tayo?!"
"RJ.. Sorry na." She tried comforting her boyfriend but he stood up and got his keys.
"This two days supposed to be our time Maine. You know I'm leaving for tomorrow for a tour and I don't know if I'll be back soon." He sighed. "Pero wala eh, mas busy ka dyan sa katext mo kesa sakin. Don't bother sending me to the airport bukas. And feel free to meet your 'friend' for the next days kasi wala naman ako."
Maine tried to apologize to Alden but he seemed not to budge. "Lock your door when I leave."
-
Maine couldn't sleep that night. She kept on contacting Alden but he shut his phone off. She felt guilty. She wanted to tell Alden that whoever she texts to was really just a friend. But Alden seemed too mad to listen to her.
It's been two days since Alden left for the tour. He hasn't contacted Maine since then and he was badly missing her. But he can't dismiss the thought that he was really pissed with whoever Maine is texting to.
On the other hand, Maine was really upset with what happened between her and Alden. She kept on calling his phone but she was just directed to voice mail. She flooded his messenger, viber, DM, and even his e-mails. She tried her luck on calling Mama Ten to check on him but RJ really don't want to talk to her.
"Meng natutulog pa si RJ e. Mamaya na lang."
"Ay sige po Mama Ten. Pakisabi nalang po sana kausapin niya na ko. And I'm really sorry."
"Kung ano man yung pinag-awayan niyo, maaayos nyo din 'yan. Kayo pa ba. Basta Meng, wag mo sukuan si RJ ha? Nagtatampo lang yan pero makikipagbati din yan kasi di ka matitiis nyan."
After her dinner with Oreo, she saw Nate's post that Alden already came back from his tour. So she sent him a message and drove to his condo and try her luck on talking to him. But it rained hard and maybe this was a sign that she need to go home instead because it wasn't really the right time. Maybe tomorrow, she thought. She drove back to her condo and tried the shortcut Alden used once when they were running late from work. But because of the heavy rain, she clearly can't see the road and doesn't know if she's taking the right way. And to add up for her already misery, na-flatan pa siya ng gulong.
She fished her phone on her pocket but her phone battery was drained. "Congratulations Maine! Napakamalas mo ngayon."
Good thing, (well she considered this a good one because at least she could fix her tire) naglagay si Alden ng mga gamit sa kotse nya in case of emergency at alam naman niyang magpalit ng gulong. She did not mind the rain. She removed her flannel and started fixing her tire.
It took her almost an hour to finish her work and she was already soaking wet. She looked like the 'girl in the rain'. She laughed at herself and drived home.
Dahil sa paliligo nya sa ulan ng gabing yun, kinabukasan she caught a flu. She woke up with a throbbing pain in the head and clogged nose. But she still went to work to at least see Alden even on split screen. When she arrived at the baranggay for JFAAFJ, looks were all on her.
"Meng andito ka na pala! Eto tanghalian.. Holy sht, anong nangyari sayo? Mukha kang si Rudolph!"
"Sipon lang Kuya Pao. OA mo naman. Besides, okay naman ako ha." Paolo wasn't being overreacting. Maine really looked like sick.
Paolo checked her temperature. "Meng ang taas ng lagnat mo! Bat ka pa pumasok? Tsaka bat ka nagkasakit? Naligo ka ba sa ulan kahapon? Naputulan ba kayo ng tubig kaya nagpaulan ka nalang?"
Maine told her misery last night and her attempt to talk to Alden. Her Kuya Wally and Kuya Jose asked the same thing and she just continued with her story.
"Ay nako Meng tatawagan ko nalang si Alden tas sasabihin namin maysakit ka ngayon. For sure kakausapin ka na nun pag nalaman niyang maysakit ka."
"Wag na Kuya Wally. 'Yaan nyo na muna. Galit pa yun. Baka isipin niya ginamit ko pa ang pagkakasakit para pansinin nya ko."
"Hay nako ang gugulo nyo talaga. Pero ayaw mo bang dalhin ka namin sa ospital? Grabe kasi yung lagnat mo Meng. Okay ka lang ba talaga?" Jose asked.
"Okay na okay. Idlip muna ko sa tent tapos gisingin nyo nalang ako pag Sugod Bahay na."
"Mabuti pa nga tutal maaga pa naman. Inumin mo muna 'tong chewibol." Wally joked and handed her the medicine. Ininom niya 'to agad at inalalayan siya ni Paolo papunta sa tent.
Alden arrived in broadway and made his way to the host's room. Naabutan nyang kumakain yung mga kasama niya and he just waved at them and checked his phone.
He saw Maine's messages on his SNS accounts and he felt guilty. Maine tried to reach out to him pero binalewala niya lahat ng yun. He missed Maine. She haven't called him this morning and it was unusual dahil nasanay siyang gumising na may missed call galing kay Maine.
He read all of her apology messages and a message caught his attention.
Love, I'm really sorry. Yung tinetext ko, si Mike yun. Boyfriend ni Coleen. Nagpapatulong kasi para sa pagpopropose kay Ate. And ayaw niya ipasabi kahit kanino even sayo kasi nga close kayo e baka madulas ka sa kanya. Di mo pa naman matiis si Ate once na nangulit na. Sorry talaga love. If you think I'm cheating, well I won't and I would never do that to you. I'll go to your condo tonight. Let's talk, please.
He looked on the details of the message and it was sent last night. Di naman dumating si Maine sa condo niya kagabi. O baka di nakarating? Di napigilang mapaisip ni Alden sa kung anong nangyari kay Maine kaya't kinuha niya ang phone and dialed Maine's number.
The subscriber cannot be reached. Please try your call later.
"Shit. Bakit nakapatay yung phone niya?"
Di na siya mapakali at tinawag na siya ni Reeza. "Oy Alden punta na dun, start na tayo."
Nag-aalangang sumunod si Alden. Sumasama si Maine sa bayanihan and he'll see if she's there.
"Hello Jose, Wally, Paolo!" Ruby greeted their dabarkads in the baranggay.
"Hi Ruby! Grabe walang tao dito." Jose joked.
"Teka bat tatlo lang kayo? Si Meng nasaan?" Good thing Pia asked. He looked for Maine on the screen.
"Ay yung alaga namin maysakit. Naligo sa ulan kagabi."
Maysakit? Naligo sa ulan? Is she okay? Alden was flooded with thoughts of Maine tucked in her bed, annoyed with the constant pain in her head, boxes of tissue scattered on her table. Oh my God, his sick Maine.
"Oo. Andun sa tent pinagpahinga namin. Ayaw magpadala sa ospital. E wala namang doktor samin dito." Paolo added.
"May doktor kami dito! Alden puntahan mo si Meng dun sa baranggay dali!" Tito Sen pushed him and asked to go to baranggay.
"Dali na Tisoy ikaw lang kelangan nun! Sasabihin nalang sayo kung saan." Alden was hesitant to go but he nodded at them.
"Sige po, alis na ko. Aalagaan ko pa yung mahal ko!" Naghiyawan naman sila sa broadway and Alden made his way to the backstage. He asked Reeza where is the location of JFAAFJ and she gave him directions.
Good thing, malapit lang yung baranggay sa broadway at nakarating siya within 30minutes. Sinalubong siya ng mga staff at tinuro yung tent kung nasan si Maine. Naabutan niya yung tatlo dun. They were already in their make-up as Lolas. Inaayos ni Wally yung electric fan at itinutok kay Maine. Paolo and Jose were chatting and stopped when they saw him.
"O ayan na pala yung Doktor galing broadway."
Lumapit siya sa kanila and patted their backs. "Ano pong nangyari?"
Paolo retold Maine's story and Alden felt more guilty. Siya dapat talaga ang sisihin sa pagkakasakit ni Maine.
"Kaya kayong dalawa sa susunod wag paiiralin ang pride! Pag nag-away, magusap kaagad. Parang di ko kayo tinuruan eh." Payo ni Wally.
"Sorry po talaga. Dalhin ko na po kaya siya sa ospital? Baka kasi-"
"RJ?" Natigil sa pagsasalita si Alden nang narinig niya si Maine. Agad siyang lumapit dito at yumakap.
"Sorry love, dapat kinausap na kita bago ko umalis. Sorry kasi nagselos ako. Sana kasi sinabi mo na si Mike lang pala yun! Di ko naman sasabihin kay Coleen eh. Tapos kagabi naulanan ka tuloy! Grabe yung sipon mo oh! Tsaka sorry talaga. Sorry."
"Ang OA mo Faulkerson. Pero, masaya ko na andito ka. Pano mo nalaman?"
"Sila Kuya Jose kanina bago magbayanihan sabi maysakit ka daw tapos ayaw mo magpadala sa ospital. Kaya pinadala ko dito. Doktor ako galing broadway."
"May doktor pala na mas sakitin pa sa pasyente?" Nagtawanan naman silang lahat. "Pero thank you kasi andito ka. Wag na magseselos ha? Alam mo naman kasing ikaw lang tapos nagseselos ka pa."
"Sorry na nga eh. Ano ba gusto mo? Kumain ka na ba? Tubig? Juice? Uminom ka na ba ng gamot?"
"Hmmm, doc kelangan ko yata ng yakapsul tsaka kisspirin. May dala ka ba?"
"Ay marami akong baon. Ilan ba kelangan ng pasyente ko?"
"Marami ako naipon nung mga nakaraang araw. Bigay ko lahat sayo. Gusto mo na ba?"
"Hoy kayong dalawa tanghaling tapat ang haharot niyo! Baka gusto nyong makatikim kay Lola?!" Wally said while imitating Lola Nidora.
"Joke lang Lola!"
"Ah joke lang. Tara na Tinidora at Tidora pumunta na tayo dun." Niyaya nya na yung dalawa at lumabas na sila.
"So start na ba tayo? Bigyan na ba kita ng yakapsul at kisspirin?" He started showering Maine kisses but he suddenly stopped.
"Oh bakit ka tumigil?"
"On the second thought, nagooffer din ako ng full body check up sa pasyente ko. For free. Gusto mo i-avail?" He teased.
"Lola oh!"