Surprise update my dears! As promised, here's another chapter which I hope you'll like. Conflicts are just around the corner so this is actually the calm before the storm.
Hit me with your comments, dearies, I'm loving your observations and suggestions. I get some of my inspirations from you, readers, so keep commenting!
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to @FangirlDeedee, for always sharing her thoughts with every chapter I dish out :)
Thanks for the enthusiasm, everyone! Love you all :)
Alden felt something was up with Maine but refrained from asking her about it. He knew she was uncomfortable with Patring's closeness to him and surmised that her visit to their set might have contributed to Maine's silence for the rest of their shoot. Patring was a dear friend but if Maine was not comfortable with her, he knew the ball was in his court to rectify the situation. He decided to talk to Patring.
They were having a late lunch in Broadway after Eat Bulaga. Ryan brought a lot of his mom's delectable pork chops and chicken wings and shared it with everyone backstage. When it was just him, Ruby and Patring left in the pantry, he took advantage of the opportunity to talk with them.
"Guys, pwede ko ba kayo makausap, need help lang with something."
"Bakit Alden, may problema ba?" Ruby asked, looking concerned.
"Hindi pa naman pero pag hindi ko inagapan baka maging problema eh. May kinalaman kasi sayo to Patring, ok lang ba kung kasama si Mama Ruby sa pag-uusap natin?" He was careful now about being alone with Patring even when Maine was not around.
"Sure, wala naman sakin kung malaman ni Ate Ruby. Sige, ano ba yun?"
"Si Maine kasi eh. Actually noon pa lang nasa Italy kami, nabanggit na niya si Patring, na baka daw may something saming dalawa...."
"Hala Alden, sana sinabi mong wala," Patring said, looking alarmed.
"Sinabi ko naman yun. Ito kasing mga gossip blogs saka Twitter eh, mahilig pa naman mag-Twitter yun. Na-assure ko na siya before, nung sinagot na niya ko akala ko ok na."
"Nakasama ba yung dalaw ko sa inyo kahapon?"
"Di ko alam pero napansin ko kasi, after mo umalis Pat, tahimik na siya. Kagabi nga nung hinatid ko, di na ko niyayang umakyat sa condo niya, pagod daw siya. Pero feeling ko may iniisip."
"Ganyan talaga 'den, pag bago pa lang kaya may adjustments sa relationship," Ruby said reassuringly. "Hindi kasi artista si Maine kaya di pa siya sanay sa galawang showbiz."
"Hindi Mama Rubs, lagi niya kasi sinasabing ang ganda-ganda ni Patring. Maganda ba talaga? Asan?"
"Ayos ka talaga Alden, naka-singit ka pa ng pang-asar sakin ha."
"Hindi kasi niya alam lalaki ka dati eh."
"Gusto mo ba talagang tulungan ka namin o idiin kita kay Maine?"
"Sorry na, sorry na. So pano, anong gagawin ko?"
"Ganito na lang, iwas-iwas muna tayo sa isa't-isa. Pagtagal at nakita naman niyang wala siyang dapat ikatakot, masasanay na rin siyang nakikita ako, mawawala na yang kung anuman na yan."
Alden smiled at Patring, pleased with her suggestion. He wanted to suggest it actually, but was afraid she'd get offended if the suggestion came from him.
"Nakakahiya naman sayo pero salamat ha. I owe you one, pare. Atin-atin na lang to ha." He stood up to air-kiss both of their cheeks and gathered his things."Sige salamat sa oras Pat, Mama Rubs. Punta na ko sa shoot. Bye!"
Ruby waited till Alden was totally out of earshot and looked at Patring.
"Oh, ano naman ibig sabihin ng tingin na yan?"
"Ah, pare,yung suggestion mo ba eh bukal ba sa kalooban yun o labas sa ilong?"
"Hala siya, intriga yan ate, pati ba naman ikaw?"
"Pat, wag ako. Mas marami na kong pinagdaanan, nakuuu. I don't want to see anyone hurt kaya ikaw....ingat ka."
"Wala naman akong magagawa ate. Wala na."
-----
The movie shoot went well for Maine and Alden. They worked well together, their takes were all good and quick. Maine was back to her former funny self, and Alden made sure to keep her in high spirits. He gave her his passwords to all his social media accounts, in a gesture of complete trust and transparency. Maine had the grace to decline but he insisted, to assure her he had nothing to hide.
After the shoot, he took her to a new laksa restaurant that just opened, charming her with his crappy rendition of old jokes, totally messing up punchlines as he laughed even before delivering them.
"Happy ka ba Menggay?"
"Oo naman, bakit mo naman natanong yan?"
Eh kasi.....ang tahimik mo kagabi nung pauwi na tayo. Tapos, di mo pa ko niyaya umakyat sa condo, pinauwi mo na ko agad," He pouted like a child, his lower lip sticking out. Maine pinched both his cheeks, feeling giddy with happiness.
"Ang arte ko minsan, sorry ha. Pero wala yun, kalimutan mo na kaartehan ko. Mamaya stay ka sa condo ha, bawi ako for last night," She said, winking naughtily. Alden had to stop himself from hugging her in public, reminded of Jenny's warning to them both.
"Uwi na tayo, baby, gusto na kita i-hug eh." He quickly settled the bill and ushered her out of the restaurant. They purchased pints of their favorite gelato flavors, with Alden thoughtfully suggesting to get one for Dean as well.
Dean was at the condo but needed to study for his exams the following day. After exchanging pleasantries for a few minutes, he disappeared into his room and left them alone.
"Ok lang ba kay Dean na andito ako? Yoko ma-badshot kay Tatay mo."
"Sus, bakit ano ba pwedeng gawin mo sakin dito? As if naman papayag ako."
"Talaga? Sige magpapaalam muna ako bago ko gawin. Pwede ba kitang i-kiss?"
"Saan muna?"
"Sa kamay--"
"Pwedeng pwede."
"Saka sa cheeks, sa forehead, sa nose, sa lips, sa shoulder, sa neck—"
"Huuuy. Ang harot ha. Baka mamya kung anong part ng anatomy ko ang sunod na sasabihin mo eh. Tama na muna hanggang don."
"So.....pwede?"
"Tagal naman..." She said, laughing.
He kissed her in all those places he mentioned, each kiss lasting longer and longer, his lips lingering on the crook of her neck and shoulder.
"This is my favorite spot," He said, his mouth opening just a little more, sucking her smooth skin. Maine closed her eyes, feeling herself weaken with the pleasure of Alden's seductive kiss. Her phone rang suddenly, startling them both. They guiltily sprang away from each other, Alden motioning to her to check her phone. The call was from Coleen.
"Hello Coleen, what's up?"
"Huy, parang hinihingal ka, anong ginagawa mo? Andiyan si Alden no?"
"Gaga. Oo andito siya pero andito rin si Dean. Bakit ka tumawag?"
"Uyyy, minamadali mo matapos call ko ha."
"King—ano ba, bakit ka nga tumawag?"
"Sungit. May dumating kang package, ako nag-receive kanina. Nakalagay sa waybill book ni Lang Leav eh. Love & Misadventure, diba matagal mo na hinahanap yun?
"Whoa talaga? Ka-excite naman, kanino galling?"
"Baka mainis ka pag nalaman mo eh. Sasabihin ko na lang kung saan yung origin ng package. Miami, Florida."
"Shit. Sige salamat Coleen. Bye."
She put the phone down and looked at Alden who was still smiling at her. She smiled back, trying to sweep aside the memory of the call. Damn you Miggy, damn you.
"Bakit tumawag si Coleen?" Alden asked, hugging her from behind.
"Wala yun. Lika na kainin na natin yung gelato," She said, feeling guilty for not telling him the truth. She didn't want to worry him anymore, and Miggy was not a problem really.
Or was he?