After breakfast and taking separate showers, Maine kept to her corner of the room (on the daybed) to update her articles, while Alden stayed in bed or walked around while playing on his mobile console.
36 hours left...
Around lunch time, Maine's stomach grumbled loudly. They looked at each other and laughed.
"Sorry, hindi ko napansin yung time. Mag-reheat lang ako ng food. You want pasta?"
"Yes, please."
They went to the table to eat, once the food was ready.
Maine apologised again. "Sorry ulit. I think it was my using the magazine's name that caused this mix up."
"Wag mo ng isipin yun. Ako din naman yung nakiusap na mag-stay ka na lang."
"About that, I don't mean to pry and feel free to refuse to answer, but you said you wanted to retreat... Why?"
Alden looked at her, warily. "Pwede bang off-the-record lahat ng paguusapan at mangyayari dito sa loob?"
Maine nodded. "Of course."
"Ang gulo lang kasi these past few weeks, hindi ko na kaya lahat ng pinagsasabi about me but I can't avoid it. Kahit hindi ako mag-check ng social media or listen sa news, makakarating at makakarating sa akin. Kailangan ko lang nang break."
"That's true. I've been doing research about you and that included checking out social media. Then again, you ARE in show business. Isn't it supposed to be messy?"
"Totoo. Overwhelming lang ngayon. Ikaw? Were you looking for downtime, too?"
"Kinda. But, it's not that unusual. I love the beach. When I heard that this was the location of the interview with you, I grabbed the chance to head here early, but then it was moved. Since nandito na din ako, I decided to get work done while I'm here."
He looked at her, apologetically. "Naku, na-hassle ka pa kasi nakakulong ka dito. Tawag na kaya tayo nung mga pwedeng tumulong."
"No, okay lang. I have a view of the beach and have gotten a lot done, actually, so I'm good. Thanks for not kicking me out."
"Thanks sa hindi paghampas sa akin ng lamp! And sorry talaga kaninang umaga."
She blushed. "Okay na. Wag mo nang ipaalala. Anyway, I've read stuff about you. Totoo bang you entered showbiz because of your mom?"
They spent the next couple of hours sharing stories about how they started in their respective fields before retreating to each other's corner of the cabana again.
---
30.5 hours left...
"Ayoko nang maglaro."
Maine stared at Alden when he declared he was done playing and caught him tossing his console at the side table, standing up and stretching. Cute butt, she thought. Clearing her throat, she said out loud, "Mabuti naman. Mula nung gumising ka yan na ang inaatupag mo eh."
He turned to her. "Busy ka pa ba?"
"Oo, but I could use a break." She closed her laptop and put it aside. Stretching as well, she decided to lay across the bed, her head ending up in the middle where Alden met her as he lay face down. He stared at her profile, while her eyes were closed.
Kakaiba yung itsura niya pero maganda siya talaga, he thought. "Ano yung game na nagtatanungan?"
"Ah yung 20 questions?"
"Yun ba yung salitan?"
Maine nodded. "Okay game, sino una? Ikaw nalang kasi ikaw naman naka-isip."
"O sige. Hmmm... may boyfriend ka na ba?"
Maine's eyes widened. "Wow ha. Anyway, wala. Ikaw, may girlfriend?"
"Wala. Pero, teka muna, huy. Off-the-record lahat ha?"
"Yes, Alden Richards, off-the-record. Whatever we talk about, dito lang yan sa room. Hindi lalabas."
He looked relieved. "Okay, thank you. Game ulit. Gaano ka na katagal walang boyfriend?"
"Two years? Yata? Mga ganun."
"Hindi nga?!"
"That's another question ha!" Maine said. "Pero, oo. Now, I get to ask two questions. Kailan ka last nagka-girlfriend?"
"Sobrang tagal na. Before showbiz pa."
"What? Sabi mo sa isang interview around three years ago, may non-showbiz girlfriend ka."
Alden looked sheepish. "Truth? I lied - para tigilan ako hung mga fans nung nagustuhan kong artista din. O, my turn na. First kiss?"
Maine rolled her eyes. "Sa slum book ka talaga kumukuha ng questions?"
"Oo, ano ngayon? Yan na yung tanong mo sa turn mo ha. Sumagot ka na, tapos ako ulit."
"Daya! Fine. Pang-slumbook na sagot din. My first kiss was my dad."
"Bwiset."
"O, ano? Akala ko may tanong ka pa?"
"That's another question! Hahahahahah! Two more for me."
"Dugas!"
"First kiss nga kasi! Sino?" Alden insisted.
"Eh di yung first boyfriend ko."
"Have you ever slept with someone you interviewed?"
Maine's breath hitched. "No. I - ikaw? Have you ever dated an interviewer?"
Alden stared at her lips. "No. Alam mo, ginagaya mo lang yung mga tanong ko eh."
She laughed. "Fine, sorry. Your turn."
"No, bibigay ko na sayo para hindi ka na gumaya."
She looked, sly. "Yung totoo, did you cop a feel kaninang umaga? Yung totoo, Alden!"
He got up from the bed. "Hindi ah! Hindi talaga! I didn't know nga na tao yung yakap ko. Pero... ano... kasi.."
"Kasi?"
"I was dreaming that I was doing it with someone so I.... I'm not sure if I was..."
"What?"
"Uhhhh... moving my hips back and forth?"
Maine laughed. "Hahahahahahaha! Good one, akala ko gagamit ka nung mas mahalay na term. Anyway, no you weren't."
"Good. Sorry pa din."
"It's okay. O, your turn."
"Tinititigan mo ba talaga kanina 'to?" Then, he looked down his legs and back at her.
"Alden!"
"Sagoooot!"
"OO NA!"
He laughed out loud. "And?"
"Anong 'and'?"
"Anong assessment mo?"
Maine's eyes widened. "Hoy! Hindi mo turn!
"Okay, ikaw, dali."
"Ganyan ka ba kaharot sa iba?"
He pondered on it. "Medyo maharot ako, tsaka may pagka-green talaga ako mag-joke and sabi ng iba kong friends, weird ako. Pero, not like this. Yung mahalay, ngayon lang."
"Wow, salamat. Dapat ba akong matuwa diyan?"
"Uy, I don't mean to offend you ha? Hindi ko nga din alam bakit ang komportable ko sayo considering reporter ka pa. Pero sorry. Na-offend ka ba?
"No? I don't think so? Basta sasabihan kita kapag sobra na or if it's making me uncomfortable."
He smiled. "Deal."
"Totoo nga yung sabi nila na gentleman ka talaga."
"I try. Anyway, kaninong turn na ba?"
"I forgot - you go."
He wasn't sure about it but he took the plunge anyway. "Sampalin mo ako if this if off, but... what turns you on?"
"Alden! ANO YAN? Pwede bang safe questions muna?" She was blushing furiously.
"Muna? O sige, mamaya nalang ulit... Magkakaron tayo ng 'After Dark' questions."
Maine looked at the clock. "Huy, 7:30 na pala. Magdinner na tayo." She was glad she avoided that question for now, but wondered how persistent he would be later on.
Thing is, she was curious to ask him those questions, too.