You Belong With Me

Nine

EX-GIRLFRIEND NIYA?!" Jules and Aicelle stared wide-eyed at Ike who was seated across the table from them. Maine was seated beside him who looked more confused than surprised after hearing what Ike found out.

The four of them were having coffee at Starbucks Sunday afternoon. Actually, Jules, Aicelle and Maine were already there having coffee when Maine received a text from Ike asking her where she was and if she was available to meet. Jules and Aicelle said they don't mind him joining them for coffee so Maine invited him to come over.

"No wonder she looked familiar," Maine mused.

"Hindi ka surprised, bes?" frowned Jules.

"Surprised, but then now nag-make sense na sa akin why I thought Mandy looked familiar. I remember seeing her and Alden together before. Naging mag-jowa sila nung high school, but I don't think they lasted hanggang graduation," she pouted. "I think nag-break sila weeks before graduation ata."

"So, what's the scoop behind that breakup?" Tanong ni Aicelle.

"Malay ko," Maine shrugged. "Back then I can barely tolerate Alden so I wasn't privy to his personal life."

"Pero ngayon privy ka na?" Tukso naman ni Jules.

Aicelle joined in sa panunukso kay Maine while Ike kept quiet, pero napansin ni Jules yung mga mata ng ex-jowa ni Maine eh numiningning at nakikisali din sa panunukso without being vocal about it.

"Hindi ah!" Deny ni Maine, pero parang walang conviction yung denial niya, which only earned her more teasing from her two friends.

Aicelle and Jules continued to tease their friend, completely forgetting about Ike's news. Afterwards the foursome decided to watch a movie before heading to Livestock for dinner. Ike mentioned he had a hankering for some of their cut-with-a-popsicle-stick crispy pata ("Naku, pang pataas BP lang 'yan," was Jules' complaint, but Ike just rolled his eyes at her before reaching over and grabbing a handful of popcorn currently sitting on her lap, causing Jules to yelp and swat his hand away and telling him to buy his own popcorn), then afterwards, since it was still early, they agreed to catch a last full show. Ike drove the ladies home since none of the girls drove.

It was a fun and relaxed Sunday. Maine usually spent her Sundays with either Jules or Aicelle (and sometimes Pao), but this was the first time she spent it with both of them and Ike.

Maine just showed herself in to her apartment when she received a text message. Hindi naman pwedeng galing kay Ike yun dahil he's still driving after dropping them off a few minutes ago. And Jules just bid her good night sa hallway before they closed their apartment doors at the same time. She checked her screen and frowned when she saw the message was from Alden:

ALDEN: Nakauwi ka na?

Maine raised an eyebrow sa tanong niya. She doesn't recall mentioning to Alden na she'll be out today. She would've last night since he always asked her what her Sunday plans were, pero busy siya masyadong inentertain ex-gf niya so she never got to talk to him after Mandy joined them.

MAINE: Sino naman may sabing lumabas ako?

Maine thought she'd play dumb and pretend na hindi pa lang niya kakauwi galing sa galaan. Besides, ano bang pakialam niya if she went out or not?

Mabilis ang text back sa kanya.

ALDEN: I saw you. Ang saya nyo nga eh.

MAINE: Saan mo naman ako nakita, hm?

ALDEN: You were eating at Livestock, then surprise, surprise, we ended up watching the same last full show movie.

Maine paused from replying back. Nasa Livestock din siya? Bakit hindi siya lumapit sa kanila if he was?

MAINE: Who were you with?

If he wasn't alone or if he wasn't with Ryan or Sam, that would explain why he didn't approach them. And if they ended up watching the same movie, Maine was sure the others wouldn't have minded including him sa grupo nila.

ALDEN: Mandy.

Maine stared at the one-word answer. Is he getting back together with his ex? Biglang nasira ang good mood niya after reading his reply.

MAINE: Ocge, matutulog na ako. Busy day ko ngayon & early work day pa bukas. Tulog ka na if you're home. If not or if you're not alone, well, don't stay up late then. Good night!

She heard him send her a reply back, but Maine ignored her phone and got ready for bed. Maganda na sana usapan nila eh, kung bakit sinabi pa niya na kasama niya ex-jowa niya.

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ALDEN WAITED FOR MAINE'S reply, pero hindi na siya sumagot. He looked at his watch (the very same one he got from his secret admirer) and noted the time: eleven-fifteen. Medyo late na nga naman, pero that hasn't stopped them before from having a text marathon dahil kahit late ang gising niya, he picks her up naman in the morning papuntang work.

He dropped off Mandy sa condo niya. He turned down her invitation to come up for coffee. He knew what she was hoping to happen kapag sumama siya sa kanya sa condo niya. Hindi naman siya manhid or bulag to not notice her not-so-subtle hints na she wants to get together with him, but he'd be an idiot if he welcomed her back.

Out of the way yung place ni Mandy sa place niya, so it took him longer to get home. Good thing traffic ebbed down to tolerable this late so hindi masyadong napatagal pag-drive niya. He sent Maine one last text before he called it a night:

ALDEN: Sweet dreams, Meng. I'll pick you up tomorrow sa usual time. I'll bring breakfast so wag ka nang mag-alalang gumawa ng breakfast for us.

Alden was just climbing on his bed and getting comfy under the sheet when he heard his text notification go off. It was a reply from Maine:

MAINE: Thanks, pero Ike said siya na lang dadaan sa amin ni Jules bukas. He needs to be at work early kasi and offered us a lift. Kita na lang tayo sa office bukas. Good night.

Hindi napigilan ni Alden na madisappoint after reading Maine's reply. Highlight ng araw niya ang pagsundo at hatid kay Maine; part na nang daily routine niya yun lalo na after they patched things up a few months back after their huge misunderstanding.