You Belong With Me

Fourteen

DISCLAIMER: - see previous chapters -
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ALDEN SAW STARS. Lots and lots of bright, twinkling stars circling over his head. He also felt his face stinging from the resounding slap that resulted in him seeing stars. There was also a background noise - a gasp? - he heard after flesh hit flesh, but he wasn't sure if the gasp was from him or from an audience behind him. It couldn't be from the person who just slapped him because he was looking at her right now and she looked far from pleased at him at the moment.

"Anong meron?" that voice sounded like it belonged to Jules, and she sounded like she was standing nearby.

"Dude, did...did she just slap you?" that sounded like an amused Ike.

Alden heard hurried footsteps racing towards them, then he was unceremoniously shoved all the way inside the open doorway. He lost his footing and stumbled to Maine, wrapping his arms around her and used her to prevent him from faceplanting on her vestibule floor.

"Sorry," Alden mumbled, keeping himself upright while making sure na hindi tumumba si Maine dahil sa force nung tulak sa kanya.

"What's happening here, guys?" Tanong ni Jules, looking suspiciously at Alden and Maine.

Ike followed her inside Maine's apartment and closed the door to give them privacy. He noticed merong couple of tenants na dumungaw sa door nila when they heard their commotion.

"Bakit ka niya sinampal?" He asked frowning at the couple.

Maine shoved Alden away and took a step back. "He asked for it," sagot niya then stalked away, leaving her three unexpected - and uninvited - guests standing sa entryway.

"No, I did not ask to get slapped," argued Alden and followed her to the living room.

A confused Ike and Jules followed him but kept their mouths shut. Whatever happened before they walked out of Jules' unit must've been something juicy otherwise Maine wouldn't have introduced Alden's cheek to her palm.

Maine stopped and turned around without warning, causing Alden to skid to a quick stop or else babangga na naman siya sa kanya.

"Seryoso yung tanong ko sayo, Alden," she argued.

"And seryoso din ang sagot ko," he replied.

"A kiss is not an answer."

"That kiss is the answer," he insisted. "I don't make a habit of slipping my tongue down any random girl's throat for kicks."

"Kissing with tongues happened?" Squealed a delighted Jules, her hands grasping Ike's arm as she contained her excitement. "Sinagot ka na ba niya, Alden?"

Maine and Alden glared at Jules, subduing her bubbling excitement.

"Sorry. You two are arguing pa pala," she apologized.

Ike hid an amused laugh by coughing, which earned him a swift jab in the ribs from Jules.

Alden ignored their audience and looked back at Maine.

"Bakit ba hirap na hirap kang maniwalang seryoso ako sa panliligaw sayo?"

Maine realized how seriously close he was to her and rectified that by taking a step back. Crossing her arms over her midriff, she gave him a pointed glare.

"Dahil ikaw yan, Alden, and ako ito. Di hamak naman na ang layu-layo ko sa tipo mong babae. Case in point, si Mandy."

"What about her?" Alden challenged.

"Chinita, matangkad, ala-model ang peg."

"Actually, I think Pao mentioned she's a model now," Jules interjected, earning her another pair of scathing glare from the arguing couple. "Sorry ulit. Sige, carry on sa argument nyo," she waved her hand at them.

Maine rolled her eyes skyward and walked away from Alden for the second time in a span of ten minutes. Alden followed her still while Jules and Ike made themselves comfortable sa living room.

"If you're making something to drink I want tea instead of coffee," Ike hollered at Maine's disappearing back heades to the kitchen.

Alden gave him a WTF look over his shoulder before disappearing sa kitchen after Maine.

Ike grinned at the couple, then to Jules he said, "Hindi na nila kailangang magligawan. They're arguing like a couple already."

"Tama ka jan," chuckled Jules then reached for the remote in search of something to watch.

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AUTHOR'S NOTE: Apologies for the long delay. I joined April's Camp Nano so all my attention was focused on there. Anyway, here's the update albeit a short one. I hope you enjoy reading it; I kept on almost writing 'Sinang' and 'Benjie' instead of Alden and Maine the entire time I'm working on this chapter lol