Shorts

IX. Exes? (3)

Note: Double updates!

Sorry for using the third party arc in the backstory! I'm not liking myself now 😂 but since wala akong magawa kila Badong & Trish sa teleserye, dito nalang.

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"Si Maine?" Alden asked his friends.

"On the way na daw. Natagalan yung Uber dumating," answered Patty.

Alden sat with them at the dining table. "Hmm, hindi niya tinext sa akin yung plate number. Sabi ko na susunduin ko na siya sa office kanina eh, kulit talaga."

"Paps, mamaya na yan. Padating na din yun. Makipagkwentuhan ka muna sa amin!" Sam started.

"Ito na ba yung bakit niyo pinaguusapan si Badong?!" Alden rolled his eyes. "Teka, tawagan ko muna si Meng. Balik ako agad."

"Ang gulo nung dalawa 'no? Daig pa ang mag-boyfriend kung mag-report sa isa't isa eh." Jerald commented.

Before Patty or Sam could say anything, Alden was back. "Okay na, got the details of her car. Ano ulit yung pinaguusapan natin, Sam?"

"Ito na nga, si Badong."

"Bakit? Nagpaparamdam ba ulit kay Maine?!"

Jerald and Sam quickly reassured him that it was not the case. "Napagusapan kasi namin ni Patring yung time na may Badong tapos may Trish ka."

"Shhhhhht, wala akong Trish. Wag mo ngang sinasabi yan," Alden scolded.

"Meron dati."

"Fine. O tapos? Bakit napunta kay Badong?"

The three explained to Alden what they had been discussing. Patty then asked, "O, ikaw naman derecho kong tatanungin, bakit ka naglasing? Mahal mo pa ba si Maine that time?"

"Ano... ummm.... hindi," Alden answered then ran to hide behind Sam.

"WAG KANG MAGTAGO DIYAN! HINAYUPAK KANG ALDEN RICHARDS KA!" Patty threatened.

"Pwede bang mag-explain muna ako?!" Alden begged. "Sam, ikaw na ang tumabi kay Patring! Baka makalbo na naman ako kapag sinabunutan ako!"

Sam agreed but warned, "Ayusin mo yang sagot mo or else ako mismo hihila diyan sa mga buhok mo."

"Alam niyo bang pinuntahan ko siya? After that night na naglasing ako?"

***

Alden was tinkering with the car his dad gave him when he saw Maine dropped off by a guy, he assumed to be her boyfriend.

He rarely saw her nowadays and it amazed him how much she seemed to have grown-up in the months they have been apart.

While he watched, "Badong" was leaning in for a kiss... which was interrupted by the loud noise made by closing the hood of his car.

"Uy, Menggay!" Alden called out.

"Umm, hey, nandiyan ka pala." He approached her and she continued, "Alden, I want you to meet yung boyfriend ko, si Mig-"

Badong. He was sure she said Badong.

The two men shook hands. Alden then said, "Sorry Pare, pero nakaharang kasi yung kotse mo. Walang makakadaan."

Badong looked at the street. "Siguro kung ipasok mo yung kotse mo sa garahe niyo, Dude, hindi na problema 'tong kotse ko."

Alden's eyes narrowed. "Ano?"

"Uh, wait. Aalis ka na din, di ba? Sabi mo hanap ka na ng mom mo?" Maine addressed Badong. Once he was gone, "Alden! Ano ba yan? Be nice to him naman!"

"Sorry na. Kasi naman magkikiss, sa kalsada pa. Ano ba yan. Maine, usap tayo."

"O, what?" She said when they were settled in the garden.

"Sure ka ba sa kanya? Sabi mo na pag nahanap mo na, papakasalan mo na..."

"Alden, hindi ko yan iniisip with him. Siguro tama ka, for now, I just want to see where this goes. Have fun while I'm young. Tapos, kung siya na talaga, eh di siya."

Alden took her hand. "You know that I'll always care for you, right?"

"I know. Ako din naman ganun eh."

"Isumbong mo sa'kin kapag sinaktan ka niya ha?"

"Yes."

"Are you happy with him?"

"Yes."

He hugged her. "As long as he makes you laugh, okay ako sa kanya. I'll support you."

***

"O, so? Nasaan dun yung sagot sa tanong ko?" Patty asked.

"Ito na nga. After that, hindi na ako nakialam. Kasi na-realize ko, yung 'selos' ko na may iba na siya was just coming from my pride kasi napalitan na ako. And yung love, oo nandun pero more like for a sister."

"Sister?!" Patty yelled.

"Oo. Yung gusto ko maging happy siya, kasi masaya naman din ako nun sa relationship ko, bakit ko ipagdadamot na mahanap niya din?"

"Eh bakit hanggang ngayon naluluha ka pa diyan? At may paghawak ka pa sa chest mo, Paps?" Jerald observed.

"Kasi nakakahiya na ang selfish ko. Naisip ko naman din that time na sana ako pa din yung mahal ni Maine, pero at the same time gusto ko magcontinue with Trish. O? Gago di ba?" Alden looked down, playing with the utensils in front of him. "I had a lot of growing up to do."

"O and now?" Patty prodded.

Alden's phone rang. "Maine! Nasaan ka na?" He put her on speaker.

"Menggay!" They all shouted.

"Hi! Sorry! Ang traffic! Pero malapit na'to. I'll pass by the convenience store and get ice cream, anong flavor gusto niyo?"

They all put in their request.

Alden then said, "Let me know pag nasa baba ka na. Salubungin kita para hindi ka mabigatan sa dala mo."

"Okay, Bae!"

Once the call was dropped, the three of them turned to him. "Bae? Kelan pa naging 'Bae' ang tawag sa yo ni Maine?"

"Mga one month na. But it's not a sweet endearment." He laughed at the memory. "Dati she calls me 'Bochog' kasi tumataba na daw ako. One time nasa park kami and inaasar ko siya kasi may tinga pa, sa sobrang tawa ko, hindi ko naiwasan yung jackpot ng aso. She started calling me Bae kasi daw 'Bochog naka-Apak ng Ebak'."

He laughed again, missing the strange look Sam, Patty and Jerald were giving him.

"Okay, hindi nga sweet. Corny nga eh," Sam said. "So, bakit kilig na kilig ka?"

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To be continued