Beauty and the Beast

Maine's POV "The-time-is-ten-thirty-three-p-m." Her talking clock has done it again, reminding her that she's got only a few hours left to sleep. It's one of those nights when she sits by the window, cold and alone. The quiet softness of the evening breeze haunts her a bit but she stays there, waiting. She watches the full moon, a cookie in a sea of twinkling and shining stars. Oh, the stars! How she loved gazing at them. Their beauty is far beyond what she can imagine. She stretches her arms, reaching, cupping the stars with her bare hands. But...she couldn't. She is playing with her braided hair again - twisting and stroking its locks as she marveled on the sky. People describe Maine as a lurker, the shy type, and "may sariling mundo", an introvert wrapped in a world that only she can enter. But she is also said to be a 'beast' in her craft: WRITING. She can easily blow your mind with her words. While still in awe of the scenery, they came. She didn't know exactly what she was waiting for until they came. One by one, the words started popping, flowing, in her pretty head. And then that thought. That lingering memory of someone close to her heart. Her heart races. Another poem is being birthed!She jumps up and rushes to her laptop. She starts to write her poem for him. Yes, for him. It's been five years since she started stalking him: followed him in all of his social media accounts, and read every article, every post, written about him. She watched every "Teleserye" that he is into. She bought every magazine where he was featured. She's been into most of his Meet and Greets, yet she never managed to come near him. She prefers to simply watch him from afar. Maine tweeted her poem for Alden. As always, she is not expecting that he can read it. Right after writing it, she went to a certain place in her room: "Alden's Corner". It's a wall painted with black and silver; she knows those are his favorite colors. Alden's pictures are on that wall. Every endorsement poster, magazine cover, and many other things about him. It is her favorite part of the room where she can dream of him - and her - freely. In one corner are the magazines which she bought from the very beginning of his showbiz career. Sadly, not one of them has his autograph. She is too shy to ask him for one. She lightly touches every piece of memorabilia with her fingertips. She does this almost everyday, since that day when she saw him on 'Candy Fair' five years ago. Five years ago, she became a fan of his, and still is even to this very moment. While Maine is basking in her thoughts, her sister Nicoleen enters the room almost unnoticed. "Meng! Meng! Meng!" Nicoleen calls. Startled, Maine answers back. "Ano ka ba, hindi ka man lang kumakatok. Pambihira ka naman." "Eh kasi bukas 'yung door mo eh. Kaya, pumasok na ako. At saka heller! Hindi kaya ako ibang tao noh? Kapatid mo kaya ako. Why are you so mean to me?" "Hala, inaano ba kita? Hindi naman sa ganun." Maine replies, guiding her towards "Alden's Corner". "Hmm... Ewan ko sa'yo Menggay! At saka wait lang ha. Kailan mo ba balak magpakita at magpakilala kay Alden Richards? Meng naman, it's been 5 years oh. Limang taon ka nang nagtatago bilang si @BinibiningMarikit sa Twitter. Mata mo lang 'yung laman ng DP mo. Pag ako hindi nakapagpigil ha, naku alam mo na!" Nicoleen muttered. "Uy, wag naman. Basta, magpapakilala naman ako sa kanya. Hindi pa lang ako handa sa ngayon." "Ewan ko sa'yo, Meng! Wait lang, andito na pala si Tatay. Tawag daw tayo. May sasabihin yata." "Talaga? Sige, sunod lang ako 'dun. I'll just log off." She had to make sure that her tweet was sent. Then, off she went. Upon reaching the living room, she sees her siblings having a conversation, and her Nanay carrying Baby Matti. She sits beside her Ate Nikki. Then, Tatay Teodoro starts to speak. "May good news ako sa inyo. I have a friend who is currently a movie writer. May taping sila together with a certain talent this coming July 16 to 18. Bale, 3 days din 'yun. And guess what? Mendoza Farms was chosen as their location." "Pero, Tay... akala ko ba ayaw mo ma expose masyado sa publiko ang Mendoza Farms?" Maine asked. "Aba eh, ngayon na ang tamang panahon na makita ito ng publiko. Ever since na binili namin ito ng Nanay niyo, eh piling-pili lang ang mga taong nakakapasok dito. Pero, maybe this time...pwede na." Tatay Teodoro explains. "Tay, sino daw po 'yung talent? Sikat ba? Babae ba or lalake?" Dean asked. "Ang sabi sa akin ng kaibigan ko, lalaki daw. I think my friend mentioned that he is from GMA Kapuso Station under GMA ARTIST CENTER. Pero, ayaw pa nila pangalanan eh." Nicoleen and Maine glanced at each other. GMA Kapuso Station. GMA ARTIST CENTER. But at the back of Maine's mind, maybe it's not him. Mendoza Farms might not be his typical location. "Yeah, it's not him. No. Not possible." Maine thought to herself. Pero, bakit siya biglang kinabahan? Alden's POV Alden is currently on his way home to Laguna. The dashboard clock reads: 10:33. It was a long day for him. He had an early morning shoot for a TVC then headed to Eat Bulaga afterwards. He had a press conference for his upcoming Teleserye in the afternoon and another endorsement shoot after that. Gladly, the shoot was finished by 10:00pm. Thanks to his glam team for always being there for him. Still, Alden is really tired and physically drained. Alden scrolls on his phone; answers some text messages from his manager, reads tweets and views the comments on his i********: posts. Some of them are good and some are not. After many years in the business, he's now really used to it - including the bashing and all those stuff in between. Ano nga ba ang nasa showbiz, 'di ba? You cannot please everybody kaya he is simply glad that many people still believes in him: his family, loved ones, friends and fans. Yes. His fans. Those sweet fans. With Alden in the car tonight are Mama Ten, now asleep; his road manager Leysam, and Leysam's friend Nate. Leysam breaks the silence in the slowly moving car. "Uy, RJ...merong nag-sponsor para sa upcoming Charity Event mo with Operation Blessing." Leysam told Alden. "Talaga? Sino? Kilala mo ba?" Alden casually replies, with his eyes still on his phone. "Hindi eh. Ayaw magpakilala. Pero, I think siya pa rin 'yung si 'Mystery Giver' na laging tumutulong sa mga charity events natin for 5 years na." "Bakit kaya ayaw niya magpakilala noh? Pero, I respect him or her. Maybe ganun lang siya talaga. He or she does not want to draw attention from people." Alden explains. "Aysus! Pare-pareho lang 'yan sina 'Mystery Giver' at 'Binibining Marikit'. Pa-mysterious effect." Nate mouths as he rolls his eyes. BINIBINING MARIKIT...Limang taon na din pala siyang curious kung sino siya. Alden learned about her when one of his followers in Twitter tagged him in a poem that she wrote. It was dedicated to him. He admits that he became a fan of her works. At times, Alden catches himself thinking, wondering, what she looks like. All he can see on her Twitter DP are her expressive eyes. Oh, how he loves her eyes with those long lashes. Somehow, Alden knows that Binibining Marikit has a beautiful heart and soul. It is quite evident in her works. Many of his followers started getting so intrigued with who she is that they created an imaginary love team of Alden and her. Funny, isn't it? Alden wants to follow her on Twitter and it's really tempting but he knows it will only create an issue. So ayaw niya na kasi baka sabihin ng mga tao, he is taking advantage of her. She is too kind and vulnerable to experience that. But, he is a fan of her works, and her heart. He admits that he actually saved some of her works on his phone. Tonight, as he unknowingly scrolls on his Twitter notifications, a tweet caught his attention: a short but heartfelt poem dedicated to him. It's from her! It is from Binibining Marikit - To My Bedimpled Charmer: "On the dark moon night with the sparkling stars, One is clearly bright in my heart to dream of. On the path of the warrior of the sun, One is brightly shining in my heart, In the full moon night." -@BinibiningMarikit- And just like that, his tiredness was gone. Upon reading her short but heartfelt poem, he smiles and grins. It is really beautiful. It is. It has always been that way. He glances through the window of his car. As he looks to the sky, he knows exactly why she wrote that poem that way. The stars are wonderfully shining "in the full moon night." He saves the poem. He just can't help it. Alden is thinking when he can meet her. Maybe, soon. He's absorbed in his thoughts when Leysam interrupts. "Alden, confirmed na pala ang taping mo for your upcoming movie with APT this coming July 16 to 18." Leysam reports while scrolling on his tab. "Uy, talaga? Saan daw 'yung location?" he asks as he slips his phone into his pocket. "Hmm, wait let me check." Alden yawns. He is now getting too sleepy. "Ah, somewhere in Bulacan daw. A not so well-known farm. Hmm...teka. Mendoza Farms daw ang pangalan ng lugar." "That sounds exciting and interesting! Matagal na rin akong hindi nakakapasyal sa mga farms na gaya niyan. I am excited to work with APT again and meet new people in that place!" Alden exclaims. Alden grabs a pillow. Inaantok na talaga siya. Medyo malayo pa naman ang Laguna...