I read in Twitter that the bibis were in LQ mode for a week already, since after the IYAM presscon. It saddens me whenever this happens, because I know they draw strength from each other and when LQs happen, it actually weakens them. I wondered what could have triggered the LQ, and since it happened after the presscon, I imagined it might have been triggered by something discussed during the presscon.

Just a reminder, this is FICTION. I have no idea what they disagreed about, or if they even disagreed at all. But I believe the nice thing about LQs is making up after, and hopefully, the mending makes the relationship stronger.

Hope you like this quick fic, feel free to leave a comment. Enjoy :)

"I love you."

He whispered to her ear after an earnest kiss on her temple, in the midst of screaming fans, the bright lights and dabarkads around them.

"Thank you."

She whispered back, tentatively leaning towards him as he hugged her. Not the response he expected, her eyes still looked sad, and she did not hug him back.

He remembered her speech, thanking everybody, except him. That stung, but he understood. Maine was as transparent as they come, she always had trouble hiding her true feelings. He liked that about her, he preferred her transparency as opposed to looking perfectly ok while the cameras rolled, only to bitch at him behind the scenes. But it hurt that she thanked him later, only as an afterthought.

He missed her badly. Five days without communication; no facetime, text or calls, not even a measly tweet indirectly meant for each other passed between them. It felt like forever but he refused to break the silence, not out of pride but more of a reality check for them both. He also needed the time to think.

There were so many things coming in between them. The bashers, still intent on destroying both of them and what they had together, relentlessly continued to hurl insults at them on social media. The problems between their opposing managements sometimes drove a wedge between them, as they were innocent pawns caught in the crossfire. What little time they had together was marred by short tempers resulting from lack of sleep and exhaustion, thus angry exchanges ensued.

"Pwede ba tayo mag-usap?" He asked, as they walked backstage, after taking selfies with the fans. Maine merely nodded, her eyes averted, refusing to look at him. His hand was on the small of her rigid back, which tensed all the more at his touch. He led her to one of the dressing rooms, pulling out one of the chairs for her to sit on.

"Hindi ako magtatagal ha, inaantay ako nina Tatay at Nanay," She said, her eyes on the floor. He took another chair and positioned it in front of her.

"Maine, hanggang kelan mo ba ko titiisin?" He lifted her chin to make eye contact with her. She looked stubbornly down, like a defiant kid, the cleft on her chin now prominent with the firm set of her mouth. Goodness, he badly wanted to kiss that stubborn mouth, but he controlled himself, wanting fix the rift between them.

"Five days, love. Natiis mo ko ng limang araw. Ang sakit ha, kaya mo pala akong tiisin."

"Hindi ka rin naman tumawag eh."

"If I remember correctly, you told me not to call you. Sabi mo you needed time to think."

"Maski na. Di ka tumawag, eh di ibig sabihin kaya mo rin ako tiisin."

"Ha?? Teka, teka, I just gave you space kasi sabi mo wag kita tawagan. Ngayon ako pa pala masama?"

"Ok, so sino masama, ako? Hindi ka na nga sumama sa Hong Kong, ni paramdam wala rin. Dumating at dumating ako, wala pa ring tawag at all."

"Mainnnneeeeee......Sandali lang, mauuwi na naman sa away to eh. " He stood up and pulled her up, hugging her close, inhaling her scent hungrily. He felt his patience draining but he persevered, wanting to fix this gap between them.

"Babe, I missed you. Badly. Di mo man lang ba ko namiss?" She remained impassive, her arms at her sides. But he knew her well, she was slowly melting. Her body was no longer rigid, she was leaning onto him, her head resting on his chest.

"Kiss mo ko, sige na babe." He sat down, pulling her onto his lap. Obediently, she kissed him full on the mouth, resting her forehead against his. His hand reached out to pull her head closer for another kiss, taking his time to woo her lips to open, their tongues tentatively touching. The tentative kiss went deeper, fanned by five days of abstinence. Her hands slowly crept up his chest to caress his jaw and nape, her breasts touching his chest, fanning the heat through his thin white undershirt.

His hand snaked out to encircle her waist, squeezing, caressing, moving down her bare thigh. He broke the kiss to nuzzle her neck, sucking at the tender flesh near her hairline, careful not to suck too hard as to leave a mark.

"Babe." Maine spoke unsteadily, her voice husky. Her doe eyes finally gazed at his brown orbs, tears threatening to flow. It was an eventful day for her, what with several production numbers she performed after only a day of rehearsal. He knew she was tired and emotional.

"Galit ka pa rin ba sakin?"

"Di naman ako galit eh. Ayoko lang na pinipilit ako. Sabi ko naman sayo di ko pa kaya mag teleserye."

"Maine, lagi mo sinasabi yan eh. Lahat naman ng sinasabi mong di mo kaya, nakakaya mo naman."

"Pero di ko kaya talaga magdrama eh! Nakita mo naman yung God Gave Me You, ang dami ko nakuhang bad reviews diba? Tapos itong movie natin, nakikita ko na, ibabash na naman ako kasi pangit yung pag arte ko sa drama scenes, ang awkward ko eh."

"Ssssshhh. Stop it. Huwag mo kasi unahan. You did good in the movie."

"Kulang pa din eh. I'm being unfair to you, love. Inaantay mo ko pero nag aantay ka sa wala. Ilang projects na ba ang inoffer sayo pero tinanggihan mo? Wag mo na kasi ako antayin. Siguro hanggang Sugod Bahay lang ako talaga."

"Look, I promised our fans na walang teleseryeng magaganap kung iba ang kapartner ko, and I meant that."

"But that comment pressures me, can't you see? Nilagay mo sa kamay ko yung fate ng teleserye na yan. Pag hindi yan natuloy, parang kasalanan ko."

"Babe, anong lagi kong sinasabi sayo? Diba sabi ko hindi kita pababayaan? Kahit minsan ba napabayaan kita? "

She looked at him, her lips pouting, her eyes sad. It was funny how Maine still lacked the confidence to try new things, even after proving herself wrong countless times. She looked away, not wanting him to see that she was close to tears. Showbiz was a tough world, the last five days were difficult without him to talk to after reading the harsh words bashers feed social media everyday. To be honest, she was getting tired of it.

"Maine, look at me. "

"Ganito na lang gawin natin. Can you at least wait until we see the material being offered to us? Can we just read together, tapos yung parts na di mo kaya, saka natin pagusapan kung pwedeng ayusin. Malay mo rom-com yung ibigay satin? Babe, I want to keep working with you. Please. Don't close your doors muna."

Maine got up and straightened her shirt. She checked the time, and noted that they needed to leave soon. There were still so many things to talk about, but for now, all she wanted was to end the stupid gap between them that she knew she created. She pulled him up from his seat, pinching both his cheeks, cupping his face to bring it closer to hers for a kiss. He obliged by hugging her tightly, enough to lift her bodily off the ground. They kissed again.

"I love you,babe. I can't promise yet pero sige pag-iisipan ko."

"Miss mo ko?"

"Miss na miss. Kainis ka, nagswimming ka di mo ko kasama."

"Babalik tayo don, babe. Promise. "

A knock interrupted them, they pulled apart as the door opened. It was Tito Sen. He looked conspiratorially at Alden with the thumbs up sign.

"Ok na? Bati na kayo?"

They both smiled sheepishly.

"Sus, salamat naman! Itong mga batang to, wag na mag LQ ha, dapat pag may ganyan di pinapatagal. Maine, umalis na Tatay at Nanay mo, sunod ka na lang daw sa dinner niyo after the KMJS shoot nyo. Ikaw naman Alden, sa susunod na may trip ang dabarkads ha, sumama ka na. Tandaan mo na next year, ganitong panahon, wag ka na magbook ng raket. O sige na, iwan ko na kayo, last kiss na tapos larga na kayo."

Alden checked his watch as the door closed.

"Two minutes lang babe, " He whispered against her mouth and pulled her closer.