Chapter 9

The days turned to weeks and the weeks turned to months. Soon enough, three months have passed already and it was time for Maine's follow-up check up.

As was requested by her doctor, Alden had once again joined the Mendozas for the doctor's appointment. Maine was more relaxed this time, knowing that she did well in her exercises for the last three months. She'd hope that the doctor would increase her activities as she felt wonderful ever since their move.

Like their first visit, Jenny came in first giving Dr. Vega her progress report on Maine's condition. Then she led the family and Alden inside the doctor's office when she was done.

Dr. Vega started with the usual. He gave Maine his prognosis based on Jenny's report. He was happy with the findings.

"Jenny also mentioned that you've never missed going on your walks, Maine," Dr. Vega said. "Have you experienced any chest pains during your walks?"

Maine smiled and shook her head. She reported, "I haven't even used my oxygen. That's good, right Doc?"

Dr. Vega nodded and smiled. He checked the report again and added, "With the progress that you're making, we can increase your walks to 5-8 minutes everyday."

"Can I also go biking now?" She asked enthusiastically.

"You don't even know how yet," Alden muttered softly so that she was the only one who could hear.

"Well," Maine retorted. "You promised to teach me."

"And I will."

"When?"

"When I get approval from your doctor."

"You too argue like an old married couple," Dr. Vega observed with a soft chuckle. "It's cute, really."

Alden and Maine simultaneously looked back at the doctor and then bowed their heads in embarrassment. Dr. Vega as well as Maine's parents just laughed it off.

A few moments later, Dr. Vega cleared his throat and said, "anyway, to actually answer your question, Maine. It's still a little too early for you to go biking. Baby steps, Maine. We'll eventually get there. But for now, focus on walking. Then we'll see again in three months time if we can add biking to your regiment."

Maine's face fell but she nodded in understanding. Alden saw the defeated look on her face and reached out to take her hand. He gave it a reassuring squeeze. Maine looked up to him and saw his bedimpled smile. She couldn't help but smile back. He had that affect on her. For the short period that they've became friends, he'd become her stress reliever and her biggest supporter. He was that person she could run to whenever she was doubting herself and he was always ready to encourage her. He was really patient with her even on days when she was being difficult. And now that she was feeling a bit disappointed, he's there to say that it's fine. To keep being patient.

After a few more reminders for Maine, Dr. Vega once again asked her to wait outside. Alden fished out his PSP and handed it to her and said, "open your saved game this time. Not mine."

"What if I just open your game and not save what I've done," she remarked.

"That would be a complete waste of your time that you could have used to improve your farm," he answered.

"But your farm looks better than mine."

"Because you're not playing yours."

"But -"

They stopped when they heard Dr. Vega clear his throat. All three adults eyes were fixed on them once more.

"Sorry Dr. Burnz," Maine answered sheepishly. "I am heading out the door now."

Alden gave her one last beseeching look which Maine answered with an evil smirk before she turned and headed for the door. Once the door closed behind her, Alden just sighed and tried not to think of what will happened to his "Harvest Moon" game. He turned back just as Dr. Vega started speaking again.

He asked Alden about his observations on Maine's walks as he was the one who was always with her. Alden answered truthfully, making sure that he didn't leave anything from what he had seen and observed while taking those walks with Maine. Dr. Vega just nodded as Alden spoke, asking questions every so often to clear out something or elaborating a scenario.

After his report, Dr. Vega looked at him and asked, "is there something on your mind, Alden?"

Alden bit his lower lip and sighed. Closing his eyes to gather enough courage, he pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose, took a deep breath, let it out slowly and started, "it's about the bike ride."

"I would have to put my foot down, Alden," Dr. Vega stated. "Maine can't go biking yet. Her body is not ready for it."

"Even if she's just a passenger?" Alden asked. "I mean, she wouldn't even do anything. She would just sit at the back and enjoy the sights."

"And where are you planning on taking her?"

"Just around the village," he answered. "Our street is very accessible to all the local landmarks: the church, the playground, the clubhouse. Every place would be around half a kilometer from our houses. It would be roughly 15minutes going there and back."

Dr. Vega looked at Alden as he processed this information. Maine's parents just waited for what the good doctor would have to say. They knew about Alden's plans on taking Maine around the village as he'd asked permission from Ted again just a few days ago. Ted answered that if Alden was determined to give that bike ride to Maine, he would have to ask the doctor himself. He felt proud of the young man for thinking about his daughter's well-being, making sure that he had all the information he needed to state his "case" to Dr. Vega just so that he could take Maine farther around the village. Ted did notice that even though Maine was enjoying her walks, she was getting restless. Maybe an occasional ride around the village would help her.

"Maine would need to be comfortable during that ride, Alden," Dr. Vega started. "Traveling takes its toll on her body however short the ride. With the bike, she would feel every potholes, ever bump on the road, every small cracks or dents. She needs to be stressed free in these rides."

"She will be," Alden assured him. "One of the bikes that I use has a back seat that's very comfortable. I take my mom around sometimes when she doesn't feel like driving around. Besides, I've recently had the seat reupholstered so Maine would not be stressed. I don't want her to stress. I want her to enjoy the ride and relax."

Dr. Vega looked at Alden's determined face once again. He gave a smile to the teenager in front of him and said, "I could see that you've thought of everything. And 15-minutes is all good. But be sure to keep that 15-minutes. Do not go over as it will strain Maine's body."

"Yes!" Alden exclaimed. "I'll make sure to keep to that time frame. Thank you so much Doc! Maine will be so happy to hear this!"

Alden still couldn't hide his excitement as Dr. Vega gave Maine's parents reminders and changes in Maine's medication. When they stood up and thanked the good doctor, he was thinking of how to tell her of the good news. But when he came out, there was a change in Maine's facial expression that concerned him.

She looked distressed as she slowly turned off the game console and then looked at him with the same troubled look.

"I know that look," Alden said.

"What look? I'm not giving you a look?" Maine asked, her voice was very defensive.

"It's a look that says 'Alden is going to kill me'. What did you do, Maine?" He answered.

"Popuri's heart went back to orange."

"It was already red. What happened? I was planning to propose to her already."

"Well," she answered uneasily. "I did something to make her angry. And in my panic I saved the game."

"The game," he answered with a monotone voice. "The game that I told you not to open? My game?"

"Yes..." Maine grimaced as she looked at Alden with uncertainty. That was the first time she saw that look on his face. It was not angry nor sad. It was a deadpan look. A look devoid of any emotions. A look that could mean many things...like the end of a friendship.

Maine didn't know what to do. She only wanted to pull a prank on Alden, telling him that she messed up his game. But with the look Alden is giving her, she realized that she took her prank too far and she didn't know how to fix it.

After a moment of uneasy silence between the two friends, Alden raised an eyebrow and declared, "you're not getting that bike ride."

"What bike ride?"

"The one that I was negotiating with Doc Burnz a while ago."

"Yes," Dr. Vega cleared his throat as he affirmed Alden's statement. "Fifteen minutes every Saturday. Or whenever Alden is free to take you around."

She looked back at Alden who was still giving her that serious look and asked, "I can go biking?"

"Technically," Alden answered still in a monotone voice. "I'm doing the biking, you're just going to enjoy the ride. But seeing that you've just ruined my game, I don't think I'll push through with my plans."

"Are you serious?" She said as looked at her parents for support, "Dad?"

"Don't look at me, Sweetheart," her father said as he raised his hands to indicate that he should not be involved. "This is between you and Alden."

She looked at her mom but she just shook her head.

Maine looked back at Alden who still looked serious. She was really regretting her prank. She approached Alden slowly still holding the PSP which was already off and kept in its small case. She handed the case to him with her head bowed.

"I'm really sorry, Alden," she started.

"I told you not to play it," he replied. His voice was soft and still devoid of any emotions. It scared her.

Maine reached out and encircled her arms around Alden's waist as she buried her face on his chest. But he just stood there and did nothing. His indifference scared her. She held him tighter and started crying. Then she felt it. The sudden pain on her chest that she hadn't felt in months. She clutched the back of Alden's shirt that she was holding tightly and she started gasping for breath.

Alden felt her stiffen and also felt her grasp tightened on his back. He immediately knew that something was wrong.

"Maine?"

He held her by the shoulders and tried to pry her away from him just to check what was wrong. But she wouldn't budge. He reached around his back and tried prying her hands from his shirt. He succeeded and once he let go, Maine clutched her chest and she was cringing in pain. Tears were streaming down her face.

"I'm....sorry....Alden..." She answered in between sobs and deep breaths.

"Maine!!!"

"Bring her back inside," Dr. Vega ordered calmly.

Alden immediately brought his arms under Maine's knees and shoulders, lifting her up and bringing her close to his chest. He followed Dr. Vega inside his consultation room and carefully laid her down the exam bed. Maine reached out and clutched his arm on a death grip.

"Don't...leave...me..." She cried in between breaths. Her parents were right behind Alden, looking concerned. Alden didn't know what to do.

Dr. Vega stepped in and tried to get Maine's attention.

"Maine," he said softly. "I need you to let go of Alden. He needs his arm back, dear. He'll just be right outside with your dad."

But Maine continued to hold on to Alden. Her eyes pleading for him to stay. Alden looked at Dr. Vega first, asking for approval. When the doctor nodded, he went closer to Maine who was struggling to breathe. He bent down so that he could whisper in her ear.

"I'm not going anywhere, Maine," he said. "I'll just be outside with Tito Ted. Doc Burnz won't be able to help you if I'm here crowding him. You'll see me when you're stabilized. Okay?"

They looked at each other for a few seconds until finally Maine nodded and reluctantly let go of his arm. He reached out to brushed the hair off her forehead and leaned down to kiss it.

"I'll wait for you outside," Alden repeated with a smile.

He stepped aside to let the doctor check on Maine and he let himself be led out by Ted. Mary Anne stayed with her daughter. Jenny went in immediately as they exited the room to assist Dr. Vega.

Outside, Alden slumped on the couch with Ted following suit. Ted heard him take a deep breath and let it out in a big huff. Alden leaned forward, took off his glasses, and buried his face in his hands.

"Are you okay, son?" Ted asked as he reached out and rubbed his back.

"I'm so sorry, Tito," Alden said. "This is all my fault."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Ted reassured the teen. "It wasn't your fault."

"I was upset about a stupid game!" He retorted. "A game I could just repeat with a click of a button."

"Alden," Ted remarked. His voice was stern that Alden couldn't help but turn and look at the older man. Ted continued, "sometimes I worry that Maine has you wrapped up in her delicate fingers. You've been very patient with her and gave in to all her whims that it really didn't surprise me that you snapped. I really couldn't blame you. Sometimes, there are times when you just couldn't say 'yes' to her and you need to put your foot down on that decision.

"Maine takes after me, I guess. I'm no saint, especially during my teen years. I've been playing pranks on my friends and family that sometimes my pranks go too far. Maine is like me in that sense. She likes to play pranks on people. Before you came into her life, Jenny was the poor soul whose been a victim of her pranks."

"She was pulling a prank on me?" Alden asked as he looked curiously at Ted.

"She's my daughter," he answered. "I know her looks far better than you do. When you've become upset about your game, she knew that she went too far. She looked frightened."

"If I could only take it all back..." Alden trailed off as he hid his face once again in his hands.

Ted reached out and held his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze.

"You've done more than enough for my daughter already, Alden," Ted said. "I really couldn't ask for a better friend for Maine. You've been patient, kind, and take care of her very well. You get tired. We all do. Mary Anne and I get tired all the time and we're her parents, what more with you, her bestfriend? This was an isolated incident. Like I said, you didn't do anything wrong."

"I don't want this to happen to her again," Alden replied. "That look on her face...she was so much in pain. It looked like her heart was being crushed. I don't ever want her to feel that again."

Ted just squeezed Alden's shoulder again as a reply. He really couldn't answer back as he was touched by the teen's statement. He was just glad that they've decided to move to their village and met the Faulkersons. He knew that Maine would have a friend for life in Alden.

They've waited in silence outside the doctor's consultation room for Maine to stabilize. It was a nerve wracking wait for Alden. He kept going back to that moment before she hugged him. "What if" scenarios playing in his head.

Finally, Maine emerged with her mother. Jenny came out next with Dr. Vega behind her. Maine looked pale but she was standing on her own, without her mother's assistance. She took tentative steps towards them. She was trying to catch Alden's eye but he couldn't look at her. Not yet.

But before she could reach them Dr. Vega called out to her. She turned and looked up at him before he spoke again, "I mean it, Maine. No walking for a week. Just give your body time to recover."

Maine sighed but nodded in agreement. Ted stood and gave his daughter a hug. Alden stood as well but was reluctant to go near her. He was saved from approaching Maine when Dr. Vega called to him. He immediately excused himself from the pair and approached the doctor.

"A minor set back, Alden," Dr. Vega said. "As I've told Maine, she can't go on her walks this week. She would need bed rest. So no walks, no visiting the neighbors for a while and unfortunately, no bike ride. But it's only for a week. After that, we'll push through the 5-8 minutes walk. But for that bike ride, I would suggest another week before you take her around."

Alden nodded in understanding and then asked, "is there anything else that I need to do for her, doc?"

"Nope," he answered. "You've been doing well. You'll actually make a good nurse, Alden. You should consider taking Medicine or Nursing as a degree. You'd do well in this field."

Alden just smiled shyly as he pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose.

After thanking Dr. Vega once more, they headed home. Alden kept silent all throughout their car ride back. He kept his distance, looking out the car window during the trip. Maine on the other hand just kept silent beside him. She didn't know what to say. She tentatively leaned her head on his shoulder. When he didn't pull away, she rested her head there. He even relaxed his shoulder more so that she could be more comfortable in that position. They stayed that way until they reached the Mendozas home.

When they were all out of the car, Alden excused himself and quickly said his good byes. Maine was about to say something but stopped. She still was unable to talk to him as she watched his retreating form cross the street to his home.