Tell me I'm dreaming. Someone pinch me. Is Jeric Teng really sitting with me right now? Talking to me?
"Sorry ha. Nabigla ka ba? Fan mo kasi ako. Si Jeron kasi ayaw pa akong ipakilala sayo eh." He scratched the back of his neck.
"Ano ka ba! You're The Jeric Teng. If anything, I am shy. I'm just a mere radio personality compared to you, former King Tiger and big time PBA player." I hope he doesn't notice how hard I'm gripping my coffee mug right now.
I noticed he was looking at something from behind me. And since I'm a curious person, I turned my head to that direction. A group of young girls were looking at us with their camera phone in hand as if wanting to have picture taken with him.
The girls finally approached us. "Omg Celine and Jeric!! Pwede po ba kami magpa picture? Fans niyo po kami eh!" One girl said.
Jeric being the one who's more experienced at this replied, "ganon ba? Sure! Selfie tayo, ako na hahawak sa phone."
Jeric and I both stood up and the girls went closer to us. We posed and did a couple of shots before he handed back the phone to one of the girls. "Thank you po talaga!" They all said in unison. "You're welcome," we replied at the same time which caused us to laugh. "Bagay po kayo! Are you guys dating?" The tallest girl asked. "Nako! Hindi!" Again, we both said the same thing at the same time. Natawa na naman kaming lahat. The girls teased us and after a few moments, bid us goodbye.
"You're still not used to it, are you?" Tanong niya sa akin.
I shook my head,"nah. I don't think I will ever get used to it. I mean, up until this day, di ko parin gets eh. I'm not a celebrity, why would these people want a picture with me. Don't get me wrong ah! I'm grateful to these people. They make me feel special. It's just that, alam mo yun, nakakahiya. Also, this may sound shallow, but I'm really pressured to look presentable all the time kasi ayaw ko din naman magmukhang haggard sa pictures."
The smile on his face didn't go unnoticed. "It's so cute how you think you're not a celebrity. I hate to break this to you Celine, but you're a celebrity in your own right. You're one of the most followed radio jocks in the country. That itself is a huge achievement and you inspire so many young people who aspire to be like you someday. Masanay ka na because you're just getting started. You're a star that's going to be brighter and brighter as time goes by." I must admit, this boy is good with words.
"Naisip mo na bang maging writer as your sideline career? You're good with words eh." I had to make the air lighter because I can feel my cheeks slowly turning red.
"You're just saying that coz you don't know how to respond to what I said." He chuckled. Aba! First meeting pa lang namin 'to ah pero kung makapang asar. Kung di ka lang talaga cute eh. Ay wow Celine konting demure naman dyan.
"Asar! Pero totoo. Oh well, thanks for the kind words, good sir." In that moment, our eyes met. And mygoodness I'm not even kidding, but I saw fireworks, not just spark. A whole fireworks show. Bam! And also in that moment, I feared I would start to like the guy I just met. Celine! Parang awa mo na, control your emotions.
"Just stating facts. So anyway Celine, kakapalan ko na talaga mukha ko ha.... Alam kong first meeting pa lang natin 'to and I could easily bribe my brother for him to give me this information but I don't want it that way. I want to get it straight from you, the right and straightforward way. The mature way. So... Uhmmmm... Canigetyournumber?" He said what?
"Sorry Jeric but I didn't catch the last part. Ano yun?"
He deeply sighed before talking again,"ang sabi ko.... Can I get your number?"
Did THE Jeric Teng just ask for Celine Santos' number? My number? Walang biro? "Ahhhh....." Before I could continue, he interrupted, "Oh! May magagalit ba? Sorry it was foolish of me to assume you're available. Disregard what I said. I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to cross the boundary."
Natawa nalang ako sa kanya. "Now you're making fun of me." He covered his face with his hands in shame. "Ano ba pinagsasabi mo? Ibibigay ko naman talaga sana number ko eh. Drama neto!" Like a kid handed with a chocolate cake, he removed his hands which are covering his face and grinned.... Widely. "Talaga? Di mo ako ginogood time?" I shook my head. "Nope," I muttered.
One week has passed since Jeric and I's first meeting. We haven't seen each other after that but our communication through texts (and sometimes calls) has been constant. Also, may anonymous sender na naman ako ng white lillies. I have no idea who these are from.
I took a picture of it and posted on Twitter.
@Celine28.9 Thank you, anonymous sender. :-) (insert photo here)
Shortly after.... A couple of my friends replied.
@GinoTan meron na naman? Consistent ah! Two consecutive Friday's. Clap clap
@MojoJojo is this from Thomas Torres the persistent ex?
@Celine28.9: @MojoJojo OMYGOD Mo!! I will kill you!!
Sobrang stressful maging kaibigan tong Mo na 'to!
@JeronTeng idol may secret admirer!
@MikeeReyes pucha Gamboa biruin mo yun may nabiktima ka na naman sa pagiging pabebe mo??
@NikkoRms Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair.
I have the craziest friends. Hay nako.
I was about to retire in bed when my phone rang. Without even looking at the caller, I swipe the screen to answer it.
"Hello," bati ko.
"Keyboard ka ba?" I may not have known the owner of this voice for a long time but I have been quite familiar of it.
Two can play this game, Teng. "Hindi, tao ako."
"Celine naman banat killer ka eh." He whined like a kid.
"Pikon ka talaga! Sige na nga. Bakit, Jeric?"
"..... Type kasi kita eh." Napatawa ako ng malakas.
"Benta ba?" I heard him laugh on the other line.
"Kainis corny pero benta. Yun lang tinawag mo? Ang mag corny pick up line?" I asked.
"Oo." I heard him sigh deeply, "at marinig boses at tawa mo," he added.
For anyone who knows me so well, they'll know that I am no good in responding to these things. I am an awkward person. Very.
"Ahh eh di nakinig ka nalang sana ng Friday Slam kanina." I kidded because like I said, I am an awkward person.
"Eto naman!" He protested.
"Joke lang! Ano ka ba."
"So anyway, kamusta araw mo? Nakita ko sa Twitter na may secret admirer ka ah." He teased.
"Ok naman, usual radio show in the morning tapos errands by noon before gym 360. Pero nako! Yung white lillies, ewan ko ba sino nagbigay. Last Friday nga may na tanggap ako, same flowers. Infairness, consistent. So anyway, ikaw ba musta araw?"
"As usual, Golds in the morning tapos ROS practice after lunch. Tsaka business meeting after. Di ka curious sino nag bigay nun?"
"Curious naman pero hopefully magpapakilala din yung sender pag ready na siya."
"Oo nga baka torpe lang yun," he chuckled. He heard me yawn. "O sige na matulog ka na, kailangan na ng beauty queen mag beauty rest eh. Good night, Celine."
"Sira! Beauty queen ka dyan! Good night, Jeric."
Not shortly after that call, my phone beeped signaling a text.
From: Jeric Teng
Password ka ba? Di kasi kita makalimutan eh.
