HURRICANE

Oh the things I do for you

ALDEN's POV

Pinaaasa ko lang ba sarili ko?

She left me hanging. Hindi ko alam ang dapat kong maramdaman. It's been a week since pero wala pa ring sagot. And I feel like umiiwas siya sa akin. Iniiwasan niyang kaming dalawa lang sa isang room kahit na ilang beses ko na siyang pinipilit na magusap kami in private.

Is this a sign? That maybe she doesn't want me the way I want her?

Sunday nanaman and after SPS, I have a plan. I called Dean, and asked for Ate Niki's number. I told her how I felt for Maine and what I'm planning to do with these feelings. Pupunta ako sa Bulacan. Kakausapin ko ang pamilya niya. Totoo na to.

I knew that Maine had a taping for PITP until 7pm. So, after SPS dederetso na ako sa bahay nila. Oh, the things I do for you Maine. Kung ayaw mo akong kausapin, dederetso na ko sa parents mo.

I arrived at their house around 5 pm but I couldn't bring myself to get out of the car and knock on their door until 5:45pm. I just sat on the driver's seat, my head on the steering wheel, contemplating on what to say to Tito Teddy and Tita Mary Ann.

So, in that 45 minute gap, I practiced what to say.

"Tito, liligawan ko po si Maine ha." Ugh, too breezy.

"Tito, Tita, I want to be with Maine. I want her to be my wife and the mother of my children." Masyado namang forward. Pero to be honest, I see this as my future with Maine.

No, this is not gonna work out. Ano ba dapat sabihin ko?

I decided to buck up and just wing it. After all, the truest and sincerest feelings come out of spontaneity. So, I got out of my car, fixed myself and pressed on the door bell.

After about 2 minutes, Yaya Pepe opened the date.

"Ay, kayo po pala Sir Alden. Kanina pa po kayo hinihintay. Pasok po kayo."

Nakakahiya. They were waiting for me.

Yaya Pepe opened the door and the first thing I see is Tito Teddy And Tita Mary Ann sitting on the sofa. "Ano kayang sadya dito ni Alden.." I overheard them talking.

"Good evening po Tito, Tita, Ate Niki."

"Good evening din hijo.." Tita Mary Ann greeted me and gestured for me to sit.

"Kumusta, Alden?" Ate Niki asked

"Okay naman po. Pasensya na po kayo at pinaghintay ko kayo."

"Wala yun hijo. Matanong ko lang, anong sadya mo at bigla kang napunta dito? Galing ka pa sa SPS di ba?" Tito Teddy asked

"Tito, uhm." My train of thought is gone.

"Yes, Alden, ano yun?" Tita asked

"Actually, nakausap ko na po si Ate Niki about this. And I think nasabi niya na rin po sa inyo pero uulitin ko na rin po. I, I, I, uhm.."

"Kalma ka lang, Alden. Hindi nangangain sila tatay at nanay.." Ate Niki jokingly said

I can feel my heart beating out of my chest. My palms are clammy, cold sweat trickling down my face and knees shaking. Sabi ko na nga ba eh, I should have practiced what I was gonna say, pero too late.

"Tito, Tita, Ate Niki, I'm in love with Maine."

After a brief moment of silence, nagkatinginan si Tito at Tita.

Tito looked at Ate Niki and said, "Niki, hindi ito ang sinabi mo sa amin."

"Tay, hindi ko rin po ito inexpect. I thought he just liked her at wala pa sa stage na yan. I'm as surprised as you are."

I put my hands on my nape. What have I gotten myself into? I thought to myself.

"Ako din po, hindi ko po inakalang mahuhulog ako kay Maine ng ganito kabilis. I had to check myself almost a million times before I could say that I'm in love with her."

They were all in awe.

"Actually, even si Maine hindi niya po alam ang depth ng feelings ko for her. All I said was I like her."

After another moment of silence, Tito finally spoke.

"Alden, sigurado ka ba?"

"Rj nalang po itawag niyo sa akin. Yes sir, more than 100% sure."

"Tatapatin ka namin hijo, kinatatakutan namin na dumating ang araw na ito. Hindi dahil sa ayaw namin sayo, pero dahil sa hindi kami sigurado, baka actingan lang talaga lahat ng ginagawa niyo. Lalo ka na. Wag mo sana kami masamain, kasi gusto lang namin protektahan si Menggay. Baka kasi ginagawa  mo lang to para sa showbiz, para lalong kagatin ng tao ang love team niyo. Hindi laruan si Meng, at ayokong masaktan siya." Sabi ni Tito

"Oo nga Alden. Isa pa, hindi nagopen up sa amin si Menggay regarding this. Wala kaming kaalam alam. Kasi as much as possible, ayaw namin seryosohin ang nakikita namin sa tv. Kaya laking gulat namin na andito ka ngayon." Tita added.

Hindi ako makasagot. A lot of things are running through my mind right now and it's overwhelming.

But I have to tell them how I feel about Maine, because unlike most of what the people see on tv, this is real. I love her. I am completely in love with Maine.

"I understand po how you feel, Tito, Tita, Ate Niki. In my 5 years in showbiz, I was a witness to all those fake relationships, but, in my defense po, ang tagal ko pong pinagisipan itong nararamdaman ko para kay Maine. The first time I realized I had feelings for her, I had to deny myself because I thought, maybe baka nga lang dahil ito sa love team namin. I denied my feelings so many times that I lost count. I also checked myself almost a million times before I finally admitted that what I feel for your daughter is real. God is a witness po to all this. And I hope po, maniwala po kayo sa akin. Malinis po ang intensyon ko kay Maine, no pretensions, no showbiz."

Whew. Para akong nabunutan ng tinik pagkatapos kong sabihin yan.

Nagkatinginan sila Tito, Tita at Ate Niki at napangiti. I have no idea what's inside their heads.

Then, Tito spoke, "Naniniwala kami sa iyo Alden. Pero, wala sa amin ang desisyon."

"Yes po, tito. All I want lang po is to have your blessing to formally court Maine. Lahat po ng conditions niyo, tatanggapin ko po."

And with that, they finally gave me their blessing.