LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na love story! ♥ [2 of 2]

Chapter 50-2. The YES YES Show!

“Mas gusto ko yung Max.” The young Ellie continued. “Madaling tandaan kasi parang candy lang.” She then offered her hand to him. “Ako nga pala si Ellie.”

Max looked up at her and his eyes met hers for the first time…

“Hahaha.” A loud boisterous voice boomed beside Max. Halos mapatalon sa gulat ang binata for at that moment, an old man with white hair & white beard appeared, successfully occupying the seat next to him. Kung si Max may hawak-hawak na pop corn, ang matandang ito ee may hawak na malaking baso ng coke with matching straw pa. “Kaya ba ayaw na ayaw mong tinatawag kang Darren?” The old man continued to ask in a big husky voice. Parang si Santa Claus lang ee.

Max glared suspiciously at the stranger and his brow raised questioningly. “Uh- excuse me but… do I know you?”

Tumawa ulit yung matanda. “Yeah, I’m pretty sure you do son.” He sipped on the straw of his drink.“Madalas tinatawag niyo kong St. Peter, o sa tagalog, San Pedro.” He beamed at Max. “Ahy, naku… sandali nga pala.” San Pedro blurted out. He reached for his pocket and brought out his very own…iPhone 4S!! Oo, yung latest version!!! He unlocked it sabay suot ng reading glasses niya.

Max blinked in confusion habang pinagmamasdan ang matanda. “May iPhone dito?” Malakas na nasabi ni Max.

San Pedro momentarily froze & stopped from texting. “Oo naman. Kahit naman dito sa langit uso ang iPhone, bukas nga bibili pa ko ng iPad ee!! Teka nga, ma-tweet nga toh.”

“Langit?” Ulit ni Max. His face was a mixture of sheer disbelief and absolute calm. Yung parang panandaliang gulat, tapos ilang segundo lang ee tanggap mo na. “You mean… I-I’m…”

San Pedro caught Max’s gaze. The old man’s eyes were gentle and gave off a fatherly air. He smiled, the kind that would warm your heart. Imbes na sagutin ang obvious na tanong ni Max, ibinaling na lang ng matanda ang kanyang tingin doon sa maliit na telebisyon na nasa harap nila. Pati si Max tuloy napalingon at sinundan ng tingin yung TV.

Nalipat bigla ang channel. Lumitaw sa screen ang isang pamilyar na lugar kay Max. Ang MUP. He felt suddenly weird especially when he recognized himself sitting by the MUP bench beside Ellie (base on Chapter 43-1. Suntok sa Buwan). Ikaw ba naman panoorin mo sarili mo sa telebisyon diba? Ellie flashed on the screen, she had her head resting against Max’s shoulder, and his arm was around her. It was a perfect little scene; they were talking about random things & one of which was about Pepita, their childhood friend. Nakaupo lang silang dalawa doon, sa ilalim ng isang malaking puno ng MUP. Ellie was smiling and talking and her eyes were off the distance… samantalang si Max? He was secretly gazing down on her face & furtively admiring everything about her.

“Nakakatawa talaga minsan kayong mga tao ano? Mahilig kayo sa cramming!” The old man gave off a small laugh. “Sa dami-rami ng pagkakataong binigay sa inyo… sa dami ng oras, ng panahon… hindi niyo ginawa yung mga bagay na dapat matagal niyo ng ginawa tapos ngayon lang kayo nagkakaroon ng lakas ng loob kung kailan huli na ang lahat.” Napailing si San Pedro. Si Max naman tahimik lang, nakikinig… napapaisip. “Ganun ba talaga kahirap magsabi ng I love you sa mga taong importante sa inyo? Ng I’m sorry… ng Thank you? Sa araw-araw na ginawa ng Diyos, hindi niyo man lang masabi yun? Sa katunayan, marami kayong paraan. Meron kayong Twitter, Facebook, ito–” tinaas ni San Pedro yung iPhone 4s niya. “— yun nga lang hindi niyo ata alam kung pano talaga gamitin.” 

Napayuko si Max. Tinatamaan siya sa mga sinasabi ng matanda. “You make it sound so easy, sir. Pero sa totoo lang, hindi naman po talaga ganun kadali yun ee. Kadalasan, there are so many things at risk…”