Serendipity • Alden & Maine

(S:OS#8) Yaya

May pag-ibig pa palang ganito
Tila sumusubaybay ang buong mundo
Bawat tingin, bawat sulyap, walang bawal sa pangarap
May wakas ba ang hiwagang kay sarap?

It was her nth time listening to this song. She admits, out of all the AlDub-related songs written, this surely caught her attention hindi lang dahil sa ganda ng himig at lyrics nito, kundi dahil the Jimmy Bondoc wrote it for them.

The cold breeze gave more feels on the soothing song she's been listening to through her earphones. The moon was perfectly lit on the sky as she was wide awake to wait their turn para sa eksena nila sa My Bebe Love. 10:30 na, and it was her usual time to be on standby dahil in an hour, sila na ng leading man nya ang sasalang.

And while waiting on her own place near a convenient store, ilang beses na rin syang nagreflect sa lyrics ng kantang parang simula kaninang umaga pa nyang pinapakinggan. She couldn't help but smile as a music video-like flashback showed up on her head. Panahon natin ito, bakit natin isusuko? Ilang buwan na ang loveteam nila, but she still sees it as fascinating to know two strangers could have the magic people were hooked for. Hindi nya naman maipapagkaila, kahit sya rin naman nahohook eh. She couldn't last a day without tweeting or talking about them, or na hindi sya napapangiti tuwing nakikita ang binata. It seems he's a part of her system she couldn't let go easily. Super bonus points na lang talaga na nakakasama nya na ito araw-araw at nakakausap.

But in the middle of being on dreamland, nakita nya bigla ang isang lalaking parang zombie kung maglakad at pinapalo-palo ang mukha ang pumasok sa convenient store. Out of curiousity, she followed him inside.

Dumiretso ang binata sa mga fridge ng energy drink. She couldn't help but feel pityful of him. Since October na nga, todo kayod na ang lahat lalo na't kailangan nang tapusin ang pelikula for the MMFF 2015. Unlike her, sobrang dami pa ng commitments ni Alden. He had to tour the country for his album promotion. Since he's the most in demand Kapuso star, hindi sya nawawala sa mga mall shows sa iba't ibang probinsya. Kulang na kulang ang 24 hours in 7 days para pagsisiksikin pa pati ang Eat Bulaga. She was surely happy for him na he has been reaching his dreams he couldn't stop blabbering about, pero people have limits. She wished he knew that.

And before he could reach for the Red Bull can on the top shelf of the fridge, hinawakan na ni Maine ang wrist ni Alden na syang kinagulat nito. Now she could clearly see how messed up he was: his blue polo had two buttons open, bags under the eyes super dark since he hasn't been wearing a concealer for it, hair not properly combed, and eyes wanting to shut close. Lalo namang nanlambot ang mukha nya. Oh, Alden...

Alden gave off a plastic grin, trying to pretend he's fine but he really wanted to just lie down on the road just to get asleep. "Hi, Meng."

From the pityful Maine, bumalik ang napakamasungit face ni Yaya Dub at tumingin sa display ng energy drinks sa harap nya. "At anong balak mong gawin?"

"Magpapagising?," stating the obvious.

Humingang malalim si Menggay at hinila ng full force si Alden papalabas ng tindahan.

"Meng, I---" Alden wanted to ask and protest dahil hindi nya rin naman mapigilan ang inis sa medyo pagiging brutal ni Maine. Yes, it was rude to pull out a zombie-like man, pero inintindi nya na lang ito at hinintay kung saan sya dadalhin nito. After all, she's his lady love; hindi rin magtatagal ang inis nya dito.

After a few moments, hinila na sya ni Maine papalapit sa sariling van nito. Without letting go of his wrist, binuksan ni Maine ng pasiga ang pinto ng van nya at panandaliang binitawan si Alden. Sumakay ito at umupo sa tabi ng bintana. Nakapamewang ito at tila parang nanay na pinapagalitan ang anak. "Sakay."

"What is this Meng?" Parang batang badtrip naman na sagot ni Alden.

"Van ko 'to. Kita mo nga di ba? Nabuksan ko nga eh, hindi naman ako carnapper. Ang tindi ko naman kung dito mismo ako mangangarnap, di ba? Kasi isa rin naman ako sa mga cast ng pelikulang 'to. Kilala rin naman ako, kaya may hiya rin naman ako na gumawa ng kalokohan dito di ba?" Painis na sagot ni Meng. "Dali na, sakay!"

"Maine, for pete's sake I lack sleep. Don't play games with me."

"Sumakay ka nalang kasi!"

He had no choice. Sumakay na lang sya. He slammed the door close bago sya tumabi dito ng nakabusangot. Silang dalawa lang ang nasa loob ng van. He massaged his temples before looking at his partner. Isa ito sa mga pagkakataong hindi nya magets si Maine. "Ano bang meron? May shoot pa tayo within an hour. Kapag hindi ako nakainom kaagad ng caffeine, baka maglupasay na lang ako dun bigla! Maine I have to---"

"Nope." Bigla namang kumalma si Maine and pointed her shoulder. "Sleep."

Nanlambot naman ang mukha ni Alden and looked at her. He blamed himself for shouting at her for being annoyed at her dahil she pulled him out of nowhere, but the truth is, she was concern for him. Wow... "Meng, shoot's in an hour..."

"Eh di matulog ka." Sya na ang naglagay ng ulo ni Alden sa balikat nya. Inakbayan nya pa ito so that he could be comfortable. "Gigisingin na lang kita pag tayo na."

Napangiti naman si Alden at sinundot ang gilid ni Maine. "Uy, gusto mong maging tayo ha..."

Hinampas naman nito ang balikat nyang inaakbayan nya. "Kapag tayo na yung sasalang. Feeling mo."

Pareho silang napatahimik. Maine wanted Alden to sleep in peace, but the latter seem to lose his sleepiness. He still couldn't believe he's in her arms so perfect, not to mention her smell is enticing. Parang gusto nya lang sumiksik sa kanya like a kid for the rest of his life. And the thought of her being all concern is the cutest thing ever. He couldn't help but smile even wider. "Thank you, Meng."

"No, Richard. Fuck you." Napasimangot naman si Alden. Bumalik naman ang inis ni Maine. "Nakakainis ka! Ilang beses ko ba dapat sabihin sa'yo na magpahinga ka bago mo gawin? Pwede naman kasing magsabi ng 'no' sa isang commitment kapag hindi mo na kaya! Magpahinga ka naman, uy! Kailangan ba kita hilahin ng brutal just to tuck you to sleep so you could rest even for a while? Wag naman ganun, uy! Nang-aano ka eh, ha." Natawa naman si Alden. "Wag kang tumawa."

"You look like a super possessive, caring girlfriend, Meng."

"Oo naman." Then she was taken aback with what she said. She just admitted she really looked like that kind of girlfriend. She acted like she's his. Feel nya tuloy, umakyat ang lahat ng dugo sa mukha nya lalo nang late na nyang nalagyan ng malisya ang posisyon nilang dalawa. She was way too concern for him to care kung may makakita sa kanila sa ganoong posisyon. Yes, she admitted she was concern for him. That she liked him. That she wanted to take care of him.

"Gusto mong subukan na natin kung paano ka as a girlfriend?" Tukso naman ni Alden.

"Manahimik ka na nga lang. Matulog ka!" Nakita naman ni Maine ulit ang kanyang earphones at nilagay nya ang isang bud sa left ear nya at ang isa ay sa right ear nya. "Would this be enough to make you sleep?"

Yayayain kita, sa tamang panahon
Sa altar ng poon
At yayakapin kita
Kung hindi man ngayon
Sa madaling panahon
Kung mahal mo ako
At maAlden kita
Balang araw tayo ring dalawa
Balang araw sinta...

She smiled. Willing naman akong maging Yaya mo to take care of you forever. Pero she didn't know she said it out loud until he answered back.

"Willing din naman akong maging Rogelio mo to protect you. Forever."

And they both drifted off with smiles on their faces.