Another Beginning

• TWENTY FOUR •

"Hi!"  I greeted them. 

"H-Hello ma'am."  She sounded surprised when she greeted me back.  She started sorting through Katie's stuff while the other started folding and ringing.

"Oh hon, where is Enzo's bag? Wait, where is Enzo?"  I asked, turning around to look for my little boy, worry on my face.

"Don't worry, he's sitting with MamaTen and Sam somewhere.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am."  He touched our noses and smirked.

"Ay naman!" A voice from behind shrieked.

We both looked behind us and saw the sales person grinning.

"Si Ate naman kinikilig." Richard teased.

"E kasi naman Sir Alden ang sweet nyo ni Ma'am Maine. Kinikilig po talaga ako, sobrang idol ko pa kayo e!"

"Hon, what's going on?" I asked, I really need to work overtime to learn the language; it's hard when people around me starts talking in Filipino and I could've understand the conversation.

"The lady is just so happy to see us hon.  She's a fan."  He tells me coyly.  This is the first time I see him as 'the Alden Richards' interacting with a fan. 

"Oh, how nice to meet someone who is a fan of my fiancé,  how are you?" 

"Ay naku ma'am,  I am very very fine.  I am happy also to see you in person!"  She exclaimed.  I can tell she is really thrilled to see 'Alden'.

I need to get used to this, get used to the fact that my soon-to-be-husband is very famous.

"Mommy, up pwease,  I wawwa see."  Katie raised her arms up, waiting to be lifted.  She probably got a little curious why the lady behind the counter is shrieking.

"You're heavy princess, come here let daddy carry you."  Richard tells his daughter.

"Naku! You are a very sweet father. And Katie, she is so beautiful Ma'am Maine.  Sir Alden kamukha nyo po, may dimples din." 

"Ha ha ha, salamat po."  Richard replied, kissing Katie's cheeks.

We paid for our purchase and left the store.

"What took you so long?"  Sam asked, the moment he sees us.  Eric takes the bag from us and puts it around the handles of the stroller.  I'm glad that he joined us and not just waited in the van.

"Well,  I had my first 'fan' encounter, that's why it took us forever to be checked out."  I replied.

"Oh no!  I hope that didn't overwhelm you."

"No, not at all.  She is actually polite."

"Did she ask for a selfie?"

"No, she didn't.  Well she's working, so I think she's not allowed to do that." 

"Daddy?"  Enzo gets up from the stroller and takes his daddy's hand.

"Yes buddy?"  Richard leaned down and lifted him up. 

"Why is ewewyone wooking at us?"  His daddy looked at him, a little confused.

And like on cue, we all look around and true enough, a small crowd is gathered on the side of the mall, close to where we are standing. Phone cameras aimed at us.

"Hmm, is it safe to say now, 'I told you so'." Sam huffed.

"Hey, this is nothing. We aren't mobbed yet!" Richard said, chuckling.

He is so relaxed and happy. I guess, he hasn't gone out in a long time, oh wait! He did say, he hasn't done this at all.

"So are we going to wait for that to happen?" Sam asked. I really feel that Sam is worried.

"Hey, I think we will be alright." I tell him, giving him a little shake on his shoulders. "Look how relaxed Richard is," we looked at Richard who is playing with Katie and Enzo. He had them in his arms, giving them both raspberry kisses. And the twins are shrieking with glee.

"Don't you want to see that a lot?" I continued.

"I do Maine, I really do, but your security is always my concern. You just don't  know the situations we've been through." Sam said, shaking his head.

"Alright, I think now I know where you are coming from. We will talk about that later, okay? For now, let him enjoy this day. He deserve it."

"Okay, I will." He replied sighing.

"And you too Sam, I want you to enjoy this day as well. Shop around, check the stores, do the stuff that normal people do on a Tuesday afternoon. And please stow that iPad away, okay?"

"Okay, thanks Maine." He replied, conceding. I smiled and gave his shoulders another squeeze.

I walk to where Richard and the twins were and gave Katie a kiss.

"Me, me, me too mommy!" Enzo reacted oh so sweetly when he saw me kissing his sister.

"Of course sweetie, you also get one!" I giggled, giving him a kiss on his nose.

"Me, me, me too mommy!" Richard chanted, puckering his lips,

"You too?" I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at him.

Yes, pwease!"

"Well, hon, you had me at pwease!" I stepped in front of them and gave his puckered lips a sweet kiss.

The twins giggled and put their arms around us, creating a safe cocoon, all our faces just inches away from each other, smiling and giggling.

This picture of us was captured by Sam and has launched a close to a million likes in his Instagram account and it was simply captioned: Pure Love and Happiness - he's finally home.