-GAB-
I finally decided to leave (and yes, iasa sa pagsilip from outside kung sino yung guy na naki-share ng table sakin) since I don't want to be late for my shift tonight. After placing my planner back at my bag, I unplugged my phoned and kept my charger and took my drink and stood up.
"Saglit." The guy said and held my right wrist.
His hand was so cold and I felt how he much he's trembling. I don't want to take a glance of him because I'm currently getting crazy of patching everything up.
Bakit sya pinag uusapan ng mga tao? Kung kilala sya like a celebrity or something, bakit naman nya ako pipigilan umalis? At bakit nya ko nakilala?
I never felt as nervous as this (well, with exception of course when Jeric is around kasi super iba talaga yun, but yeah, what the heck is happening?!) in my entire life - seeing the whole place looking at us as if this was a movie being shot on location.
"Please don't go yet." He said.
My mind started playing tricks the moment I heard his voice again. James Yap? Marc Pingris? No.
I checked my watch swiftly just to keep track of time. Kelangan ko masolusyunan 'tong kalokohang 'to but of course, I should not be late for work.
I took my seat again and yes, tiningnan ko for the first time kung sino yung guy. Hindi ko kasi talaga sya mamukaan using my peripheral vision. He was wearing a cap too so all I see is his jaw line since the whole time he also has his head low.
No. This is freakin' not true.
My world stopped and everything became blurred. How in the world this happened?
I tried to stay as emotion-less as I can be since I don't want to make a scene or drag attention even more.
Pero paano naman ako makikilala nitong taong 'to? We haven't been introduced at all. And he is indeed a superstar. Kaya naman pala kahit guys gustong magpapicture sa kanya but no one got the guts to do it kanina eh.
Kung nahihiya sila sa kanya, ano pa ako? I don't know how to start, how to react, how to even utter any word.
Ano naman kasing sasabihin ko?
Hi. Bakit mo ko kilala?
Uhm, kilala mo ko?
Which I think aren't the best way to start a conversation.
"Nakakahiya nga kasi! Mamaya nalang pag labas nila."
"Tara na."
Then a pair approached the table where we're seated.
"Idol Romeo, papicture naman daw 'tong friend ko. Baka ma-overbreak sya eh. Sorry talaga sa abala." The said.
Hearing his last name is more of feeling a cold bucket of water thrown at me. Terrence Romeo? Yes, did Terrence Romeo just asked me to stay.
BUT WHY.
-JERIC-
When we got home, naabutan ko si Shoti na papasok sa room nya. Matutulog na siguro.
"Traffic, Ahia?" He asked after noticing me.
"All day, every day. What do you expect from EDSA?"
"Hindi ako nageexpect eh, so how would I know?" Jeron jokingly answered.
"Crazy." I said and went straight to my room.
"Hey, Ahia. That was a joke. Bakit ang pikon mo na naman? Well, even if you really are, may nangyari ba?" He asked.
"I'm fine. Really. I am."
"But it seems like you're not. Com'on. Ako pa ba ang lolokohin mo?" He reacted and followed me at my room.
"Don't tell me you're falling for that Hannah Perez na ha! Well, she's pretty I must admit. But..."
"Don't mention it. I know... Lorr."
"What? No." He violently reacted causing me to swing my full attention to him.
"No." He repeated animatedly making me more curious with his reaction.
"Gab. Hannah is pretty, but how about, Gab?"
I sighed.
"Exactly the reason why I felt like everything's closing out on me."
Jeron laughed the wits out off him.
"Tapos tatawanan mo pa ako. Great. Just great." I said.
"Don't get me wrong, Ahia. I just can't believe you're feeling this way because of three girls. Idol na talaga kita, I admit."
I'm not falling for any one... yet. That's what I am sure of. But there's something in me feeling tons of fear losing any of them. Call me selfish or judge me big time, but I just can't bear the thought of hurting anyone because I'm making them feel something na hindi tama.
Alam ko na ako yung may problema - I tend to be paasa with how I talk to them, act towards them. I guess I have subtitles not matching with what I'm really saying.
"Itulog mo na yan. Or, pag isipan mo. I'll leave you in peace." Natatawang hirit ni Jeron as he stood up, went near me and gave me a pat on my back and walked his way out of the room.
I felt like I'm drowning with how deep my thoughts were. Deep but was way too unclear. I'm not sure kung nakatulog lang ako or I was so lutang all the time. I was brought back to my senses when my phone rang. Not Lorr or Hannah please.
I hope it's Gab.
But, she wasn't the one calling me.
"Francis?"
"Ji, sorry naabala ka. Nasa bahay ka na ba?"
"Ok lang, kararating ko lang din eh. Bakit? May appointment ba bukas apart or anything?" Usually kasi tatawag lang yan ng ganito ka-late pag may inutos si Mommy na iremind. I am not drunk, and I know that I do not have any commitments tomorrow apart from practice.
"Paano ko ba itatanong 'to?" He uttered and I just kept my silence.
"Nakita ko kasi nag tweet si Romeo. Magkakilala sila ni Gab?"
Nakita. ko. kasi. nag tweet. si. Romeo.
Napaupo ako the moment I heard that from Francis.
Magkakilala sila ni Gab
Now, you got my ears, Francis.
-GAB-
"Awkward 'to." He started.
"Medyo." I affirmed.
"Pwedeng... sa kotse nalang natin pag usapan kasi ang daming tao e."
Loko pala sya eh. Alam naman pala nyang maraming tao pero gumawa sya ng eksena kanina. But yes, Gab. Keep. Calm.
I nodded and followed him as we walk out of SB. Kagaya ni Jeric, ang dami pang nagpapicture sa kanya outside and as we walked towards to where his car is parked.
"Sorry talaga kanina ha." He said while we were walking.
"Nagtataka lang nga ako, paano mo ko nakilala?" I asked and napakamot nalang sya ng ulo nya.
"I mean, kilala mo ko? Or... is this some sort of joke or wrong identity?" I inquired.
"Sa totoo kasi..." He casually said.
"...akala ko yung pinopormahan ko."
TERRENCE ROMEO ARE YOU FOR REAL?
"Sorry, pero wag kang maoffend, pwedeng tumawa?" Nagawa ko pa talagang magpaalam kahit tawang tawa na talaga ako.
"Tumatawa ka na, may choice pa ba 'ko?" Natatawa nyang sagot sakin.
Natigil din yung tawa ko when he stopped in front of an SUV. Hindi sya Hummer - I'm sorry but that was the next thing I've been thinking when he told me to talk about this hanash sa carumba. E di ba, galing daw kay Vice Ganda.
Oh shoot. Kamuka ko yung pinopormahan nya? Hindi nakakatuwa, kamuka ko si Vice? NO.
"Yang mga ganyan mo, alam ko na yan. Itatanong mo rin ba sakin kung nasan yung Hummer ni Vice Ganda?" He asked as if it is a usual matter to talk about.
"No." I denied. Syempre sinungaling ako. Nahiya rin ako eh.
I know I have crazy thoughts earlier pero di mo naman maaalis sakin yung pagiging observant. I may not look at him directly, but I felt that there's more to this.
"Miss, paupo ha?"
Pinopormahan nya pero Miss ang tawag. That's the only disconnect.
I admit, I was so busy checking my work emails earlier and just like how he kept his head low, malamang all eyes on my phone nga ako kanina so, he might be a little doubtful rin siguro kung ako yung pinopormahan nya.
"Yung totoo, pinagtitripan mo lang ba ko o ano? Dahil kung oo, wala akong pakialam kung sikat ka." I uttered.
"O, chill. Biglang nag-init yung ulo mo sakin."
"E kasi ang labo, sabi mo, akala mo ako yung pinopormahan mo. But when you took the empty seat, sabi mo, Miss. So ano, pinopormahan mo di mo kilala?"
"Mismo." He answered leaving me completely dumbfounded of what's happening.
"Tingnan mo, natahimik ka na rin. Sorry talaga kanina, uh... Terrence pala." He said and offered a hand shake.
"Kilala kita." I said and took the hand shake.
"Pero ako, hindi pa kita kilala... Miss." He said putting an emphasis to the word, miss.
"Gab."
"Sorry talaga kanina, Gab. Ok lang tawanan mo ko, pero hindi ko talaga kilala yung pinopormahan ko." Nag explain na naman sya sa malabo nyan sitwasyon.
"Ok na yun. Sana makilala mo na sya, or at least, magkakilala na kayo. Mauuna na ko, kasi may pasok pa ko eh. Baka ma-late ako."
"Pasok? BPO?"
"Oo eh. Malapit lang naman. Nice meeting you, Romeo... I mean, Terrence. Good luck sa love life." I said and casually gave him a pat on his right shoulder.
"Wag ka na mag-cab." He said.
"De, ok lang. Malapit lang talaga."
"Hatid na kita." And again, there goes my right wrist, perfectly held by his hand.