I woke up the next morning without her by my side. This is unusual. I usually get up and out of bed first before her. I moved aside and throw the quilt as I ran in the bathroom. She's not there. And then I heard a squeal from downstairs. I rushed down the kitchen and found her mixing egg and flour. I took a deep sigh. Her back behind me. I walked towards her and gave her a tight embrace.
"Oof," she was shocked. She tilted her head and met my gaze. "Oh hi. Goodmorning, baby!" And then there was her sweetest smile.
I kissed her cheeks and smiled back at her. "Wake me up next time you get out from the bed early. You're giving me heart attack," i breathe and smell her neck.
She giggled and didnt say a word but she nodded. I loosen my grip and moved infront of her.
"When did you learn how to bake?" i asked. Looking confused, i checked her ipad infront of her.
Aaaah, youtube. She wanna bake a yema cake.
"Susubukan ko lang tong super simple yema cake for you," she seriously said and then did the procedures. Effort from my love. Pagbigyan na natin.
"Check your measurements," i commented when she was about to put the butter.
She looked at me with her killer eyes.
"Add a little salt," i spoke again.
"Shut up!" she mumbled and i was surprised by that. She looked at me and held her finger and showed me a peace sign.
"What did you tell me?" i held her by the waist and buried my face on her neck and she started laughing.
"Im sorry. I didnt mean that. Tryna focus here," she answered and i let her go, appology accepted.
I stayed infront of her, watching for like an hour.
"Yes! Tapos na!" she said excitedly and presented to me her baked yema cake.
Hmmm, im impressed. This is her first time to do it. And she's brave enough to do it all by herself without any of my help. Well, na shut up nga ako diba? Takot ko na lang mag comment at suggest pa.
"Taste it!" excited niyang sabi. She sliced a yema cake and held a spoon of it and put it in my mouth.
I took my time to chew.
"Babe, ano na?" she asked impatiently.
I swallowed. In all fairness, masarap. No biased.
"It's so good! Woooow! I cant believe you can bake this good, love!"
"That's what you call baking with love with my love beside me!" she proudly say and i can see her face looking really happy.
"Why dont you go wash up now while I eat all this?" i suggested.
"Nice idea. I'll be back in a minute babe," she ran.
"Julie!!" i shouted and she knew what was that for.
"Naglalakad ako," she shouted back. Ang kulit!
I looked around and my eyes widened realizing how messy the room was. Flour scattered on the floor. Hindi ko to napansin kanina. Egg shells around the trash can. Napailing na lang ako and then started to clean up.
She came back down after an hour or so, yep. Matagal siyang maligo. She's wearing my shirt again. I smiled when she sat beside me.
"What are we gonna do today?" she asked.
Bigla kong naalala yung sinabi ni Tita Tracy.
"Shoot! I forgot to tell you something last night!" i began.
Nakakunot niyang noong tanong, "Ano yun?"
"You need to check your email!" i rushed up and went to our room to get my laptop.
"You have to approve some apppointments, love," i handed her the laptop as i heard her answered, "Okay."
I went to the kitchen to get us something to drink. Pineapple juice.
"5 photoshoots in a month. 10 interviews this week," may pagtataka niyang sinabi.
"Bakit 10 interviews?" naguguluhan niyang tanong sa sarili.
"You dont have to go," i told her. It's true.
"Pero babe, 10 talaga?" she looked at me.
"Majority of them wants to know about us," and i have a strong feeling about it.
"But I cant talk about us to them," nakakunot na naman niyang sabi.
"Showbiz world, love." Bigla ko nalang nasabi. She closed my macbook and walked.
"Saan ka pupunta?" i asked.
"I'll get my phone upstairs."
I followed her after 5 minutes. I went to our closet and choose a nice polo shirt to wear for later.
"Bakit ang dami tita?" she was probaly talking to Tita Tracy.
"But. Okay. I need to. Kahit isa lang? I'll approve showbiz talk, then," aaaah, she's deciding kung saang interview yung pwede niyang i-attend.
"Sige, Tita. Salamat po," she looked at me after the call.
"Showbiz Talk," she sighed.
"Julie, hindi mo kailangang tanggapin yun," i knelt infront of her and held her hands.
"It's okay. Kaya ko yun. Macho ako!" she smiled sadly. I understand how she feels. Na-feel ko na din ito. Eto na yung sinasabi kong gossips and afterwards critics naman. Chaotic world. Showbiz industry.
"Move na lang tayo sa US, baby!" Bigla niyang sinabi. I looked at her. Seryoso ba to?
I gave her a confused look.
"Im kidding. Tumayo ka nga jan!" she giggled. I know Julie. Ayaw niya ng ganitong sitwasyon. She likes a light environment. She's very private. She wanna keep everything as private as possible.
"When's your interview?" i have to know. I need to know.
"Next week, sunday," she answered and i nodded.
"Okay. I'll go with you," ive decided.
"Thank you," ngumiti siya at niyakap ako. I kissed the top of her head.
"I also forgot to tell you last night, may photoshoot ako mamayang hapon until 11 in the evening."
"Uhm hmm," she nodded without any word.
"Will you be okay here?"
"Oo. Kakausapin ko na lang si Dev later. Girls talk!" ngumiti siya.
"Okay," was all i answered.
"Mamayang hapon ka pa naman aalis, yeah?" tanong niya. Tumango ako. She held my hand and dragged me inside the bathroom.
"Julie! What are you doing?" i asked. She sat near the sink inside the bathroom and washed her hand.
"Tumayo ka sa harap ko and close your eyes," she instructed and i followed.
Later on, she held my face with a wet palm and suddenly applying something on my face.
"Love."
"It's just a facial wash," she giggled. Aaaah.
"Kailangan mo toh. Photoshoot later, remember?" i laughed to what she said.
"Okay done. Wash your face first," she instructed once again. I washed my face and wipe it with my towel and looked at her.
"Okay na?" i asked.
"Not yet. Facial cream next!" and then she showed me one of her branded facial cream.
Whoa!
"Love, i understand that you're a brand endorser of that product but..."
She interrupted, "But i want you to try this," she laughed.
Ugh! Ano pa bang magagawa ko? "Sige na nga." i sighed.
"For glowing skin, use this skincare product!" Once again promoting her very own endorsement. I laughed. I remember, before she went to US, she bought her very own album on itunes using my 2 iphones and my ipad. See? I laughed on that thought.
"Gwapo na ba ako using your product?" I asked and her brows met.
"Gwapo ka naman ah. Pinapa-gwapo lang ulit kita," she smiled and i chuckled.
After a long minutes, she wiped my face with a dry towel.
"Ayan, ok na. Ang gwapo na ng Elmo Magalona ko. Thanks to this!" and then she showed the facial wash and cream again.
I laughed harder and she joined me in.
"Let's go eat and i'll prepare at 2," i told her and we both marched downstairs to have our brunch.
As we were eating, she remember something.
"Babe, next next week is your birthday. What do you want?" she asked out of the blue. I think for awhile. Wala naman na kasi akong hihilingin pa more except for her time.
"Love, hindi ko alam," i said it. There.
"i knew you'd say that. Bahala na lang ako," ngumiti siya sa akin at pinagpatuloy kumain. After taking our lunch, we rested for awhile before I went to take abath.
It took me 2 hours or so to prepare and when I got out from the bathroom, Julie was at the terrace talking to Dev via skype.
"Sige, sige. I'll see you soon, bestie," and then she ended the video call, closed the laptop and went inside.
"Anong susuotin mo?" she asked. She dont usually asked what i wear.
"Ammm, white polo shirt," sagot ko.
"Ayaw mong mag polo?"
I shooked my head. "Bahala na yung stylist ko dun, love. Eto na muna," i showed her my polo shirt. She just nodded and faced me, fixed my hair and then my collar. This is very unusual.
"You're ready!" she declared and smiled.
"I am. Thank you. I'll see you later," i gave her a kiss on the forehead as she held my face.
"See you, ingat sa pagdadrive ah!" she tap my shoulder.
"I will, i love you," i leaned in to give her a light kiss on the lips.
"I love you," she hugged me for a second and then watched me walked away from the room.
I drove to the studio and as soon as i get there, everything were all okay. Just a typical and simple set up. A white background. Lights on both of my side plus a reflector infront of me.
"Elmo!" Sir Gian Isaac, the official photographer today came in, holding his camera.
"Sir Gian! Long time no see. Kumusta po?" we shook each other's hands.
"Im good. It's so nice to see you again," he smiled and we chatter for awhile. I explained the shots and angles that I like. Though i know it'd be so easy for him to do it. And the fact that this is for the cover of my 3 months journey in the north, mas mabilis na lang gawin tong shoot na ito. What i importantly need is a shoot from the people I met during that journey. But since i had it already in my camera, there's no need to retake, ako na lang ang kulang. And later on, i'll have a quick interview with some magazine writers for a feature.
We started the shoot and i pose comfortably infront of the camera. It's good to have Sir Gian as my official photographer for today because ive worked with him a couple of times before. I even saw him in States during our Portraiture Seminar in Photography years ago. Now he's back again.
I changed my clothes for about 5 times before wrapping up. And then thank Sir Gian again. After which, we had a simple dinner at the nearby restau before i went to Orange Diner for the interview.
I first talked about how thankful I was to have the span of time to explore some beautiful places in the north and met a lot of incredible people. Second, the joy and happiness that i felt from this journey was amazing. Third, the very life in showbiz and as an ordinary person is way different. I emphasized the simplicity of life, the nature, and importance of being independent during this journey wherein i enjoy every day of my trip alone. Fourth, the lessons that i have learned was priceless. Fifth, i have to go home and be with my love. They all laughed at it. It's 11 now and i really need to go. Had it only been 8 hours since i left her? God, i miss her already.
"Thank you guys for listening," i gave them a huge smile and they said goodbye.
I didnt waste another minute inside. I rushed to my car and drove away but.. Unluckily, i was stuck in traffic.
I dialed her number but she's not answering my call. Ano na kayang nangyari dun? I tried again but she's really not answering her phone. I sighed anxiously. After an hour, sa wakas may usad ang traffic and i safely got home.
"Julie?" I called and ran upstairs. There's no noise. I went to our room to check her. Wala siya. Wala din sa kitchen. Though the kitchen is pretty messy again. There was an overcooked chicken curry in the tupperware. Napailing na lang ako. I went to the theatre room, library, mini gym, wala. And lastly, i opened the music room. The lights were off and so i turned it on. There she was at the sofa bed. Tulog. Around her was a music sheet, and her ipad plus her phone. I knelt down and stared at her beautiful face. Tinanggal ko yung salamin niya at bigla siyang gumalaw pero hindi nagising.
"Love," i whispered.
I looked at the music sheet.
So she's working on one of her songs in her new album. TULAD MO. And its a rap one. Julie never fail to amuse me. She's really one of a kind.
I brushed her cheek with the back of my hand and then she moved.
She opened her eyes and saw me.
"Im home," i whispered and she pulled a smile on her face.
"Hi babe," bati niya.
"You fell asleep here," i said and she nodded.
"tumutugtog lang ako kanina at tinatapos ito," she sat up.
"Oh!" she collected all her music sheets.
"bakit?"
"nakita mo ba yung ibang sinulat ko dito sa folder?" she asked and i moved my head as i say, "Nawp."
"buti na lang. Moe, you have to promise me na wala ka munang papakinggan sa ibang laman ng album na toh," she warned me. I started laughing then.
"Love, you are so weird today."
She didnt say a word. Instead, she smiled.
"Tara na. Lets go to our room. Medjo natagalan ako sa interview. We had so much fun," i told her as i carried her to our room.
I quickly changed my clothes into PJ's and joined her on our bed.
"Now i finally understand THAT time you were telling me the other day," she spoke and held my chest. I wrapped my arm around her and held her tight. I kissed her hair and answered, "what about it?"
With a huge smile on my face, im so ready to hear what she's about to say next.
"..may kahati pag may work," she laughed.
There was a minute of silence. And suddenly,
"I miss you," she whispered and i let out a soft laugh.
"I love you," and i kissed her on the lips which lasted for about... I cant guess how long our kiss was. I lost counting.
