Ryle Alvarez (COMPLETED)

Chapter Sixteen

Sa mga nagdaang araw, palaging nagkikita si Liway at Ryle para sa interview nila. Mas kinilala nila ang isa't isa para maging maayos ang flow ng interview kung sakali. Medyo nasanay na rin ang mga magulang ni Liway na naglalagi sa bahay nila ang binata.

Kagaya ngayon, may dala-dalang bilao ng lechon at seafood si Ryle para ibigay sa mga magulang ng babae. Balak na rin kasi niyang doon mananghalian.

"Hindi ka na sana nagdala, anak," saad ni Aling Meredith habang nilalagay ni Ryle sa lamesa ang pagkain.

"Ayos lang, Ma."

Hinampas ni Liway ang likod ni Ryle. "Ba't nakiki-Mama ka?"

Inosenteng tumingin si Ryle sa dalaga. "Bakit? Bawal na bang galangin si Mama?"

"Liway, ano ba't hinahampas mo siya? Amo mo siya, hindi ba?" suway ni Aling Meredith.

"Hindi na ako tinatrato na parang boss ni Liway, Ma. Alam niyo bang mas magaling pang mang-utos 'yan?"

"Okay lang," proud na sabi ni Liway. "Sunod-sunuran ka naman sa akin."

Pinanlakihan lang ni Aling Meredith ng mata ang anak pero hindi nagpatinag si Liway. Nang tingnan niya si Ryle, nakangiti lang ito. Pft, submissive.

Umismid lang si Liway at hindi pinansin ang pagsuway ng ina. Of course, since palagi silang magkasama, hindi rin nakatakas ang kapusukan ng dalawa. They went as far as having sex in Liway's home even while her parents are around. Of course, it was just a quickie, but the thrill was out of this world!

Dumating ang araw ng interview nila. Liway was dressed in a black bodycon dress and beige stilettos. Nagpa-hair extension din siya hanggang bewang. Naka-ponytail iyon at naka-make up din siya.

Si Ryle naman ay nakasuot ng puting polo, nakatupi hanggang siko ang sleevs nito at itim na slacks. Nakabukas ang tatlong butones sa pang-itaas ng lalaki kaya kita ang silver niyang kuwintas.

Nang nagsasalita na ang host, hindi mapirmi si Liway sa backstage. Nakahawak siya sa braso ni Ryle habang nakaalalay naman ang lalaki sa bewang niya. Napapikit siya habang humihinga nang malalim.

"You okay?" tanong ni Ryle.

"Hindi, kinakabahan ako!"

Unexpectedly, Ryle intertwined their fingers and kisses the back of her hand. "You'll be fine. Remember what we practiced."

"Paano kung hindi ko maalala?"

"Sasaluhin ko ang mga tanong nila. Let's keep our hands intertwined. As long as I'm beside you, know that you're okay. I got you."

Parang nabunutan ng tinik sa lalamunan si Liway sa sinabi ng binata. Nagpalakpakan ang nga tao sa audience nang tawagin silang dalawa. Kahit kinakabahan, sinubukan ni Liway na ayusin ang postura niya.

The host greeted them warmly. Mabuti na lang at pinaupo sila kaagad. True to his words, hindi talaga binitawan ni Ryle ang kamay ni Liway. He held the mic with one hand while the other one was intertwined with hers.

"Good evening, Ryle, Liway, so recently may lumabas na music video ang banda ninyo, and Liway was your female lead, tama ba?"

Nagtinginan muna ang dalawa saka sumagot si Ryle. "Yes, tama nga. It was one of our band's comeback album."

"And it was your first working together?"

"Yes."

The host turned to Liway. "Since Ryle has been working in the industry for sometime, I wanted to know Liway's side. How was working with Ryle on-screen? And I heard that it's your first time working for a project like this."

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Liway at saka tumingin kay Ryle. He squeezed her hand and rub the back of it using his thumb. Hawak niya pa rin ang mic pero nakatapat na kay Liway.

"Uhm. .  ." Natigil saglit si Liway at sa ngumiti. "First project ko po talaga ito and I was so nervous. Luckily, Ryle was there to guide me. Hindi siya mahirap pakisamahan and he actually helped me getting over my insecurities while filming."

"Your scenes looked so natural," puri ng host. Kasabay nito, lumabas sa malaking screen sa likod nila ang kissing scene nila.

Naghiyawan ang mga tao sa audience. May mga nagtaas pa ng banners nila at ang iba ay may chant. It was Liway's first time seeing their fans, and she was surely shocked.

"So, may new projects bang dapat i-look forward ang fans ng bagong love team ninyo?"

Ngumiti si Ryle. "I can't say at the moment. But I don't think we'll be parting ways anytime soon."

"Ngayong may bago ka nang love team, Ryle, paano na si Chanel? I mean not only that you've been on screen partners, but there were countless rumors about your relationship."

Tumingin si Liway kay Ryle para tingnan ang magiging reaction nito. Mukhang hindi naman natinag ang lalaki sa tanong ng host.

"Chanel and I are in good terms. Those were nothing but rumors. Chanel is currently in France and we're still talking."

Hindi alam ni Liway kung kahit pero nakahinga siya nang maluwag sa pag-describe ni Ryle kay Chanel.

"So, how did you two meet? Random pairing ba?" tanong muli ng host.

Si Liway na ang sumagot. "Actually po, I'm Ryle's personal assistant. Nagkataon lang po na walang partner si Ryle kaya kami naging magkapareha."

"Liway, do you think may chance ba nadala off-screen ang romance ninyo?"

Liway looked at Ryle nervously. Ilang segundo silang nagtinginan. Ryle smiled at her and she couldn't help but smile back at him. She giggled then buried her face on Ryle's neck. Naghiyawan ang mga tao kaya mas namula si Liway.

It took her sometime before she could answer. "Ryle is a good man po. I don't know what the future holds for the both of us and we're both taking our time knowing each other."

Naghiyawan muli ang mga tao saka nagsalita ang host. "I think we have our answer for that!"

Dumating sila sa isang portion ng laro kung saan kailangan nilang masagot ng tama ang mga tanong ng isa't isa. Ang hindi makakasagot ay kailangangang uminom.

"What is my favorite drink?" tanong ni Ryle.

Alam na iyon ni Liway dahil nasabi na ito ng binata. "Milk."

It was Liway's turn to ask. Bumunot siya ng isang papel. "How many ex-boyfriend do I have?"

Ngumisi si Ryle. "One, during your college years. I'll make sure I'll be your next boyfriend. Hindi ko na dadagdagan 'yan."

Pabirong umirap si Liway sa ere. They went on with their games. Sa tuwing may pagkakataon, hindi pinapalampas ni Ryle ang pagpapakilig. Right after the interview, some fans asked for their autographs and pictures. Hindi pa rin akalain ni Liway na kinaya niya ang interview.

Hindi talaga binitawan ni Ryle ang kamay niya hanggang sa naging komportable siya. Even with her fans, inaalalayan siya ng binata. Napansin iyon ng nakararami— na nakahawak lang si Ryle sa bewang ng babae kaya marami ang nag-picture dito.

While their fans were busy, Ryle leaned towards Liway's ear. "Let's celebrate later. Fast food chicken in the car?"

Liway pursed her lips. "Sure ba."

Ryle kissed her cheek. Hindi iyon nakatakas sa mga ng fans nila. Little did they know, just an hour after their picture was taken, they made it to the trending searches across the country.