BINI IMAGINES

Starstruck & Stubborn | STACEY

You're a bookstore owner in Palawan at a town near the beach.

Day one...

You were standing and leaning against the counter while reading a book when a woman in her pink dress and white cap entered the shop.

Tumitingin tingin sya sa paligid at animoy inoobserbahan ito, tumingin rin siya sa likuran nya bago sya lumapit sa mga shelves ng books.

Hindi mo lang siya pinansin dahil focused ka sa book na binabasa mo. Umupo siya sa isang bakanteng upuan malapit sa glass wall, saka naman niya inilabas ang book kanyang napili at sinimulan nang basahin.

Tahimik lang ang paligid ng bookstore, hindi gaano karami ang tao. Masasabi mong peaceful at kalmado ang atmosphere ng lugar.

Day two...

The same girl entered the shop, dumeretso agad siya sa mga bookshelves para maghanap ulit ng mga libro. Habang nakatuon ang atensyon ng babae sa paghahanap ay bahagya kang tumingin sakanya. The girl seems familiar to you pero hindi mo alam kung saan mo siya nakita kaya nagkibit-balikat ka nalang.

"Excuse me? I can't find the section for fantasy genre, where could it be po ba?" She asked you and you quickly point it out for her without even uttering a single word.

She thanked you before going on the direction you pointed as you focused yourself on the book you're holding. Lumilingon sya sa kanyang paligid at pilit na itinatago ang sarili gamit ang kanyang cap at jacket.

Time passes by and she tried to engage a conversation with you pero hindi ka gaanong kaenteresado sa mga sinasabi niya, tango at iling lang kaya mong isagot sakanya.

Hindi ka rin naman kasi madaldal at mas gusto mo ng tahimik na lugar kung saan makakapag focus ka sa hobby mo sa pagbabasa ng libro.

Day three...

Inaayos mo ang mga patas ng libro nang mapansin mo ang babaeng nahihirapan abutin ang librong nasa taas na bahagi ng shelf, hindi ka nagdalawang isip na kuhain ito at iniabot sakanya. As you were closer to the girl, you noticed and remembered her.

She's the same girl who came to your shop yesterday and the day before it. "You've been here for a while now ah, Its seems like you liked being in here?" The girl, taken a back but pleased the you're finally talking to her.

"Maybe i just really likes books" she responds with a playful smile.

You smirked at her "O baka naman may tinataguan ka?"

Tumaas ang kilay nya. "Ha? What makes you think that?"

You shrugs. "I don't know, napansin ko kasi lagi kang masid na masid sa paligid mo, you always looking over your shoulder the para bang natatakot kang may makakita sayo."

The girl let out a small chuckle. "I was just here for a long vacation and i think im still trying blend in."

"Madali nalang yan, masasanay ka rin dito. Just keep coming and buy books and you'll fit right in."

Ilang araw ang nagdaan ay katumbas rin ng mga araw na pabalik balik ang babae sa shop mo, she introduced herself as Stacey. Palagi na rin kayong nagkakausap and talking about books and music.

Stacey finds herself opening up to you in a way she hasn't with anyone else. Komportable siya sayo dahil nakikita mo siya kung sino siya at kung ano talaga siya.

One evening, during summer festival in Palawan, Stacey were walking around the festival grounds when she spotted you at a food stall, may mga kausap ka na mga kakilala mo at iba mong kaibigan.

Nilapitan ka ni Stacey at tinapik ang balikat mo. Nang humarap ka sakanya ay nakita mo siyang nakatayo at malawak ang mga ngiti. She wearing her pink dress, the one that she's wearing the first time she came in to your shop.

"You again? Don't tell me you're stalking me now."

She grins. "Maybe i just wanted to see if you're more fun outside the bookstore"

You chuckled. "Careful what you wish for ha, baka pagsisihan mo."

You spend the whole night of festival with her, eating various street foods, watching festival shows, listening to played musics and even playing different games. Once the festival is about to end, you found yourselves sitting on the beach, watching the fireworks flashing above the black starry sky.

Stacey spoke. "Alam mo, Y/n. I'm not exactly who you think i am."

You stared at her, confused. "Hm? Ano ibig mong sabihin?"

Stacey hesitates for a second before answering you. "I'm Stacey Sevilleja."

"Stacey... Stacey what?" You asked

She repeats herself. "Sevilleja. Stacey Sevilleja."

"The idol? From uhh...what it's called? BINI?"

Stacey gave you a nod, but instead of freaking out you just laughed at her. "Seryoso ako, Y/n. Mukha ba akong nabibiro?"

You shakes your head. "Look, your cool and all but if your trying to impress me with some wild story, i'm afraid its not going to work"

She realized that you doesn't truly believe her and decides to prove it. Inilabas nya ang phone nya at ipinakita sayo ang kanyang Instagram account profile, agad ka namang tumigil sa pagtawa at tila ay nagulat.

"You're... you're actually Stacey? Bini Stacey?" You stammers, finally realizing its true.

She nods "Gulat ka 'no?"

You froze and still processing. "Bakit hindi mo sinabi?"

"I didn't want you to treat me differently, gusto ko kung pano ka makipag interact sa akin at kung paano mo ako itrato, parang i'm just a person who lives a normal life. That's just i how wanted to be. She stated.

You were still a bit stunned but you smiled at her. "Kaya pala iwas na iwas ka sa camera ah? And ikaw yung "mystery girl" na pinaguusapan sa beach?"

She nodded and let out a soft laugh. "Are you mad kasi hindi ko sinabi sayo?"

You shook your head. "No i'm not. Nagulat lang ako, so...i guess i'm dating a ppop idol now?"

She playfully smiled. "Ikaw, kung gusto mo, why not naman diba?"

You took a moment then says with a smirk tugging on your lips. "I guess i can handle that, pero wag ka mag expect the special treatment ah? Pwede na siguro yung mga books recommendations?"

She laughs while nodding her head. "Deal".

You both ended up walking along the beach, hand in hand as the last fireworks lit up the starry night sky.

Stacey has found something she didn't know was missing, someone who sees her for who she really is, not just an image of an idol she portrays to the world. And you discovered that sometimes, the unexpected turns out to be what exactly you needed.

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