Bits and Pieces

T H R E E

catch me, im falling for you; dawn and richard go fishing on her birthday

It was the last week few weeks of their soap, You're My Home. They had finished taping almost a month before, and the cast decided to have one final camp out as a way of saying goodbye.

The night was spent mostly around a fire, sharing stories about their time together. It was almost midnight when everyone decided it was time to retire to bed.

Dawn was the first to sleep. She said her goodnights and zipped her tent shut. Richard soon followed and took his place a few meters away from her tent.

Not even half an hour had passed when Dawn heard twigs snapping outside her tent. She felt her skin tingle from fear. Her tent shook lightly and its zipper slowly rode up. She hid under the covers and prayed for the best.

She felt someone drawing closer to her and a hand firmly grasped her sheets. Richard pulled at it to reveal her face, and his own was met by her fist.

"Aghh! Aray, Dawn naman eh!" He held in his hand his cheek that met squarely against Dawn's fist.

"Oh my gosh! Chard! Sorry." She laughed softly and took his cheek in her own palm. "Ikaw naman kasi eh. Gabing gabi na, pumunta ka pa dito. 'Di man lang nag text!"

Richard held her hand in his against his cheek, and smiled sheepishly at Dawn. He took a tighter hold of her hand, and pulled her up to stand.

"Tara, labas tayo."

"Labas? Gomz, okay ka lang? Na sa gubat ata tayo sa'n ba balak mong pumunta?"

"Basta. Do you trust me?"

"Yes." He smiled wider and tugged at her hand as they left her tent. He lead her to a lake nearby and they both sat on the shore. Still holding on to his hand, Dawn rested her head against his shoulder.

"Why," she whispered.

"Why what?"

"Why'd you bring me here?"

"Some things aren't meant to be questioned. Just live it through, and forget about the consequences. Masaya ka ba?"

"Of course. Always, when I'm with you."

He let go of her hand, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. His watched beeped once, signaling it was already midnight. He lowered his head near her ear.

"Happy Birthday, my love," he whispered as he kissed her temple and rested his head against hers.

Minutes passed, and they rested their backs to the ground. They fell asleep near the shore, and had awoken when the first rays of light were only starting to appear.

"Chard, balik na tayo. Baka hanapin pa tayo mamaya."

"Sandali lang. 5 minutes." He held her closer and nuzzled his nose to her neck, breathing in her scent.

"Oy! Ano ba. May kiliti ako diyan; alam mo yun!"

He smiled against her skin and sat upright. "Tara, punta tayo sa tubig."

"Huh?! Ayoko nga. Edi mababasa pa ako."

"Malamang, tubig nga eh."

"Huwag na! Ayun, o. Kunin mo nalang yung bangka," she said, pointing at a small fisherman's boat docked nearby.

"Eh 'di naman natin alam kung kanino yan. Mamaya magkamalan pa tayong magnanakaw."

"Hihiramin lang naman eh. Atsaka sure ako kung malaman ng may ari na si Richard Gomez and gumamit ng bangka niya, baka i-pagkalat pa niya yun sa barangay. Tas magpapa-picture pa! Dali, kunin mo na."

"Kung 'di mo lang birthday," Richard said as he sighed and the two walked over to the boat. He helped her board, keeping a hand on her waist and another holding her hand.

He pushed the boat into the water and climbed in just as it was about to sail. "O, masaya ka na?"

Dawn smiled teasingly and said, "Hulihan mo muna ako ng betta fish. May' utang ka, ha. Last year pa dapat yun!"

"Eh wala naman atang betta fish dito. Atsaka 'di mo ba alam na sobrang hirap hanapin noon?"

"Edi ano tawag mo diyan?" Daw pointed at a fish swimming near the boat, but just as Richard was about to lean in to look, it swam deeper into the lake. He stood up, trying to get a better view, and Dawn pushed him into the waters.

"Shit! Taleon! Ano ba?" As he resurfaced, his head hit hard against the wood. "Alam mo, paulit-ulit mo nalang ako sinasaktan, ha!"

Dawn laughed and teased, "Mukhang ibang usapan na yata 'yan, ah."

"Oy, seryoso, Dawn. Masakit talaga," he said, pouting like a child. "Tulong nga, aahon na ko."

"Diyan ka nalang. 'Di ba nga, kapag na sa tubig ka, mawawala lahat ng problema. Mapapawi lahat ng sakit," she said, mimicking Richard's character in their latest movie.

"Nababaliw ka na talaga!" Richard laughed at her antics, and put both his hands on the edge of the boat. He hoisted himself up and sat, shivering.

Dawn suddenly felt guilty and voiced out her concern. "Oy, Chard? Balik na tayo ha, mukhang maha-hypothermia ka pa diyan."

She paddled back to shore, and helped Richard dock the boat. Dawn made Richard sit, and wrapped her arms around his numb form. "Sorry, ha. Mukhang magkakasakit ka pa dahil sa akin. Naku, campaign season pa naman na."

"Okay lang. Sulit naman yun, basta narining ko tawa mo."

His response made her smile, and she hugged him even tighter. "Ang breezy mo talaga kahit kailan!"

"Pwede balik na tayo sa camp?"

"Sure, of course." Dawn helped him up, and they walked back to their spot.

It was already past breakfast by the time they arrived, and everyone was already packing up. They quietly tiptoed back to Richard's tent, and Dawn finally bid her goodbyes.

"Magpalit ka ng damit ha. Baka magkasakit ka pa."

"Yes, boss." She smiled at his term of endearment and was about to walk back to her tent to pack her own stuff up. Before she could go far, Richard took a hold of her wrist and pulled her close.

"Mami-miss kita."

"I'll miss you too, Chard." Her smile turned bittersweet and his face looked solemn. "Don't leave me hanging. Baka aasa lang ako sa wala."

"Aysus naman. Syempre babalikan kita, noh. Baka nga ako ang walang mabalikan, eh."

"Andito lang naman ako."

"Pero iba na ang makakasama mo."

"Tigil na nga sa drama! Kainis as if naman 'di tayo magkikita sa ASAP."

They both laughed and held each other close. "Bye, Dawn."
He kissed her forehead, and finally let go of her arm. She smiled sweetly, and whispered to herself as he entered his tent, "Bye, boss."

She walked back to her own, packed her bags and went home.
That night she couldn't help but worry that that may have been her last birthday spent with him.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
alam kong panget ang ending oo na 😂
excited ako for the next update though ahahahahha
let's just say na magtatagpo silang dalawa kasama ang kani-kanilang mga asawa 😂🙈