Tawang-tawa ako kay Alden when he first visited me sa Bulacan. It was on a Sunday right after his SPS show. Normally, our family would go out during Sundays but nagtaka ako when we stayed in that day.
When I woke up, malapit nang mag-lunch. Akala ko kasi sa labas kami kakain. Nag quick shower lang ako kasi ayokong ma-late, baka ma-award na naman ni Tatay. Pagbaba ko, may naka set up na long table malapit sa pool area tapos andaming food.
I asked Coleen kung anong meron. She just looked at me na parang saan ba ako galing at hindi ko alam. Gaga kasi yun minsan, lakas mang-asar. Parang kuya ko din. I asked Ate Niki what the fuss was all about. Sabi niya, darating daw mga tita ko. Umakyat na lang ulit ako sa room ko at nagbihis.
Lunch started late, malapit na mag 2 o'clock kahit complete attendance na kami. Gutom na gutom na ako pero sila chikahan pa rin ng chikahan. Ako yata nakaubos ng chicken lollipop talaga.
We have a huge extended family. Sometimes, my mom's second cousins would visit us tapos magvivideoke kami. That day, andami namin kaya medyo magulo pero masaya.
I had my back to the door and since maingay nga kami, I did not actually hear him knock. Mas napansin ko na biglang tumahimik. Paglingon ko, jusko, si Alden Richards nakatayo sa sala namin, pawis na pawis at pulang-pula. It took a while for everything to sink in. Nakatulala lang ako tapos siya naman, he was standing there na parang humihingi ng tulong.
Mas naunang mag-react si Ate Niki. She immediately went to Alden's rescue and led him toward my table. Pero get this, pinagkaguluhan siya ng mga younger cousins ko. Hiyang hiya ako pero Alden looked more uncomfortable with the attention. Naawa ako sa kanya.
What really happened pala was, kinuntsaba niya si Ate Niki na bibisita siya sa bahay. He was also able to talk to Tatay through Ate Niki's cellphone. Pumayag naman. The original plan was a quiet lunch lang with Alden dun sa bahay. Pero since madaldal nga si Ate Niki, nakwento niya sa mga tita namin kaya ayun, pati sila na-excite din.
Surprise lang kasi dapat sa'kin ang pagbisita niya. It turned out, siya pala ang na-surprise kasi hindi siya na-orient na may fans day pala siya sa loob ng bahay namin sa Bulacan.
I actually could not remember what he ate that day, or if he even ate anything. Nakakatawa yung facial expression niya the whole time. Parang naiihi or najejebs.
After lunch, he asked me to go out with him, may kukunin lang daw sa kotse. I wanted him to get away from the chaos din so pumayag ako. When he opened his van, andaming flowers, as in. Siguro mga four million dozens, ganoin. His dilemma was kung paano ilalabas lahat at ipapasok sa bahay namin.
We decided to make several trips na lang, pa unti-unti namin ipapasok sa garden area. I was holding a big bunch tapos siya din. Papasok na kami when one of my cousins came out looking for us. Nakita niya yung flowers na bitbit namin. Ang ending, lahat sila tumulong para mailabas lahat ng bulaklak ni Alden. Mas lalo siyang na-dyahe.
Pero he loosened up after that. Napilitan pa siyang kumanta kasi hindi complete ang family gathering naming kung walang videoke session. See? Parang totoong fans day talaga. Pero loko din 'tong si kuya eh. Siya yung pumili ng song for Alden at ang pinili niya? God Gave Me You. Tangina 'tong kuya ko, sarap sapakin. Pero game din naman si Alden. Kinanta niya pa rin. Naghanap pa nga ng Wish I May eh.
Pero friend, kinilig ako ng bongga. At around 8 PM, I told him na umuwi na siya kasi ang layo pa ng byahe niya tapos wala pa siyang kasama pauwi. Eh narinig ni tatay. Instead of asking Alden to go home, pinigilan pa niya. He stayed until 11 PM. By that time, talagang pinilit ko na siya na umuwi.
Before he left, inisa-isa niya mga tita at tito ko. He said goodbye to my cousins as well tapos sa mga kapatid ko. He saved the best for last. I saw him talking to my parents. Hindi ko alam kung ano pinag-usapan nila and ako naman, kebs lang. When it was finally time for him to leave, hinatid ko siya sa kotse niya. We hugged lang naman, tapos beso. Ano ba inexpect mo? Kaloka ka.
Alam mo what's funny? He spent eight hours with me and my family pero hindi kami nakapag-usap ng matino. Pero he seemed happy. And I guess yun lang ang importante sa akin, that he enjoyed his day with us.
When I went back sa bahay, sinalubong ako ng yakap ni Nanay. Tatay was patting my head. I didn't know why.
But I have a feeling it has something to do with Alden.
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