Meraki* (MaiChard Fanfic)

Chapter 2 - Till I Met You

27 August 2015

Dear Richard (or should I call you RJ?),

First of all, I'm going to address you by your given name because this is real. What I mean is, I'm not addressing the actor or the singer or the model. I'm addressing the you who lies beneath the mask of Alden Richards. Kasi, ikaw naman talaga iyung gusto kong sulataan. Ang sweet ko ba? Just kidding.

Anyway, I'm feeling productive today so I have decided to write a bunch of letters addressed to you (though I don't think I'll ever send it). I'm a little old-fashioned so I really think writing a letter is the best way to express my feelings. I'll tell you a secret: this is actually the first time I've done something like this. I mean, I love to write (and I really miss writing) but I don't usually write a large number of letters for a guy that I haven't even met.

Okay, so....I'm not exactly sure when it started or when I realized it. Maybe it was when you wrote my name on paper or when you told me that your gift suits me. Maybe it was when you first smiled at me and I caught a glimpse of the twinkle in your eyes. Or maybe it was because you made me smile when you cracked a lame joke or attempted to blur the lines between reel and real.

Did you know that I have a very cynical view of the world? I'm a pessimist though it hardly shows on TV. It's just that...for some reason, I could not help but get kilig whenever I see you on the other side. I feel like there really is magic between us. Thinking back, everything felt so right and the timing was perfect when we first saw each other on TV. Parang Disney lang ang peg! It sometimes makes me wonder if this is real or just a dream. Kanta ba ito? Haha

It is so unlike me to think this way because...I don't really know you. We're not close or anything. Hindi pa nga tayo nagkikita at nagkaka-usap 'di ba? Haha. But it's weird. I guess seeing you everyday (though not personally) is a big factor. I get to know you a little better along with the rest of the world. I might sound selfish but...I want more than that. I want to know the you without the entourage or the you who is not seen by the rest of the world. Kaso, kailangan kong maghintay no?

At times like this, I wish that we have the chance to talk, to discuss things about ourselves or anything under the sun. I would love it more if there are no cameras or people from the studio following us and watching our every move. Just us. Alone. Maybe on a road trip? Or a trip to the beach? I'll have you know that I absolutely love the water!

It would be nice if something like that could happen. I'm currently like a fish out of the water or a person grasping at straws. All I know about you is the stuff I have read on the internet and the things that some of our fans are sending me via social media. Though, I seldom have time to check it. Ang dami kasing ganap! Halos wala na rin akong oras magbasa. :(

Oh, I've digressed. I know that everything we have been doing is just 'acting' and that we are just doing our jobs. But..is that it? Are our stories merely stories? Totohanan na ba ang nararamdaman natin sa isa't isa? Am I just thinking too much? Minsan kasi iyun na lang ginagawa ko sa buhay. Haha I really don't know.

I am not sure if you'll ever read this letter but I want you to know that everything I've said and every word I wrote came from my heart. Tuloy-tuloy lang talaga lumabas sa akin ng lahat ng ito. I just typed and typed and typed everything that I could possibly think of. If I ever decide to let you read this, don't laugh, okay? I think my thoughts are all over the place and you might change your opinion about me.

Before I end this letter (dami kong sinasabi, sorry!), I just want to say that if there is anything I can promise you...it's the fact that I have faith. I have faith that we are still destined for greater things and that we can overcome everything that comes our way given time. Sabi nga nila, kapit lang. Simula pa lang tayo.

Just...just don't let go and just stay with me for now. Please? The

- Maine

***

The sound of Maine typing on her keyboard woke Coleen from her slumber. She picked her head up, asked sleepily, "Maine? Anong oras na, hindi ka pa ba matutulog?"

"Mamaya. Hindi pa ako inaantok," Maine said, tapping on her keyboard.

"Huh?" she glanced at the clock on the nightstand, then turned back to Maine. "Alas-tres na ng umaga. Hindi ka pa rin inaantok?"

"Hindi pa eh," she replied. "Bakit ba? Matulog ka na lang ulit. Hindi naman kita ginugulo eh."

"Ugh," Coleen groaned. "Nagising na ako kasi ang ingay mong mag-type. Ano ba iyang ginagawa mo?"

"Wala. Nagsho-shopping lang, nagbabasa, nagse-search...the usual."

Maine's last statement woke her up. "Anong the usual? Anong sine-search mo?"

Coleen stood from her bed and made her way towards Maine's bed. She perched on the edge of Maine's bed and tried to peek on the laptop screen.

"Patingin nga niyan," she said.

Maine immediately closed her laptop, not noticing that Coleen managed to get a glimpse of the screen which showed photos of Alden Richards. "Dun ka na nga! Ano ba."

Coleen's eyes caught hers, and she caught a glimpse of nervousness. Aktingan lang pala ah.

"Meng, ang cute pala ni Alden no?"

"Oh, bakit? Crush mo no?"

Coleen had to stop herself from laughing. She knew that her sister was a little jealous. "Medyo lang naman. Syempre, kay Mike pa rin ako kung papipiliin ako."

Maine said nothing.

"Kung ikaw papipiliin, pipiliin mo ba siya?"

"Ha? Eh. Ano...Oo?"

"Oh, bakit patanong? Hindi ka ba sure?" Coleen asked teasingly. "Ayaw mo ba sa kanya? Kasi, balita ko maraming naghahabol ---"

"'Wag na silang umasa," Maine cut her off and rolled her eyes before crossing her arms over her chest. "Move on move on din kapag may time. Uso ang tanggapin ang realidad."

Coleen laughed out loud before standing and moving towards her bed. Nahulog na itong si Meng eh. Ayaw lang aminin. Haha

"Alam mo, matutulog na ako. Bahala ka na diyan. Isipin mo ang mga sinabi mo ah?"

Maine just stared at her dumbfounded. Ano naman ang sinasabi nito?

After a while, she shook her head and opened her laptop again. Ano pa kaya ang website na pwede kong pagkuhaan ng photos ni Alden? Hmm. 

***

Author's Note: 

Thank you for reading the preface and first chapter of Meraki! :) 

I'll post the third chapter tomorrow evening. :)