Meraki* (MaiChard Fanfic)

Chapter 10 - Feels Like

25 December 2015

Dear RJ,

How are you? It's been minutes since I last talked to you. Sorry, I'm a little clingy. I really miss you. I know that you have to spend some time with your family because it's Christmas...but I still want to see you. Pwedeng fast forward na sa January? Gusto na kita ulit makasama. I never realized (until now) that I grew so attached to you. Lagi tuloy kitang hinahanap. Kung mababasa mo ito, alam kong sisingkit na naman ang mata mo at lalalim ang dimples mo! #cheezy

To be honest, you don't know how special you made me feel for me the past few months. When I entered show business about 6 months ago, I honestly never imagined that I'll meet the man of my dreams (or receive any of the amazing projects and endorsements). I feel like I'm so lucky and blessed to be part of Eat Bulaga which gave me so much more than I needed. Can you just imagine what could have happened if I didn't enter showbiz or if you pursued your dream of being a pilot? Are we still fated to meet and fall in love with each other?

Oops. Ayun, sinabi ko na ha! I know you've been waiting for me to tell you how I feel and that day has finally arrived! Christmas gift ko na sa iyo ito! Joke lang. Haha. Honestly, I know I should think about so many things (pessimistic nga ako, 'di ba?) but I feel like this is something that I shouldn't spend so much thinking about. It's undeniable. Sa totoo lang, hindi na talaga kita matiis. Naks! Malakas ka sa akin eh.

Now, I'm sure you want to know how (and when) I realized that I am in love with you. Nung paggising ko kanina, bigla ko lang naisip na mahal kita. Joke. It happened slowly but surely. I know it sounds cliche but believe me when I say that it's the truth. It may be hard to believe for you (because I usually crack a joke when we get serious) but you're not dreaming. Pwede ka nang kiligin, Tisoy! This is real, this is me...ay wait, kanta iyun.

Anyway, it's Christmas! Ang bilis ng oras no? Can you believe that it's going to be 2016 in a few weeks? Tapos, birthday mo na a few days after that! I'm so excited. I'm still looking at the Christmas present that you gave me. Ikaw ha, binabasa mo pala blog ko! Paano mo nalaman na gusto ko ng charms para sa bracelet ko? You even quoted the words that I used! Kaya kita mahal eh. I'm being extremely brave right now!

You're right though. I have always wanted a guy to give me charms that represents anything that is relevant to my life. I already told you how I loved looking at each charm, thinking about the memory or the person associated with it. Saka nabasa mo na rin iyan sa blog ko! Kung alam lang nila...I'm sure, kukulangin ang oxygen nila. Iba ka rin kasi talagang gumalaw. Patago (kasi kailangan). Don't get me wrong ha, I really appreciate it.

Nothing beats the favorite gift I received though. Bago ka magselos, galing sa iyo ito! You know I sometimes love to make fun of you just to see you how you'd react. There's just something about your reaction...'Oi! Baka kung anu-ano ang iniisip mo ha! But seriously, I was really surprised when you shyly gave it to me. Akala mo naman kung ano gagawin ko! Hahalikan lang kita no. Charot!

If you're still confused, I'm talking about the simple handwritten letter that you gave me. Alam kong may budget ka (at bumili ka na ng mas mahal na gift), but I think that this is the sweetest gift (old-fashioned nga kasi ako) that you gave me! Ang sweet sweet pa ng message mo (imagine me pinching your cheeks). I really feel that I am special and loved because I know that this gift (like the charms) came from the heart. Damang dama ko! Tagos na tagos.

Oh, wait. Coleen is calling me now (istorbo talaga). *imagine me rolling my eyes* I need to write faster. Moving on, I want to tell you something that I wasn't able to say (nahihiya ako kanina, sobrang sweet mo kasi!) when we were talking on FaceTime. Saka ang daming istorbo kasi *side-eyes Dean and Coleen* na labas pasok sa kwarto habang nag-uusap tayo.

I hope that we can stay strong no matter what life throws our way. I hope that we can be strong enough to get over it. I hope that you'll always remember that when the spotlight fades, and the fans stop screaming...

I'll always love you, Richard Faulkerson Jr.

Love,

Menggay

***

25 December 2015

"Alam mo, kanina pa kita tinatawag," her sister Coleen remarked. "Ano ba kasing ginagawa mo diyan? Nagagalit na si Nanay. Ang bagal bagal mo."

"Ay wow lang ha. Wala pang limang minuto, bumalik ka na kaya agad dito." Maine scowled at her sister who was leaning on the doorway.

Coleen glared at Maine. "Kakain na kasi! Kanina pa kami nagugutom, ikaw na lang hinihintay."

"Kaya naman pala asar na asar ka," Maine said laughingly. "Nagugutom ka na! Gym pa more ha."

"Ano ba kasing meron? Bakit ang busy mo eh bakasyon nga?"

"Nagsusulat lang ako ng letter," Maine admitted. "Ngayon lang kasi ako nagkaroon ng time para magsulat dahil sa sobrang busy ko."

"Letter? Para kay RJ iyan no?"

Maine gave her a disbelieving look. "Kung maka-RJ ka, kala mo ikaw ang jowa ha. 'Wag ganun. Ang kay Menggay ay kay Menggay lang."

"Ang OA mo, Menggay! Possessive much? May Mike na kaya ako," Coleen said, rolling her eyes. "Nagtatanong lang ako no!"

"Eh kasi naman iyung tanong mo...nang aano eh."

"Ewan ko sa iyo. Halika na nga, kanina pa naghihintay sina Nanay!"

"Teka lang naman kasi. Hindi pa ako nakakapag-ayos. Saglit lang."

Coleen flopped into the chair near the door. "Bilisan mo nga. Maawa ka naman sa mga taong nagugutom na."

"Ito na," Maine said, running to the bathroom and fixing her clothes.

"Menggay," Coleen called out. "May tanong pala ako."

Maine come out of the bathroom. "Oh? Ano iyun?"

"Are you happy? I know you've heard this before but...are you sure?"

Maine smiled softly. "You have no idea how many times I thought about this. If my decision was right. If I should really do this. If I am really happy..."

"Tapos?"

"Na-realize ko na may mga bagay na hindi dapat masyadong pinag-iisipan. Nakikita ko naman lahat ng ginagawa niya para sa akin. 'Ni minsan, hindi niya ako iniwan. Kahit walang kapalit. Kahit hindi pa niya alam na mahal ko rin siya."

Maine took a deep breath before continuing. "Saka...ramdam ko na totoong tao siya at tanggap niya kung sino ako noon at ngayon. I can't help but fall for him."

"He does go out of his way to make you happy," Coleen said. "Ilang beses na nga ba siyang pumunta dito para kausapin sina Tatay?"

Maine laughed. "Ay, nako. Ewan ko ba dun! Minsan, hindi nagsasabi sa akin na pupuntahan pala niya sina Tatay. But I really appreciate it."

"Sus! Halatang halata ang kilig mo, Menggay. Bakit hindi mo pa kasi sabihin sa kanya na mahal mo siya? Ilang araw mo na ring pinag-iisipan iyan."

"Eh...nahihiya ako eh."

"Saan? Ikaw ha, ang pabebe mo! Bakit hindi mo pa sabihin ngayon? Pasko naman."

"Baka busy siya..."

Coleen stood up. "Umayos ka nga! Kausap mo lang siya kanina. Tawagan mo na ulit! Sabi mo nga, may mga bagay na hindi na dapat masyadong pag-isipin. Pwes, may mga bagay din na hindi na dapat pinapatagal."

"Sige na nga! Tatawagan ko na si RJ," Maine acquiesced. "Bumaba ka na at sabihin mo kina Nanay na wait lang."

"FIne. Basta 'wag kayo masyadong matagal mag-usap. Isipin mo ang mga gugutumin niyo," Coleen said before leaving the room.

This is it, Menggay. Tawagan mo na si RJ. Mahal ka rin naman nun kaya 'wag ka pabebe dahil gutom na kami. Alam kong diet ako, pero respeto naman. Gusto ko rin kumain ng tama.

***

A/N: I had a hard time writing this chapter because of all the harot and kilig served by MaiChard today. Honestly, what is kalma? Ilang saglit lang ako mawala, ang dami ng ganap. HAHAHA

Special thanks to my beta reader, @maichardism! Lamyu! <3