MGA PAKIWARI AT PAGMUMUNI-MUNI (An AlDub Collection of Poems and Short Stories)

Timezones

Because I just miss them and I miss seeing them together. Sue me.

FICTION. OK? OK.

//

"Hello, Love..."

"Hi! We're here na. Settled already at nagaayos lang kasi -- Oh, bakit parang matamlay ka? Maaga ka pa today diba? Are you still in bed? May SPS ka pa."

"I'm all right. I'm just -- hohmmm..."

"Ay naku ka talaga, Faulkerson. Natulog ka ba?"

"..."

"Jusko wag mo akong ngitian ng ganyan at hindi mo ako madadala sa pa-dimple dimple mo. Why didn't you sleep??"

"I was waiting for you."

"I already told you the last time that we FaceTimed that our flight was delayed and that you do not need to wait up for me na. Tigas din ng ulo mo, ano?"

"..."

"Oh, e di ngayon aantok antok ka. Ay wag mo akong tingnan ng ganyan. Hindi mo ako madadaan sa -- haaay... Love, please take care of yourself naman. Wala ako dyan eh."

"I miss you na, eh..."

"1 week lang, RJ. Pabebe naman nito."

"Eeehhhh... Sa namimiss na kita eh. Wala ka dito sa tabi ko..."

"..."

"Menggay?"

"..."

"Huy, Menggay ko? What's wrong? Are you-- Are you crying?"

"Ikaw kasi eh! Kasalanan mo 'to!"

"Luh, bakit ako? Andito ako sa kabilang dako ng mundo. Tinitingnan lang ang babaeng mahal ko sa isang phone screen habang namimiss sya ng todo at winiwish na nandito sana sya sa tabi ko para mayakap at mahalikan at makaga--"

"FAULKERSON!"

"What? Oh, eh di ngumiti ka rin..."

"See? This is why you should have slept kanina instead of waiting for me. Harot mo na naman. I would have called you naman when you're awake na. But no, Ikaw pa rin ang nauna. And then I find out you've been awake since kanina? RJ, hindi ka night person! You need your sleep and --"

"Menggay?"

"-- you need your rest. You wouldn't be able to function mamaya pag wala kang tulog. Alam mo naman na --"

"MENGGAY!"

"Ano?! Bakit ka sumisigaw? Concerned lang ako. Baka kung anong mangyari sayo kasi wala ako dyan. Sinong magaalaga sayo? Tingnan mo nga - isang araw pa lang, hindi ka na natutulog tapos mamaya baka --"

"I love you..."

"..."

"I love you, Menggay ko. My fiancée, the love of my life, my future wife, mother of my future twins, Siegfried and Athena. And I miss you like crazy."

"..."

"Oh - bakit natahimik ka bigla?"

"Bwiset ka."

"..."

"Tumigil ka nga sa pangiti ngiti mong ganyan! Nakakainis ka na ha!"

"Anak ng tinola - ano na naman ginawa ko?!"

"You always catch me off guard!"

"But you love me for it."

"Unfortunately, that I do... Tapos yan - yang Siegfried at Athena na sinabi mo last time sa Sugod Bahay. Kala mo nakalimutan ko na yun?? Lagi mo na lang tayong nilalaglag eh! Alam mo naman ang nation - napakatatalino."

"If it was up to me - I would have shouted sa buong mundo na akin ka na."

"I know, Love. But you know naman why we cannot pa diba? We both agreed to it."

"I know. Doesn't mean I'm happy with it."

"Ang tingnan na lang natin eh sina Ate Yan at Kuya Dong. They had to hide their engagement too for two years diba?"

"Haaay... Menggay ko. Miss na talaga kita. Sana nandyan ako. Or nandito ka."

"Well..."

"Meng - alam ko yang mga tingin na ganyan mo."

"Eh kasi... Since you brought up na sana nandito ka... I mean, well - you could..."

"Love?"

"Yeessss...?"

"Wag ako."