All I Want for Christmas is You

For Christmas

Richard

Boss Eula made sure our hands stayed locked together for the next 15 minutes.  Parangap ko to e. Mahawakan mang lang yung kamay nya, pero kulang, may mali e. Di kami naguusap. I didn’t know what to say to her. I could sense how uncomfortable she was and I didn’t even know how to make her feel at ease. I was thankful for all the noise around us kasi baka marinig nya yung lakas ng tibok ng puso ko. Seriously Faulkerson, man up!

Tapos eto namang si Kris, isa din. I saw him wink at me before picking up a fork and hitting it against his Bacardi-filled ball glass. Aba e di syempre, si Sam naman sumigaw ng “Kiss! Kiss!”

The clink of forks, knives and spoons against glass was defeaning and all I could do was laugh nervously while I silently observed her, staring at her while her head was bowed and her long brown hair cascaded down like a curtain effectively obscuring my view of her beautiful face. Kasi kung ako ang tatanungin, tangina, hahalikan ko talaga siya pero pano kung ayaw nya? I know she’s single but still, I don’t think she’s the type who gives in just because everyone is teasing her.

I was nervous and torn between wanting to kiss her and being a gentleman. We were put on the spot and I didn’t want her to think that I was taking advantage of the situation. But right before her locks completely cover her face, I was able to catch a glimpse of her reddened cheeks. Di ko alam kung anong gagawin ko, nahihiya ako sa kanya. She must be so embarrassed right now.

I didn’t want to kiss her in front of everyone when I haven’t even had the chance to talk to her personally. I only knew her by her name, Maine Mendoza. And that she is by far the most beautiful woman in this room. And right now, in her red Betty Boop neckline dress, she is a goddess and I am but a mere mortal. Yes, poetic ako, bakit ba?

So I did what I think was the right thing to do. I stood up andpulled her up from the couch. She was startled and looked at me quizzically. Susko, kinindatan ko pa. Gusto kong batukan sarili ko. But that made her chuckle albeit shyly so I guess, that was a good sign. When we were both standing up, I pulled her away from the cheering crowd.

“No, not here. Sa CR na lang.” I said loudly. Everyone roared in kilig, susmaryosep.

The guys were patting me on the back as we passed them by, cheering me on. She looked at me in confusion but let me lead the way. Then she whispered as I open the door to our room’s private rest room.

“Seryoso ka ba?” She asked me as she tentatively stepped into the bathroom, both of us crowding the door frame, her warm breath reaching my chest, the strawberry scent of her hair wafting through my senses. Lord, help me. Stay strong, Tisoy.

“Syempre joke lang. Sakyan na lang natin.” I whispered. I saw something cross her eyes but it quickly went away then she walked to the other end or the cramped restroom and crossed her arms over her chest as I locked the door.

Maine

Ay joke lang? Humopia ako, mga bes.

Pero shet. He winked at me. Granted medyo waley but still. Kinilig ako kaya dinaan ko na lang sa tawa.

My heart broke a little at his last statement, though. I guess it was his way of rejecting me. At least he didn’t do it in front of everyone. Naapreciate ko naman yun. Well, I can take a hint, so I walked over the the other end of the bathroom instead. Awkward silence then filled the room until I heard him clear his throat.

“Ahm, Maine, right? I’m Richard.”

“Hi, Richard.”

“Ok ka pa ba? Pasensya ka na ha. Sakyan na lang natin si Boss. I mean, if it’s ok with you. I’m really sorry we had to meet this way.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Si-sige. S-sakyan na lang natin. Libre nya naman to e. Hehe.” I said, trying hard to smile at him as I did so. Medyo nagstutter lang ako burberry light because hello, yung puso ko nagcartwheel sa loob ng ribcage ko, ok? Buti nga nakapagsalita pa ako. But really what else could I do? Sabi ko naman ieenjoy ko na lang to, diba? At least for just one night, he’s mine. Pero masakit, bes ha. Alam ko namang hindi ako kagandahan pero mas masakit pala if the person you like kinda says that to your face.

Oh, well, papel.

The room was enveloped in deafening silence once again after that for I don’t know how long. Then he spoke again.

“Ahm, ok ka lang? Nakailang minutes na ba tayo? Enough na ba to make it seem like we made out? That was a weird question. Sorry.” Nakakainis! Ang cute nya o! Yung dimple please. Ugh. Kalma, heart.

And I was like:  Eh gago pala to e! Kung nagmomol na lang tayo e di hindi ka nagtatantsa ng oras dyan. “I guess. Let’s go?”

He opened the door for me and the moment the rest of the party heard the door open, they dropped what they were doing and went back to teasing and screaming our names.

“Eto na ang love team ang kakabog sa AlDub! Sa MaiChard tayo! Whooo!”

Ha? MaiChard?! Ah, ok. Maine and Richard. Hay, sana lang.

"Go, go, go! Mars-Mallows!" Eula cheered. I cringed when I saw his frows burrowed in confusion. Please, please Richard, don't ask me why.

“Momol pa more!”

Wala! Walang momol na naganap.

He leaned in to my ear and whispered. (Tumili na naman po ang mga tao. Yung totoo?) “Till 11pm lang naman tayo dito. 15 minutes na lang naman. Game?”

Eula shouted, “Hala sya, nagbubulungan naaaa!”

He waited for me to agree before taking my hand and locking my fingers with his again. Wait lang naman please.

We passed by Jerald and he patted Richard’s shoulder. “Naks naman, Paps. Matic? Holding hands agad? Kanina lang nagkakahiyaan pa kayo a.”

“Tigilan mo nga ako, Je.” He retorted.

*Cue in screams from the audience, again.*

Parang gusto ko nang matapos tong gabing to. Masakit na ang tenga ko kakatili ng mga tao, ang sakit pa ng puso ko kakahopia ko.

to be continued...

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