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

Constant

The cameras finally stopped rolling, the lights were being turned off one by one. The crew was fixing and cleaning out the stage, the remaining ones like Reez and Pat were barking out orders. Broadway was slowly emptying out of fans and audiences, with only a few remaining ones who were milling about asking for the dabarkads' autographs or photos.

He was finally in one of the dressing rooms, after being ushered in by Mama Ten, promptly plopping down on the couch. After signing countless autographs, taking photos with his beloved fans backstage, endless fan signs and video greets - all done together with her - he was ready to whisk her away and get that much needed rest that she demanded of him.

She was the only thing that kept him smiling for their fans, despite the tiredness that was seeping in his bones - her hand in his, her soft caresses on his arms, her whispers of "sandali na lang 'to" with a matching comforting smile that was reserved only for him.

She was his strength. And she knew it.

With the way she never let his hand go, squeezing every now and then as if to assure him that she was there. Always there. With the way she would scrunch her brow whenever he would let out a yawn or whenever he would suddenly slump his shoulders forward before straightening up once the next fan comes along. With the way she would softly smile up at him while caressing his hair or wiping his forehead of sweat.

"Kaya mo pa ba, Tans?" she softly asked as she bounded in the room a heartbeat later than him, entertaining their fans a little longer, making excuses for his sudden disappearance to their fans - even though it was her who insisted to Mama Ten to whisk him away.

She plopped down on the couch beside him, and he felt her worried gaze, making him smile despite the tiredness that was prominent on his face. He had his head resting back, his eyes closed as he felt for her; his arm immediately circling her waist as he pulled her closer to him, her head finding purchase below his chin.

He gave her a soft kiss on the top of her head before answering. "Ok pa naman, Ms. Maine."

"Sinabihan naman na kasi kita, eh," she continued, softly chastising him as her hand rested on top of his chest where his heart was beating. "You need to rest. You didn't have to overexert yourself. Ayan tuloy, birthday na birthday mo - may sakit ka."

"Uy, wala na akong sakit!" he answered back, his hand now caressing the soft tendrils of her hair. "Kinaya ko nga lahat ng prod ngayon, oh."

She scoffed even as her arm went around him. "Kahit na. Kita mo nga yang mukha mo - sobrang pagod na ang itsura. Hindi lang ako ang siguradong nakapansin nyan."

"Wala ka kasi for two weeks para alagaan ako, eh." He teased, chuckling as she hit him playfully on his chest.

"Sira ka talaga!"

"But you're here now," he lowly intoned as he tipped her chin up to look at her eyes. "At pwede mo na akong maalagaan ulit."

She rolled her eyes. "Akala ko ba ako ang aalagaan mo?" she mumbled before reaching up and kissing him on his chin, then his cheek, then his nose - and finally, his lips. She kissed him softly, her lips slowly moving against his as they both savored this intimate and private moment that they both always struggle to have.

These precious, short moments that they strive to have and maintain - as much as their schedules, or in most cases - his, would allow.

"Will you come have dinner with me tonight, Ms. Maine?" he whispered, slightly pleadingly against her lips, as he continued to give her small smooches and pecks. "Please?"

She smiled. "Of course, Tans. Birthday mo kaya. You don't need to say, please."

"You were slightly mad kanina during your birthday message, eh."

"No, I wasn't," she chuckled. "I -- well... I just -- I wanted you to take a day for yourself. You know? Tulad nung nag-hiking kayo nina Tuns. Or yung family dinner mo. Yung mga ganon." She continued to gaze into his eyes as her fingers touched his cheek, poking the dimple that appeared as he smiled down on her. "You work so hard that you sometimes forget about yourself already. Tulad ngayon - you've been feeling sick na pala since two days ago."

"I was feeling sick kasi wala ka. But now that you're here..."

"Bolero. But I'm serious, Tans. Take a breather. Enjoy the simple pleasures in life. Didn't you see my tweet just now?"

He shook his head but smiled lovingly down at her. "I'm enjoying the simple pleasures in life. I'm enjoying this, diba? Etong nandito ka. Tayo. Ng tayong dalawa lang. Na pwede kitang halikan ng ganito. Or ganito. Tsaka --"

She full-on laughed. "Ayan tayo, eh. Basta harot, ano Ricardo? G na g lang?"

He chuckled back before turning serious, his hand reaching up to caress her face as he stared into her magnanimous eyes. "But I'm also serious, Meng. You - ikaw, ikaw na ang buhay ko. Kahit na madalang tayong magkita or magkaron ng time na tulad ng ganito, ikaw lang ang 'simple pleasure in life' ko. And I promise to be better in making time. Alam mo 'to, Meng. I would always make time for you. Lahat ng sinabi ko sayo noon hanggang ngayon, totoo lahat yun. Ikaw at ako."

"Tayong dalawa."

"Hanggang dulo. Hanggang dulo na talaga ito, Ms. Maine. Taga mo yan sa bato."

"Alam ko naman yun, Tans."

He pulled her closer to his side, both his arms now around her as she snuggled even closer. "Sa susunod hindi na ikaw Ms. Maine lang."

"Ano na?"

"Mrs. Faulkerson."

She giggled at that as she pinched his side making him laugh. They reveled in their togetherness, no matter how short it was - they reveled in it. Knowing that what they have would always be their constant.

They were content in the knowledge that Tans and Ms. Maine would be unflappable.

That Richard and Nicomaine would always be their eternity.

That RJ and Menggay would spring eternal.

//

A/N: Because I cannot resist creating another one for the love of RJ. 😌💛

Fiction and unbeta'ed as always. 😘

Tweet me at @wuthie16

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RJ. 😘💛😌