a/n:
this was written out of my anxiety over what transpired at the barangay earlier today. this is FICTION.
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"Aalagaan kita from afar..." he says, hopeful.
"Patchy pie!" he utters, in exasperation.
These were words uttered by Alden as he watched the scene at the barangay unfold. He's been there before, he know how wild it can be. But seeing his other half, the love of his life, being mobbed by the over-zealous and excited crowd makes him want to jump into the tv screen and be right beside Maine right away.
"....punta ako dyan ngayon...." his call to action. If only he really could.
Worry. Anxiety. Despair.
We feel you, Rj, we really do. We all but wish for your and Maine's safety. Everyday. Always.
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Rj watched helplessly from the studios. The number of people in the barangay sent his heart and mind racing. He's been there before. He knows. These people can become wild, savage even. He got scared. He got scared for Maine.
As the cameras panned up and out, it showed the sheer number of people who were on the street leading to the Sugod Bahay winner's area. The crowd was so thick that the hosts – Jose, Wally and Maine – "disappeared" within it. Rj scoured the screen. It was a good thing Maine wore a yellow romper so she could easily be spotted in the crowd.
The hosts voices could be heard. They had located the winner but the cameras could not get to them in time because of the volume of people who blocked the way. The "rogelios" and crowd control crew could not control the people.
In all the shoving and disorder, even Dean, Maine's younger brother was pushed and pinched. He noticed that Maine had been scratched on the arm as well. Some men even stroked Maine's arm.
Rj witnessed all these but was helpless. He was too far from her. As soon as the segment ended, he called Maine.
"Maine! Okay ka lang?" Rj spoke in exasperation. His face and ears, red with anger.
"I'm fine....Okay lang ako...." she tried to speak calmly. She knew, from Rj's voice, that he was furious. "Calm down, Love....calm down..."
"Anong calm down! Maine! Anong ginawa nung mga tao sa yo? I should be there!"
"Dean took care of me naman...."
"Buti na nga lang na andyan si Dean....pero nakita kong natulak din sya e...."
"Okay na kami, Love....andito na ako sa holding area....." Maine tried to explain. Suddenly, she sucked in air loudly.
"Maine! Love! Bakit?!" Rj asked, concerned.
"Ahh....hapdi....!"
"Huh?!.... Maine!.......Meng!"
Maine exhaled as loudly as she inhaled and winced. "....thank you....salamat....." Rj could hear her say distantly.
"Anong nangyari?" Rj called out.
"....Meng....patingin nga....?" Rj could hear Dean's voice.
"Maine! What's happening? Talk to me please...."
A few more agonizing minutes and Maine spoke again. "....sorry Tans....sorry.....na...."
"Na ano?"
"Nakalmot ako...." Maine spoked in a hushed voice.
A hundred different worst case scenarios raced in Rj's mind. He was now cursing under his breath and sweating. "Please tell the staff to take you home or back to Broadway NOW! I don't care kung magalit sila sa akin but I don't want you there....you shouldn't be there...."
"But...."
"No buts! Come back to Broadway now! Or I will go there...."
"No, don't....please....lalo magkakagulo if you come here....."
"Fine....just please come home na...."
"Okay.....okay...."
Rj waited anxiously for Maine to return to the studios. He paced the hallway and constantly checked on his phone. Maine said that she and Dean had left the barangay before Wally and Jose. They were way out in Pampanga so travelling back to Quezon City would take at least an hour and a half.
Rj called Maine again but this time it was Dean who picked up the phone.
"Rj....tulog si Menggay e...."
"Ahh...sige....patingin lang please...." Rj requested for Dean to show him Maine who was resting on the seat beside Dean. Rj noticed the bandage on her arm.
"Kamusta naman yung sugat nya? Madami ba?"
"Yung sa may braso nya yung una kong napansin.....meron din sya sa kabilang braso...."
Rj was about to explode again but tried his best to remain calm.
"Ah sige...sige....pauwi na ba kayo?"
"Oo....direcho na kami sa condo...nagpa-cancel si Meng ng shoot..."
"Good...good....sige....message mo nalang ako kapag nasa condo na kayo, please...."
"Okay...."
Rj tried to focus during his rehearsals but he was too distracted that he was allowed to leave earlier. He rushed to Maine's condo as soon as he could. He went up to her unit immediately.
Maine was in a long sleeved shirt and pajama bottoms. They hugged each other. She winced a little bit but did not let go of her embrace on Rj either.
"Saan masakit?" He asked as they sat on the sofa.
Maine showed him her arms. He kissed all her "booboos" and hugged her again and kissed her on the head. It was their way of saying "I love you".
"I will always be here to protect you, Love.....kahit na ako pa ang masaktan....I will always be here for you....I love you"
"I love you"
