It All Started With: We're Just Friends

Twenty Four

Deanna

I got a text message from Ate Maddie, telling me that she needs me to open the door for her.

I forgot my key!!! Open up!

I look at the time, and it's already 12:34 AM. What the hell? Where did she come from?

"Babe, wait lang for a sec. Ate Maddie's outside." I said as I put my phone down on the table.

I opened the door for her and she's soaking wet. "What the hell, Ate Maddie?! Anyare sa'yo?" I asked, giving her a dry towel. "I was the foot ball field alone, then the sprinkler opened. So... this what happened to me." She said, as she enters the bathroom.

I picked up my phone to talk to Ricci again. But he's already sleeping. His face is so angelic. He is also snoring but I let him sleep and I didn't end our video call.

"Tulog na aba. May appointment ka bukas di ba." Ate Maddie said as she toweled her hair up. "I will. I just can't remove my eyes on him. Look, he's in deep sleep and he's so cute! I can't resist!" I said, as quietly as I can. Ate Maddie just smirked and I finally lie down on my bed.

. . .

The next morning I prepared my breakfast because for sure I don't have time to eat during the shoot later. Ricci told me that he is going to pick me up.

A knock from the door comes in. I looked at the peep hole and all I see is a tall, not that dark, handsome guy that I am truly madly deeply in love with. I opened the door for him and I hugged him tightly. "Missed me that much?" He asked as he wrapped his arms around me. "Yesh. Mished you sho bad." I answered, because my face was squished in his upper body.

We arrived at our destination, and by looking at it, seems like we'll be having a gym partner exercising. "Here we are! Athlete's Den." He said as he pulls me inside the gym.

The staffs already prepared the equipments we will be using for today's shoot. The people are very much approachable, especially to me. They were all like

Hi Deanna. Nice to see you.

I hope you can join Ricci for the rest of the episodes in UPFront.

Hi Deanna Wong. I'm a fan!

So cool! They know me! Haha!

"Ready na babe?" Ricci asks as we formally introduce ourselves to the professionals that will join us in this segment. I nod and he winks back.

The shoot has began. I'm so nervous and shy to approach the instructors because I'm really intimidated.

I feel Ricci squeezed my hand when Mrs. Kors is talking. I looked at Ricci and he just gave me the look. Then he mumbles, "You can do it."

I really am scared, because some of the yoga instructions are utmost, specifically the part that he has to bring me up and down as he carries my weight as I was positioned horizontally. (Sorry if my description don't make sense at all. But I was referring to this picture.)

"Waaa. Look at you guys! You're so cute together!"

"Love the both of you. I hope to see more Deannci moments on screen!!"

"Deanna must be here regularly!"

Then... I heard this person among the people talking about how cute we look together. And he is one of the producer I guess.

"Let's have her here for the rest of the season."

Ricci

"Let's have her here for the rest of the season."

I immediately looked at Deanna. She is smiling. I guess she heard it too loud and clear.

When the shoot has let-up, I get two water bottles for Deanna as she was doing some stretching. "Babe, you tired?" I asked reaching her the bottle. "Yeah, however I enjoyed it. It is so much fun!" She said as she climbs up to hug me. "Babe, pawis ako." I said but didn't remove her from hugging me. "I don't care. I love you still even if maisim pa pawis mo." She joked. I squeeze her and someone clears his throat.

"Hello, I'm Mr. Vuitton. Not related to Louis Vuitton doe." We both said our formal greetings to Mr. Vuitton. "I'm actually expecting you guys to finish this series or segment for the UAAP. Deanna, you are now a regular here. I love watching the both of you. You have chemistry on and off cam. I love that." He said as he taps my shoulder and putting his arm around Deanna. I kinda feel off about it so I grabbed his arm to shake my hand with his.

"We're very grateful for that opportunity Mr. Vuitton. We'll see you next week, I guess?" I said. "Yes, of course." He said as he turns his back away from us.

"What was that?!" I somehow yelled her. "What was what?" She asked as she fixes her things. "He put his arm around you, and you let him do that?' I asked, and toned down my voice on this one. "Babe, it'll be kind of disprespectful if I moved away from him. He's just there offering us something then I might ruin it just because I feel 'nabastusan'? Or what is the right word for that?" She said with firmness on her tone.

"I don't know. It's just I'm a guy! I know how and when guys think and do with malice around girls. I'm just here to protect you. I just protected you from it, although he is already in his mid-30s. But still." I said and she looked at me then hugged me tight. "I won't replace you naman with him babe. Hindi ako mahilig sa sugar daddy." She said. And by that, I laughed.