Star & Twinkle (Completed)

Chapter 48

As the night came to an end, Star walked with Allan as they hugged. So did Millie and Jackson. Everyone was tired by then. Rigel took a deep breath. "Nakaka-inggit yung mga love birds noh?" He said to Twinkle. "Bakit?" Twinkle asked innocently. Rigel laughed a little, "Kasi gusto ko din ma-experience yung nag-lalakad ng may kayakap," Rigel said as he smiled at her. Twinkle opened her arms which surprised Rigel. "Sigurado ka?" He asked, he wanted to make sure. "Ayaw mo?" Twinkle asked in return while her arms were still spread wide open. "Gusto," Rigel said as he took Twinkle into his embrace. His heart was beating so fast. "Yun naman pala eh," Twinkle said. "Malay ko kung lasing ka lang," Rigel teased as he walked and hugged Twinkle at the same time. "Hindi po ako uminom for your information. At ikaw, pag may inooffer sayo na gustong gusto mo naman, take it, before it's gone," Twinkle said as they walked. "I'll keep that in mind," he said with a smile. "You know, Twinkle Andrada? Hindi ka pa rin nag-babago. Kahit ngayon, you never fail to surprise me with your gestures. And I love that so much about you," Rigel said. Then he hugged her even more and kissed her on the temple as they walked towards the exit of the venue.

Millie looked back and saw Twinkle and Rigel hugging as they walked out of the venue. She shrieked very subtly as she shook her body. "What happened?" Jackson asked. He was about to look back, but Millie stopped him. "Don't look back!" She said, but Jackson turned his head again. "Kasasabi lang don't look back eh," Millie said as she held Jackson's face. "Si Twinkle at Rigel?" He asked. Millie nodded, all giddy and smitten. She led herself and Jackson towards Star and Allan. "Psst," Millie called out to both of them. Star and Allan glanced over at Millie who was signalling for them to look back, so Star and Allan did. Star smiled big as she bit her lip. She signalled for them to keep it casual and let Twinkle and Rigel be. Allan smiled at them. Millie nodded as she smiled and continued to walk out with Jackson.

Rigel walked Twinkle all the way to their hotel. It was about three in the morning. He and Twinkle walked Millie and Jackson to their hotel room and said their good night's. Then he walked with Twinkle towards their room. Twinkle shared it with her parents. When they reached their hotel room, "Good night po, ate Star," Rigel said as he hugged her. Star gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Good night, Ry," she said with a smile. "Good night po, tito Al," Rigel said to Allan. He gave him a hug. "Good night, Ry," Allan replied. The couple went in the room ahead of Twinkle to give her and Rigel some privacy. "Good night, Twinks. Thank you ulit for tonight. I had fun ulit. Lagi naman when I'm with you," Rigel said as he blushed. "Bolero ka talaga, pero I had fun, too. Thank you din. Good night," she said to him. He smiled at her again. He gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek before finally heading towards his room. 

Twinkle went inside the room and got herself cleaned up. She checked the time and then laid on the bed next to her parents'. Star and Allan wanted her to sleep in the middle of them, but Twinkle insisted to sleep on the other bed to give them their privacy. Within a couple of minutes, the couple were already snoring. Twinkle smiled at the two of them as she tried to sleep. She took a deep breath and checked the pictures she took on her phone. She smiled at every single photo she had taken. Then she sat up. She looked at her mother and father again. She tip-toed her way out of the door and into the pool area. It was dark then, but she didn't mind. She laid on the outdoor lounge chair by the pool. She took a deep breath. "Can't sleep?" A familiar voice asked which startled her. She immediately opened her eyes and saw that it was Rigel. He smiled at her. He was already wearing a white shirt and shorts. She smiled at him. "Di nga eh. I think masyado pakong high on emotions. Ang saya kasi kanina. Ang saya saya ko para kay mama V at tito P," Twinkle said as she smiled. She watched Rigel as he laid on the lounge chair next to hers. He closed his eyes after he smiled at her. She looked at him and smiled, too. "Ry, pwede mag-tanong?" Twinkle asked as she glanced over to him. "Oo naman. Anytime. Ano yun?" He asked in return. "Alam mo ba kung san mo nakuha yang pangalan mo?" She asked. He looked at her and nodded. "Si daddy diba pangalan nya Ricciardo? Si Mama naman Geline. Ri from Ricciardo. Gel from Geline. Rigel," he explained. "Wow, witty nila ah. Akalain mo yun?" She said which made Rigel look at her. "Bakit?" He asked. "Alam mo ba na ang Rigel ay isang pangalan ng star?" She asked him. He smiled even bigger at her as he shook his head. "No, I didn't know that," he answered honestly. "Talaga? O pinagtitripan mo nanaman ako?" He asked as he laughed a little. "Alam mo, kung ayaw mo maniwala edi i-google mo," she said as she closed her eyes. Rigel looked at her again before he took his phone and googled his name. He smiled as he saw a picture of a blue star. "You're right," he said as he looked at her. "Told you," she said without opening her eyes. "How'd you know? Are you into constellations?" He asked curiously. "Um, I guess you can say that. Pwede. Siguro ganun na nga," she said as she smiled. She took a deep breath while her eyes were still closed. "Talaga? What made you become interested sa ganun?" He asked again. She took another deep breath. "Well, una sa lahat, mga pangalan namin ni ate, naka-revolve na sa stars. Sya Star, ako Twinkle. Tapos feeling ko yung buhay namin parang constellation na ewan. Daming ganap palagi. Alam mo gustong gusto ko manood ng stars sa gabi. Napaka-peaceful mag-star gazing. Tapos si mama V, nung bata ako sabi nya sakin mga stars daw, each of them symbolizes ung mga taong nawala na satin. Yung lolo't lola ko, pati yung great grand dad ko at great grand mom ko na nag-palaki din sakin, iniisip ko isa sila sa mga stars na yan, nakatingin lang sakin. Parang ang lapit lapit ko lang tuloy sa kanila. Parang nag-babantay lang sila samin palagi. Kaya noong bata pa lang ako, matagal ko ng paniniwala yan. Kaya ang lakas mag-bigay ng comfort sakin yung pag-stargazing tuwing malungkot ako. Feeling ko kasi andyan lang yung mga taong mahal ko na matagal ko ng hindi nakakasama. Naiisip ko nakikita nila kami parati," she explained as she looked at the stars. Rigel smiled at her. Then he looked at the stars as well. "Alam mo kung walang twinkle yung star, hindi sya the same," Rigel said. "Yan lagi sinasabi ng mama ko sakin. Pero ang totoo, wala naman talagang Twinkle kung walang Star," she said as she smiled. "Wala rin namang Rigel kung walang Twinkle," he said half-jokingly. "Meron," she answered him. "Anong meron? Kung walang kinang ang bituin, bituin pa rin ba ang tawag dun? Parang hindi na," he said to her. She took a deep breath, "Hindi ko alam," she admitted. "Kaya walang Rigel kung walang nag-papakinang sa Rigel na toh. At ikaw yun Twinkle," he said to her. She opened her eyes and looked at him. "Bakit ang OA mo?" She asked with a smile on her face. "Nag-sabi lang ng saloobin, OA na kaagad?" He said as he smiled, too. "Kasi yung mga hirit mo eh, medyo nakaka-umay," she said as she laughed a little. "Awww. Kala ko pa naman may pagka-sweet yung mga hirit ko," he said. "May pagka-sweet naman. Pero delikado kasi diabetes ang abot pag-nasobrahan. At pag nagka-diabetes ka na, nakaka-manhid yun ng katawan," she said to him. "Diabetes ang abot mo kung sugar ang nagpapa-tamis ng hirit ko. Pero hindi naman sugar ung nagpapa-sweet sa mga hirit ko eh. Love. Love ang nagpapa-sweet sa mga hirit ko. At kahit pa damihan ko, hinding hindi ka magkakaroon ng diabetes," he said to her which made her laugh. "Bakit?" He asked. She made him laugh, too. "Oo na, sweet ka na. Noon pa naman ganyan ka na eh. Kaya nakakatuwa ka eh," she admitted. "So gusto mo yung pagiging sweet ko?" He asked. "Alam mo, nararamdaman ko na yung pagiging sweet mo sincere eh. Marami na kasi akong nakasalamuha na sweet pag kaharap mo pero sour pag hindi. Sweet sayo, pero pag sa iba hindi. Ikaw nakikita ko minsan sarili ko sayo. Malambing ka din eh. At nakita ko na hindi lang sakin. Malambing ka din sa pamilya ko. Kaya kung tinatanong mo kung gusto ko yung ka-sweetan mo. Oo, gusto ko dahil hindi sya fake. Hindi sya maskara lang. Hindi sya bola bola lang. At lalong hindi sya panandalian lang," she said to him honestly which made Rigel smile even more. "Twinks," he said to her.  "Mhm?" she said as she looked at him. "Mahal pa rin kita," he said as he swallowed. Then tears began to fill his eyes. Though it was dark, Twinkle could clearly see it. Twinkle's eyebrows met. She took a deep breath as she sat up. "Halika nga dito," she said as she patted the lounge chair that she was sitting on to make him sit right in front of her. She crossed her legs into an Indian seat as she offered her hand to him. He wiped his eyes as he stood to go to her. He sat in front of her. She held his hands as he swallowed. Tears came out of his eyes again. Twinkle's eyebrows met as she let go of one of his hands to wipe his face. She looked at him, "Anong nag-papaiyak sayo, Ry?" She asked as she held his hands again. He took a deep breath and started laughing and crying at the same time. He licked his lips as he looked away. He felt silly for crying right in front of her. He doesn't even know why he's so emotional. "Ewan ko," he said as he laughed while he wiped his face. "I don't even know why I'm crying. Ka-buwanan ko siguro?" He said as he laughed again. Tears continued to form in his eyes. Twinkle shook her head as she laughed a little. "Ikaw puro ka kalokohan eh. Pero siguro nga, ka-buwanan mo nga talaga siguro," she said as she wiped his face again. "Pero seryoso. May pinagdadaanan ka ba?" She asked him seriously. He shook his head. "Wala nga eh. Kaya nga hindi ko maintindihan bakit ako umiiyak ng ganito. Nakakahiya kasi sa dinami dami ng pwede labasan ng mga luhang toh, sa harapan mo pa talaga. Tagal tagal ko tumae kanina sa banyo, bakit di na lang ako doon naiyak diba? Mas nakakahiya naman toh na sa harap ng babaeng gusto ko pa ako umiiyak kesa yung umiiyak ako habang tumatae," he said as he laughed again. Twinkle shook her head again as she covered his face with her hand. "Look at me," she said as she held his face. He looked at her in the eyes. "Tears of joy ba yan o of sorrow?" She asked him seriously. "Joy?" He answered. "You sound unsure. Ano ba sinasabi ng puso mo na nag-papaiyak sayo ngayon?" Twinkle asked him again. "Na mahal kita. Na mahal na mahal pala talaga kita. Kasi bakit ako iiyak kung hindi? Parang sobra sobra akong overwhelmed sa nararamdaman ko. Para tuloy akong babae. Pero gets mo ba yun? Yung minsan hindi ma-take ng puso mo yung nararamdaman mo kasi sobrang strong na pala ng nararamdaman mo para sa isang tao tapos naiiyak ka na lang? Parang...parang ganun yata kasi ako. Nakaka-hiya man aminin pero iyakin talaga ako noon pa lang. Napaka-unmanly ko noh?" He said, embarrassed. He felt extremely silly for crying still. Twinkle wiped his face and took a deep breath. "Yan. Yan yung sincerity mo na gustong gusto ko sayo noon pa lang. When you speak, what your eyes communicate matches the words that come out of your mouth. Para sakin, it takes a real man to be honest with how he feels. Gustong gusto ko sayo yung hindi ka takot ipakita sakin yung vulnerability mo, yung weakness mo. What you see is what you get pagdating sayo. Pag masaya ka, pinapakita mo. Pag malungkot, pinapakita mo din. Tama si dad. Konti na lang ang mga lalaking katulad mo sa mundong toh. Napaka-totoo mong tao. At yun ang minahal ko sayo," Twinkle said. This time, it was her who was filled with so much emotions that tears formed in her eyes. "Mahal moko?" He asked, almost surprised. More tears came out of his eyes. "Ry, noon pa lang naman mahal na talaga kita eh," she confessed as she looked him in the eyes. "Then bakit moko tinulak papalayo?" He asked her again as he cried. "Hindi pa talaga ako ready nun eh. Hindi ko ma-explain noon pero sa mga nangyari nitong mga nakaraang buwan, naiintindihan ko na kung bakit hindi pa pwede noon. Ang dami dami pa pala kasing mangyayari. Everything needed to fall into place bago ko mabuksan yung puso ko para mag-mahal ng buong buo," she said as she looked at him. "Bukas na ba ngayon? Bukas na ba yung puso mo mag-mahal ngayon?" He asked. Twinkle swallowed as she looked at him. She took a deep breath. She held his face and slowly put her face closer to his. She tilted her head and gave him a sweet and gentle kiss on the lips. He held her face and kissed her back. She gently let go of the kiss as their foreheads touched. More tears came out from their eyes. "Nasagot ba nun yung tanong mo?" She asked as she smiled at him. Rigel suddenly backed his face away which startled Twinkle. "O, ano nangyari sayo?" She asked, confused. "Mamaya may kasunod nanamang sampal yun eh," he said as he laughed which made Twinkle slap him on the arm. "Sabi ko na eh," he told her. Twinkle laughed as Rigel pulled her into an embrace. "Natatandaan mo yung sabi ko sayo noon bago moko iniwan?" He asked. Twinkle let go of the hug and looked at him. "Alin?" She asked. "Sabi ko pag-pinagtagpo tayo ulit, hindi na kita papakawalan pa ulit?" He reminded her. Twinkle nodded as she hugged him again. "'Wag ka mag-alala. Hindi naman na ako kakawala ulit sayo eh," she said as she rested her head on Rigel's shoulder. He took a deep breath. "I love you," Rigel said. Twinkle closed her eyes, "Mahal din kita."