The Idol's Love Story

CHAPTER 17: Cotton Candy

The calm weather, chirping birds, dancing flowers, and a ready Welnik.

Napagdesisyunan na ni Welnik ang mag-audition sa Peldis Entertainment. The time he's been waiting for.

Finill-in-an niya ang mga kinailangan, like name, gender, height, age, email, date of birth, and parent/guardian. At sinend ito sa Peldis Entertainment.

Kinailangan din ang pictures niya, so he took some. Close-up, half body, and even the whole body. Actually, the picture thingy was a bit hard, kasi di siya mahilig magpicture. Pero for the sake of being an idol, gagawin niya ito.

Then a video.. he dances to a song, then in a separate video ay ang composition niya. Kinabahan siyang isend ito, what if di nila magustuhan?

With this thought in mind, Welnik hesitated for a bit. But, no. He is confident. They will like it, Welnik. They will. Just believe. So he presses the send button. And it was complete.

He leaned back on his chair with his two hands as support for his head, letting out a sigh. Ano kayang mangyayari? Will he be accepted and train in Manila for years, and become an idol? Or will he fail, so he'll continue studying and become a teacher instead? He doesn't know.

Tumayo siya mula sa pagkakaupo niya at kinuha ang kulay brown niyang wallet na mayroong cheetah na keychain. Sinara ang lahat ng pinto at lumabas ng bahay, para libangin ang sarili niya.

Nakapamulsa siyang pumunta sa park, para magpahangin. Nakaupo sa bench at pinagmamasdan ang mga batang naglalaro. They seem so happy. Napangiti na lang si Welnik dito.

"Ang saya nila tingnan no?"

Biglang sumulpot si Korree sa tabi nito, kaya't napatalon si Welnik, "Ay cheetah!" biro nito kaya't sinamaan siya ng tingin ni Korree.

"Hehehe.. joke lang." Tumingin-tingin siya sa paligid, naghahanap ng pwedeng paglibangan.. "Bili tayo cotton candy." ngumiti si Welnik at pumayag rin si Korree.

Pumunta sila sa shop na nagbebenta ng cotton candy, ngiti sa kanilang mga mukha. Kinausap nila si manong, "Pabili po, manong."

Energetic si manong, malaki ring ngiti ang iginanti sa dalawa, "Anong kulay ang gusto niyo?"

Napatingin silang dalawa sa isang napakalaking cotton candyng heart na may stick para ito'y mahawakan.

They swallow, the yummy-looking cotton candy tempting them both, and they look at each other. Tumango sila sa isa't isa, ito ang bibilhin nila. "Yung dalawang heart po, yung pink." sabi ni Korree at tinuro ito.

Lumingon si manong dito, "Ah. Pang-couple ito, magkasintahan ba kayo?" Tanong niya sa dalawa.

Nanigas sila na parang statwa. Pang-couple yun? Oi, oi, ano yun? Discrimination sa mga single? Ang daya naman nun, porket hindi couple, di makakakuha ng ganun kasarap na cotton candy? Unfair!

Argh. Gustong gusto pa naman ito ni Korree, wala na. Dreams scattered.

"Girlfriend ko po siya, manong." biglang sabi ni Welnik at hinila papalapit si Korree, na ngayon ay pulang-pula dahil sa sinabi ng kaibigan niya.

Manong grins and raises an eyebrow, "Talaga? Welp. Kailangan ng evidence. You know.. marami na akong nakikita sa mga teleserye na nagpapanggap para makatanggap lang ng mga prizes or coupons. So, I need to assure that you really are a couple." his smile reaches his eyes, curving.

Evidence? The two froze- especially Welnik. Siya yung may pakana eh.

"Anong evidence po, manong?" Korree asks with dread.

"Kiss."

K-kiss?!

Hindi, hindi.. Hindi diba? Welnik and Korree is not really doing it, right?

Korree stutters, "M-manong, di b-ba PDA yun? Tsaka gusto namin sa kasal pa ang first kiss.. Mga bata pa po kami manong, hindi dapat yun. Don't you think so, too? S-Sabi ng parents namin wag daw muna yung---"

Before Korree could stop talking, Welnik pulls her wrist and holds her face as he put his lips in contact with hers, closing his eyes as he feels the sweet sensation.

Korree's eyes widen, still contemplating what just happened, as her heart pounds in her chest loudly.

Welnik leans back and ends the kiss, looking directly at Korree. And a few moments after, they both immediately turn away, cheeks as red as a tomato, hiding their own faces in embarassment, as if doing it would fade the feeling away.

"Wow, you guys are bold. Pwede naman sigurong sa cheeks, forehead, or even sa kamay." Manong cheekily says, a teasing look on his face. "Eto na yung cotton candy, stay strong!"

Both Korree and Welnik stiffen and blush deeper because of Manong's statement, they even explode after.

Tinanggap na nila ang cotton candy at umalis.

Silang dalawa lang, naglalakad, katahimikan ay nakabalot. Walang ni isang nagsasalita, tanging tunog lang ay ang mga tsinelas nilang nasa lupa..

Welnik's thoughts: Nagawa ko yun? Hindi ba ako yung taong mahiyain, na hate ang skinships?  Pero medyo ginusto ko naman yun eh- what?*Slaps himself in imagination* Argh.. Magagalit ba siya? Ba't wala siyang sinasabi?

Korree: Bakit hindi ba nagsasalita si Welnik? Ginawa lang naman niya yun para sa cotton candy, alam ko yun.  Ang awkward tuloy. Gusto ko nang umuwi!

Welnik: I need to start a conversation, at mag-sorry na rin.

"Uhm, Korree...?" Welink blurts out, nakatingin pa rin sa cotton candy.

"Bakit?"

"Sorry... for earlier."

They both talk, not looking at each other's eyes.

"Okay lang, dahil dun nakuha natin yung cotton candy, diba? Kalimutan mo na yun, kakalimutan ko na rin, okay? Alam ko namang walang ibig sabihin yun eh. Okay?" This time, Korree turns to Welnik, acting perfectly fine as if it didn't bother her. Pero sa totoo lang talaga, bumabagabag pa sa isipan niya hanggang ngayon..

Naging seryoso ang mukha ni Welnik at lumingon kay Korree. Welnik gets nearer to Korree as he gathers up the courage, thinking about what to say. He looks intently at Korree, "Korree.. gusto ko lang sabihin,"

"Gusto kong sabihin na seryoso ako. Seryoso ako sa ginawa ko kanina, and please, don't forget that." This is all he says and the surrounding goes silent once again.

Just the two of them under an orange sky, hearts beating in unison.

Ew. Ang corny, cringy, and sudden.. I'm so sorry. I'm not good with romantic sceneeess!