AlDub | Maiden : Bahala na

Chapter 9: Meng

A/N: For the full experience (naks), please visit http://bahalana.net

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So...

Here I am in this guy's car and I don't even know where we're going.

That sounds super wrong, except for the fact that the guy is Alden Richards AND my parents allowed it.

Whoa. Seriously. What just happened? Hindi ako na-orient!

*deep breath*

Okaaaay... Let me see if my brain still works. Nasa sala kami ni RJ, just joking around, until he said something that sent a wave of doubt right through me. I was still trying to process that. I was still trying to process if I was just overthinking things, or if this slip of his is a legit warning that I should run for the hills.

Tapos bigla nyang tinanong kung pwede kaming lumabas, held my hand, and asked me to trust him.

To be honest, I don't really know. I thought I did, and then he said that and then aaaaaahhhhhhhh litong-lito na ko.

Tinanong nya ulit ako kung okay lang kausapin parents ko. I said yes kasi, well, okay lang naman talagang kausapin ang parents ko. So we went to my parents, and he took it from there.

Tapos tinanong ako ni Tatay kung gusto ko bang magpalit ng damit at kumuha ng cap at shades. At this point, it was all a haze, but I guess my parents trust him so I said okay.

I went to my room, changed into jeans and a loose long-sleeved top, got my stuff, and went out. He asked me if I'm ready and I nodded, even though I'm not sure I am. Parents told us to take care and call them for anything, and RJ said he'll make sure I'm safe.

So we walked to his car, he opened the door for me, I got in and wore my seatbelt. He closed the door, went around, got in and asked me not to worry. I said okay because... well... ewan ko ba. He started the engine and... we haven't really been talking since. I guess he's concentrating on navigating and I... don't really know what to say.

And that my friends is the story of how I ended up here, on the passenger seat of this guy's car, staring out the window.

Probably.

"Maine, okay ka lang?"

"Mmhmm."

"Relax ka lang ha... Don't worry, di naman kita pababayaan."

I turned my gaze towards him. Sabi nya magrelax daw ako, pero obviously, sya tong hindi relaxed. His brows are a bit furrowed, his eyes restlessly looking for directions, his hair is now a bit unkempt, but his profile remains as immaculate as ever.

I looked out the window again. I didn't want to confuse myself even more.

It was late afternoon, kaya siguro may nakakasalubong kaming mga naka-uniform, mga pauwi na from school. Meron din kaming mga nadaanang tambay na maaga yata ang call time sa inuman. May nagvivideoke, may mga batang naglalaro. May nakita rin akong couple na HHWW, yung girl may hawak na isaw, yung guy may hawak na juice. Ang cute nilang tingnan, para silang may sariling mundo. Ano kaya ang pinaguusapan nila no?

Mmmm, sarap ng isaw na to.

Oo, mas masarap to kesa dun sa nasa kabilang kanto.

Labas ulit tayo bukas ha?

Isaw ulit?

Hindi naman, kahit saan.

Ayan ka na naman sa kahit saan.

Seryoso, kahit saan nga.

Kahit saan...

Kasi wala naman tayong pinagtataguan.

"Meng?"

"Hm?"

"Dito na tayo. Prepare ka na."

Still dazed, I put my shades and cap on as fast as though my life depended on it.

And then I realized we were stopping... in front of a church.

"Huh? Bakit... Pano mo nalaman kung pano magpunta dito?"

"Nung nagbihis ka kanina, hinanap ko sa phone." He scanned the grounds and breathed a sigh of relief. "Tinanong ko na rin kina Tita kung saan walang masyadong tao pag ganitong oras."

Nagsuot siya ng hoodie. Then he put his shades on. "Game ka na?"

"Hindi ko alam..." Hindi. ko. talaga. alam. Ano ba tong ginagawa natin, RJ?

"Ako rin eh, hindi ko alam." He sounded pensive as he sank back to his seat. "Kasama na yata to sa top ten list of craziest things RJ ever did."

"Pero diba, the craziest ones are often the most memorable?"

He smiled when I said that.

"Parang hindi ko na nga mapagkasya sa top ten recently eh. Tara?"

I nodded.

We walked as quickly as we could without looking like criminals. Him, in front of me, holding my hand and leading the way as we try to escape the stares of strangers... I must admit, sobrang kabado ako, but I also feel... thrilled.

The church was quiet. I was relieved to see just two lolas in front deep in their prayers.

We made the sign of the cross and genuflected. Then, he led me to a dimly lit corner, disturbed only by the flicker of candle lights.

I glanced at him as I took my shades off, tinanggal na rin pala niya yung kanya. His eyes are now closed and he appears to be saying a silent prayer. I looked at the altar and bowed my head.

Lord, sobrang dami pong blessings ang binibigay Nyo sa akin, at alam ko rin pong hindi Nyo ako pababayaan. Kaya sorry po... sorry po kasi natatakot pa rin ako. Scared that the person now holding my hand, the person You gave me, would also be the person to break my heart. At sorry din po, dahil minsan, nakakalimot po akong tumakbo sa Inyo.

Lord, please, guide me po.

Amen.

And for what seemed like an eternity, we stood quietly among the columns, embraced by the solemn afternoon air.

Suddenly, I felt his grip tighten.

"Nicomaine Dei Capili Mendoza," he softly spoke, breaking the silence and freezing me still.

"...dinala kita dito bilang si Richard Reyes Faulkerson Jr. para sabihin sayo na...

...hindi ko sisirain ang tiwala mo. Meng, I really try, pero alam kong kahit anong gawin ko, hindi ko naman talaga maibibigay sayo yung normal na experience ng..."

He paused, searching for the right words to say.

"...yung nagkakilala tayo, naging close, yung normal na proseso ng... alam mo na yun. Nagising na lang tayo sa isang napakalaking stage. Nung una tayong nagkatinginan, marami rin ang nakatingin. Nahawakan ko ang kamay mo bago ko pa marinig sayo kung ano paborito mong flavor ng ice cream. At wala akong gustong baguhin sa lahat ng yun. Madalas, ang sarap balikan nung simula naitn. Napaka-extraorinary, napaka-magical.

"Pero minsan, parang... ang hirap din pala. Ang hirap ituloy sa totoong buhay. Minsan, hindi ko na alam kung pano ko buburahin yung mga pagdududa na 'uy, siguro induced lang', 'kung meron man yan, malamang artificial', 'baka pinagkakakitaan lang'..."

His voice cracked, and so did my resolve not to shed any tear today.

"Sigurado rin ako, marami ka pang tsismis na maririnig, at mas marami pang tao ang magbibigay ng opinyon nila. Siguro yung iba, masasabi nila yun dahil mahal ka nila, at ayaw ka nilang masaktan pag hindi ako nagiging perfect para sayo. Pero sana..."

I felt his fingers move, and I just... allowed them to intertwine with mine.

"...sana kung darating yung mga moments na magdududa ka..."

Guiding my hand to his chest, he pierced my soul with the most tender look in his eyes.

"...maalala mo yung araw na to, na tayong dalawa lang, at sa harap ni Lord, naramdaman mo... yung tibok ng puso ko."