Off The Record: A Series

39. Suddenly

MAINE

"Meng, Meng!" Coleen burst into my room, the door swinging open, that I temporarily halt doing my make-up.

"Ano 'yun?"

"Some people are looking for you.."

..huh? I stare at my sibling for a bit, confused. May problema kaya? Ano kaya meron at may mga naghahanap sa akin? The expression on her face isn't helping either- she looks.. scared? Nervous?

Tatay's entry doesn't make everything better, either.

"Nicomaine," he says in his stern voice. "Don't make people wait. This is important."

".....okay."

Hala. Anong nangyayari?

They leave me in my room, allowing me some space and time to think, without the pressure implied by their presence.

Did I do anything wrong?

Hindi ba pwedeng magpapicture sa airport runway? Technically, I wasn't even on the runway proper, so 'di pwede 'yon.

Hindi ba pwedeng magbiro about Ajinomoto? E, si Yaya Pepe naman nagbiro n'on! Marunong daw siya mag-Japanese, e!

Ano ba nagawa kong mali?

...grabe, ang paranoid ko.

I feel Coleen's hand on my shoulder. "Sige ma, 'wag mo na paghintayin."

...loko naman 'to, o. Mas kinabahan ako.

I nod anyway, and proceed to move towards the door. Both Tatay and Coleen had serious expressions on that I couldn't tell whether or not they were playing a prank on m-

...!!!

"Merry Christmas, Maine!"

Oh my god.

I stare in awe as members of Alden's fanclub stood in our suite, all wearing yellow- my favorite color, no less. Words refuse to leave me as it truly caught me off-guard, much so that I feel tears stinging in my eyes.

"Iiyak na 'yan," I hear Dean tease from the side, and I do not hesitate throwing the tissue I had in my hand at him.

"A-ano po ginagawa ninyo dito- " I croak, eliciting laughter from everybody.

"Kabilin-bilinan po kasi ni Tisoy," says one of them. "Na iabot po daw namin sa inyo itong mga regalo niya."

Regalo? "E naiabot na sa akin ni Dean kagabi- "

They all shake their heads, then stepping aside to show the bouquet of yellow resting on top of a box of cake, that is lying on a much bigger box-

What?

"Buksan mo na," urges Nanay, and so I do. It's strange, because they all seem unsurprised by this all, that I'm all the more baffled by it all.

After greeting each of them a merry Christmas, the group went, leaving me and my family on our own-

-at least, that's what I thought. I glance around and found myself alone in the common room.

Ano bang meron?

I approach the stack of presents, hands picking up the bouquet first-

...there's a note- a handwritten note, bearing strokes that are way too familiar to not remember. She lifts the card enough for her to read what is written.

Akala mo, damit ko lang ang regalo? 'Di ako gano'n ka-cheap.

"..'di naman ako nagreklamo, a-" she retorts, because truly, she didn't mind; it smells a lot like him, so how could she?

To my better half-

"...grabe ka."

-I hope you're having the merriest of Christmas. And since it's Christmas, I've to give you your gifts.

"Hala!" She shrieks a bit to herself, cheeks already red from what is transpiring.

First, yellow bouquet. Yellow is your favorite, and so.. here are yellow peonies. Yellow peonies are actually the rarest of peonies, and such befits you- as your kind of person is quite rare in our industry.

I glance at the bouquet in my arms, letting my fingers trace each petal before sighing.

Grabe siya. Ibang klase. Sobra kung maka-effort, ano naman say ng Classy kong pitsel at Ray Bans shades sa regalo niya? I make a mental note to buy him something while in Japan before proceeding with the next box, which is just a cake.

"...e, ano naman kaya-"

I look back onto the card, my lips pursing.

Ngayong pasko, Meng, sana, kahit malayo tayo sa isa't isa, ay maramdaman mo 'yung presensiya ko.

......ayokong umasa pero-

...haha, ang cliché mo, Tisoy!

At least, 'yun ang nasa isip ko n'ong sinimulan kong buksan 'yung kahon. Pero wala siyang laman.

"...haha, ang funny ko."

Paniwalain.

I sigh as I begin to set the big box aside, and it was only then that I notice the small piece of paper stuck to the bottom flap. I reach for it after seeing the scribbles on it.

In God's perfect time, love.

"Merry Christmas."

I suddenly turn, eyes wide the moment I saw him behind me, holding onto another bouquet- this time, of yellow roses.

"Oh my God-"

"Surprise," he cheekily says, laughing softly. "Nagulat ka ba? Original plan natin 'yung susunod ako, 'di ba?"

"E- " I pause, reeling from his sudden appearance. "- sabi mo, 'di ka makakapunta-"

"Magiging surprise ba, kung alam mong darating ako?"

I couldn't help but hit his forearm, and he just laughs, accepting each gentle blow.

"Ikaw- sabi mo- pero nandito ka- madaya ka- "

"Stop, stop," he gently says, hands holding me by the wrists. "Sorry na," he chuckles, leaning forward as his arms wrap me. He presses his lips to the top of my head, humming.

"Nandito na ako," he says.

I know.

And I couldn't ask for more this Christmas.

"Bati na tayo, ha?"

I snort, burying my face more against his chest.

"Pag-iisipan ko."