Beauty and the Beast

Chapter 2

Alden's POV

Nagising siya dahil sa lakas ng tunog ng alarm clock niya. Minsan talaga, may mga pagkakataong nahihirapan siya sa pag gising ng maaga kaya lima ang alarm clocks niya sa loob ng kuwarto.

The time is currently 6:30 in the morning. Medyo naalimpungatan siya ng konti dahil nag ring ang phone niya. Mama Ten is calling him.

"Hello, Ma..." Alden answeres his phone while yawning.

"Good morning, nak! Sa Broadway nalang tayo magkita ha, may dadaanan lang ako. Okay lang ba?" Mama Ten explains.

He acts as if pouting, "Ayoko nga. Hindi, joke lang. Sige Ma, 'dun nalang tayo magkita"

Alden answered him.

"Oh sige, ingat sa pagda drive ha. See you, Nak".

"Sige, Ma! Bye."

As much as he wanted to sleep, he jumps off the bed. Maaga ang call time nila ngayon sa Eat Bulaga dahil may briefing sila para sa bago nilang segment. At siya ang tao na ayaw na ayaw na nali-late sa mga commitments niya. So, he immediately took a shower and fixes himself.

A few minutes later, lumabas na siya ng kuwarto. He went straight to the kitchen. His father, Richard Faulkerson Sr. is currently fixing the table for breakfast with his sister, Rizza Mae. Now sitting in the same table are Lola Erlinda, Lolo Danny Boy and his caregiver, his Kuya RD, and youngest sister, Angel.

No matter how busy Alden is, he always find time to bond with his family even during breakfast.

"Good morning" Alden greets them.

"Good morning, Kuya" Rizza Mae smiles at him.

"Oh, bakit ganyan 'yung ngiti mo sa 'kin? Anong meron, Rizza Mae?" Alden asked her while he takes a sip of his coffee.

"Ahmmm, wala 'to Kuya" Rizza Mae answered him still smilling.

"Oh, kumusta studies mo?"

"Ayos naman, Kuya. Medyo madami lang requirements pero kering keri naman" Rizza Mae explains at him.

"Oh sige, pag may kailangan ka sabihin mo lang sa 'kin".

"Opo, Kuya RJ"

"Lolo, Lola...iniinom niyo po ba ang mga gamot niyo?" Alden asked them for he always look after their welfare.

"Oo naman, Tisoy. Wag mo kaming alalahanin" his grandparents assured him.

His father, also known as Daddy Bae starts teasing him, "Nak...nabasa ko 'yung poem ni Binibining Marikit sa Twitter kagabi ha. In fairness kahit maikli lang 'yun pero nakakakilig".

"Oo nga, Kuya. Ang galing niya magsulat noh? Kaso, sayang kasi hindi pa kayo nagkikita" Rizza Mae utters.

"Nak, alam mo napaka mysterious niyang Binibining Marikit. Pero, grabe 'yung tolerance niya ha. Natiis niya na maging fan mo for 5 years na hindi nagpapakita. I can't believe it. May ganun' pa lang klaseng fan sa ngayon"

"Oo nga, Dad. There's something in her that I can't explain. Ewan ko ba. Sa loob ng 5 years... she writes blogs, poems, and made fan arts for me pero ayaw niya magpakita sa akin. She is not the usual fan. Iba siya eh. But I have a strong feeling that she is really a good person. Something is telling me that she is beautiful the way she is" Alden explains to them.

"Pero, Kuya RJ come to think of it. Lakas maka stalker mode ni Binibining Marikit. At saka ang ganda ng mata niya. Bakit ba kasi mata niya lang 'yung DP sa Twitter? Siguro, maganda siya in person. At saka pwede kayong maging imaginary love team" Rizza Mae exclaims.

"Oo nga noh! Pwedeng #BiDen, #ALBi or... " natatawang sabi ng Kuya RD niya.

" #MaDen: Marikit and Alden!" they said in unison while laughing.

Natawa nalang si Alden. This is one of those conversations na namimiss niya lalo na pag sobrang busy niya sa trabaho. Minsan kasi kapag umuuwi siya ng bahay, tulog na sila at 'yung kasambahay nalang nila ang gising para ipagbukas siya ng gate. Minsan naman pag gising niya, tulog pa sila.

But there were times din naman na sadya siyang inaantay ng daddy niya na umuwi para mag kape lalo na pag Sabado ng gabi. You know, father and son talk.

His youngest sister, Angel bursts into giggles, "Uy, si Kuya RJ may bagong ka love team. Yieeeh!"

"At saan mo natutunan 'yan ha? Baby ka pa" he starts squeezing Angel's cheeks.

He admits that he is really protective with his siblings, with his family. Ayaw na ayaw niya ma expose sila masyado sa publiko. Okay lang na siya nalang. But with the nature of his work as an actor, he and his family will always be on the public eye. Kaya, as much as possible lahat ginagawa niya para sa kabutihan nila.

"I have to go, Dad. Kailangan maaga ako sa Eat Bulaga today" Alden stood up and say goodbye to each one of them.

"Sige, nak. Ingat ka"

A few minutes later, Alden is on his way to Eat Bulaga Broadway Studio. He keeps on thinking of her; basically the poem that she wrote for him. Iniisip niya kung paano siya makakabawi, kung paano magpapasalamat. All her works are labor of love. She never fails to make him feel special. He knew that it sounds really crazy for him to feel that way to a person whom he never met. But she is a sunshine to him. She will always be.

He remembers that today marks his 5th year in the showbiz industry. At malaki ang pasasalamat niya sa Panginoon dahil sa mga taong patuloy na nagmamahal sa kanya, and that includes Binibining Marikit; who from the beginning was there and still even to this moment. She was there when he was still Richard Faulkerson, Jr.

He suddenly remembers his devotional today; it talks about making other people happy by doing simple gestures, and also giving back to the people who loves him unconditionally, and those are his fans.

Alden is currently inside the host room of Eat Bulaga. Katatapos lang ng orientation nila for their new segment, "That's My Bae" which will be launched the day after tomorrow. It is now 11:30 in the morning and Eat Bulaga will be on air at 12 noon.

His co-host Sam sees him and said ,"Uy Paps...kumusta? Teka lang ha, may nabasa ako sa Twitter kagabi. Nagsulat na naman si Binibining Marikit para sa'yo" Sam teases him.

"Wow! Pati ba naman ikaw, Paps? Updated ka din?" Alden speaks while his stylist fixes him.

"Siyempre naman. Paano nga ba 'yun? 'On the dark moon night with a sparkling stars, one is clearly bright in my heart to dream of. On the path of the warrior of the sun, one is brightly shinning in my heart in the full moon night" Sam acts as if doing a declamation infront him.

"At talagang memorize mo ha!" Alden laughs at him .

"Follow back mo na kasi sa Twitter....Uy, teka lang ha! Today is your 5th year in the showbiz industry. Happy 5th year Paps, and congratulations" he said while doing some slow claps.

"Oo nga eh. Salamat Paps! Pero, gustuhin ko man siyang e followback baka naman magselos 'yung ibang fans. Alam mo naman 'di ba? Ayoko naman na ma bash siya. It sounds really crazy that I'm feeling this way, but I just don't want to mess up with her. Iba kasi siya eh. Hindi siya pa famous. Alam mo 'yun. She is not an attention-seeker. Minsan nga, kapag may sinusulat siyang blog para sa akin, hindi niya ako tina- tag. At times, 'yung followers ko pa nga or 'yung mga followers niya ang kusang nagta- tag sa akin. I am thinking why she is like that. Something is holding her back".

They are now at the back of the led screen of Eat Bulaga waiting for their cue.

"Sam, Alden... 2 minutes and we're live" the Floor Director- Reezabells reminded them.

Then, an idea came across his mind. Maybe, this is the perfect time doing this. It's time to give back. Maliit na bagay lang naman siguro 'to; he tells himself.

"Reeza, wait lang" Alden speaks at Reeza who is now giving final instructions to them.

"Ano 'yun? Bilisan mo, malapit na mag start ang show".

He rushes to Mama Ten who is a few meters away from him.

"Ma, pahiram muna ng phone ko"

"Alden, bilis!" Sam and Reeza shouted at him.

He searches for something then gave his phone back to Mama Ten.

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1...Sam and Alden, go!" Reeza gives them the cue and they were now infront of the audience and live on national television.

"Hello, mga Dabarkads! Eat Bulaga na!" both of them greeted everyone.

And before he could say those words amidst the lively audience on the studio, he knew he did what his heart is telling him...and there's one thing that he's sure of: IT'S ALL WORTH IT.

Maine's POV

"Alden Richards @aldenrichards02"

Celebrating my 5th year in the showbiz industry! Thank you Binibining Marikit and to everyone who supported me from the beginning! To God be the glory! ?

Hanggang ngayon tulala pa rin si Maine dahil sa nabasa niya. Kanina lang, muntik na niyang maihagis sa pader ang phone niya sa sobrang pagkagulat. She can't believe it. Alden tweeted and she was mentioned. Hindi nga lang naka tag ang twitter username niya. But, it doesn't matter to her. Pero, wala din namang ibang Binibining Marikit sa Twitter kundi siya lang.

Hindi niya tuloy alam ang gusto niyang maramdaman. Para siyang nakalutang sa ulap at sobrang kinikilig siya. Pakiramdam niya tuloy na parang umalis papuntang planet Mars ang kaluluwa niya ng mga 5 seconds tapos bumalik lang agad. At sa sobrang kilig na naramdaman niya, ay kanina pa siya nangingisay na nakahiga sa kama. Ang gulo tuloy ng kuwarto niya.

Kasi nga, ang nangyari ay hagis unan, at gulong sa kilig. Ayun. Palakad lakad. Aligaga.

"Oh my God! Teka. Wait. Shemay. Ahmmm. Jusko. Okay lang ba ako? No. I'm not. Kumalma ka, Meng. Nag tweet lang siya, 'yun lang 'yun. Wag kang ano. Wag assumera uy. Pero, shocks. Ako talaga 'yun eh. Teka, naiiyak ako. Okay. Spell kalma. Ano nga ba 'yung kalma? Naka kain ba 'yun? Enebenemen! Wag niyo 'kong hawakan. Heart check. Oxygen content: LOW!" Maine speaks to herself while reading Alden's recent tweet.

He makes sure of it. He checked the tweet, not just once but so many times. Si Alden Richards talaga 'yun. Legit. Hindi naman siguro na hack ang account niya, 'di ba? Sobrang lakas tuloy ng kabog ng dibdib niya.

She doesn't know what to do. Halos 'di siya makahinga sa sobrang kaba. Pakiramdam niya para siyang nababaliw na. At parang gusto niyang himatayin sa nerbiyos.

"Okay. So, paano? Magri- reply ba ako? E-retweet ko ba? Like? Quote? Paano nga ba? Ano nga ba? Jusmio, Alden Richards! Wala kang respeto sa puso at katawang lupa ko." nasabi niya nalang habang kanina pa palakad lakad sa loob ng kuwarto niya.

"Grabe naman oh, hindi ako na orient sa pa tweet niyang ganoin. Grabeysha! Okay. Kalma, Meng. Pero, emeged. Ako talaga 'yun." Maine once again read the tweet from him.

While she is still on that emotional hysteria, her mom; Nanay Mary Ann knocks on her door.

"Menggay, nak. Pwede pumasok?" her mom asked her.

Tinabi niya muna ang phone niya at laptop and opens the door for her Nanay.

"Nay, bakit po?" Maine led her Nanay inside the room.

"Oh, bakit ang gulo ng bedsheets mo? At bakit nasa sahig ang mga unan mo? Anong nangyari? Parang may bagyong dumaan ah."

"Ahm, wala Nay. Nag exercise lang ako. At saka plano kong maglinis ng kuwarto eh kaya medyo makalat" Maine stutters.

"Ah, okay. Sige. By the way, aalis muna kami ng Tatay mo ha. Baka mamayang gabi na kami makauwi. May pupuntahan lang kami."

"Sige po, Nay. Ingat po kayo" Maine hugs and kisses her Nanay.

"Nak, okay ka lang? May sakit ka ba?" Her mom worries a bit.

"Wala naman po. Bakit niyo naman po nasabi 'yun?"

"Eh, ang sweet sweet mo ngayon eh. Anong meron, huh? May dapat ba akong malaman? May boyfriend ka na ulit? Magsabi ka ng totoo, Nicomaine!"

"Eeeiiih, Nay. Wala po. Okay lang po ako. Masaya lang po ako kasi palagi kayong nandiyan para sa 'kin. At saka lagi niyo akong inaalagaan at minamahal. Ganun po". Maine hugs her Nanay behind the back.

"Hala siya oh! Talaga ba? Oh siya sige na. Aalis na kami. Wag mong kalimutan na kumain ng lunch" Nanay reminded her.

"Opo, Nay. Ingat po kayo ni Tatay. I love you Nay!" Maine gives her a kiss and guided her towards the door.

Nanay Mary Ann is wondering what's going on with Maine. She seems to be so happy today. But whatever it is, she is hoping that it is a genuine one. Hindi naman siya ganun ka sweet. Hindi siya expressive ever since she was a kid.

Pero, she is now a changed woman. She is growing. She is maturing. Masaya siyang nakikita si Maine na ganun'. And whatever or whoever brought her that changed, she will be forever grateful.

Meanwhile, Maine closes her door after Nanay Mary Ann left. Kinuha niya ulit ang phone niya. Kailangan niyang may mapagsabihan ng kilig na nararamdaman niya, kundi baka sumabog siya dahil sa halo halong emosyon. She searches on her list of contacts. Then, decided to call her friend, Janeeva.

"Come on, Janeeva. Please pick up the phone" Maine

impatiently waiting for her to take the call.

At last, Janeeva answered, "Hello, Meng! Oh, bakit ka napatawag? Anong me---

"Oh My God! Oh My God! Janeeva, would you believe it? Shemay! OMG! Oh My Gosh! Wag mo 'kong hawakan!" Maine interrupts her while talking on the other line.

"Hinahawakan ba kita? Huy, ano bang nangyayari sa'yo? Bakit ka sumisigaw diyan? May emergency ba? May sunog? Nanalo ka sa lotto? Ano ba, kumalma ka nga! Baka makalas 'yang esophagus at vocal chords mo diyan sa kakasigaw!" Janeeva asked her but still confused.

"Aaah, sorry. Sorry. Practice lang. Wala naman. Guess what? Nag twitter ka na ba today?"

"Hindi pa, bakit ba? Anyare?"

"Oh My God, Janeeva. Nag tweet si Alden Richards ngayon tapos he mentioned my twitter name. Please, pakisampal ako ng very light."

"Ano? Teka, check ko lang saglit" Janeeva checks on twitter through her tab.

Janeeva couldn't help it. Natatawa siya sa kaibigan niya, at the same time natutuwa naman siya para dito. And yes, totoo nga. Alden Richards tweeted just as what Maine told her awhile ago.

"Hahaha! Naku naman, Meng. Akala ko naman kung ano na. Nakakatawa ka. I thought something happened. Nag tweet lang pala siya. And yes, he did mentioned your twitter name kaso hindi ka nga lang naka- tag" Janeeva laughs while speaking on the phone.

"Hoy, grabe ka sa 'kin. Kita mong kilig na kilig na ako oh tapos babasagin mo lang. Si Alden Richards kaya 'yun." Maine pouted.

"Eto naman, hindi na mabiro. Oh, replayan mo na. Tapos tag mo siya. Gorabells!" Janeeva suggests to her.

"Hindi na siguro. I mean, hindi na kailangan. Baka sabihin nila pa famous ako at papansin sa kanya. At saka baka e bash siya ng ibang immature fans pag nag reply ako. Buti na 'yung ganito. Walang reaction. As if walang nangyari." she tones down her voice.

"Bakit kasi hindi nalang siya nag send ng DM sa'yo? Pero, alam mo Meng...minsan hindi kita maintindihan. Oh, nag tweet siya tapos na mention ka pero hindi niya na- tag ang username mo. Maybe it's his way of thanking you and his fans na walang na aagrabyado. I mean, you deserve it naman. Kasi sa simula pa lang ng career niya, andun ka na. Hindi ka nga lang niya nakikita. Dahil sa mga blogs, poems, and fan arts mo kaya marami ang na curious kung sino ka. Kaya nga siya laging trending sa social media lalo na pag may nasusulat ka for him, 'di ba?" Janeeva tries to soothe her.

"I know. Kaso, I'm not good enough for him. I'm not her ideal fan. Hindi naman ako maganda. Hindi ako sexy. Hindi ako charming. Wala akong talent. At saka parang GGSS ako pag nag react pa ako. Kaya, deadma nalang. Ganoin. At saka naka private ang direct messages ko. Alam mo 'yan. Alam mo naman na sinadya kong gawin 'yun, 'di ba?" paglalahad niya sa kaibigan.

"Alam mo, ang drama mo. Hindi naman ganun' yun. Alam mo kung kasama lang kita ngayon, siguro sinabunutan na kita. At saka magpakita kana sa kanya. Hindi mo ba nababasa? Read between the lines, Meng. His tweet is a way of telling you that he wants to see you in person. Ayan na oh, nagpaparamdam siya sa'yo! Minsan talaga, ang slow mo." Janeeva teases her in between laughs.

"Grabe ka naman! Patingin nga ng sabunot! Eh kasi, alam mo naman na crush ko siya 'di ba? Kahit 'nung una ko pa lang siyang nakita sa Candy Fair, five years ago." Maine recalls on her mind.

"Crush mo nga lang ba talaga siya? Or mahal mo na? Meng, may I remind you. Artista siya. Fan ka niya. Baka malunod ka na naman at hindi ka na talaga maka ahon. Just a thought. Alam mo na ang ibig kong sabihin."

"Yeah, right. I know my limitations na. Kaya nga ako hindi nagpapakita sa kanya 'di ba? Kasi baka pag nagkita kami mas lalo ko siyang ma miss, at mas lalo ko pa siyang mahalin. Kaya mabuti na siguro 'yung ganito. Palihim ko nalang siyang hahangaan at mamahalin from afar. So close. So close. But still, so far". she suddenly feel lonely.

"Taray, ang lalim ha! May hugot! Hoy, ano ka ba! Wag ka ng malungkot. Eto naman. Wag mong sirain ang araw mo. Enjoy mo lang 'yung kilig mo. Luhluhluhluh! Uy, si Menggay namumula. Ang haba ng hair mo teh, umabot hanggang Tawi Tawi. Teka lang, hilahin ko at baka maipit sa elevator." Janeeva teaser her on the other line.

"Loka loka! Sapakin kita ng may pagmamahal diyan eh! Wag ka nga. Inggit ka lang. For now, masaya ako. At walang makakapigil sa'kin. Hahaha. Pabebe ako masyado"

"Weh?! Sige nga, patingin ng sapak! Hahaha. Hay naku, Meng. Oh paano? I'm at work. Have a nice day, Menggay! Bye bye" then their conversation ended.

Maine felt relieved. Kahit pa minsan inaasar na siya ng mga kaibigan niya pero atleast nakaka usap niya ito sa pagiging secret fan girl niya. Sa sobrang pagiging secretive ni Maine, ni hindi niya na follow ang mga friends niya sa Twitter at baka may mag stalk sa kanila at mahanap siya. And yes, naka private din ang Direct Messages niya. Sinadya niya talaga 'yun.

Weird, right? Ayaw na niya magkamali. She can't afford the feeling of being a disappointment again. For now, she has over 200 thousand twitter followers. Para daw siyang si Senyora Santibanez na mahirap hanapin. After talking to Janeeva, she went to her "Alden's Corner".

She is really amazed. Hindi naman talaga ugali ni Alden Richards na makipag interact sa mga fans niya, online. This is the first time na ginawa niya 'yun at nasali siya. How sweet it is to be remembered by him!

As if talking to Alden's poster, "Takte, Alden Richards! Bakit mo ako gina ganito? Inaano ba kita? Sinabi ko ba sa'yo na gawin mo 'yan? Nakakainis ka! Permission to himatey! Ahm, 'yung puso ko please...Umph, ang cute cute mo talaga! Pakurot nga sa pisngi mo, dali. Ikaw talaga!" as if para siyang sumasarabe pero naka mute ang peg.

She imagines that she is actually squeezing his cheeks. Minsan talaga, natatawa siya sa sarili niya. She is crazy over him, secretly. But not to the point of being obssessive. She has already learned her lesson in the past. She was changed when she knew him. She became a better person because he inspires her to do so. At kahit hindi niya na 'yun malaman, ayos lang.

Ang mahalaga na masaya siya. It's all that matters for her. He is a star for her and he shines the brightest. Maine suddenly remembers that she has a scheduled Skype meeting as an Online Social Helper with her client from Australia. But before that, she remembers that there is something that she needs to do. She smiles. Kinuha niya ang phone niya and clicked the Twitter app. Then, she tweeted...

" M A R I K I T @BinibiningMarikit "

You're welcome. Always welcome. ?

She takes a screenshot of Alden's tweet on her phone; galawang Nicomaine! Her Australian client is now calling. Saglit niyang tinitigan ang tweet ni Alden Richards. Then, she answeres the Skype Call.

"Hi there, Ms. Samantha. Good Morning! How may I help you today? " she smiles widely at her.

Yes. Alden Richards did this for the first time and she's dreaming that this will not be the last.