Julie looked around the parking lot. She always seemed to have a habit of being too early in everything. Luckily she had a good book to get busy with.
“Ma, sure kang sinabi ni Ms Tracy na 7:00 magkikita? Sa parking lot ba daw?” She asked.
“Oo.. ayun ang sabi niya eh…” Her mom answered, also reading a book of her own.
“Tawagan ko nga ulit..” She tried.
As she dialed, Ms Tracy picked up.
“Julie… asan ka na?”
“Nasa parking lot po… diba dito magkikita?”
“Taas ka na, hija… Sa may Starbucks…”
“Okay po… Sino na ba po ung nandoon??” She wondered.
“Andun na sila Lexi… Ako nalang tsaka ikaw hinihintay… una kana, malapit narin ako..”
“Sige po..”
So she told her mom and they got off the car. They took an elevator, trying to avoid people. Julie was here for fun, bonding times with her castmates and friends. It was Ms Tracy’s idea to go watch a movie together, for the cast to be closer to each other and bond.
When she got up there, they were having such an animated conversation. It was a nice aura. Stress free, and for once, it was just them hanging out. Like kids their age do.
“Oh… pare! Andito ka na..sa wakas!! Naiinip na ung isa- I mean kami… kanina pa kami naghihintay eh… Si Ms Tracy kasama mo?” Lexi asked.
“Eh.. hindi eh… padating na daw siya..” Julie said.
“Anak, magggrocery lang ako.. text ka nalang kapag tapos na kayo..” Julie’s mom said, also a way of saying that she’d leave her daughter to enjoy this night, she deserves it.
“O sige po Ma,… Ingat kayo..” Julie waved goodbye as her mom walked away.
Julie was about to start a conversation when..
“Sorry i’m late!! Sorry… let’s go na… did everyone wait too long ba?” Ms Tracy asked.
“Hindi naman po..” They all answered, somewhere along those lines.
So they went to the movie theater’s. Ms Tracy picked the last showing for the night, just so there wouldn’t be that much people and the kids would enjoy it without stressing about the public. As they settled in their seats, it was Julie and Elmo who were to sit last. But Julie noticed something fishy. The seating arrangement was far too… arranged. (LOL) It was Steven, Lexi, blank seat, blank seat, then Ms Tracy then Sef.
Okaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay… Julie wondered.
Elmo on the other hand seemed to have no problem at all. All he did was smile and gestured that Julie should go first. She made her way across and sat beside Lexi, who was talking with Steven since they were in Starbucks.
Elmo took the last seat, in between Julie and Ms Tracy. They’ve planned this, Elmo thought to himself. But he doesn’t mind.
“Okay ka lang?” Elmo whispered, making Julie jump, startled.
“Ha-haaa? Ah.. oo.. okay lang..” She said.
Elmo chuckled.
“Ano nga ba ulit ung papanuorin natin?” Julie asked, quite flustered by Elmo sitting closely beside her.
“The Dark Knight Rises.. Di ko pa kasi napapanuod yun eh… Eh.. boys win… So eto..” He said.
“ahh..”
“Bakit…? Ayaw mo ba ng action movies?… Dapat sinabi mo.. napalitan pa sana natin..” Elmo said.
“Hindi… Mas gusto ko nga toh, kesa sa romance eh.. Masyado nang marami ung nababasa kong books..” She added with a smile.
“Talaga… that’s good then… don’t worry, I’ll tell you when to cover your eyes.. kung meron mang nakakatakot na part..” Elmo smiled back.
HALA. Masyado siyang malapit!!!! MAYGEEED. Julie thought.
“Pano mo naman alam?” She said, believing that she’s still hasn’t lost her cool.
“Secret…” Elmo winked at her.
O.O Ano daw??? This made Julie more flustered than she was.
And as Elmo saw her reaction, he chuckled quietly once more. “I read the reviews, and some spoilers…” And smiled.
Julie just shook her head and giggled. Sometimes, being with him can give her so many emotions, she doesn’t know how to deal with all of them.
“Well don’t spoil it for us…” Sef said, now interrupting them in their own little bubble.
The two realized how close their distance was. It felt like it was just the two of them in there. Probably because of the silence, darkness and the whispering. As they take in their positions and looks, they shifted. To a more, friendlier distance, remembering that there are still people around them.
As the movie went on, everyone seemed to enjoy it. As usual, the girls are the most outspoken. You’d hear ‘hala’ and ‘ayan na’ coming from them, while from the boys, not even a squeak.
Around the middle part of the movie, Elmo noticed Julie rubbing her arms with her hands. She was getting cold.
“Julie.. okay ka lang?” Elmo asked.
“Oo… don’t worry about me…”
But Elmo’s hand touched hers, and immediately he could tell that Julie was shivering with the cold. There was barely any people inside the movie theater, just a pinch of body heat from them.
“Eto oh… sayo nalang… Giniginaw ka na kaya.. mamaya magkasakit ka pa eh..” Elmo said, taking his jacket off and giving it to a surprised Julie.
Everyone seemed to be so surprised of Elmo’s gesture.
“Hindi na… okay lang.. May sakit ka rin kaya…” Juie reasoned.
It was true, Elmo had been experiencing a bad cold lately. It was messing with his sinuses and voice.
“Pagaling na ako… Kapag ikaw nagka sakit, lagot kami ni Tita Tracy… Kawawa naman ang fans sa sunday kung may sakit ka..”
Elmo was persuasive. He got Julie to wear his jacket.And when he was satisfied that he won the fight, he smiled at Julie who was busy watching the movie again.
“Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, Moe… Iba ata kinikilos mo ah… Ano na ba yan…” Ms Tracy asked directly.
“Tita… I’m just looking out for her… she is my partner after all… We have to work together…-“
“Shhhhhhhhhh” Lexi said, who was really trying to watch the movie.
Elmo smiled. Saved by the bell, he thought.
It was the first time the cast bonded, not for job or promotion purposes, but simply because they needed to enjoy themselves.
Towards the end of the movie, Elmo’s vision was disturbed by a bright light from Julie. She was checking her phone.
“Uy… bawal yan..” He joked.
“Just checking the time… Medyo late na kasi eh..” Julie said.
Elmo looked at his watch, it was a bit late na. Almost 9.
“May class ka pa bukas, right?”
“Oo… pero nothing big naman… new lessons lahat ng subjects.” Julie said.
“Nice…So… okay lang sayo na magdinner tayo?” Elmo asked.
“Ha-haa?”
“Magdidinner daw kasi after this, sabi ni Tita… Please tell me you’ll go..”
“Ah… okay… sure..”
There was 5 minutes left of the movie, yet Julie can’t concentrate on understanding it. She was too busy understanding, Elmo.Recently, this guy has been pretty… let’s just say, sweet. She knows that their relationship is growing, but now it seemed like it was on steroids.
Sure she was used to his habit of taking her hand to help her get down stairs because of her heels, gazing into his eyes for a prod, and their times together in taping Together Forever.
But there was just something that they both can’t put together. They just don’t want to, as of now. What they say to the press is true, if its meant to happen, it will. They won’t need that much effort if its bound to happen
Before she knew it, the movie was already done. Elmo already stood up, and looked at her, wondering why she was still sitting down.
His chuckle drew Julie back from her thoughts.
“Ay… tapos na pala…” Julie laughed.
Everyone laughed with her. She stood up and they started walking. Julie walked behind them, already a little bit tired.
“Pagod ka na?” Elmo asked.
“Ahm… medyo…Nakakapagod maglakad eh..” Julie said,
“Carry kita, gusto mo?” Elmo said jokingly, they both laughed.
There was barely any people at the mall now, its about to close and they were enjoying the privacy they were getting. There may be a few looks and points, but it didn’t disturb them.
“Ano… enjoy ba?” Elmo continued the conversation. He was comfortable talking to her now, no more awkwardness or second thoughts. In fact, if there was anyone that he would love to work with, it was Julie. They understand each other, simple as that. Understand when it comes to work, their drive for music, humor…
“Oo naman… Minsan lang naman tong ganito eh…”
“Tama… tapos kasama pa ako, di ba? Could it get any better?” Elmo said, joking again.
The smile that his jokes would give stayed on Julie’s face until they went back to Starbucks. The two, unaware of the happenings around them, forgot they were heading back to their meeting place and not dinner.
Lexi, Steven and Sef were now sitting on the table when Julie and Elmo walked behind them, still laughing.
“Enjoy na enjoy kayo ah..” Sef commented.
Mas lalong tumawa ung dalawa, causing the three to exchange knowing looks.
“So Julie… what do you think of the movie?” Steven ask.
“It was okay..” Julie said. Tipid ang sagot but smiling.
“Yun lang? Okay? It was epic man!” Sef answered with much exaggeration.
“Hay… naku… Wag niyo ngang guluhin yan si Julie… Eh sa okay nga daw eh…Hindi naman kasi sila nanunuod ni Elmo…” Lexi laughed.
“Oo nga! Ang iinggay ng dalawang toh…” Ms Tracy added. “Usap sila ng usap dun, katabi ko pa man din…”
“Same here tita!” Lexi added.
But Julie and Elmo just laughed it off. They were just waiting to get picked up, but when Steve, Lexi and Sef said that they all were going, something was up.
“Sasama narin ako sakanila, my car is in GMA rin kasi eh..” Ms Tracy added. “Si mama mo? Natext mo na?” She asked Julie.
“Itetext ko palang po..”
“Ikaw, Moe?”
“I texted the driver already, tita… on the way na yun..”
“Okay… wag kang aalis ng hindi pa nakakaalis si Julie ah? Walang kasama yan..” Bilin ni Ms Tracy.
“Of course… “
The trio stood up, as well as Ms Tracy. They all had the same smiles on their faces. Lexi was really noticeable. Parang pinipigilan ung kilig ba.
“Sige ha?? Maiwanan na namin kayo…” Sef said, half laughing.
They started walking away…A loud ”Ayiiiiheee” was heard and they bursted out laughing.
“Baliw-baliw talaga ung si Sef…”
“Oo nga eh.. kalog masyado…” Julie said, fidgeting with her water bottle.
“May pagka bata rin minsan… kaya pati ako nahahawaan eh..” Elmo said.
“Ikaw?? Minsan ka lang kaya maging makulit…”
“Hindi noh… I’ll prove it to you… guess my favorite drink…”
As he said this, he leaned closer to the table, closer to Julie who was right infront of him.
“Soda?” Julie guessed.
“Hindi… Bawal na kaya yun… Papagalitan mo ‘ko kapag uminom ako nun eh..”
“Tama… “
“Sirit na?”
Julie nodded, smiling.
“Yung mga yogurt drink… Alam mo un?” Elmo said.
Julie laughed so hard. She thought it was soda… But it was an unexpected answer. For a guy like Elmo, she never thought that he’d like yogurt drinks.
“Bakit? You don’t believe me?” Elmo asked.
“No..” Julie said, still laughing.
So Elmo stood up, went to the small fridge Starbucks had for kiddie drinks and bought a small box of Dutchmilk Blueberry flavored Yogurt drink. He poked the straw in and began to sip it infront of Julie. Who was still laughing.
“Ang cute talaga ng tawa mo…” Elmo said out of the blue.
Ano daw??? Kasi naman eh… Julie thought.
“Pati ung face mo, kapag natawa… Lumiliit ung mata… Ang cute lang..” Elmo continued.
“Wehh..”
“Oo nga..” Elmo said, convincing her it was true. His eyes traveled around Julie’s face, then he thought of something. “San ka mascomfortable? Kapag naka ponytail hair mo, or when it’s down lang?” He asked.
“Kahit alin naman eh..”
“Let your hair down nga… I wanna see..”
Julie laughed more… The way Elmo was when it was just the two of them. Sometimes he’s a kid, sometimes he’d be like an over protective boyfriend. Both sides are good… Somehow they just wish he’d be both.
So she agreed, and pulled on her ponytail, letting her hair fall down all the way to her waist. It was getting long.
“I never noticed how long your hair is na pala…”
“Lagi tayong magkasama, di mo nahahalata?” Julie asked.
“Hindi.. Because I’m too busy thinking of what to say next… Too busy to notice anything around us, kasi… wala lang… you make me feel that way eh..” Elmo said.
What the hell am I doing??? He asked himself.
“Ang saya mo kasi kausap… besides your laugh, your eyes seem to keep me captive” He says.. still going on and letting the words come out.
“Ano daw? Nosebleed, Moe…” Julie said, still keeping it light. But like all girls, let’s face it… sinong hindi kikiligin sa sinabi nung mokong na yun? Kahit sino naman siguro makakaramdam ng kahit kaonti di ba?
“Sabi ko… I like your eyes…” Elmo said. “…And your voice, your laugh, your giggles, your hands, your attitude, your personality, your charm…. You. I like you, Julie…”
Finally… He got to say it. Not in song lyrics, or rap.. but in real words, with her infront. Not just a mirror in his room.
Julie felt like her cheeks were going to rip, she was smiling way too much. Elmo has a way with doing that. Making her speechless with his way of words.
Now she understood. His sudden change of moves during production numbers, his smiles, his actions, the way he holds her hand, the way the gazes at her when she’d hit a high note.
“I don’t know what to say to that, Moe..” She replied with a light chuckle.
Somehow all along they knew it would come to this. That this would happen. Going out with friends, a movie or dinner. Spending time together. In a whole week, its almost as if they would be with each other for most of the days. Yet time still isn’t enough for them. Atleast not with 50 crew and directors surrounding them.
“How about… ‘I like you too..’” Elmo said now putting on that lop-sided smile of his.
“Ano pa nga ba…” Julie said, looking down then smiling.
“Yes!.. sabi mo yan ha..” Elmo exclaimed “Talaga ha?”
“Ikaw ba naman kasing pakiligin ng ganon? Maiiwasan ko bang hindi ako mabisto?” Julie said, now laughing.
“Ako pa…”
They both laughed. They knew it all along. They just really needed time, and the right moment. Who would’ve thought that a simple movie date would start it all.
“So, since… nagkaalaman na tayo… maybe…we could do this more often?” Elmo asked.
Nakakapanibago talaga tong si Elmo…Biglang… what’s the word… Lumandi, ba. Julie thought, remembering the tweets she would see after each prod in Party Pilipinas the past few weeks. She laughed at the memory.
“Are you asking me out?” Julie said, still not sure.
“Hindi ba obvious.??” Elmo laughed. “Julie naman eh… Nahihiya na nga ako, yes na kasi…”
She laughed at his expression. He looked…..cute. Like a child, almost. It was quite an amusing site.
“Of course.. san ang susunod? Sa Together Forever taping? Sa Tech Reh ba or sa Just One Summer Premiere?” Julie joked.
“Kasi naman eh……” Elmo said, laughing now.
“Ano?”
“How about this… after you come from school nalang.. bukas.. I’ll meet you sa Studio? Then we can have dinner together…” Elmo suggested..
“That’s too much… let’s start small..”
“Okay…-“
Julie waved all of a sudden, it was her mom. And it was time to go home. She had fun, this night was truly a night to remember. Because of many things. But one memory will stand out from the rest.
“Ayan na pala si Tita.. Let’s go..” Elmo said. He walked with Julie to the parking lot, and when he got to her car, he said goodbye to Julie’s mom who went in the car first.
“O cya… This was fun… Sana maulit…” Julie said.
“Mauulit talaga for sure…” Elmo said, causing them to laugh. “Inggat ah.. Tulog ka agad when you get home…wag ka ng magtweet…”
“Deal.. ikaw rin dapat ah..”
“Okay…”
He leaned in for a goodbye hug, but didn’t expect a kiss on the cheek from Julie. Then she hugged him.
“Thanks for speaking up, Moe… Finally..”
He smiled. Finally, he thought. We’re getting there, Julie…
END.
Waaaaaaaah Di ko mapigilan. Di ako makagetover!! Finally a spotted pic nilang dalawa. The one shot is really crappy. Sana maenjoi ninyo. :) Haha… At sana ganito talaga ung nangyari. my Imagination went wild na kasi kagabi. Eto ang result. Thanks for reading! :)
