Chapter 49.5:
Rigel's POV:
Damn.
My knees are shaking.
No, my entire body is shaking.
"You can do it Rigel. We got your back." I heard Nich's voice on my earpiece.
"Miss Abeyea Elle Dizon, will you marry me?" That's it, I finally said it.
I don't know what's in her mind at this moment. Lahat din ata ng pinractice kong sasabihin ko sa kaniya ay nawala sa utak ko.
She seems confused, shocked, and shocked again?
Tss, silly me. Of course, who wouldn't be shock? This whole thing is indeed a bomb.
Before she could open her mouth, inumpisahan ko na ang gusto ko sabihin.
"I know Abby that this is so sudden, but before you tell me what your answer is, let me have this opportunity to tell you what I really feel." I saw her nod, so I continued while still on my knees.
"Do you still remember when we're still fond of social media platforms, especially Peak-A? Well, kung ako ang tatanungin ay hinding-hindi ko 'yon makakalimutan dahil sa Peak-A ko nakilala ang babaeng gusto kong makasama habambuhay. Doon kita nakilala Abby."
"I don't know what should I call this, but I think I fell inlove at first duet ako sa'yo. The first time I saw your name on my suggestions page, I unconsciously tap your profile immediately which is very unusual. Kinlick ko agad ang follow button at saka na kita sinimulang imbestigahan. Yes, I prefer to call in investigation than stalking." I chuckled.
"You have an almost a thousand Peak-A videos, and believe it or not, isa-isa kong pinanuod ang lahat ng 'yon. I even made a duet with some of them because you're just so cool that time. I also followed you on your other social media accounts at inimbestigahan din kita sa mga 'yon. Matic turn on notifications din ako sa mga post mo."
"Since I am also a Peak-A celebrity, I thought you'd follow me back immediately. But I was wrong, because it has been a week since I followed you in all your social media accounts, pero ni isa sa mga 'yon ay hindi mo ako finollow back. At dahil gusto ko talaga na mapansin mo ako ay mas ginalingan ko pa sa paggawa ng duet videos. Sampung duet videos kada araw ang ginagawa ko hanggang sa isang araw ay nag-click ang mga 'yon at halos araw-araw nasa unahan ng trending videos sa Peak-A."
"I was so happy dahil akala ko ay mapapansin mo na ako. But again, I was wrong. Ni hindi ka man lang nagrereact sa mga pinopost kong duet videos natin. I almost gave up, but one day, a new hashtag was created. Hashtag Rigby, a short term for Rigel and Abby. Natawa pa nga ako dahil katunog ng Rugby eh. But thanks to that hashtag, dahil nang dahil doon ay sa wakas napansin mo na rin ako."
"Sobrang saya ko nang magsimula kang magreact sa mga post na tinatag ko sa'yo. Kaya mas ginalingan ko pa the next days, hanggang sa finollowback mo na ako sa Peak-a. Damn, nasuntok ko pa si Jherwin dahil sa sobrang saya, at hindi rin ako nakatulog buong gabi. I know it sounds creepy, but you've been on my mind all day, all night since that day."
"But of course, hindi ako nakuntento. So I decided to send you a direct message. Tatlong araw rin ang hinintay ko bago makatanggap ng reply mula sa'yo. At first, you were so distant. Ang sungit mo, ibang-iba sa mukha mong laging nakangiti sa pictures at videos na pinopost mo. Pero kahit gano'n ay nagpursige pa rin ako para maka-close ka."
"Sa bawat araw na nakakachat kita ay ang dami kong nalalaman tungkol sa'yo kahit hindi ka masyadong nagkukwento. Gano'n talaga siguro kapag interesado ka sa kausap mo, lahat ng sinasabi at ginagawa niya ay napapansin mo. Ang hirap kunin ng loob mo lalo na't busy ka sa pag-aaral dahil graduating student ka. Medyo naging close na tayo that time at mas madalas na rin ang paggawa natin ng duet videos sa Peak-A."
"Then one day again, isang malaking issue ang bumulabog sa lahat. Ang balita tungkol sa atin bilang online couple. Malaking issue talaga 'yon lalo na't girlfriend ko si Steph that time. But I didn't care, rather, mas ginatungan ko pa ang sinasabi ng netizens. Mas naging close na rin tayo which really made me happy."
"I also studied Filipino language ang culture just for you, so I know what are you saying especially when you're not in the mood. I learned that p*t*ng*na is a curse and not a compliment as you were saying." I chuckled. Damn, I was an idiot that time. Tuwang-tuwa pa ako kapag minumura niya ako.
"When I heard that Jherwin will be going to Manila for a fan meeting, hindi na ako nagdalawang isip at agad kong sinabi sa kaniya na sasama ako. Ang inirason ko ay gagawa ako ng vlog sa Pinas, which is half true and half bluff. Gusto rin kasi kitang makita kaya ko gustong sumabay sa kaniya papuntang Pinas."
"Mas nakakamangha ka pa lang sumayaw sa personal kumpara sa videos dahil mas nakikita ang totoo mong ganda, sayang nga lang dahil hindi kita naka-duet during the fan meeting dahil hindi naman ako ang bida that time. Damn, Jherwin was so lucky to be able to dance with you."
"Ilang araw rin kaming nag-stay sa Manila bago umuwi ng Texas. Of course, I didn't join them because I still have unfinished business here. And that's when I planned surprising you at your house, luckily, my plan succeeded. Planado halos lahat ng ganap ng nangyari dito sa Pinas. I even had a hard time calculating things so my efforts to be able to get close to you would not be wasted."
"Lahat planado except the COVID-19 of course. I can say that COVID-19 was a terrible thing, but at the same time a good one for me because my time to be with you was extended. Iyon na ata isa ang pinaka-maligayang eight months ng buhay ko, hindi lang dahil sa nakasama kita, kundi dahil din sa dami ng natutunan kong aral sa buhay mula sa'yo at sa buong Asuete. You made me do things that I don't usually do when I was still in Texas. You really did a big good impact to my life Abby, you changed my life in a good way."
"Baranggay Asuete, Bolinao, Pangasinan. That's where I saw the real Abby. Ang totoong Abby na nagpabagong tuluyan sa ikot ng mundo ko. Sobrang bait, maalaga, matulungin, at mapagpasensiya mong tao. You're like an angel sent from heaven because you're just too good to be true. I am happy even though we're not in a relationship yet because I thought I still have time to prove my feelings for you. That's when I decided to do impressive things para pandagdag pogi points sa'yo."
"Hindi naman sa hinihiling ko, pero kung papipiliin ako kung sino ang gusto kong makasama sa iisang bahay kung sakaling magkaroon ulit ng community quarantine, of course, I would still choose you. I'll choose you every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, or even decade. Ikaw at ikaw pa rin ang pipiliin ko Abby dahil ikaw lang ang laman nitong puso at isipan ko kahit araw-araw ay pakiramdam ko mawawalan ako ng ulo dahil sa pambabatok mo. Well, aminado rin naman akong maloko ako, kaya deserved kong mabatukan mo." Medyo corny ata ako sa part na 'to. But the hell I care, para kay Abby naman 'to.
"But as they said, life is a b*tch. Things happened that made me leave you. Steph called that night before the event for Asuete. That's when it all started."