LOVE-NAT, isang makulit na lovestory!

Wednesday; 8:15 pm
Monteverde Residence
Christmas Party

The Monteverde mansion was alive. Every part of the house was bustling with life, with motion. And one could say that it was one hell of a party!! Oh yeah!! There was DJ Coki bringing the house down with remix and party music. Waiters were present, offering booze, cocktail drinks, beer, champagne - oh name it, they have it. Even delicious, exquisite foods were served on a very, very long table.

Japo leaned against the railing of the balcony up Sef’s room. He was holding a can of beer and was contently watching down all the people partying to their life’s content. He grinned at his best friend beside him. “I gotta say, this party rocks Sef!!”
Sef smiled smugly.“I know. Don’t need to say it thrice.”They both drink up the beer they’ve been holding. “So, where is she?”

Japo laughed. “Relax, she’ll be here.” He tapped Sef slightly on his shoulder. “Huh. Balita ko pa nga, she has a Christmas present for you.”

Sef took another sip of beer then cleared his throat. “Really?” He hated the fact that he sounded... hopeful.

“Yeah.” Japo sniggered with amusement. Sobrang tagal na niyang hindi nakikita mga ganitong expression ng kaibigan. “I was there when she made you that chocolate.”

A chocolate huh. The idea just made Sef smile. The girl could really cook.

“C’mon, Japs. Let’s go back to the party.”It was hard to hide his excitement. How he wanted to get a hold of that chocolate right this very minute!! Sef started towards the door but Japo was rooted right where he was standing.

With all the people below, there was one that stood out for John Sy Crisostomo. Yes, because there walking by the garden was the most beautiful girl for him that night. Yep, it was no other than Jillian Martinez making a grand entrance together with the short haired girl everyone seemed to be waiting that night.

Ellie.

And boy, was she stunning!!

“Japo! Ano? Are you coming or what?” Sef asked impatiently, reaching for the doorknob.

Before Sef knew it, Japo was already flying down the stairs in such haste. “Bilisan mo!! Dali!!”

---

FLASHBACK

Tuesday; 2:30 pm
Talyer nila Ellie

Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan

Sabi nga nila, para hindi ka masyadong makapag-isip sa mga bagay na nais mong takbuhan ee di magpaka-busy ka. Oo, marami akong tinatakbuhan... tulad ng pupunta ba ko sa Christmas Party?? Anong dapat kong irason kanila Borge kung bakit ayokong pumunta?? Anong dapat kong gawin para matigil na ang mga kabaliwang ito?? At higit sa lahat... Anong... dapat iregalo sa isang lalaking nagngangalang Miguel Josef Uy Monteverde???

Oh diba?? Sooobrang daming NONSENSE na katanungan?? At imbes na sayangin ko oras kong isipin ang mga sagot dito... I woke up early today, mga 11:30am. Haha. O bakit? Maaga na yan sakin!!

Sumunod ako kay papa sa talyer pagkatapos kumain ng tanghalian at napagdesisyunang tumulong na lang dun. Mejo maraming customer ngayon that’s why an extra hand could be a big help.

“Uh, sa tingin ko baterya prublema.” Narinig kong sabi ni papa sa matandang lalaking may-ari nung starex na green sa labas.

“Matatagalan pa ba bago maayos yung akin?” The old man sounded impatient. Mukang nagmamadali.

Nakita kong napakamot sa ulo si Papa. “Uh- sandali lang ho, pahintay lang ng ilang minuto.” Napansin kong busy si Manong Domeng sa pag-gawa nung Honda. Si Kuya Rolly naman dun sa adventure. At si Papa meron pang Montero na ginagawa. Tatlo lang naman silang mekaniko dito sa talyer. Ee mukang peak season nila ngayong bakasyon.

“Pa,” I then butted in. “Ako na lang gagawa. Papalitan lang naman ata ng baterya ee.”I grinned at him. My dad simply looked at me and gave me his wide smile I knew so well. “Sigurado ka?”

“Ts, ako pa! Dimaculangan ata toh!” Haha. Alam niyo, ito ang nagiging resulta kapag anak ka ng isang mekaniko. Para sa isang pakialamerang kagaya ko, at halos lumaking naglalaro dito sa talyer ee hindi na dapat nakakapag takang I could do some greasy work. Haha. Oo na, oo na... kaya nga ba lalo akong napagkakamalang tomboy!!

Sinimulan ko na ang pag-gawa ko sa starex. Hindi mapakali yung matandang may-ari. Although he didn’t say a word, alam kong duda siya sakin.

After a while, ng ikinakabit ko na yung bagong baterya biglang merong tumigil na white mini-van sa harap ng talyer. Napatingin lang ako saglit but I just went back on my work.

“Ano, ho yun?” I heard my pops asked, cleaning up his hands painted with oil.

“Andito ho ba si Eleonor Malicsi Dimaculangan.”

The moment I heard my name, napa tayo ako ng tuwid and hitting my back against the hood in the process.“Aray!” I winced, running down my hand kung san ako naumpog.

I saw the way my dad’s eyebrows furrowed in suspicion. “Anong kelangan niyo sa kanya?”

The man gave a friendly smile. “Meron hong delivery para sakanya. Galing daw ho kay--” the man looked on the paper he was holding. Parang hindi siya sigurado sa nabasa niya as he said the name that made my entire body melt like jelly. “M-Mister John Lloyd Cruz??”

Lahat ng tao sa talyer napatigil sa mga ginagawa nila. “Diba artista yun?” Narinig kong tinanong ni Kuya Rolly.

Gusto ko sanang sabihing, Anong artista? He’s more than an actor!! He’s the only man in my life!! Kaso lang wala akong masabi ee. That very moment, parang nakalimutan ko pangalan ko. Sigurado bang, ako si Eleonor Malicsi Dimculangan?? Yun ba talaga pangalan ko??

OH SHEET!! Buti na lang talaga yun ang naisipang ipangalan sakin ng mga magulang ko!!

The delivery guy went to get the package in his van. At pagbalik niya meron siyang dala-dalang malaking kahon. Halos abot sa dibdib yung taas nung kahon. My head was spinning, seryoso ba talaga ito??

I was shaking with excitement... parang pwede akong himatayin... pero mamaya na lang... this moment was just too priceless to be missed.

Dios mio... ang laki nung kahon... grabe, kahit alam kong imposible... I was wishing na sana... Lord, please... sana talaga KASYA JAN SI JOHN LLOYD CRUZ!! Sana... SIYA na yang nasa loob ng kahon na yan!!

The delivery guy managed to carry the package and set it before me. Nakatayo na lahat sa likuran ko sila Papa, sila Mang Domeng, Kuya Rolly at pati na din yung matandang may-ari nung Starex.

May mga grasa-grasa pa nga ang muka’t kamay ko when I signed the delivery papers.

“Buksan mo na, Ellie.” Parang mas excited pa sakin si Kuya Rolly a?

“Sa tingin mo ano kaya yan?” Bulong ni Mang Domeng kay Papa.

“Baka cellphone.”

“Ganyan ka-laki?”

I sighed unable to contain my excitement. Dahan-dahan kong binuksan yung kahon and I was utterly speechless when I got a hold of the most beautiful GUITAR I’ve ever set my eyes on.

And soon enough, I noticed a yellow post-it with the words, “Merry Christmas! Kapalit yan ng champurado! :Tounge: ”

Sobrang natawa ko after reading it. I was smiling at the guitar like an idiot. Right that moment, I wished... sana si Sef na lang yung nandun sa loob nung kahon!! Hahahahaha.

TO BE CONTINUED