Every Moment Counts - OneShot
She couldn’t stop smiling as he guided her backstage after their performance on the part 2 of Status: It’s Complicated. She was incredibly happy. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t miss him. Sure, they’ve been seeing each other during Party Pilipinas rehearsals but they haven’t exactly had the time to talk and to just be together because of the stress of work. He had school. She had other appearances for GMA’s Regional TV. Needless to say, she was grateful for this day. A day to be herself and to be with him.
"Magpapalit lang ako," she said, as they reached the green room backstage. He nodded. “Hurry back." She pecked him quickly on the lips before starting to make her way to her dressing room as he plopped down on the couch.
He shushed the other artists when they threw kissy faces at him and teased him about their cheesiness; still, he couldnt get that silly grin off his face. As he was about to take his phone out to check Twitter, she popped her head back in. “Ikaw ba?"
He smiled sheepishly. “Nakalimutan ko sa van yung damit ko eh." She playfully rolled her eyes, and he laughed. She waved him off and finally made her way to her dressing room.
A second later, Tita Marivic popped her head in. “Elmo, hintayin ko nalang kayo ni Julie sa labas ah?"
"Ah, okay po." He nodded.
"Gusto mo bang sayo nalang siya sumabay papuntang Pampanga?"
"Yun oh!" sabi ni Kris. Elmo shot him a murderous look and he just bursts into laughter with the other boys.
He wasn’t sure whether he heard her correctly. “Po?"
Tita Marivic gave him a knowing smile before closing the door.
"Ano bang meron ngayon at napakaswerte mo?" Derrick said as he sat down beside Elmo.
"Nagaccumulate na yata yung pogi points ko. Kiniclaim ko na yung prize." He joked.
"You play to win naman dun diba? In this case, I’m winning. If not, I already won."
His head shot up when he heard her voice. He looked at her from head to toe and couldn’t help but stare for a minute. He had the right to, anyway. She is his girlfriend.
The dress. It was the one that he got her when they went to LA. He smiled at the memory. Her hair was pulled back to a ponytail and so her shoulders and arms were bare. Her earrings, also from him. And as per usual, the heels she was wearing makes her legs look a mile long. Oh, hot damn.
Derrick smirked. “Oy Julie, mukhang di ka yata narinig. Medyo busy. Busy sa pagtitig."
His attention snapped back to her and he swallowed hard. “Uh, yeah, lika na." He held out his hand and she took it willingly. He let out a sigh of relief as they exited the green room. “Ang tagal mo, kinawawa ako nina Kris at Derrick." He whined cutely.
"Elmo Magalona, were you blushing?" Julie said as she intertwined their fingers. She let him pull her along the corridors of the studio.
"No…" and yet he turned fifty shades of red darker. “Uh huh. Sabi mo eh." She gripped him tighter and held onto his harm with her other hand. “Clingy," he teased.
She scoffed and threatens to let go. “Di ka pwedeng mamiss, ganun? And you’re changing the subject!"
"Aww, you know I’m kidding," he said, kissing the top of her head and pulling her closer. “I missed you too. A lot. Medyo napaobvious yata kasi sabi ni Tita sa akin ka nalang daw sumabay papuntang Pampanga," he rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand.
"What? Sabi talaga ni Mama?" She, too, was a little surprised. “Ano nanamang pangpacute ang ginawa mo?" She teased.
"Wala! Nagulat nga rin ako eh. Good shot na talaga ako kay Tita. Hehe."
She suddenly let go of his hand and he gave her a questioning look. She nodded towards the fans who were currently watching their every move. They both smiled and waved.
Julie looked around the parking lot. “Nauna na yata sila Mama?"
Elmo nodded and gestured towards the van that was coming towards them. “Yup. Lika na, baka malate tayo," he said, sliding the door open.
"Conscious ka na pala sa time ngayon?"
"Hehe. Joke lang. Alam ko namang gusto mo lang akong solohin eh," she said, half teasing.
"Oh baby, you know me so well."
And he slid the doors shut.
"Bakit di ka pa magbihis?"
"Excited ka?" And she nudged him hard on his ribs.
Tumawa lang si Elmo. “If I can count the number of times you’ve hurt me physically…"
Julie looked up at him and smiled sweetly. His arms were wrapped around her shoulders and her head on his chest.
"Hampas ng pagmamahal ko po yun."
"Mm.. well in that case, I love you too." And he lowered his lips to hers.
He kissed her slowly, savoring the moment. He brought his hand up to her cheeks, caressing it softly. He pulled away slightly, their lips now brushing against each other.
"I missed you." He pulled her even closer and buried his face in her neck.
"Uh.. you could say," and she nudged his head up. He smirked. She playfully rolled her eyes and pulled away from him.
He pouted. “Baby. Saaan ka pupunta?"
She stood up and reached for her bag that was on the row of seats behind them. “Who’s the clingy one now?" She giggled. “Wait lang, may kukunin ako." She reached into a small pocket in her bag.
"Moe? Can you help me with this?
It was the necklace. One of the few gifts that he was actually proud of giving her. He smiled fondly. “My pleasure."
He took her hand and nudged her towards him, making her sit on his lap. Julie took her ponytail and held it to the side while he expertly clasped the necklace on.
"There." And he nuzzled the back of her neck, breathing in her scent.
He stared at her briefly.
"I’m all over you today."
"Oo nga eh, ayaw mo kong bitawan." She teased.
"No, I mean…" He gestured towards her dress, her earrings and her necklace.
She blushed. “Ah… sabi ko sa'yo namiss kita eh. Discreet hints na rin yan."
"Baby, di na yan discreet. It’s screaming ‘You’re mine!’ na."
"Then let it scream." She smiled.
They stayed like that for a moment, just enjoying each other’s presence and closeness.
Biglang bumusina yung van, and they heard their designated driver muttering a string of curses under his breath.
They both laughed. “Kuya Rolly, chill lang po. Baka maheart attack kayo."
"Eh kasi naman tong mga jeep na to!" He shook his head. “O sige na, wag niyo kong pansinin. Magmoment na kayo."
At lalong natawa yung dalawa. “The best po talaga kayo."
"Siyempre naman." and he gave them a wink.
Julie turned to the boy holding her again. “Baby, malapit na tayo oh. Bihis ka na."
"Sige na nga, alam ko naman na excited ka talaga eh." He teased her.
"Eh ano ngayon? Baka gusto ko lang talaga makita yung abs mo." She stuck her tongue out playfully.
"Abs? Flabs palang to, baby. Just you wait." He laughed and let her pull away so he could take the shirt that was hanging at the back of the van.
"Wow. Terno pala tayo oh. Ang flowery. Hehe. Sabihin ng fans na pinagplanuhan natin to."
"Kung makadestiny ka naman diyan. Magbihis ka na."
He took of the shirt he was currently wearing and Julie wolf-whistled. Bigla din niyang ni-hum yung intro ng “Careless Whisper." Tumawa naman si Kuya Rolly. “Ang kulit niyo talaga."
Nakatawa lang si Elmo and he poked her sides after finally putting the polo on.
Julie squirmed about and couldn’t stop giggling when he tickled her. “Sorry na! I just had to!"
"Buti nalang mahal kita."
"Aba, dapat lang." She winked. “Di ka na magpapalit ng pants?"
And she laughed harder. “Di no! Nagtatanong lang po!"
"Mhmm. Sure." He took her by her shoulders and pulled her towards him again.
Biglang dumilim yung paligid. He looked outside and found that they were already at the parking lot of the mall.
"That was way too fast." He pouted.
Julie pecked his pout. “May mamaya pa naman ah."
"Mamaya? Ayaw mo bang umuwi?" He teased.
"Ayaw mo kong kasama magdinner?"
Kuya Rolly opened the van door and nauna si Elmo bumaba.
He guided Julie from the steps and he intertwined their fingers after she fixed herself. They started walking towards the mall entrance.
"Moe, baka may makakita."
"I’ll let go when we’re inside na. Every moment counts." He kissed the back of her hand.
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Every moment counts."
"I can’t believe pinayagan ka nanaman ni Mama na ihatid nalang ako."
He was ecstatic. “You better believe it baby."
"Dapat sasama sila sa dinner eh. Tsk. Naniniwala na ko na good shot ka na talaga."
"Siyempre naman. Napakabehave ko kaya." Inakbayan niya si Julie habang pabalik sa van.
"Hmm. I’ll be the judge of that."
"Judge all you want baby, pero sa akin ka pa rin for a few more hours."
He climbed up the van and helped her up as well before shutting the door. Elmo took Julie’s earrings from his pocket and dropped it inside her bag.
"Pawis na pawis ka pa rin."
He took the tissue from her hand and helped her wipe her forehead, neck, down to her collarbone.
"Hep hep hep. Watch those hands." She murmured, her eyes closed.
"You seem to be enjoying it."
She tried to poke his side, but failing because she had her eyes closed. “Asan si Kuya?"
He looked out the window. “Baka nag CR lang."
"Mm. Okay." Julie took out her phone and started checking her Twitter mentions.
Almost immediately, she felt her phone being ripped from her hands and two strong arms pulling her. He kissed her hard, his hands cupping her chin, his tongue darting in and out of her mouth. She moaned in surprise but accepted his kiss wholeheartedly. He rubbed circles on her hips, their heads tilting to each side in a simultaneous motion as they take each other in. The kiss slowed down, with her now nibbling softly on his lower lip.
"Julie. No." He groaned against her mouth.
"You brought it upon yourself, ikaw nagsimula." She whispered back and kissed him languidly.
"That’s it. I’ll-" Bumukas na yung pinto ng driver seat at sumakay na si Kuya Rolly.
Elmo pecked her lips one more time before fixing their positions, with her tucked under his arm.
Julie sat up. “Sa condo mo? Kala ko magdidinner tayo?"
He nodded. “I know. Ipagluluto kita."
She smiled and bit on her lower lip. “Ang sweet mo."
"I think we deserve it, don’t you think? If we’re not going to be together like this for the next couple of days, sulitin na natin."
She nodded and goes back to her original position, the smile still evident on her face. “Ang sweet, sweet mo."
"Sabi ko sa’yo behave ako eh."
She chuckled as she remembered the moment that transpired a few minutes before. “I beg to differ," she muttered.
"Nothing. Sabi ko ang cute mo." She laughed, intertwining their fingers.
"I know. Kaya nga ako pinayagan ni Tita eh."
And she slapped him on the arm again.
"Oh, hinay hinay lang. Hanggang mamaya pa kayo magkasama." Kuya Rolly. Natatawa nanaman siya.
They both couldn’t help but smile. Damn right they are.
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